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Post by wheeles on Jan 10, 2013 10:54:52 GMT -8
There's lots of talk about "smart TVs", but what exactly is a smart TV? Is it a essentially a large iPad with a TV tuner and possibly PVR functionality?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2013 13:05:58 GMT -8
It's like pornography - hard to define, but I know it when I see it.
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Mav
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Post by Mav on Jan 10, 2013 14:16:56 GMT -8
Can't wait to see some manufacturers try to add touch layers. ;D Software is everything if Smart TVs are to happen. No one's gotten it right so far. 8MP TVs will not solve this problem, for obvious reasons.
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Post by PikesPique on Jan 11, 2013 8:28:28 GMT -8
Back in March 2012, I speculated on the iTV/AppleTV in an email to a friend. Here it is:
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These are not predictions, just thoughts on what could be done… But, when/if Apple releases an iTV, we'll see how far off I am.
Here's what I think they could do, easily, with todays technology to improve TV:
1. Automatic Input Detection/Selection.
Currently, on most TVs with multiple inputs, we must select the input we want to view on the TV and use the remote designed for that input (or a properly programmed universal remote). I'll get to remotes in the next point. The TV will detect which inputs are available by querying over the cable (HDMI or similar) and display information about the content in a standard interface. More about the standard interface in point 3. Attach a new device (Blu-ray, DVD, DVR, etc.) to your TV and it automatically knows you have a device on a new input. When the device is turned on and has content available (BR or DVD disc loaded or content recorded on DVR, etc.), then it determines the content and shows you it's available. It lists the content by genre, studio, date, or whatever, but not by input. Shouldn't matter where it is, as long as it's available. Select a movie and it plays it, regardless of where it is physically - Blu-Ray, DVR, iCloud, iTunes, Netflix, etc.
2. Universal trackpad remote with or without Siri interface.
If using a universal remote, different buttons do different things, but sometimes the same buttons may do different things (depending on the mapping) when viewing different inputs. So, pressing the "record" button could record a show on your DVR or open the DVD disc tray (mine does that). Confusing. Audiophiles and Videophiles can figure this out, but the average citizen struggles with this ("which buttons do I press if I want to watch my episodes of "House" on DVD?).
Using a trackpad, roughly the size of an iPhone, the user has a buttonless interface and interacts using gestures and taps. There may be a single button to turn on/off the iTV, but maybe not. Since the iTV uses a standard interface for all devices, the gestures, once learned, are applicable regardless of where your content is. Fast forward through a recorded DVR show using a two finger swipe to the right. Fast forward through a DVD is the same. Fast forward through a streaming movie from Netflix is the same. Easy peasy.
Use Siri activated using a gesture on the trackpad remote. It pauses your content thus eliminating as much as possible any interfering noise and keeps you from missing any of your content. Once Siri is activated, you can ask it things like, "when's the next new episode of Hawaii Five-O?" It'll tell you and show you. You can then tell it to record that episode or all future episodes. Or you can ask it to tell you the time or the weather or where is a good place to eat Chinese near you. You can even have it call the Chinese restaurant and you can talk to the hostess via your TV to make reservations (using VoIP). Once done, exit Siri and your paused content continues without missing a byte.
trackpad remote can also double as a gaming input device. If using an LCD on the trackpad (like the iPhone or iPod Touch), it can show controls visually. If using a haptic interface, it can provide tactile feedback to fingers so you know when they are in the right position to press the "button" and blow away the zombie horde.
3. Standard Interface.
Apple uses a standard interface (similar to current appleTV, for instance) and you select which movies, TV shows, podcasts, music, pictures, etc. you want to consume. Doesn't matter where those things reside. Could be on a Blu-Ray or DVR or on your Cable/Satellite Provider, Netflix, etc. Just select by content, not device. The iTV automatically switches to appropriate input and begins playing your show. Use trackpad/Siri to navigate.
4. Internet connectivity.
Use social media to share what you are viewing, chat in inset windows or split screen, get information about the movie or TV show or actor or studio from IMDB and other online resources, etc. Directly access Hulu, Vudu, Netflix, Amazon, or other web pages via the built-in Safari browser.
4. DVR/Buffer built-in.
The iTV should have a built-in DVR or buffer capability built in. So, even if you are watching Cable or Dish or over the air digital broadcast, if you want to rewind or pause, the buffer allows you to do so. The buffer begins saving the bytes as soon as you begin watching. It should hold at least 10 hours or so (more if it is also a DVR). This way, you can buffer any sporting event, movie, political debate, etc. The buffer allows you to rewind and re-watch any part of a show even when it is live. If you scheduled to watch a live show, but time-shift it, you can also skip ahead by as much as the time-shift. So, say you want to watch the next episode of Matlock and the iTV determines it's on TNT on Cable, it can begin recording that show (or buffering it) and you can start watching at any time. If you begin half an hour into the show, you are watching the buffered content. You can then skip ahead as much as a half hour. You'll then be watching it live. My Dish DVR had a similar feature. This should work regardless of where the content comes from. If it's from iTunes or iCloud, and you have a high speed connection, there may not be much buffering (if any) needed, as the iTV just restarts the streaming from a specific spot in the file. If it is a DVD or Blu-Ray, the iTV just tells the player to skip to the appropriate spots. To the user, it all looks the same.
5. Optional automatic skip past commercials.
If you turn on this option, iTV will skip commercials automatically (if buffering) or fade to black and silence the audio (if not buffering) until the commercial is over. It should be easy to use audio or digital cues to determine if a commercial is coming on. If buffering, the iTV should be able to skip ahead past the commercials without any interruption (or perhaps with a short fade to black and back), without missing any of the TV show. If live viewing, fading out the commercial and silencing the audio makes it less annoying. This would be an option because some people actually like commercials, like during the Super Bowl.
6. Put all this intelligence directly into the iTV AND a set-top box (appleTV)
Apple will design a beautiful TV set that can have this stuff built-in AND they can provide a set top box for those people who don't want to replace their one-year old Samsung 46" OLED TV. Shouldn't matter. It's the integration and standard interface that makes it all work like magic. One remote, one interface, no need to worry about inputs or devices or how to set your DVR.
We'll see how it all turns out.
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mark
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Post by mark on Jan 11, 2013 9:01:53 GMT -8
What is a Smart TV?
I don't know, Apple hasn't invented it yet. ;D
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2013 13:55:10 GMT -8
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Dave
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"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
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Post by Dave on Jan 22, 2013 7:50:36 GMT -8
To define what a smart tv is, take a look at what's on the market now. www.samsung.com/us/video/tvsScroll to the video section and see what Apple will need to compete against. Another example of Samsungs Smart Hub. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c1Xu84IVPIIf Apple doesn't outperform, or at least match what Samsung is offering, then the Apple television will be DOA. (dead-on-arrival) Apple needs to hit a home run as soon as they step up to the plate. If Apple does nothing else they should update the AppleTV box to offer Apple Apps, Siri and search options.
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