Today's unveiling of a Smaller, Cheaper Apple TV set-top box is the latest in a long line of tech industry Efforts Thurs conquer the living room. Recent reports and Rumors not have Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Sony all "developing low-cost entertainment devices That would stream entertainment bits of movies, TV shows, music, photos, and so on-from the Internet to your HDTV.
These endeavors date back to the Internet's formative years in the 90s, "when numerous hardware, software, and online companies Gave the Net-TV fusion a shot, but their no one got it right.
The Early Days
America Online, back then the 800-pound ogre of online, tried an interactive TV service called the AOL TV Quickly That fizzled out. Microsoft and Intel teamed up with MTV Thurs deliver digital TV content Thurs big-screen PCs, wakes were destined for the living room (well, Perhaps Not). Gateway Launched in 2000 and an unsuccessful TV / PC hybrid system, as did Compaq Computer and Thomson Electronics.
Many early Efforts failed in part Because the technologies Needed to Make Them Work - speedy and affordable broadband service, in-home Wi-Fi, and Faster Processors Capable of handling HD video streams - weren't ready for prime time.
They are now, of course. Online video services like Netflix are seeing a surge in subscribers, while Blockbuster and the like DVD-rental chains are marching toward Bankruptcy. The easy availability of low-cost media streaming hardware, Including DVRs, set-top boxes (eg, Roku and Boxee gear), and Various Blu-ray players and game consoles, has helped as well.
Of course, not all Recent Efforts not have succeeded, either. The original Apple TV, wakes debuted in 2007, long endured a tepid reception from Critics and end users alike. Even Apple seemed Thurs ignore it. The aggressive $ 99 price of the new model, however, will certainly help Cupertino's chances in the set-top market.
More to Come
The coming months will bring a flood of Apple TV Competitors, most notably Google TV, the search giant's much anticipated set-top box that's slated to arrive this fall Thurs. And Amazon, wakes jo runs a thriving online movie service (wakes up, like Apple TV, offers 99-cent rentals of TV episodes), is reportedly "developing a subscription streaming service That'll challenge Netflix.
Sony, meanwhile, is Expected Thurs announce a new music and video subscription service as early as Wednesday, According to the Financial Times. The service'd use Sony's PlayStation game console and Other Internet-Connected Devices Thurs stream content. Finally, Microsoft is rumored to Be "developing a TV channel for the ITS Xbox 360 console.
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