How the Future Apple TV & Services could change the Movie Industry

We can hear a lot of rumors here and there about Apple TV, regardless if it’s a plugged box or a real TV set.

I personally always thought there was a place for the real “Digital Hub” in the living room but the Apple TV was a little bit too limited and the MacMini was perhaps a little bit “too much” without a dedicated User Interface.

So, here’s how I imagine a great Apple TV HD for my own use:

Hardware:
– Apple TV Box you can plug to any Home Theater Audio and Video system
– Native support of 1080p (and possibly higher such 4K)
– Apple CPU Chip and high-end Graphic Card (latest Nvidia) for high quality games in 1080p and higher
– HD 1080p (iPhone 4S) Camera, with optical zoom (to be able to zoom to your portrait for FaceTime)
– Bluetooth for wireless Remote/GamePads
– USB Ports for iPhone/iPod, external Camera, Macbook Air Superdrive, or even the optional Video “In” kit
– 32, 64 or 128 GB Storage
– Can use a TimeCapsule (or any NAS) as storage Drive (and can be used with AirDrop)
– Wireless Remote (such Boxee Box) and GamePad (such Xbox/PS3)
– Running iOS

Some Software features:
– Will run Apps, including all the new Apps in 2048 x 1536 (iPad 3 Retina Display resolution), ready for 1080p TV, including Netflix, Hulu, Facebook, Pages, iMovie, Facetime HD, etc…
– Connected to iCloud and App Stores
– Working with SIRI
– Will access to the iTunes Library stored on the Time Capsule and available for all devices
– GameCenter (Direct competition of the Xbox Live) and seamless gaming experience between TV, iPhone, iPads and Macs
– New App: Frontrow for iOS- which will actually be the main menu and will look like the current Apple TV app, but redo for an easier and faster navigation (just like the iPad), with Folder, Pages, etc…

– iTunes Live: It’s a monthly plan for Live Streaming from iTunes to watch live TV Channels (ABC, Fox, CBS, etc… All you can eat style). Let’s say between $19.99 and $29.99 / month (depending the number of channels? Maybe National and International?), similar of some Cable company… but without the need to pay TV Cable anymore. Just pay your ISP for Internet Data… All the rest is data (Message, Phone, TV, Internet, etc…).

In some countries, when you pay for a month to your ISP, you have Triple Play with a 20 Mbit/s connection, with 200 TV channels and Phone (all using DATA… TV uses around 5 Mbit/s). For instance, in France you can get TriplePlay for 29.99€ and the ISP is mainly a “bandwidth provider”. So, it would be no difference to use 5 Mbit/s to watch the TV Channels from the ISP servers, or from iTunes Live servers. Same thing with iPhone plan. Orange add over 60 TV Channels Live Streaming (over GSM network) when you subscribe to any iPhone monthly plan… so iTunes Live could even come (in lower resolution) on iPhone/iPad over 3G/LTE network.

– Tivo-ish App: To allow you to re-watch any episode at any time for free (no rent), with Ads, etc… like a VCR or recorded on TiVo episode. However, you don’t need to record any episode, you just re-download and re-stream from iTunes Live. When using the streaming feature of iTunes Live, you will get short Ads (same way with some internet services such Netflix, Hulu, etc…).

– Or you could just “buy” the episode (without any Ads), in HD, just like if you would buy a DVD. Prices would be lower to match better the current DVD/BR prices. HD movie would be $9.99 (like a music album) and TV Shows episode would be $0.99 for a 22 min episode (such The Simpsons), and $1.99 for a 44 min episode (such LOST). It’s typically the HD quality for the SD price. No more HD/SD buy, HD/SD Rent, etc… Only two choices: Stream with Ads in your iTunes Live Subscription or Buy HD version.

– As long you have an iTunes Live Subscription, you can connect to iCloud and re-watch an episode even if you forgot to record it. It will just re-download the file (with ads, of course… maybe even updated Ads for old content) without any extra-charge (just like a re-download of an app with iCloud).

– Ability to save a streaming/recording from the Apple HDTV storage to an external drive, such the Time Capsule (the same way we can burn DVD with a DVR). That way, no need for internal HDD such TiVo. It would work just like the music in iCloud.

– Integration between iTunes Live, Tivo, iCal, Reminder and iCloud, will be transparent. You can add a reminder to watch a live sport game, TV shows or so… and reminder will be across your devices.

– With Game between $4.99 and $9.99, very high graphics quality, 1080p resolution, Game Center and wireless GamePad, it will definitely kill the Xbox, PS3, Wii market with the $60/70 games, subscription for online gaming, etc……  And you can buy a game on your TV, and continue it on your iPhone or iPad, and even in your Mac pretty soon (if OS X would support iOS Apps). With 2048 x 1536 resolution Apps, they could perfectly run on an iMac 27″.

