As Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) continues marching into consumers' lives with iPods, iPhone and iMacs (and iEverything), is the company ready to take over the iLivingRoom too? Although the company's Apple TV product has been received not-so-hotly, it's a great product in the second generation form. But will it, with other products, provide the centerpiece of the digital living room within five years? According to some analysts, yes.Apple is not perfect and has made several product mistakes, but those are the kinds of things that the media gushes on when iThis and iThat are released to the market and sell well. Still, a claim that Apple can come out of nowhere to "take over" the living room seems a bit dubious. A home server (without being called a server) and a universal remote, using iTunes as a central control and collection point for media -- these will transform Apple into the Microsoft of the living room?
I am a huge Apple fan, from a marketing, design and usability perspective, but don't own a single product. This is mostly because the freedom I like isn't supported in the ways I like. Are you that way? Maybe, maybe not. But analysts, always the ones to grab headlines with large predictions, have this one dead wrong. Apple may be the centerpiece for some future digital living rooms, but it'll be the vast minority in five years only.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-23-2008 @ 5:35PM
Appleishes said...
APPL "IS" THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WILL BE EVERWHERE, FROM THE US TO ABROAD IN EUROPE. THEY ARE THE INNOVATORS WHILE EVERYONE ELSE ARE IMMITATORS!!!!!!!
5-23-2008 @ 5:59PM
firstad said...
While I don't believe Apple or GE or any electronics firm will rule living rooms, I have to say we have no PC's in the house. We are all MAC, and if I showed up to work with a PC, I would be fired. PC's are not the road to freedom of choice, and limit what you can do in so many ways while exposing you to any virus that comes down the road. In 12 years, my Apple products haven't had one virus, or crash for that matter.
5-23-2008 @ 8:27PM
Beltway Greg said...
"I am a huge Apple fan,.....but don't own a single product." Then really you're really not that much of fan and you're probably not in a position to make a judgement in regard to the future prospects of the company. Imagine if I had told you five years ago that Apple would become one of the most successful retailers in America. Question? Did you buy any of the stock say, three years ago?
Meanwhile here on planet earth Apple is living the charmed retail life even including the introduction of some type of tablet in the future. Hey brain dead people. Did you look at last quarter? There really isn't any point in continuing because as the saying goes, "All the information in the world means nothing to a fool." I've even got to call out the nitwits from "Dumb Money" who have instructed you to sell on the announcement of the 3G IPhone. I wonder what they instructed you to do back at $115? "Be cautious going forward in the near-term" or some other ridiculously vague financial platitude. Yes, sell to them, pay your short term capital gains on your incredible run from $168.00-$190.00 when you finally mustered the guts to get back in the game. In the interim, I'll buy all of your stock and see you at $260 before Dec. 31.
Beltway Greg
5-24-2008 @ 12:50AM
Ashram said...
Will Apple take over MY living room?
They have as much of a chance to do so as Microsoft does: Not a very good one at all.
MY living room is MINE, with equipment *I* choose with the content *I* want and in a PHYSICAL MEDIUM that *I* control, preferrably without DRM.
Apple, taking over MY living room? If it yields control over media I rightfully paid for to them and the content companies, then, quite frankly, they can pump each other.
5-24-2008 @ 10:04AM
The Voice of Reason said...
I own AAPL and I think it's a great stock. I think the iPod has seen it's glory days, as there is only so much innovation that can be added to a music player and the competition has caught up. As for the iphone, I'm anxiously awaiting it and this coming from a long time Windows mobile smartphone user. However, don't get too giddy about the Apple TV. I mean, for nearly the same cost I can get an XBOX 360 that is a DVD player, a next-gen gaming unit, and a portal to HD movie downloads and additional content. Unless Apple gets into the gaming space I don't see how it can be the center of the living room, at least not for the masses.
5-26-2008 @ 9:47AM
Lars Graulund said...
Apple already took over my livingroom 1 year ago.
Not with an Apple TV, but Mac Mini.
* That mini records tv when we need that (3rd party needed).
* Plays radio stations over the internet.
* Holds all our music, some of which bought on iTunes.
* Plays DVD's
* Stores all our private photos readily at hand for displaying
* Stores all our private family video.
* Allows us to see internet tv, youtube, joost and others.
* Allows for a quick browse on the internet on our television.
And more...
But I agree the tv is too limited, the mini is perfect. Takes care of everything, and no cluttering of machines. (The amplifier is hidden in another room)