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Will the iPad3 be the World's Greatest Remote Control -- for the Apple TV?
Apple clearly has a surprise in mind for its product announcement on Wednesday. Early speculation, mine included, has centered around the rumored high-resolution iris display of the new iPad3 (or perhaps iPad HD?) But in recent days the notion that it might have something to do with the Apple TV as well has circulated. Christina Warren‘s Mashable post yesterday drew the connection between the Apple TV going out of stock on Amazon and Best Buy and the possibility of a new model being announced this week.
Erik Kain wrote a post on Forbes.com yesterday asking whether Apple will announce the “reboot” of the Apple TV along with the new iPad. “I think it makes more sense for Apple to release the iPad by itself, and follow-up a couple weeks later with the Apple TV – unless there’s something truly innovative about how the two can be used together,” wrote Kain. “With Apple working on a streaming service to compete with Netflix, it almost makes more sense to hold off on the Apple TV release entirely, unless they plan on debuting the service alongside their much-hyped television sets.”
I was struck by that phrase “something truly innovative about how the two can be used together.” You only have to look at the VooMoteZapper, a hardware doo-hicky that you can slot into your iOS device to turn it into a highly interactive universal remote to see the possibilities. Here is a list of the capabilities of an iPad3 TV remote if Apple incorporated VooMote’s current and projected features:
1. Universal Remote that can be configured for every TV in your home.
2. Room Control that allows you to “create device bundles in any room of your home.”
3. OneView that allows you to “combine both TV and DVD Player remote functionality on one screen.”
4. OneTouch that lets you to “program macros to … for instance… create a button, which turns on your TV, audio device and DVD-Player and then plays your DVD.”
5. Gesture Control, of course, allows you to do this all with the swipe of a finger.
6. TV Guide displays programming and schedules graphically, without interrupting big-screen viewing.
That’s the obvious part. The hardware and software already exists. But what else could Apple have up their sleeve with a high-resolution screen and a quad-core processor? Here’s a highly speculative list:
1. Multi-channel previewing would allow you to see alternate programming streams at thumbnail size in real time while you’re watching something else on the big screen. And, unlike picture-in-picture features on TVs, on your iPad remote you could switch between streams with simple gestures.
2. Multi-angle selection would allow you to intuitively switch between camera feeds on a sporting even, for instance. Could also be used to access commentary tracks on DVDs.
3. Unified media viewing would allow you to easily switch between live network TV, You Tube videos and iTunes content, on the big screen or on the iPad as a companion screen. This could be a move against Boxee which has been developing this functionality for years.
4. Social media integration is another companion screen feature that would allow you to tweet, Facebook message or set up Google+ hangouts with friends watching at the same time. Again, broadside on Boxee.
5. Games and contests would be a natural outgrowth of all this increased access to media and the content around media as part of the viewing experience. For marketers, this might well be the “killer app” that would make Apple TV a valuable advertising platform in itself.
So even if Erik is right, and the bigger TV announcement from Apple is linked to a streaming service or actual TV sets, introducing a mind-blowing TV remote that “you really have to see. And touch,” would make for a wild Wednesday.
UPDATE: The hardware for IR or RF remote functions could be built into the iPad3 with preliminary software functionality (i.e., similar to the existing VooMote features detailed above) in iOS 5.1 that is expected to ship with the new device. There are rumors of tablets being tested (perhaps with the 2048×1536 pixel screen size) running iOS 6 coming out of Cupertino, so fuller functionality could be demoed on Wednesday with a release date later in the year coinciding with the other possible Apple TV developments mentioned above.
Software related to ipad2:
Tipard iPad 2 Video Converter
Tipard iPad 2 Converter Suite
Tipard iPad 2 Transfer
Tipard iPad 2 to PC Transfer
Erik Kain wrote a post on Forbes.com yesterday asking whether Apple will announce the “reboot” of the Apple TV along with the new iPad. “I think it makes more sense for Apple to release the iPad by itself, and follow-up a couple weeks later with the Apple TV – unless there’s something truly innovative about how the two can be used together,” wrote Kain. “With Apple working on a streaming service to compete with Netflix, it almost makes more sense to hold off on the Apple TV release entirely, unless they plan on debuting the service alongside their much-hyped television sets.”
I was struck by that phrase “something truly innovative about how the two can be used together.” You only have to look at the VooMoteZapper, a hardware doo-hicky that you can slot into your iOS device to turn it into a highly interactive universal remote to see the possibilities. Here is a list of the capabilities of an iPad3 TV remote if Apple incorporated VooMote’s current and projected features:
1. Universal Remote that can be configured for every TV in your home.
2. Room Control that allows you to “create device bundles in any room of your home.”
3. OneView that allows you to “combine both TV and DVD Player remote functionality on one screen.”
4. OneTouch that lets you to “program macros to … for instance… create a button, which turns on your TV, audio device and DVD-Player and then plays your DVD.”
5. Gesture Control, of course, allows you to do this all with the swipe of a finger.
6. TV Guide displays programming and schedules graphically, without interrupting big-screen viewing.
That’s the obvious part. The hardware and software already exists. But what else could Apple have up their sleeve with a high-resolution screen and a quad-core processor? Here’s a highly speculative list:
1. Multi-channel previewing would allow you to see alternate programming streams at thumbnail size in real time while you’re watching something else on the big screen. And, unlike picture-in-picture features on TVs, on your iPad remote you could switch between streams with simple gestures.
2. Multi-angle selection would allow you to intuitively switch between camera feeds on a sporting even, for instance. Could also be used to access commentary tracks on DVDs.
3. Unified media viewing would allow you to easily switch between live network TV, You Tube videos and iTunes content, on the big screen or on the iPad as a companion screen. This could be a move against Boxee which has been developing this functionality for years.
4. Social media integration is another companion screen feature that would allow you to tweet, Facebook message or set up Google+ hangouts with friends watching at the same time. Again, broadside on Boxee.
5. Games and contests would be a natural outgrowth of all this increased access to media and the content around media as part of the viewing experience. For marketers, this might well be the “killer app” that would make Apple TV a valuable advertising platform in itself.
So even if Erik is right, and the bigger TV announcement from Apple is linked to a streaming service or actual TV sets, introducing a mind-blowing TV remote that “you really have to see. And touch,” would make for a wild Wednesday.
UPDATE: The hardware for IR or RF remote functions could be built into the iPad3 with preliminary software functionality (i.e., similar to the existing VooMote features detailed above) in iOS 5.1 that is expected to ship with the new device. There are rumors of tablets being tested (perhaps with the 2048×1536 pixel screen size) running iOS 6 coming out of Cupertino, so fuller functionality could be demoed on Wednesday with a release date later in the year coinciding with the other possible Apple TV developments mentioned above.
Software related to ipad2:
Tipard iPad 2 Video Converter
Tipard iPad 2 Converter Suite
Tipard iPad 2 Transfer
Tipard iPad 2 to PC Transfer
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