Article
The iPod + iPhone Year in Review 2007
By Jeremy Horwitz
Editor-in-Chief, iLounge
Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Category: Features
Click Below to Read the Rest of This Article:
The one major interruption in the iPhone’s six-month hype campaign was Apple’s introduction of Apple TV, an HDTV-dependent media streaming and 40GB storage device with built in wireless capabilities. Touted by Apple as the DVD player of the 21st Century, the $299 Apple TV did away with optical disk storage in favor of playing back music, videos, and photos that were synchronized from a user’s iTunes library, touting its ease of use and clean TV-friendly menus as reasons to prefer it to a video docked iPod or other types of TV-dedicated media players.
By iPod sales standards, the Apple TV was a flop: lacking support for popular video formats, it could only play movies and TV shows that were downloaded from the iTunes Store or transcoded using time-consuming software that Apple was reluctant to provide. The company attempted to reinvigorate interest through a software update and a hardware refresh, adding YouTube video browsing and a $399 160GB model, but consumers didn’t appear to be interested: Apple Store displays of the hardware gathered fewer crowds than curious, confused glances. CEO Steve Jobs quickly re-defined the device as a “hobby” for the company, rather than a pillar of its future growth.
Despite repeated rumors that Apple planned to make changes to improve Apple TV’s appeal, such as adding high-definition iTunes Store video downloads and rentals, releasing a DVR accessory, or reducing its price, nothing actually happened in 2007; even expected software updates have failed to materialize. Instead, the device’s key feature—its clean on-TV user interface—has been absorbed into the Leopard operating system, and Apple Store displays have shrunk to provide more room for popular Apple products. At this point, Apple TV’s biggest moment was the day of its release, and it won’t likely shine like that again until 2008.
Click Below to Read the Rest of This Article:
Related Stories
- Instant Expert: iTunes U for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iBooks 2.0
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: Honorable Mentions
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: iPod, iPhone, iPad + Mac
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iTunes Match
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iCloud (2011)
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- iLounge Weekly coming early Monday, giveaway reminder
- iBackFlip launches Somersault case for iPad
- Motorola loses third patent case against Apple in Germany
- Apple rushing to pick demo apps for next iPad launch
- Apple airs new Siri-focused iPhone 4S ads
- Periscope Audio Lab releases SpaceSampler
- Evernote Hello improves contact entry features
- eMailGanizer Pro adds Universal Inbox, Smart Folders
- Scosche rolls out bassDock for iPad
- German court rejects Apple bid to ban Galaxy 10.1N
Recent Reviews
- Cygnett Apollo for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! ID for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! With Stand for iPhone 4/4S
- Solid Line Products RightShift 2 Removable Keyboard Case for iPad 2
- Spigen SGP Kuel F60Q Battery Pack
- Just Mobile Highway + Highway Pro for iPod, iPhone + iPad
- Speck CandyShell and CandyShell Satin for iPhone 4/4S
- Jensen JiPS-310i Docking Speaker for iPod, iPhone & iPad
- FrappeDesign Smart Sleeve for iPad 2
Recent Articles
- iOS Gems: Adventures of Tintin, Reckless Racing 2 + Scramble With Friends
- Ask iLounge 2-3-12
- Making The Case For - And Against - An Apple iTV Television
- Instant Expert: iTunes U for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iBooks 2.0
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: Honorable Mentions
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: iPod, iPhone, iPad + Mac
- iOS Gems: Bug Princess, Dora Hops Into Phonics, It’s A Small World, Sleepy Jack + X Is For X-Ray
- The Complete Guide to Managing iTunes Videos
- Editorial: As CES Grows, Will Microsoft’s Loss Be Apple’s Gain?
1
As always, a nice write up! I hope Apple can work out some of the kinks in quality control, especially when it came to the touch’s screen and bugs in iTunes.
Still, I’m looking forward to see what happens in 2008!
Posted by cxc273 on December 20, 2007 at 6:30 AM (PDT)
2
Rumors abound that Apple is trying to trademark the phrase “Triple Play”. Why, would they do that? Beginning next month, the iTunes Store will finally offer 720p HD content. That one file will play on your Mac or PC, your Apple TV, and yes, even the latest generation of iPods! The MPAA required Apple to have some sort of authentication chip since iPods could output a 480p signal. With a future firmware update, that output will jump to 720p.
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on December 20, 2007 at 8:21 AM (PDT)
3
I want to see iTunes change to a database subsystem based on SQL. I want performance. When it takes a second or two to simply register a click in iTunes, the underpinnings are badly designed. It’s not really a global media server and I think people will want to be able to access it at the same time from multiple devices.
I’m a huge fan of Apple TV and would be heartbroken if Apple gave up on it, as I’ve invested thousands of hours in crafting my iTunes library for use with it. I’d like to see it gain an optical drive.
Posted by Japester on December 20, 2007 at 4:08 PM (PDT)