Could an Apple HDTV plus an iPhone remote equal living room bliss?

An Apple HDTV with an iPhone remote control opens up intriguing possibilities for living-room entertainment.

In a note to clients Thursday, Gene Munster, a senior analyst at investment bank Piper Jaffray, floated the notion that Apple would take a bite out of the TV market in 2011 by introducing its first television.

To help support his claim, Munster cited the more than 48 million iPhones and iPod Touches out there that could be used as TV remotes or interactive game controllers.

Of course it's just speculation at this point, but that describes 99 percent of Apple-related blogging anyway, right? And in that vein I think an iPhone/iTouch enabled HDTV would be pretty dang cool if the company did it right. Let's call it the "iHDTV."

Of course any Apple-branded HDTV should have an Apple TV box built-in...but that's just the beginning.

(Credit: CNET)

Imagine a television that's smoothly integrated into both your home network--for streaming your videos, photos and music--and the Internet at large, including not just iTunes for music and movies but the whole array of Web-based content currently available through the browser on your computer. The company's Apple TV box works great already for many of those functions, and the first step a future iHDTV would need to take is to build that functionality right into the flat-screen TV itself, without the need for an external box.

Even with a built-in Apple TV box and a big, shiny Apple logo, the iHDTV would barely rate a "ho-hum" from jaded tech reviewers like myself. Nope, the real coolness and opportunity for innovation would be the seamless integration of a high-powered, Web-enabled touch-screen remote control--especially one 48 million people already own. Like, say, an iPhone.

Touch-screen remotes aren't new. From the groundbreaking Philips Pronto to the current Logitech 1100, they've always raised jealous eyebrows from visitors to living rooms swanky (or wasteful) enough to include them. Sure, I prefer the "hard" buttons of my good old universal remote, but with subtle vibration feedback and customizable buttons I could be convinced to go touch screen. Especially given Apple's well deserved reputation for ease of use and slick interface design.

The Logitech DiNovo mini-keyboard is great, but an iPhone is even better.

(Credit: CNET)

Meanwhile any devoted owner of a living-room-based home theater PC, or HTPC, will tell you that a keyboard is necessary for full functionality. But few mainstream couch potatoes want a bulky full-sized keyboard cluttering up the living room table--let alone the hassle of buying, configuring and maintaining an HTPC. Elegant solutions already exist of course, including the Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard, which earned an Editors' Choice award and high praise: "If you're a home theater PC owner looking for the perfect input device, look no further."

I think an iPhone or iPod Touch, mated to an Internet-enabled television, makes an even more perfect input device. We love the current iTunes remote app, which controls iTunes or an Apple TV box, as well as the Sonos app, which does the same thing with the Sonos multi-room audio system. How much cooler could an iHDTV/iPhone combo be?

• When mated via Bluetooth to the TV the default skin on your iPhone could automatically mimic a standard remote control, complete with customizable buttons.
• You could use the touch-screen keyboard to enter info sent to the TV. But instead of devoting valuable TV screen space to text or information, the phone could be the "words" and the TV the "images" component of an integrated Web/content browser.
• The phone's accelerometer or the screen itself can serve as a mouse on a browser or to otherwise manipulate the TV interface.
• Bluetooth and the 3G network connection would mean you wouldn't have to aim the remote at the TV, or even be in the same room or the house.
• You could browse channel listings, lists of recorded DVR shows or movies and video-on-demand offerings right on the phone, select one and have it start playing on the TV.
• TV content could be duplicated on the remote's screen, so you could take it into other rooms, outside or even across the country to follow the TV action (e.g. Slingbox for iPhone).
• A video from the iTunes store you began watching on the commute home could be finished on the TV.
• When your iPhone rings the TV show you're watching could automatically pause, then resume when you hang up. Caller ID info could show up on the TV.
• A camera on the TV could be used for video chat that employs the iPhone's speaker and mic.
• The TV could serve as an extra-large monitor for the iPhone's camera/camcorder.
• The remote could serve as the small window of a PIP (picture-in-picture) function, allowing you to keep tabs on two channels or content pieces at once full-screen.
• Notifications for new e-mails, texts and instant messages could appear on both the phone and the TV, and allow you to read/reply on either the big or the small screen.
• Apps like iTunes, Facebook, and YouTube could display the photos and video on the big screen but be searched and controlled via the touch-screen remote.
• Game apps could be designed for or adapted to the iHDTV, allowing a big-screen gaming experience controlled via the touch-screen iPhone or iPod Touch.
• The TV could interface with multiple iPhones or iPod touches in the same room for collaborative casual gaming.

Many of these functions are possible now, naturally, but only with extra gear and the accompanying headaches. I'm sure the people at Apple and the app developers themselves could think up even better uses for the iPhone/HDTV combo. You probably can too--let us know in comments.

