Apple TV to gain gaming capabilities?

[jaw04005]

From Engadget,

"New code in the iOS 4.3 beta 3 firmware hints that Apple TV may soon support online gaming. Several references have been found pertaining to "ATVGames" and "ATVThunder" that point to a controller of some sort, leaderboards (think Game Center), a way to schedule games (multiplayer?), and a store front (think App Store, iTunes). We're particularly intrigued by two strings -- "com.apple.appletv.play.live.thunder" and ".play.archive.thunder" -- but what those actually mean in the grand scheme of things is ultimately ambiguous."

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/apple-tv-gaming-hinted-strongly-in-ios-4-3-beta-code/



Yeah, I think they're going to go full force with the Apple TV this time around.

Angry Birds anyone?

 

[Tilpots]

Sounds like an app store to me. As hopeful as ever...

 

[jaw04005]

WWDC should be interesting.

 

[SteveKnobs]

Anyone know the approximate time it might take for developers to get some apps out once the store is announced? Also, would Safari be a native app included in an update or would it be something that was downloaded within the store?

 

[fortunecookie]

This makes sense. More devices that can take advantage of the apps means more business oppurtunity. Still I wont buy ATV until it can play all video formats and 1080p wiahful thinking.

 

[fpnc]

...Also, would Safari be a native app included in an update or would it be something that was downloaded within the store?

I don't think you would want Safari on your TV (i.e. you don't want to try to read and navigate the web on your TV while using a standard web-browser layout). Besides that, if Apple put Safari on the Apple TV then the content providers would just block most of the programming (which, for example, has already happened on the Google TV).

What you probably want are web service apps similar to Netflix and apps optimized for a so-called ten foot UI (i.e. designed for the TV's size, scale, and viewing distances). So, you might get Pandora, a PBS app, or a CNN app, or if really lucky a Hulu Plus app.

 

[phxl]

this is exciting news!

 

[SteveKnobs]

I don't think you would want Safari on your TV (i.e. you don't want to try to read and navigate the web on your TV while using a standard web-browser layout). Besides that, if Apple put Safari on the Apple TV then the content providers would just block most of the programming (which, for example, has already happened on the Google TV).

What you probably want are web service apps similar to Netflix and apps optimized for a so-called ten foot UI (i.e. designed for the TV's size, scale, and viewing distances). So, you might get Pandora, a PBS app, or a CNN app, or if really lucky a Hulu Plus app.

I'm not sure what you mean by content providers blocking content- I don't want to access hulu,etc through Safari... There are apps for that. I would want to write this post though on my TV, or check my email...on my TV. I feel like this type of access is the ultimate experience from a technological/ entertainment point of view. The idea of browsing the internet on my big screen from my couch is very appealing.

 

[Tilpots]

I'm not sure what you mean by content providers blocking content- I don't want to access hulu,etc through Safari... There are apps for that. I would want to write this post though on my TV, or check my email...on my TV. I feel like this type of access is the ultimate experience from a technological/ entertainment point of view. The idea of browsing the internet on my big screen from my couch is very appealing.

See GoogleTV. And what you're describing with the Internet is possible right now with a Mac Mini.

 

[SteveKnobs]

See GoogleTV. And what you're describing with the Internet is possible right now with a Mac Mini.

Except a Mac mini is how much more expensive than my $99 TV? I can access Safari on my iPhone and iPad- both iOS devices. Why wouldn't I be able to do the same on a device that uses a very similar version of iOS?

 

[Tilpots]

Except a Mac mini is how much more expensive than my $99 TV? I can access Safari on my iPhone and iPad- both iOS devices. Why wouldn't I be able to do the same on a device that uses a very similar version of iOS?

Well, you can't right now on the iOS based AppleTV because Apple says so.

 

[fpnc]

I'm not sure what you mean by content providers blocking content- I don't want to access hulu,etc through Safari... There are apps for that. I would want to write this post though on my TV, or check my email...on my TV. I feel like this type of access is the ultimate experience from a technological/ entertainment point of view. The idea of browsing the internet on my big screen from my couch is very appealing.

You'll either need a VERY large TV or you'll have to sit uncomfortably close to your TV if you want to do any serious web browsing when using a device like the Apple TV. Some users have made that work (with a Mac mini, et. al.), but I don't think most people would want to do a lot of reading at the scale or the viewing distances that are typical for a TV (i.e. from back on the couch).

Apple's solution is better (although a bit more expensive). You sit on the couch and use the iPad or any similar hand-held iOS device to interact with the internet and then when you see a video that would be nice to view on the big-screen TV you simply AirPlay that to the TV. The only problem with AirPlay is that the content providers on the web will need to explicitly enable AirPlay support and frankly I don't expect that many will do that. So, for most video content on the web it isn't even a question of "blocking" by the providers, it's a question of whether the video will even be enabled for AirPlay.

 

[powerman]

As for the original topic of the tread, the gaming is very exciting news. I am curious what they are planing to use as a remote for the gaming. My guess is a bluetooth remote. I am in the touchscreen camp, maybe a hollowed out ipod touch, but I may want to have toggles and raised buttons, I guess I have to see what games they will make available. Knowing apple they will have an idea that I have not even thought of for their game controller. I still say it will be bluetooth as the wifi will be in use for streaming games.