It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything about AppleTV. Or Boxee. When Boxee came out for OS X, it took the desire (or need) out of wanting to get a dedicated AppleTV for the purpose of using Boxee. And, to be honest, while the form-factor is intriguing, I can’t see it in my entertainment center and I have little desire to purchase a Boxee Box. We’ve settled into a comfortable routine with our Netflix queue and Netflix instant watch offerings for watching movies that we didn’t want to wait for in the queue and especially to catch up on past episodes of Lost or 24 without commercial interruption (which is essential when you’re trying to catch up on multiple seasons before series finales). Hulu and Boxee apps for OS X, or even surprisingly, the network sites like FOX and ABC, have been sufficient to watch any current season episodes of anything. Of course, now that Lost and 24 are finished, there’s only an occasional Lie To Me or Kitchen Nightmares that I care to watch. And if we really like something, like BBC’s Elizabeth Gaskell Collection box set (don’t look at me like that), we’ll invest in the DVDs. As for gaming, we’re still using our almost 10-year old GameCube! So, admittedly, we are not the ideal demographic in this space—or, are we? Now, with all the new rumors surrounding AppleTV’s change back to iTV and being brought over to the iOS platform with the promise of apps similar to iPad and iPhone—will the game be changed? Will we finally take the plunge? That all depends…

Of course, one of the things that it really depends on is us taking the plunge on a real HDTV set. We have a 24″ monitor that suits our purposes but its not the ideal. We’re still as committed (even more so) to keeping our family time not focused on entertainment but quality time spent together with games (of the board or card variety) or reading good and edifying books or just plain old, good conversations. So its always a battle to not let the “ooh, shiny” side of technology get the better of my judgement. Of course, financial verities are a good way to keep things in check too.

Another thing that it would depend on, is if Apple is able to offer a subscription model that is compelling enough to replace our Netflix subscription or at least low enough to augment it. And what might make that whole point moot is if, by virtue of embracing the iOS platform, that Netflix and/or Hulu iPad apps will be able to be easily modified to run on iTV similar to Wii, PS3 and Xbox if they chose. I’d much rather buy a device at the rumored $99 price point than $199 or $299-$399. Of all the rumored specs, thats the one I’m hoping is most accurate.

And as I’ve already mentioned, the gaming aspect is not as big of an incentive as it would be to many, but I can definitely see the logic and appeal now that Apple has some serious gaming momentum going for them for the first time in a long time. It only makes sense to capitalize on the lower cost of iOS games and I think iTV has the serious potential to break out of the hobby stage and into the same stratosphere currently enjoyed by the iPad and iPhone 4.

And the big fuss over 1080p being downgraded to 720p is in reality, not a big deal. However, I do think Apple is going to have a challenge overcoming the market perception after so much has been invested by BestBuy and other retailers to “educate” customers to the “benefits” of buying the best 55″ LED 240MHz 1080p behemoth that money can buy. Of course the biggest benefit is more money in their pockets.

Well, until Apple makes any announcement, I’m perfectly content with our current Netflix arrangement. To be honest, I’d be more excited if Apple announced the iPhone was available on T-Mobile—but alas, it looks like I will be having to choose whether to switch over to AT&T (which I’ve successfully resisted for three years) or Verizon (another rumor). Until then, back to werk!

It also seems ironic that the busier I am and not able to finish blog posts, I seem to get more ideas of potential good ones. For example, I’m just itching to write another post about AppleTV with all the news out the last week and a half about it. The only problem is that if you don’t sit down and start writing right away, specially if it involves breaking news regarding technology or politics, your final post–when you get around to finishing it–won’t be as fresh and relevant, not to mention, other news can break that might render your unfinished ideas and points moot anyways. So, the pressure is on to strike while the iron is hot and get that post finished.

In the meantime, back to werk!

I’m sure this has to make broadband providers more than a little nervous because this would mean a complete bypass of your need for their content delivery and in many ways, it already does. Just think, all you would need to pay for is the internet access (which is all we do currently anyway) and there would be no need for the myriad choices of cable content—it’s all there on your AppleTV. This is still the “intriguing” part for me. My only problem is that I’m actually looking for ways to cut down on my media distractions and am trying to think through if the AppleTV would fit that paradigm. So far, I’m thinking more nay than yay.

We currently have opted out of the normal cable content offerings as well as the brick and mortar video rentals and have been enjoying Netflix and the occasional iTunes purchase. So far, this has given as the most control over our media viewing without becoming the central fixture of our lifestyle. While I realize this bucks against the direction content providers would like us to blindly follow (and consume), it is important to me, that we make the best choices of our time together as a family and being able to view what we want, when we want on demand is definitely intriguing.

For some better analysis of what Apple is doing with AppleTV, check out  Daniel Eran Dilger’s blog, Roughly Drafted Magazine. While I don’t agree with his regular insertion of his liberal-left views into his technology reviews, there is probably no better analyst on Apple’s thinking and overall strategy—especially regarding the AppleTV market. In an article he wrote back in May, 2008, Daniel succinctly provides some interesting commentary on Apple’s hobby and what may be up their sleeve for AppleTV and what is currently holding it back from full adoption. I’m looking forward to a new, updated post regarding his thoughts on AppleTV specifically in regard to Steve Jobs’ comments during Apple’s fourth quarter results conference call yesterday regarding the ongoing status of AppleTV and the industry in general as still a “hobby.” It will be interesting to see how much Boxee will influence the adoption of this “hobby” into a full-blown industry.

