Where Does Apple Go Next? by Jason Snell. Everyone seems to be missing the obvious as they contemplate streaming audio from an iPod directly to Airport Express – the iPod interface doesn’t have to only control its own hard drive. A WiFi enabled iPod could just as easily have a “choose source” preference to allow you to use it as your remote.
But really where Apple goes next is it allows you to use Airport Express to send your photos from iPhoto to your TV. In this world, the stereo and the TV aren’t separate anyhow, so to make the connection would likely be trivial.
aj says
TiVO already does this — they’re even throwing in the Home Media Option now because it’s so popular. I hate to say this, but Microsoft, at least in concept, is actually a little ahead of the ball on this one; I was at Dumoulin the other day and they had a Media Center PC in a slick black AV-receiver type case hooked up to one of those megawide Aquos LCD TVs, and the interface was good and easy to understand, and with a little coaxing can be a complete ‘home media server’ — from any device to any device. of course, like those LG internet fridges, what does Joe Average do when it BSOD’s on him?
In related news, that Sonos wifi audio streaming gizmo looks sweet, especially the iPod-like color LCD remote: didn’t they just have the misfortune to also announce it at the D: All Things Digital conference? Apparently Jobs went over to their booth and loudly announced that they were in violation of Apple patents etc. As if the concept of devices that connect and retrieve open-format data files over open-standard networks is even remotely in the realm of intellectual property. Whatev. About the only think that might be litigious is their scroll wheel, which, if memory serves (thanks, Chairman Kaga) debuted on the frickin’ Intellivision. In 1977.
Hass says
Dang, I wanted to rant about how lame the Court was for skirting the Pledge issue, but comments weren’t enabled. Curses, foiled again.