Before 2011, of course, significant hurdles remain between today and the perfect union I'm envisioning. The TV market has its established players, who have their own (mostly, currently) weak attempts at Internet-enabled TVs, as well as track records at producing high-quality display devices. Apple needs to get the content side right, which means adding Netflix streaming at least, or even "opening up" a sort of media browser in the TV to Hulu and similar Web-based providers. And oh yeah: it needs to make a TV with a good picture (and a frame that isn't white, please!). There's no doubt that the iHDTV would be an expensive beast, however, so why not go all-out with OLED? I can dream, right?

[monkeyfun14]

Sure if its affordable I would love to have one the problem with that is how much they would want for it just by looking at the prices they want for a LCD monitor. I would be horrified to see what they would want for a TV.

[jakemochas]

$9000? i'd rather get one of those paper-thin samsungs with surround sound

[zmnatz]

I just use the Airmouse App for my iphone. It's got keyboard, media controls, mouse control, ... Just like that I can get control of just about any app i feel the need to use.

[sticks1839]

Your first bullet just gave me a great idea (which I'm sure others have thought of). Why not create an iPhone app for controlling the PS3 via Bluetooth? I'm sure additional Bluetooth profiles would be needed in the iPhone itself, and I don't have any knowledge or expertise to accomplish it; but that would be so awesome.

[celticbrewer]

My TV remote does ONE thing- turn the monitor on and off. Every other function is on a DVR, Console, etc... An itouch/iphone isn't going to control my other peripherals (perhaps PS3 with bluetooth). Any person looking for "living room bliss" wants a universal remote that will do everything.

So unless Apple develops a TV that's really, primarily a HTPC, Game Console, BR player, network media player, steaming media player, DVR, etc.. all in one, then this is absolutely pointless. Maybe they should work on making AppleTV not suck so much. You could have some fun integration there with your handheld devices.

[planblove]

I'm sure they've thought of this, if they're even thinking of this at all. This is all speculative at best. The easiest solution would be to hook up with logitech and basically create an app that does what their harmony remotes do now, control everything with an IR receiver in your house.

[DevSkills]

Yep I am with you planblove. If the service is not available on the TV itself then that service has failed to penetrate the available market. We are nearing the death of the need for set top boxes. Though I am not sure apple will have a open enough solution for it to work for the masses.

[unidentified504]

I'm a big Mac fan, but I think this is a crazy, unwarranted idea. Guess it's a slow news day on the tech side. I mean, a TV is something most people switch-out every 7 to 10 years. Well, new mac products are switched out say... yearly. And how will you click the channel if somebody is on the phone. I mean a TV is a family product. It's getting to the point bloggers just pick a random technology and stick Apple's name to to it. I'm waiting for the story on the Apple time traveler.

[Rohou]

While I somewhat agree with you, somehow I think they would package one of their small, white apple remotes with the tv, so people without iphones/ipods could get one, see?

[Captain Sparrow3]

I get your point about the switching but also imagine how many iPhone iPod Touch users who are on PC could SWITCH to APPLE OS X. I currently own iPhones and a Touch but still using PC. 48 million owners remember ??

[grtgrfx]

He didn't mean switch platforms. He meant upgrade the computer (buy a new model to replace an old one). But the Mac replacement rate is much longer than annually. Macs are typically held for over three years before being replaced.

[ameno13]

David, if you want to experience the bliss you describe RIGHT NOW why not just put Boxee ( http://www.boxee.tv ) on your AppleTV and put the free Boxee Remote App ( http://blog.boxee.tv/2009/03/15/boxee-iphone-remote-app-available-on-the-app-store/ ) on your iPhone/iPod Touch?

The only reason I even use my AppleTV is to run Boxee. All of the functionality you "imagine" in this article is already available (and has been for months now)... FOR FREE.

[EvanSei]

I suspect the t.v. would have an L.E.D. screen, built in apple t.v. access to internet (strictly for apple t.v. use) an all aluminum case and a totally glass front like the current computer monitors. and bluetooth or something like that for connection to you iPhone/iPod touch. It would be really nice but most probably expensive, expensive to a point that you have to wonder if it is worth it when of course you could always plug a computer into your t.v. and get similar functionality. If this thing does come to see the light of day one thing is for sure it will be sexy and very pricy.

[scrubbingbubbles]

Oh how thinking backwards you are. Do you even know what an AppleTV set top box does? Maybe you should looking into it. What else do you think they can come up with in a year or two? Are we even going to be using these old school laser discs much longer? The internet is the future my friend. BR players.....DVRs.....even game consoles are going to be going towards what is referred to as the "cloud."
Get with the times you dinosaur.

