iTV to enable easy video chat?
updated 05:15 pm EDT, Fri September 22, 2006
iTV for easy video chat?
Apple's recently announced iTV wireless media device leaves unanswered questions as to its touted features and their uses, such as the mysterious inclusion of a USB port mentioned only briefly in CEO Steve Jobs' keynote address on September 12th. Robert Cringely of PBS believes practical reasoning would dictate that the port is for simplified video chat through a USB camera. Noting that the iTV does not need extra hard drive space because of its dependence on networked computers, Cringely observes that Apple's new media hub is ideally suited as a simple, low-cost alternative to using a full-fledged computer for video conferencing. "It's iChat for Grandma," Cringely wrote. Apple could also replicate the enhanced iChat features of Mac OS X Leopard by allowing iTV owners to display photos and videos when speaking with others, according to Electronista. Cringely further speculates that video chat functions could be used to extend and sell more of Apple's peripherals, including .Mac memberships and future iSight cameras.
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Leopard
Given that the demo showed it displaying a Front Row interface, the interesting thing will be how much of OS X will be in there. hinking ahead, even just the simple ability to stream iPhoto slideshows to a HD TV would be a killer feature.
By integrating well with the Windows version of iTunes, it could be another Apple Trojan horse. Of course, some people will prefer the 30 button media centre remote, but I have the feeling this is a device whose time has come - not because people want to download movies (I can do movies-on-demand on cable and don't) but because we're building enormous media libraries on our computers but don't want a computer in the front room, or to view them on the computer.