Apple events always prompt my lazy self to post, even disappointingly boring ones like today's "Let's Rock" announcement. If you missed it, new iPod nanos that are a throw-back to the old iPod nanos, new iPod touches that still don't make the thing a must-have, and a new version of iTunes. Shows are now available in HD ($2.99 an episode, right in line with XBLM). Oh yeah, and it looks like Apple and NBC made up. As I said to Dave earlier, welcome to 2006.
OK, so back in June I said
I'd buy an AppleTV if Apple offered shows in HD and once again played nice with NBC. And while I have been tempted by the AppleTV of late, I may need to eat my words here. Football season's back (and just as pretty as last season). The Fall shows have begun, including the
Amazing Race 13 and Project Runway, neither of which are available on any (legal) download service (true for Project Runway, we have yet to see about Amazing Race). Oh, and let's not forget that baseball playoffs are right around the corner.
But my unquenchable need to sync and simplify everything has got me thinking. Right now, I've got four boxes in the TV cabinet: a receiver, an Xbox, a Tivo, and the cable box. At least one of those can go, and I'm leaning on the aging Tivo. For a little less than what we pay for Tivo, I can just switch my Comcast box to a DVR. I know, I know! Boo, hiss, right? But we hardly use the Tivo anymore, and it has nothing to do with its interface and everything to do with its lack of HD-recording-ness.
Still, the AppleTV option is out there, so let me make a few other requirements (that I'll most likely be going back on in three or four months).
I don't see myself buying [an AppleTV] until Apple offers sports (or some way to get it via NFL.com or MLB.com) and discounts for buying entire seasons of a show (similar to
Amazon Unbox's 5%).