[jrei94]

very true. if only ISPs would offer faster up/down speeds at lower prices. especially upload speeds. clearly download speeds are more widely used, but when you want to upload your tv shows from your home to your mobile phone, you get absolutely crap quality on crummy upload speeds like AT&Ts DSL. I have nothing against AT&T as i have an iPhone myself, and generally get good service, but my 756kbps upload speed at home doesnt exactly give me good video quality on my iPhone with Orb getting 1+mbps download speeds. Verizon's FiOS looks pretty sweet with 50mbps down, 20mbps up, but the cost is outrageous.

[Captain Sparrow3]

Yep I'm truely looking forward at buying with hard earned money content in a "CLOUD" . Great times to look ahead to... Working for a piece of "CLOUD" Dandy...

[mibollma]

instead of developing another proprietary set of products a standardized protocol to control any multimedia peripheral with any phone would be MUCH better for consumers

[goatpoo]

I like the pic in pic idea. Imagine being able to scroll through tv stations on your iPhone like you can in iTunes; once you touch it, it magically swoops up to your big screen. Channel surfing would be changed forever.

[eyemahsource]

Why would Apple want to get into the large screen business? I use a MacBook Pro 17" driving a Panasonic PTAE-2000u 1080p projector via DVI to HDMI cable. This, in a dedicated darkened room, gives a far better experience than the local movie theater. I can use Netflix, VUSE, HULU, YouTube or demonstrate programs or do collective web browsing all on a 96" x 54" screen. The very term "TV" has become an anachronism and therefore the use of the term promotes muddy, irrelevant thinking. Now, where are the prosumer, laser engine projectors that will dominate the living room of the future? And when will the dumb pipes begin to realize that they're dumb and offer all content as open IPTV?

[johw96]

It sound great. How can we make it?


This tool have more fun for Ya. '4Media Apple TV Video Converter for Mac'
http://www.111download.com/product/4media-apple-tv-video-converter-for-mac.html

[jayj3000]

Here's what i think would be an issue with a tv that you controlled primarily through your iphone.....it's still your phone, so when you get ready to leave, what are the other people in your house without an iphone gonna do?

[fshea]

And I also want to give my iPhone to the Kids to throw it around and use it like they currently use the remote.

The iPhone would be broke in about an hour.

Gene Munster needs to quit pumping Apple and become an unbiased analyst.

[EskWIRED]

I used to use a Palm Treo, which has built-in IR. I used to use it as my TV Remote.

My iPhone has no IR, so that functionality is lost. I miss my Palm.

Are there any boxes which would connect to my iPhone via Bluetooth and emit IR to control the TV? Are there any IR attachments for the iPhone which would restore this lost functionality?

I miss my Palm.

[Rod Roddy]

Yeah...no. That has gimmick written all over it. What will an Apple branded TV bring to the table other than haveing an iPhone/iPod remote? Access to there ill fated Apple TV? Sooner or later a manufacturer like LG for example will get their TVs to be compatible with an iPhone/iPod--for a lot less to boot. Furthermore an Apple HDTV will most likely lack in someway so that Apple could later release a second generation and so on...I'll pass.

[jakemochas]

why would they make a tv for a phone? that's just ridiculous... usually you make the remote for the tv!

[sting7k]

Apple's Cinema displays are already over priced and come with a proprietary connection. Them making an HDTV would be insane.

[longranta]

Even the fact that I could finally get a TV with a UI that doesn´t suck would be enough to pay some extra. TV with a decent processor inside would be great. How about a Wii sort of control on it, simple 1 button pointer device with an UI to go with it. You could even build a web browser in it too, given that the browser UI would be tweaked to accommodate the pointer devices capabilities in accuracy.

[the_fiddler]

I just don't see how AppleTV or an Apple TV can really be relevant or better than existing equipment without support for streaming services such as Netflix, or Hulu or something? Seriously, has anyone downloaded a movie from Apple lately? Its so slow. I have a fast connection and it takes forever. Apple needs on-demand if its really going to make something that's revolutionary. Otherwise, you've just got a TV that happens to interact with your iPhone in cool ways. Nice, but what about content?

[DarkHawke]

Way ahead of you, Dave. My 58" Panasonic plasma (courtesy in part your high recommendation!) has its own Dell computer with a Logitech DiNovo Edge wireless keyboard. This rig gives me instant access to recorded TV (via Beyond TV), web TV (Hulu, Netflix, YouTube), Blu-ray discs (will Apple ever natively support this format?) and all of my music. Not entirely seamless yet, but I have no doubt there's a thousandfold the flexibility in this rig than you'd get from any Apple solution. Sure, it would likely be slickly packaged and all (though what I have looks pretty frakkin' hot, even if it's just me talkin'), but would it have Blu-ray support? Or even be able to record TV? Based on how Apple's been with these common home theater tasks, signs point to "no."