Re: Convergence for iTunes/iPod/iLife/iTV: MPEG-4

Lawson English wrote:
> I was recently in an argument/discussion with someone about the most
> im****tant new features of MPEG-4. As far as he was concerned, it was the
> new compression capabilities as no-one was using the bells and whistles.
>
> Then it dawned on me: Apple has positioned itself to be THE premier
> provider of tools for MPEG-4 production AND playback...
>
> When iTV is released, depending on how it is designed, you could have
> the perfect MPEG-4 settop player, capable of  playing normal iTune
> movies and TV shows as well as special MPEG-4 files with a substantial
> subset of the MPEG-4 bells and whistles added.

I'm sure it will sup****t exactly what iTunes already sup****ts.  As far
as we know about it now, it's just going to be an extension of Front
Row to a remote TV.  Basically a video version of the Airtunes product.

> With a simultaneous release of a new version of iTunes to sup****t MPEG-4
> features AND a version of iLife that allows content-creation or even
> content addition to existing iTune content using those features, Apple
> could create a compelling reason to own iTV AND a Mac.

Well, I don't know how much of a clamor people with iLife have been
making for the iTV, I believe it is targeted for the iTunes crowd, in
which is available on Mac and Windows.

> Here's a summary of features of MPEG-4 that might be doable with iTV .
> iTunes + iLife + iTV could be THE killer combo for MPEG-4. If iTV caught
> on in a big way, cable-providers might start selling MPEG-4-based
> advertising for playback through iTV. Scary.

That's a good possibility.  I have to imagine the iTV has to at least
be a DVR if it wants to compete with Windows Media Center/Vista.