There is some speculation based on the flimsiest of a job posting (Apple To Bring iPhone OS To New Gadgets) that Apple could be looking to expand beyond the iPad device, as that being a first step beyond the phone and handheld information device world – perhaps into the mainstream TV world.
Apple have had Apple TV for sometime but that has taken a different evolutionary approach, basing itself on the full OSX implementation rather than the more single focused one found within the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices. It is not that much of a stretch though to see Apple switch the OS, just as Microsoft has now pushed their Windows Phone 7 into the single tasking world, from the more PC like 6.5 and earlier. What could this do though since the Apple TV has had very limited success?
Personally, I see this as a bit of a long shot and a market that would be a tough nut to crack, for a couple of reasons. The TV and STB market are now sparking off technologies such as OCAP, Flash, MHP/GEM/True2Way and HTML – technologies that have taken years in the making for the STB makers of today. The other reason, is that these technologies offer the ability to emulate the ‘App Store’ and grid model quite easily, rather than having the need to implement OSX on a new device. The TV market is finalising its transition to the Linux OS world, away from proprietary OS and Middleware combinations. All Apple would be, is just another proprietary OS and Middleware. I am not sure that Apple would have the clout to reverse this trend quickly.
Do you believe Apple could move into the TV world?
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