It could have been argued in the past, that Apple didn’t need to enter into the living room space, as its brand was a technology brand and not a lifestyle brand. Why not just continue to tweak the AppleTV in its current form and pair it up to any HDTV set? I think that will continue to be an option for Apple, but Apple has always been about controlling the whole widget, the whole ecosystem. As of today, this is the one area in Apple’s business model where it has left out such a vital component–and it’s the component that people look at and interact with perhaps more than any other branded technology item in their household besides their mobile phone–and Apple’s well on their way to having that covered pretty well (some may argue the refrigerator, but I’m having a hard time visualizing an Apple logo on that). But with the unparalleled success of the iPod and iPhone as well as changing the name from Apple Computers, Inc. to just Apple, Inc., Apple has already broadcast their intention (or recognition) of being a lifestyle brand.

Personally, I feel that its high-time that Apple introduced its design philosophy to the living rooms of America, and for those that can afford to, to be able to build their entertainment center around an Apple product as the whole widget, rather than just as a peripheral, and display it front and center. I believe that Apple has established a reputation of being able to deliver a dead-simple device that just works. Those that are inclined for a more affordable solution should still have the stand-alone AppleTV as an option–even if it requires a bit more technical savvy. Add to it, the open-source environment and if services like Boxee take off, Apple will soon own the living room and will have become a true juggernaut, rivaling Sony in the home electronics landscape.

Having it be announced this coming Tuesday, might be too much to hope for, as Apple has made it clear that the spotlight will be on notebooks. But there’s always the possibility that Apple may make an announcement in time for the holiday shopping season (assuming there’s still any money left in the world to spend by that time), but it seems to be more likely something that would be announced at Macworld, come next January (just in time for the Super Bowl!). We’ll have to wait and see.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a true videophile. We do not have a monumental HD altar dedicated to the pantheon of gods emanating from Hollywood. We have consciously downplayed the role of the television in our household to focus on more profitable, mind-challenging activity such as; conversation (how novel!), reading and game playing (physical games like cards and board games — not Wii, PS3 or Xbox). In fact, with the exception of a couple of 20″ and 24″ computer LCDs, we don’t even own an HD set.

To be honest, we have been known to go on Netflix binges and start ordering only movies that star Cary Grant, or Gary Cooper or Clark Gable or Gregory Peck (of course, Peck went and spoiled that whole CG/GC leading man name paradigm), or I’ll order the whole Band of Brothers series along with the documentaries on the Battle of the Bulge and others for background. My wife and daughters likewise will go on a Jane Austen or Elizabeth Gaskell or Charles Dickens BBC binge (although I’ve also become quite a fan), but overall, we try to keep the TV off as much as possible.

In addition to our Netflix indulgences, I have slowly started perusing the iTunes movie and TV sections more and now occasionally add interesting TV shows as well as a movie here or there. Rentals are still iffy because I have a 5G Video iPod that doesn’t handle the rentals so I can only watch them on my computer. It isn’t bad if I’m on the road with my laptop, but the office isn’t the best place to gather the family ’round to watch a 2-hour movie. So, we’ve used teh iPod (I love teh the) to connect through our Costco-special TEAC stereo with video out from the iPod dock to watch on our TV. But with the lack of ability to navigate the menus on screen, coupled with TEAC’s horrid remote for basic controls, it is a less-than-desirable experience but not bad enough for me to run out and buy an AppleTV.

Until reading about Boxee, I’ve spent little thought wondering if it would be worth it to take the AppleTV plunge. But I have to say, that for the first time, it is intriguing enough to start counting pennies toward an AppleTV. Last night, while working I saw a tweet from Arnold Kim of MacRumors fame offering invites for Boxee and wanted to look into it some more. I checked out the site and while my curiosity was piqued, it wasn’t until this morning that the initial reports came out and I started looking into it a little more seriously. Wish I could have taken up on Arnold’s invite offer, but I don’t have an AppleTV…yet.

I think what intrigues me the most is the combination of open source, social networking, and custom channels that breaks out of Apple’s controlled environment. If you want to call it a downside, Boxee is unable to play any DRM content from iTunes so you’ll have to switch to Apple’s interface for that, but it really opens up the world of content on demand so that you can take control over what you want to watch, when you want, and help friends with recommendations (although you can’t always trust friend’s recommendations — but that’s another story). The whole open source aspect is encouraging in that it may open up a whole world to “hobbyist” developers to add to the platform and likewise establish the AppleTV even more as the media hub of choice for techies.

My biggest concern is if you will have the ability to filter content and craft your own UI preferences so you’re not constantly visually assaulted by all the garbage (for me, but specially for the kids) that is out there even on the cover artwork (can I say how tired of seeing “Saw” covers I am?). But I guess I will have to wait until I can actually join as an alpha or beta tester — or more likely “early adopter” by the time I’m really ready to make the plunge — to be able to make realistic recommendations. But I can safely say that I am honestly “intrigued” and that is half the marketer’s battle right there.

If you’re looking for an invite to Boxee, in addition to applying directly to Boxee, a good place to go is this thread in the MacRumors forum.