– The onboard camera (iSight) would be used for both FaceTime, as well as some movement detection, such Kinnect. It would also include an optical zoom with Face and vocal Detection and could be used in wide angle for games and large view of the room or zoomed on the talking person (with automatic detection of whom’s talking).

– The Apple HDTV would have some storage memory for games, some local content synced with iCloud (documents, pictures, music, etc…) and the current downloaded streaming active content.

– As long you pay for the iTunes Live subscription, you’ll have access to any content, regardless if it’s “Live” and “Recorded”. It would be no difference. The main difference then will be to have it free of charge, included in your plan but with Ads… or buy it from the current iTunes store without Ads and with even more features with iTunes Extras.

– With a monthly payment (between $19.99 and $29.99), it will provide a regular earning to Apple (they perhaps don’t make now with the current Movie business model in iTunes), but will also provide good earnings for Content providers and TV channels Apple will deal with, that will also get money from regular Ads. Even if Apple choose a 70-30% distribution (as they do for music, books, apps, etc…), it will still bring serious cash that will allow them to have better balance between Streamed and Purchased content (therefore lower the price for purchased content such movies and TV Shows in iTunes to be more competitive to the physical support).

Prices:
The Apple HTDV Box would be delivered with the Apple IR Remote (such the Boxee Box).
GamePad will be sold separately for $39 (same price as current Sony PS3 gamepads).

Since it would have the similar component than the iPod Touch without the touchscreen and the battery, or will be like a current Apple TV with more connectors, better CPU/GPU and memory, going in competition with the Boxee Box, Roku 2 XS, PS3, XBOX 360, TiVo, etc…

Apple HDTV – 32 GB: $149
Apple HDTV – 64 GB: $199
Apple HDTV – 128 GB: $299

That’s what I’m waiting for Mr. Apple… So what do you waiting for? Just do it and I’ll buy it…

Phil

PS: Of course that would be the first step for the Apple TV to not just be a hobby. Later could come a real TV set that would include the Apple TV and “Digital Hub” services.

What am I waiting from Canon…

Canon just announced few days ago the new EOS 60D, top of the amateur line, that comes right between the 50D and the 7D.

There’s several good improvements (some are even better than the current pro line products).

Being myself interested to buy a 7D or 5D, I can’t stop thinking Canon should come with a 7DmkII and 5DmkIII with some features I really do want and need. I don’t think we’ll see a 7DmkII anytime soon, but the 5DmkIII (and apparently a 3D) should happen in Q1 2011.

So, Mr. Canon, if you do listen and read, here’s my feature wish list for the next 7DmkII and 5DmkIII.

Things to Keep…

– Keep the same MP (18MP for the 7DmkII and 21.1MP for the 5DmkIII). I actually don’t care to have bigger and bigger pictures…
=> I don’t do building size printing. I just want better, clearer pictures…. mostly in low light condition. Let’s keep reasonable file size for a better burst rate. Improve picture with higher ISO with built-in Noise Reduction (from 1D mk IV)

– Keep 1.6x sensor (7DmkII) and FF Sensor (5DmkIII).

– Keep the current Burst rate

Physical Changes:

– Bring SDXC memory Cards…. smaller (it helps to reduce the size of the body), easier (direct transfer on MacBook Pro) and Cheaper.

– Slightly smaller and lighter body size

– New Screen similar to 60D (with 100% coverage). Well, I’ll be honest, even if I do understand an articulated screen could be very useful (mostly in video), I’m kind of scared that it would not be strong enough and brake with the time. However, I do find a great interest to actually close the screen to protect it during transport.

Features from other body (at least for 5DmkIII):

– 45-points AF (from the 1D mk IV)

– 720p @60f (from the 7D)

New Features:

– Built-in GPS… If my iPhone can have it on a way smaller and cheaper device, why my professional DLSR wouldn’t?

– Built-in WIFI… Again, if a tiny Eye-FI $50 SD Card or even my phone do have WIFI, why my professional DLSR wouldn’t? It will make life so easier…

– Tethering over Wifi… with a built-in wireless system, it makes possible to tether directly to my macbook pro during a shoot and have immediate view

– Improved Image Tagging… The 60D is a beginning with Star Image Tag… But if we do have a built-in GPS, we could also include location tag and even more…. Indeed, I wish we could have in the Menu a way to choose some keywords Tags (that could even be automatic) from a customizable List. Let’s say we go shoot a meeting. We can choose some tag such: 2010, August, Wedding, John & Julia, New-York… and all those keywords will be detected by Aperture (or Lightroom) when I will import my pictures (by card, USB cable or Wifi).

Making less work for the post…. by having information pre-shutter 🙂
You just go on a trip, you can get automatic tag using your GPS location info.

