Leaves are beginning to turn yellow and fall from the trees, and Apple fans are agonizing over the launch of iCloud, a service that will allow them to enjoy all the delights of wireless content syncing. Our lives will change very soon, and if rumors are to be believed, the wait is less than a month.
If you own a Mac or iOS device, then you probably already have an idea of what Apple’s new cloud service has to offer. But the question we most want to ask is: how will the advent of iCloud enrich the functionality of our beloved Apple TV set-top box? Since she’s running iOS, doesn’t she really deserve to get her share of all these cloud benefits? And while Apple hasn’t yet announced iCloud features for its growing hobby, we’ll try to make a few predictions about how the cloud can brighten the lives of the owners of this “baby”.
cut the wires
At this point, Apple TV owners can stream their movies and TV shows from their iTunes library to their TV. And if in 2006 it was something out of the ordinary, today few people can be surprised by such a function. Therefore, there is every reason to expect that in 2011 Apple will use its facilities and server space to allow users to stream their content to Apple TV in audio, video and graphic format.
Less than two weeks ago, there was evidence in the iOS 5 beta that the company has no objection to streaming content to iOS devices. In particular, the source code contained a mention of the function of streaming music to the iPhone and iPad, which first disappeared and then appeared again.
If Apple wants to get its customers to exclaim “Wow!” in unison, then it will have to raise the bar even higher and allow users to stream not only music, but also video purchased from the iTunes Store. Similar to iTunes Match, Cupertino’s can take the entire collection of video content associated with a particular iTunes account and let the user stream that content to Apple TV.
Moreover, under such a system, Apple TV owners could purchase content from iTunes using the set-top box itself and without having to turn on the computer to do so. This will greatly increase the appeal of Apple TV among users who want to create an entertainment center in their home that would not be tied to a computer.
Well, is it worth saying that such a solution would provide a significant increase in sales of both the set-top box itself and various content in iTunes. If our knowledge of arithmetic does not fail us, then Apple will definitely seize this opportunity, which will allow both it and content providers to earn.
For those Apple TV owners who have a Mac, Apple will make it possible to download iPhone collections directly to iCloud. This will then allow you to view your photos directly on your Apple TV, without having to get up from the couch and go to your computer. Who among you would refuse such a royal gift?
Share content and enjoy
Apple has always been very strict about copyright protection related to the content it distributes. Today, a movie purchased from iTunes can only be viewed on a device authorized for use with your iTunes account. This means that if you plan to watch your favorite movie at a friend’s house, you will need to take one of these devices with you.
If Apple implements the content streaming solution we described above, it will allow you to share your iTunes content with your friends and family much more conveniently. Apple’s partners can hardly be expected to ever free their content from DRM protection, which prevents files from being copied from one device to another. However, the solution of streaming music and videos to iOS gadgets will most likely make everyone happy.
For several years now, rumors have appeared in the press that Apple is experimenting with the use of NFC near-field communication technology. This technology allows devices in close proximity to each other to exchange data without the need for a network connection. If Apple wants to integrate NFC into new generations of iOS devices (including, of course, Apple TV), then sharing your iTunes library content with a friend will be as easy as sitting with your iPhone in your pocket on the couch in his living room .
Through the use of NFC, Apple TV will be able to detect that there is an iPhone or other iOS device in the room. You click OK and then you have the option to access your media collection and stream it anywhere without having to enter any further personal details.
As soon as you leave a friend’s house, the ability to consume content from your account disappears, and the data broadcast is interrupted. Of course, if your friend did not like these media files so much that he himself wanted to buy them in iTunes. After he does this, he will be able to continue watching the movie from the very place when you had to leave his house.
