So Wired has an analysis of Apple's new Cover Flow, a system for visually browsing through your music or movie collections. There's no doubt Cover Flow is a beautiful system that makes your digital media seem almost tangible.The article goes on to say that as Apple carries this level of graphical ease of use into the living room when it releases the iTV next year, it could win the living room wars. TiVo has held on to its fan base largely based on the superiority of its interface. But Apple's is prettier (argues Wired commentator Leander Kahney).
This raises a question -- if Apple isn't releasing a PVR, and in fact, Steve Jobs said the iTV is meant to sit on top of your cable box and DVD player, is Apple trying to win the battle of the living room? Could it?
At $1.99 per TV show, is it feasible that one could live on iTunes alone? I did some quick math this morning and realized that maybe I could. I'm paying $54 a month for cable service right now. That's 26 TV shows.
Now, assume I'm canceling my cable service, I'd probably by an over the air HD TV tuner or two for my computer. Now I'm getting high quality copies of most of the network shows I watch for free. And if the shows I watch that are on cable networks only air about 4 times a month, I can afford to keep track of 6 different series simply by buying them on iTunes. Or I could probably get them even cheaper if I purchase the whole season at once.
I'm not saying that Apple plans to replace the current model of TV distribution -- but the idea's not as far fetched you might think.
1. It sounds promising, but...what shows will be offered? What about sporting events?
Posted at 9:27AM on Sep 13th 2006 by Matt