We’ve been told by some Retail folks that Apple Stores are low on their supplies of the iLife software suite. Apple is rumored to be updating the media-focused software suite and this is a yet another indicator that an iLife refresh will be announced at or around Apple’s October 20th Mac event.
I had a chance to speak with someone at Google at length about their vision of the TV and I think I’ve finally figured out the fundamental difference in philosophy between AppleTV and GoogleTV, at least at the moment.
Google wants to put the computer experience on the television. That includes multiple streams of audio and video, windows, web browsing, etc. The classic demonstration I’ve seen is watching a video on GoogleTV, seeing something you wanted to share and then doing a picture-in-picture with a Web browser and logging into Facebook or Twitter while the video fits in the bottom corner. Then the user starts using the GoogleTV like a computer while the video keeps playing in a PIP window.
Apple’s ideal experience is isolating video on the big screen. The menu use on AppleTV is minimal and everything else just gets videos playing as fast as possible. That may transform into game play as well in the future, but it is still one ‘channel’ on the big screen at a time. All of the Facebook, Twittering, Web browsing and eventually, I believe, finding content is meant to be done on an iOS device in your hand or lap.
While a video is playing on the device, would you rather be doing other stuff on the TV as well (Google), or would you rather do the other stuff on a dedicated screen on your lap or in your hand (Apple)? If you think about the other people in the room who have to watch you update your Twitter feed rather than doing it on your lap, the point becomes even more significant.
That’s the difference.
I think the success of the iPad relative to PCs shows that Apple’s model is a good one here. I also think we aren’t trained to use a screen 8-15 feet away as a computer (I’ve tried this many times) no matter how big it is.
You see where I am going here?
Apple has released their 4th preview of Xcode 4 to developers today. If you’re a developer go get it! If you’re not a developer, find someone who is.
There are no known issues with this build and it addresses 3D Graphics, Printing, QuickTime, Time Machine and USB Devices.
Hopefully we’ll start seeing some 10.7 Lion clues.
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Jealous that your PC friends just got a new version of Skype, 5.0 today with Facebook integration? (Us neither but stick with us) Fear not Mac faithful, Skype has a new version en route for Mac as well.
What a tease! Read more
