Either Cisco wants some of Apple's press mania or they have vowed to give the company some competition. Not only do both companies have products named "iPhone" but now Cisco is reportedly taking on the recently announced AppleTV. The device’s name is unknown and although it was not displayed publically at CES 2007, it was supposedly demonstrated behind closed curtains at a suite in the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. Pictures, movies, music and other information can either be streamed or played off the device’s hard drive, much like the AppleTV. Technical specifications are currently unknown, but it is expected that the product will be released under Linksys branding and as a part of Cisco's Connected Home initiative.
Karen Sohl, director of worldwide communications for Cisco's Linksys division, hinted that when the device ships in later 2007, it will be able to play more than just movies off a computer or a laptop wirelessly. Yep, you guessed it. Speculation around DVD, Blu-ray or HD-DVD playback is coming in strong. Not only that, but it seems Apple has left Cisco with a lot of room to play with. The AppleTV is limited to 720p - Cisco can, and should, release their product with 1080p resolution. Finally, the AppleTV seems to be currently (hackers always have their way) limited to purchased iTunes content. If Cisco allows any content to be transferred to the device, all the company will need is an Apple-matching marketing team.
News source: DailyTech
Karen Sohl, director of worldwide communications for Cisco's Linksys division, hinted that when the device ships in later 2007, it will be able to play more than just movies off a computer or a laptop wirelessly. Yep, you guessed it. Speculation around DVD, Blu-ray or HD-DVD playback is coming in strong. Not only that, but it seems Apple has left Cisco with a lot of room to play with. The AppleTV is limited to 720p - Cisco can, and should, release their product with 1080p resolution. Finally, the AppleTV seems to be currently (hackers always have their way) limited to purchased iTunes content. If Cisco allows any content to be transferred to the device, all the company will need is an Apple-matching marketing team.
News source: DailyTech
I hope they break Apple's balls both in the courtroom regarding Apple's theft of Cisco's trademark (iPhone) and that this product outsells their AppleTV (formerly iTV).
Apple is just getting too arrogant nowadays.
Also: http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/13/cisco-m...rademark-in-06/ Oopsies?
I hope they break Apple's balls both in the courtroom regarding Apple's theft of Cisco's trademark (iPhone)
Or not. http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=236
[/url] Oopsies?
I see no reason for Apple TV to be more popular than a Cisco version.
Personally I'm sick of Apple's (and Sony's) use of DRM to limit what we can do with (where we can play it on) our music/video and who we can buy it from.
Also the AppleTV product is inferior in terms of resolution etc.
Apple TV only streams contents from iTunes. What the hack......do they think the user only has iTunes bought videos? What about all the DivX, DVDs etc. Same goes with XBOX 360, although i have not used one for streaming, but I guess it will stream videos in the library of WMP or MCE only
Correct me if i m wrong about XBOX
The bodies just keep piling up.
Won't have Apple's trademark sex-appeal or sell-power.
Remember the vision of the digital home. It's not just about eqipment, but lifestyle and image. You'll see.
Won't have Apple's trademark sex-appeal or sell-power.
Remember the vision of the digital home. It's not just about eqipment, but lifestyle and image. You'll see.
You assume that apple sales are still on the rise... how ever you are wrong - while they are gaining some in their original field - computers - they are begining to see a trend of slower ipod and itunes sales
I'll reiterate what Steve Jobs said in his keynote: where are you getting this data about slowing sales? iTunes has been selling more music and videos than ever before. I can't remember the exact numbers, but look at the first part of the keynote if you like.
Won't have Apple's trademark sex-appeal or sell-power.
Remember the vision of the digital home. It's not just about eqipment, but lifestyle and image. You'll see.
When it comes to computers and TV, I prefer quality over 'sex-appeal or sell-power'.
Not that Apple doesn't have quality, but their AppleTV actually looks pretty bad (Note: these are the downsides I personally think about, these won't necessarily matter for other people):
-Only 40GB of storage (!
-Forces you to use iTunes
-No ogg vorbis support
-No flac support
-No divX (!
-High-definition: any word on this? Is there high-def support? 1080i? 1080p?
-Can't be used with Linux
For the average customer, I think the largest downside is the low amount of storage: 40GB.
-Only 40GB of storage
since the device seem to be mainly about streaming and not retention it might be enought
-Forces you to use iTunes
if the device become a wee bit popular expect third party to create alternatives
-No ogg vorbis support
-No flac support
unfortunatlyogg and flac support are not really considered important feature in a mainstream consumer device. it's a shame.
-No divX (!
this hurt, it hurt the video ipod and is going to hurt the itv. Having to reencode every movie download from the web to mp4 is a pain. But it does promote the itune store
-High-definition: any word on this? Is there high-def support? 1080i? 1080p?
there is high-def support but only for 720p and 720i
This is not really an issue since most installed tv are not capable of supporting higher resolution. It can probably be adress with an upgrade
-Can't be used with Linux
As most devices. Linux official support is as usual non existant. but expect some solution if the device takes off
The itv is really consistent with apple earlier choices. It followes the lines of thinking of the ipod and of itune. It does have a few shortcoming however and it's biggest is the need to work to convet our existing video. since this is nothing new for video ipod owener it might jut work.
the question now is: how about all thee other cheaper media extender that can do more stuff. will the ipod success will be repeated?
As for cisco entering the market, it's unlikely they will have a impact they are always more focus on the buisness side of thing then on the consumer maket. Yet maybe linksys will come up with something interesting.
Probably because thsoe don't exist.
Apple's selling power: Now at roughly 3% computer market share worldwide.
Apple's sex-appeal: Part of Steve Jobs' Reality Distortion Field. But hey, if computers turn you on, to each their own.
its rally going to be all about the implementation.
the media extender market is just only starting to make waves, wait and see.
I bet 90% of consumers don't even know what DivX is, let alone give a toss about it.
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