Comment by devmonk | Hacker News Reader

Comment by devmonk | Hacker News Reader

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Interesting, but it is not true, unless you meant:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipod/family/apple...

If Apple made an entry into the T.V. business, it would be listed as one of the greatest failures ever.

They have great monitors, but the T.V. business has so many other major players in it already handling the high-quality niche market that Apple would want to enter.

Sure there would be some Apple fanatics that would buy dogs--t if it was styled in aqua or in an aluminum case on display in an Apple store. But, a large Apple T.V. with a $6000 price tag might only sell to Toni Braxton, if she could still afford it. To the majority of us- no way.

What I expected was that Google TV, Apple TV, and similar might get integrated into existing brand televisions as an add on, upgradable component where the TV just supplied a standard power and video connector. But that hasn't happened yet.

If Apple TV is integrated into existing brand televisions, then how does Apple drive revenues and profits? From selling the software and taking a small cut on media?

Basically the TV industry could could up with a standard spec for a component to fit into the television so that it would be upgradable. The Apple TV and Google TV units would be sold separately as they are today (or will be for Google), but instead of the "old" mentality of components having to be separate, it would fit into it like a glove.

The great part is that while a standard, the standard could evolve, and then you'd need to buy a new T.V. for the new adapter (it just wouldn't fit in the old one cleanly) creating more of a forced-consumer situation than the big ugly external components with wires that allow more flexibility that we have today. Basically, the purpose to the consumer is style and simplicity (no one who is non-technical likes wires), and the upside for the TV manufacturer and Apple/Google/etc. is that they play off each other and upgrades to the standard to increase profits.

This is an interesting model. I just don't see how it fits with Apple's corporate strategy of focusing on integrated hardware and software solutions, and trying to design and control every detail of the customer experience.

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