Microsoft Ups Their Internet Video Game: Apple NEEDS to Respond

[BoulderBum]

So I'm the world's biggest Apple TV fan, but I think I'm going to have to buy a Zune and an XBox if Apple allows the Apple TV to get any more stale! Check out this news from E3:

Xbox Live gets 1080p Zune video store, Netflix browsing, Twitter and Facebook integration

Microsoft is busy announcing a slew of upgrades to Xbox Live, and the biggest news so far is relaunch of the video service, now Zune-branded with 1080p instant-on streaming content in 18 countries. XBL is also now integrated with Facebook -- your Facebook account can be linked to your Gamertag, and games will support Facebook Connect for sharing content online. That's pretty huge -- but if that wasn't enough, you're also getting Twitter and Last.fm in the deal. Want more? Netflix users will now be able to browse the entire catalog instead of simply loading their queue, and Microsoft has also gotten its Party Watch system in order, so you'll be able to heckle videos with your online friends. Last but not least, there's now live TV streaming for UK and Ireland gamers, who'll get Premier League soccer live from Sky. All in all, a solid set of updates for XBL -- but we'll wait and see how that "1080p" video looks before we pronounce Blu-ray dead. PR blurb after the break.

Apple TV and the iPhone are, frankly, the devices that got me hooked on Apple. I'm a MobileMe user. I spend probably $1000 a year on video/apps/downloads, we got an iPod Touch for my wife to use as a PDA and a video player to keep the kids occupied, I have an Airport Extreme and Express to stream music and work well with my devices. I'm planning on getting a Mac Mini so I can write iPhone apps, etc.

This announcement from Microsoft, and the silence of Apple kind of takes the wind out of my sales and has me reconsidering the Apple ecosystem, however.

I think Apple TV needs to become more than a "hobby" quickly or Apple is going to get left in the dust by Microsoft's and others' innovation. My Apple TV, iPhone and iPod Touch could very well become an XBox, Windows Mobile phone and Zune at this pace... well, maybe not the phone part.

 

[dmm219]

it was enough to convince me to finally get a 360 (for free...using my about-to-expire FF miles...).

that being said, streaming media, at the moment, doesn't mean much to me...as my DSL is a bit too slow for HD streaming. I'd rather download , and watch later...

...but yes...it was a good showing. I have to give compliments on microsoft on this one...

...don't forget, apple has its own bully pulpit next week...so i'd wait till after wwdc before i'd condemn apple's "silence"

 

[BoulderBum]

...don't forget, apple has its own bully pulpit next week...so i'd wait till after wwdc before i'd condemn apple's "silence"

I'm not getting my hopes too high for the WWDC, though I hope you're right. My hope is for the next-gen Apple TV to get an "App Store", and I guess the WWDC would be the perfect place for such an announcement!

From what I read, an Apple TV refresh may happen around September of this year, but Apple will be playing catch up, not taking a leadership position, if they drag their feet too long.

 

[NT1440]

and the silence of Apple kind of takes the wind out of my sales and has me reconsidering the Apple ecosystem, however.

What the hell is this supposed to mean exactly? Do you expect apple to just make a press release giving away any plans they have in that field?

When has apple ever responded to competitors directly?

 

[bruinsrme]

The 360 is a result of hackers hacking the original Xbox. We have the original Xbox as a media server, movies and music as well as game box.
MS listened to/watched what was being done and let it progress then incorporated what the hackers were doing into the 360.
I think in order for Apple to compete in this niche they woud actually have to listen to their audience to make constant improvements.
I think they could play in this genre but they would need to start supportng things like HDMI as people are not going to settle for playing games on a 30 inch monitor.

 

[Peace]

Bandwidth is the same no matter what machine one uses.

1080P can be very bandwidth intensive. If it's real 1080P.

 

[mac88]

I like the idea of being able to browse Netflix instead of just my list. Makes it a little easier.

 

[BoulderBum]

What the hell is this supposed to mean exactly? Do you expect apple to just make a press release giving away any plans they have in that field?

My point is that while Apple's competitors are innovating, Apple is twiddling its thumbs and still calling their set top box "a hobby".

The hardware is over two years old and given the continuing "hobby" comments on the quarterly conferance calls, there's little reason to hope that Apple is spending an adequate amount of time to further develop the product.

My fear is that Apple would be overtaken in the internet video space by a more interested competitor like Microsoft. If that happens, I further think that it's VERY bad news for Apple.

Let's face it: it was the iPod more than anything that saved Apple, and if the millions of XBox 360 owners start liking the movies they can purchase from the Zune Store via XBox, then buying an iPod looks a lot less appealing. Only Zunes can play Zune Store video.

Apple needs to step things up a notch in the internet video space or risk falling behind and losing considerable business.