Why I Like Having Video Podcasts In My Living Room

April 20, 2007

I've recently bought an Apple TV and have been using it in my Brooklyn apartment for a couple days now - and I like it - with caveats. I've never bought iTunes content and I don't have any real plans to do so. I'm not a big TV-show fan and I'm not compelled to buy movies (or music for that matter) with Apple's offered quality and that are tied to the iTunes drm.

So why buy the Apple TV if you don't want iTunes Store content?

The number one draw for me was to be able to easily bring video podcasts into my living room. Secondarily it's nice to bring photos and mp3s into the living room as well.

What I Like

• Access to an ungated swarm of content.
• While there is a somewhat limited set of video podcast content, the great thing is that just about every micro niche you may be interested in is probably covered. I'm watching (and learning) things about geeky tech (of course), design, martial arts, animation, news, automotive-related things & family-friendly shows for my 3 year old.
• Ability to create my own content and publish it through places like Big Contact and have it end up in other people's living rooms.
• Being able to choose what to watch when I want to watch.
• Hopefully, eventually allow easier sharing of video with family members.

What I Don't Like

• Because Apple TV doesn't draw the podcasts directly from the internet (instead it relies on the computer in your den to do the main work) you still feel tethered to that computer and what it may or may not be doing. If your "mothership" computer and iTunes aren't constantly running then you aren't gauranteed to have the latest content on your TV. So I find myself still managing the iTunes software on my laptop making sure Apple TV has the latest goods. That's a little annoying.
• It's a very closed system. Folks are hacking away at this device around the country I see - but for normal folks who want more options - this device ain't it. What kind of options? How about the ability to load any 3rd party app onto the device? One that perhaps would let you find content directly from the web? Or that would allow you to play internet-connected games? Or that would allow for something no one has thought of yet?

I'm still surprised a small company, a group of open source folks or an individual with a lot of time on his or her hands hasn't created an open alternative using all the off-the-shelf stuff that the Apple TV uses.. and more. That day-dreaming, wishful-thinking project will be the subject of my next post...

Until that day comes, I do like the Apple TV even in this 1.0 state. I can't wait to see ever more clever folks come to the video podcasting game as they see the Video-Podcast-In-The-Living-Room audience grow. And I'm excited to add my 2 bits in there where I can...

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