Comments on: Maybe Apple Should Get Into the TV Market

By: Alex Jordan

Alex Jordan — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:26:16 +0000

I hadn’t looked at it through the prism of the past. Siegler’s arguments that you point to are solid as a rock. That said, and this where I guess I was going with my previous piece- What could be done differently with Apple making an entire TV set, that couldn’t be done with a set-top box, like the Apple TV? That’s my main question.

By: jhrogersii

jhrogersii — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 05:22:42 +0000

I wouldn’t dismiss this yet. Apple has to find a compelling way to get onto the big screen. Apple TV is a nice step, but Jobs has talked at length on how the conduits for programming are completely locked up by the cable and satellite providers. The Apple TV can’t break down that barrier. A TV might be able to bridge the gap more effectively.

While I agree with you view of the business side of things, if Apple views making a TV as a the only way to get a solid position in the video content and big-screen gaming markets, then they may pursue it despite the drawbacks.

Another option that has circulated around the media, as well, is Apple potentially licensing AirPlay to existing HDTV manufacturers. This would give Apple a way to get content and gaming to the big screen without requiring customers to spend the extra $100 for an Apple TV. It would get them more direct access without getting involved in the manufacturing business.

However, this doesn’t strike me as a natural move for Apple, either. They don’t always play well with others, and they like to have end-to-end control of their products and the customer experience. I’m not sure they want to be shoehorned into another manufacturers interface, which probably won’t be up to their standards.

Here’s another thing to consider. Apple now controls a lot of its own device materials now, at least the ones that go into their mobile devices. Displays are one of the pieces that they are still totally reliant on others for. I could see Apple killing two birds with one stone here. By going into the display business with their own manufacturing facility, they could grab total control of their devices, small to large. That level of cost certainty, control, and economies of scale could make the enterprise worthwhile.

By: sfmitch

sfmitch — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:06:13 +0000

There is NO chance (zero percent) that Apple will get in the TV business.

The TV business stinks. Margins stink and it’s a dead end commodity business. Nobody is making serious money selling TVs. There is NOTHING Apple can bring to the table that would be game changing and they know it.

TVs should be nothing more than monitors.

Steve Jobs is WAY too smart to steer Apple into such a crappy business. He said so himself (All thing D interview, I think).

People are confusing what they want to see happen (however misguided) with what Apple will do.