Here is what I would like to see.
SUMMARY: One remote control. No wires. Access to all content is through applications.
(1) An "Apple TV" where when you turn it on the default interface is Apple's. There is no need to switch to another input on your TV in order to view your Apple TV. Apple TV is not a second class citizen. This could be because Apple sells you the TV, Apple license the Apple TV technology to TV manufacturers, or the current Apple TV box can be configured with your TV so you set it up once and then put away your original TV remote control.
(2) Apple finally supplies the true universal remote. Apple does to remotes what it did to smart phones. All the physical buttons are gone. Maybe it is your iPhone, iPad, a very inexpensive iPod Touch, or something like the TouchPad. Perhaps Siri-like voice control will supplement it, but there will be a physical controller.
(3) There will still be other (optional) components to your media center: a Blu-ray player, your Comcast DVR, your surround sound receiver. You will control all of these from your Apple TV via applications. For example, think of slingbox for accessing your DVR content from your iOS device.
(4) There will be no more wires and cables. New versions of these devices will use WiFi and a Bonjour/AirDrop like auto-discovery protocol. Just plug in the power and your Apple TV will automatically discover the device and display an application to control it. Sun tried to introduce something like this back in 1999 called Jini. Maybe this time it will work.
The Edison Of The Internet Sun Microsystems mastermind Bill Joy ...
(5) Individual content companies can make their own applications like Bloomberg, HBO, and ESPN have already done. These will be visible in a "newsstand" like section.
(6) Of course all your iCloud content -- purchased movies & TV shows, music, iPhoto albums and photostream -- are all available too. Just one application away.
(7) Throw in an iSight-like camera for grandma to see her grandchildren (or sexting on steroids!) Lion's photobooth has facial/feature recognition, so it can modify the view on the fly. Check out some of these examples on YouTube. It demonstrates Apple's ability to track a face in real time and modify the image in real time. Imagine if you could have it change your look so you looked like a troll, dwarf, or elf? This is the "make it fun" feature that has made Siri such a hit.
Funny Alien (Photo Booth Mac OS X Lion)
Frog Effect - OSX Lion Photo Booth!
Chipmunk Effect - OSX Lion Photo Booth!
Dizzy Birds Effect - OSX Lion Photo Booth!
Todd
PS. Imagine your next telecon meeting with the Pentagon. You could make (on your screen) the General look like a Klingon, and he would be wondering why you are smiling so much. (of course, he may have you showing up like a troll on his screen).
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