How TV Could Be Transformed In 2013
Diving inside Tim Cook's "area of
intense interest," it's clear Apple, Google, and rivals have big plans for
television. The boob tube is about to get a whole lot smarter.
Tim
Cook's interview frenzy last week stirred up a
whole bundle of fun for future TV watchers. There was particularly intense
interest in Cook saying that TV remains an "area of intense interest"
for Apple.
Some
took this news as further evidence that 2013 will be the year Apple really
leaps into the TV fray. Even the Wall Street Journal, considered to be
Apple's de facto "leaky" channel, is in on the speculation--noting several prototype
designs exist in Cupertino labs, with parts on order from China. Others cautioned against too much enthusiasm.
Inevitably
in this time of bloodthirsty technology battles, it looks like several
other big players also have ideas for bringing TV truly into the 21st century. New data from Morgan Stanley suggests that 18% of
American's already own a "smart TV" that's connected to the web in
some way, but only 13% know that they have this capability. Which means there
may be a market for a TV that's actually smart, and as easy to use as
your average Apple product.
Today's
TV is amusingly 20th century: Turn it on and watch. Then sit back, let the
content wash over you, and be a passive consumer--a position that's in stark
contrast to how we choose to listen to music on Spotify, say, or read our
newspapers online or download and play with smartphone apps.
18%
of American's already own a "smart TV" that's connected to the web in
some way, but only 13% know that they have this capability.
That's
the first problem. The second is that where TV providers like cable companies have
innovated and give you a free set-top box with built-in TiVo power and smart
scheduling, the set top box itself is almost universally terrible. It often has
a user-hostile interface, or it may be restricted in irritating ways by the
cable provider...or perhaps both at once.
That's
why Steve Jobs once said there was room to "go
back to square one and tear up the set-top box and redesign it from scratch
with a consistent UI."
Apple
could do this with an evolution of its existing Apple TV product--which is
already being updated with Bluetooth keyboard
support. Slap Siri in the box too and you
could command your TV without a fiddly remote. Siri could even make you care less about channels or paid-for-content:
"Find me Star Trek," you'd say, and Siri would dial to the right
channel, or offer you the chance to pay for a show right there. If a putative
Apple television also ran iOS apps then TV could change beyond all measure,
becoming your chat, IM, video calling interface that also manages the family
calendar and plays games.
Google
TV has already made progress in this direction, and its recently revamped interface brings Google's
legendary search skills to the scene along with a powerful voice search using
natural language. A connected Google TV can also show you Netflix content
alongside YouTube clips and uses Knowledge Graph to intelligently shape how it
presents potential program choices to the viewer. Never mind that Google may be trying to sell the set-top box
division of its new acquisition Motorola Mobility...the firm is committed to TV innovation, and has
even recently launched the service in the U.K. If
Google applies even more brain power to TV in 2013, perhaps bringing some of
the "psychic" user-pattern
prediction powers of Google Now into play, TV could really change.
Then
there's Samsung. It's already been innovating the TV with its Smart interface
that brings Net connectivity along with some level of app experience to the
screen. Later-gen Smart TVs even have voice control, and a built in camera for
gesture control--a neat way around the problem of complex remote controls.
Samsung Ventures just invested $5 million in a company,
Delivery Agent, that's all about TV-based e-commerce. DA is good at matching
products shown in films and TV shows and then allowing viewers to buy them via
a Smart TV interface, smartphone, or web. That could be a way for Samsung to
monetize its next-gen TV interface idea.
Even
Verizon is getting in on this game--patenting a future
set-top box tech that snoops on TV watchers to detect their sounds, foods, and
even ethnicity and use the data to drive TV content or even advert choices to
suit your exact mood at that moment. And gaming firm Valve's boss is certain we'll see
living-room-friendly PCs connected to TVs in 2013.
But
what of the TV set itself? After Tim Cook's recent statement, there's renewed
speculation Apple will turn its "hobby" set-top box into a
full-fledged TV set. Much has been written about this idea, and a wholly new product
from Apple in Spring 2013 does make sense.
The
firm may even have been funding Sharp, pushing the development
of IGZO screen tech--a next-gen display system
that will make your LED TV look terrible. Apple has all that expertise in
super-skinny devices and smart integrated sensors, too...to say nothing of its
stunning retina displays. And here's the kicker: 46% of those surveyed by
Morgan Stanley said they'd be willing to pay over $1,000 for an Apple
television, much more than the average $884 they'd pay for their current TV
tech.
46%
of those surveyed by Morgan Stanley said they'd be willing to pay over $1,000
for an Apple television.
Google
is, it would seem, less likely to tackle the matter of full-on TV tech (though
it does seem to be enjoying slapping its own-brand Nexus logo over tablets and
smartphones). If Google does play for next-gen TV tech in 2013 it'll be in
partnership with a firm like Sony or Samsung, which already has design
expertise and production lines rolling. It's even possible Google may try to
revolutionize the set-top box, perhaps taking lessons from its Android tablets
and relevant design successes like the Roku box or the Apple TV puck.
One
thing is abundantly clear: It's time for TVs to get sexy in terms of design,
and for set-top boxes to ditch that awful 1980s hi-fi box vogue.
Current
TV revolutions are happening quietly away from the big screen in your living
room and instead on the small tablet screen in your lap. We're all
doing it, and second screen attention is quite definitely beginning to drag
full attention away from the TV--but in a good way, with folks searching for
content based on the show, chatting about it on social media, and possibly even
buying stuff based on adverts.
Apple
and Google are well placed to make the most of advances made by companies like GetGlue here, with their control
over second screen tech on smartphones and tablets.
If
either of these big firms really does make a play for next-gen TV tech in 2013,
then we may even see some of this second-screen action move up onto the main
screen of the TV--that way it's integrated into the viewing experience, and
it's possible the explosion of second screen browsing is largely due to the
antiquated state of current TV tech.
2013
is the year your TV stops simply talking at you, and you start using it to
communicate with other viewers.
By Kit Eaton
http://www.fastcompany.com/3003887/how-tv-could-be-transformed-2013?partner=newsletter
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