5 Webby services we'd like to see on the Apple TV

(Credit: Apple Inc.)

I've had a love/hate relationship with Apple TV since its release. Despite yesterday's price cut, the addition of the movie rental service, and computer-free content acquisition for things like Podcasts and music tracks, to me it's still not a necessary living-room entertainment device. The big deal-killer for me is still the closed system, which, for a modern-day streaming device, continues to act as if certain file formats don't exist, despite the competition's (including Microsoft) beginning to accept them with open arms.

However, the one thing that does interest me and gets me actually wanting one in my living room is the inclusion of highly specialized Web-based services. The most notable addition to come yesterday? Another big Silicon Valley service: Flickr.

So now we've got four Web-based services doing their thing on the Apple TV, including YouTube, which Apple added to the device in late June, Mac picture galleries, and movie trailers from Apple's popular QuickTime site. All of these got me thinking: what other Web-enabled services would go well with the Apple TV? Short of an Apple TV SDK that would let developers build in some new functionality to the device, surely there's room for more. I've put together a list of five services I'd like to see make their way onto the Apple TV that I think would actually work, given the relatively limited remote control and a lack of a keyboard.

1. RSS reader
While an RSS reader might be a borderline Web browser (which will likely never make its way anywhere close to the Apple TV), its use for some easy reading makes a lot of sense. As we've seen with Google's Wii-optimized version of its Reader product, living room RSS can be as easy as pie with a four-way directional pad and two control buttons, which the Apple TV remote just happens to have.

2. Weather
Weather on your TV is immensely helpful, and given the inclusion of the weather widget as standard on the iPhone, the iPod Touch, and on OS X since version 10.4, it would make sense to put a larger, more extensive version of the weather app on the Apple TV for folks who want to give the forecast a quick check without turning on their computer or navigating the crummy menus of their set-top cable box.

3. Stocks
Yet another widget that would be nice to have as a larger, more informative widget for wide-screen TVs. Since most ticker symbols can be looked up with three or four letters, a keyboard would be unnecessary to input your favorite companies. Along with weather, this one seems like a no-brainer.

(Credit: Joost )

4. Joost
Joost may be a software service, but the Apple TV has plenty of horsepower to drive it. It'll likely never happen, but given the amount of quality content that's on there, it would make a nice addition to the lineup of podcasts both audio and video that Apple's making available with the latest software update.

5. Internet radio (Shoutcast, Pandora, Last.fm, etc.)
Like Joost (above), Internet radio would make an excellent streaming extension to some of the downloadable content found via iTunes. Heck, it's already a part of the software iteration of iTunes--how hard would it be to stick those streams in there?

Got any of your own? Leave them in the comments.

[Pixelstuff]

I think it would be great if Apple could work a deal with companies like Hulu and the standalone networks that are attempting the same kind of video on demand (with limited commercials) such as ABC, FOX, etc. Design an Apple TV interface the way things seems to be happening with the iPhone.

But such a thing could finaly make real Video on Demand a viable TV medium if each station ran their own content where we could just tune (browse) into their site.

I realize it might cut a little into Apple's store service. But shouldn't cut completely into it, since a lot of people will still want to view on a portable device or have a commercial free (DVD like) experience. In which case the store is still attractive, especially if they get the HD content worked in for purchase.

The AppleTV is a product that will open the Digital Living Room, when it has the ability to add services and communication with the Rack full of AV equipment in the room has been accomplished.

Crestron and AMX own this market, and are not sleeping.

Solution?

Take "iRED" software add iTRANS to the USB port of the AppleTV, this would allow communication with the IR AV equipment in the room, then add Apple's CoverFlow as the basic Human Interface for all Digital Content, including .DOC, PDF, Text, HTML, Email, Photos, Videos, etc.

opps we just made a Digital Library... sorry sometimes the answer is right in front of us...

[danihro]

These are just small stuff. There is "one more thing" missing here.

I read a lot of complaints after the keynote, many of them about a "one more thing" missing there, something spectacular. While it is clear that no company can produce such anouncements every year, I am pretty sure about what will be for Apple.

Think of what is missing from their portfolio. Something to:
- address a large number of people
- to be used at home
- to worth spent money on because it is fun

Apple has music. Apple will have now movies. Apple needs GAMES!!!!!

The next big thing from Apple will be a games device. The made will make a small step this year with the EA Games. They willnot stop here. They have the resources to do it.

[robungar]

I'd like to see the ability to watch visualizers while playing music or listening to podcasts. While looking at the album art is cool most of the time, sometimes I'd like to have something a bit more entertaining on there. If you can have visualizers in iTunes, why not on the Apple TV?

And I agree with Josh on internet radio. It's a bit ridiculous that you can listen in iTunes but not on the ATV. I love discovering new music through internet radio and I want to hear it on the best speakers I have.

[jonGould]

The obvious service for me would be the BBC iPlayer. Interestingly, this was raised on the BBC blog site over the past couple of days. In this way, I would have access to all the BBC's recent content using my Apple TV.

[jonGould]

... and another one - I would love to see my Apple TV replace/augment the Squeezebox that I use. Currently, the Squeezebox has really good hooks into Internet radio and services like Pandora (sadly no longer available in the UK) and Rhapsody. It would be great if the Apple TV could do the same.

[mreiher]

Hummm... how about internet radio then add Tivo like features for the radio feed (so you can pause and rewind radio) and let me "tag" songs like with HiDef Radio. That would be cool.