Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Apple to Rule the Digital Home by 2013?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the apple-speculation-america's-new-pastime dept.

Stony Stevenson writes to tell us that a new study from Forrester Research is taking a crack at what seems to have become a hobby for so many, predicting Apple's market strategy. Specifically, Forrester is predicting that Apple will become the 'hub of the digital home by 2013.' "Forrester predicts that Apple will offer eight key products and services to connect PCs and digital content to the TV-stereo infrastructure in consumers' homes. A 're-engineered' Apple Store will expand into in-home installation services to deliver what Forrester describes as a 'fully integrated digital experience.'"

3 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. No they won't by awitod · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It'll be either one of the console vendors Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony (Probably Microsoft if they can get their heads out their asses on the matter of DRM. The XBox 360/Windows Media stuff works pretty well already and is simple to set up) or a set-top box vendor (again if they can come up with a DRM strategy).

    Apple doesn't make anything that hooks to a TV that has any critical mass.

    1. Re:No they won't by lucas+teh+geek · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I was thinking the same thing. The way the 360 integrates with an internal Windows network to deliver high quality video and audio is pretty darn slick.
      I fixed that for you. Microsoft's failure to allow the 360 to stream over widely supported protocols is pathetic. you can't even use SMB, which they developed themselves. even using the one windows pc in the house with WMP11 I've had endless troubles with getting the 360 to see the damn pc. uPNP seems pretty half baked if you ask me.

      maybe I've had my expectations set too high after using xbox media centre for so long, but after being able to watch pretty much any video format over nearly any protocol the 360's media "integration" just seems like a polished turd
      --
      TIAEAE!
  2. Forrester cracks me up... by voidstin · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How they get people to pay thousands of dollars for this "research" is amazing. Can anyone ever remember someone saying "Damn! Forrester totally called it!"

    The 4 new products they predict are:

    * AppleSound universal music controller
    what, for the times when you are out of earshot of itunes, ipod or apple tv? or so you can sync them? I don't see the market here.

    * Network-enabled gadgets
    like a chumby? or an ambient orb?

    * In-home installation services
    apple geek squad? Ok, this may be true, but really... yawn...

    * Apple home server product
    This is the only one that MAY be interesting, but that's probably just because they don't say much about it. isn't this what the mini is? or mini+drobo?