– New built-in Filters… Well, today with Aperture, Lightroom, Photoshop, etc… I often think we don’t need any built-in filters, mainly if they are post. However, it could be cool to immediately see how it looks (while shooting) in B&W, Sepia, HDR, etc…

– Talking about HDR, a customizable ± EV on 3/5 frames with built-in HDR filter, links on FPS (only 1 press)

So, now make it happen…. pleeeeease 🙂

Phil

What Apple should release…

Apple is one of the largest tech company in the world. With a great capital and huge profits, there’s no doubt they’ll continue to expand.

Let’s just have a look on what could appear anytime soon, and what should be the next one:

We can expect lots of updates of the current software line: iLife, iWork, perhaps also the Pro soft such Logic Studio and Final Cut Studio. There’s no doubt, all efforts put in ergonomics and GUI interface lately with the iPad and iPhone will benefit to the desktop software.

We might also see some new stuff to include FaceTime to iChat, new address book or iCal on the next version of OS X.

However, one crucial software is still missing… So let’s have a look on the current line:

We do have iPhoto for Beginner in one hand and Aperture 3 for the Pros in the other hand. With a perfect transition to learn people to start with iPhoto and update to Aperture 3. (a full library sharing would be appreciate thought).

Regarding videos, it’s pretty much the same setup with iMovie for Beginners and Final Cut Studio for Pros. There’s even an intermediate level to make the transition from iMovie to the $999 pack even smoother.

Another domain? After the photo and video, we obviously have music. In this domain, once again Apple is dominating the consumer market with Garage Band for Beginners. The pro market is more shared, but Apple is proposing a really good and complete package with Logic Studio and an interesting $499 price.

Any consumer markets are dominate by Apple. (there’s no real good and competitive alternative to iPhoto, iMovie and Garage Band…). Microsoft Movie Maker and other crap software are really not in the same league.

And Apple can still improve them… I wish iMovie will handle, organize, manage all my videos… I hate that my iPhone videos are in iPhoto (it’s VIDEOS for god sakes).

In pro markets, there’s always competition: some will prefer Adobe LightRoom to Aperture; the same way some will like better Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas to Final Cut Pro, and some do like Digidesign ProTools or Steinberg Cubase to Logic Studio…

At this level, it don’t really matter… now. And that’s simple… If you dominate the mass market, the consumer market, you will ‘drive’ customer to stay with your products (to not learn again a new software)… Then you will grab more and more Pro market shares… That’s exactly what happen to Logic Studio right now. Lot’s of Garage Band users did switch to Logic Studio.

But, there’s one domain where Apple does have a consumer version only, without Pro option: Graphics and Web with iWeb

What does Apple propose for Pro?? Nothing else to recommend to buy the Adobe CS5 which is the direct concurrent and includes (on the Master package): Adobe LightRoom, Audition, Premiere and PhotoShop… All concurrent of the other domains (photo, video and music).

That’s why Apple needs to come with their own “Design Suite” for Graphics and Publication…

I said Publication because Apple is more than involved in the HTML5 for Web. But the HTML5 could also be used for other kind of publication such: CD cover, iTunes LP, eBook and so on…

Unfortunately, iWeb seems a little bit limited once you try to have something more involved than beginner webpage, probably the same way iMovie looks limited when you want to do some serious HD movies. They are real good appetizers, but also allow for a non-professional to have something easy to understand and use for personal or Family Projects.

However, I wish I could spend a $199-299 for an Express version and a $499-999 for a complete Graphic Suite (that would compete to Adobe CS5) and allows me to create graphic content, put them together and publish them (to MobileMe or even submit some to iTunes store & iBookstore directly).

It would give all tools to create HTML5 contents. A Pro version to Design Graphics, Animations, Publication and publish them directly… What a competition to Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, etc…

By having this Graphic Suite, Apple would definitely go face to face with Adobe, but will assure to cover any aspects of Music, Photo, Video, Design and Publication… as well as Distribution with iTunes Store, iBookstore and MobileMe.

On top of office stuff such iWork, Apple will guarantee to grow up and grab more and more Pro Market Shares… By including Mass Market (Beginners) software on any Mac.

Financially, it’ll be a good opportunities to have another $499-999 per Pro and Apple Fanboy. It will be a part of money that won’t go in Adobe’s pocket. When a customer will use iLife, will be used to iWeb and iDesign (name it as you wish), this user won’t find a reason to spend $2500 on an Adobe Master CS5, when it could spend it on Logic Studio, Aperture 3, Final Cut Studio and the Graphic Suite.

The fidelity to Apple won’t be only because of the brand… It will be due to the learning curve and the easy way to switch from iWeb and iDesign to the high end Pro Graphic Suite.

For having done myself a switch from iPhoto to Aperture 3 lately, I can say there’s nothing more simple… Almost the same menus, same buttons… But just more complete with the features we actually miss/wish.

Come on Apple, it’s time to slap Adobe with the WarHammer. I never liked Adobe GUI and horrible workflow. (way too much PC like). This would make my point and give me the tools I need.

Phil