hans.gerwitz

Apple has pre-​​announced their TV-​​integration product, tenta­tively named iTV.

This is exactly what I’ve predicted the long-​​rumored “Asteroid” product to be. Since Apple embraced video on the iPod it’s been a simple conclusion that Airport Express and Front Row would end up in a targeted device. Lately I wondered if they were going to simply produce a Mac Mini HD, but I’m glad to see they under­stand that living room media presen­tation is a very specialized (yet common) need.

An important part of this announcement seems to be over­looked: this is not a Mac OS X computer. Unlike Microsoft, Apple is not a software company and is more than happy to build a future of personal media management based on a collection of specialized devices. AAPL share­holders should rejoice that the calls for a split between the hardware and software divi­sions of Apple were ignored, and that the company clearly under­stands that they need to be more than a PC manufacturer.