Apple ends TV remotes rather than replace them ?

The new Apple TV has received some disappointing remarks from commentators. In part this is due to its lack of direct support for iPhone-like apps or apparent inability to get rid of the tangle of boxes and wiring behind the TV. As well as not providing the one-TV-remote that does everything, and gets rid of the rest. But maybe these criticism are unfair and resulting from Apple's strategy having not fully emerged.

However, Apple may think their is no need for UI apps to run on the TV. Clearly, the TV is not going to support a touch-based interface. It is likely all the UI controls a TV requires can be better accomplished using an iPod, iPhone, or iPad. Consequently, the TV's UI could be provided by apps running on multiple mobile devices used around the home.

We can see this direction emerging with Apple's AirPlay which enables mobile devices to stream video and audio to any AirPlay connected devices, such as an Apple-TV connected TV. This is a bit like using an iPod touch to stream music to a Hi-Fi system connected using a wireless AirPort Express. The AirPort acts as a bridge between the Hi-Fi and the home network. The Apple-TV could be used like an AirPort Express for Video. The relatively low $99 cost and power requirement of the new Apple TV would fit with this operation.

The Apple TV web site shows how in the future an iPod can be used to switch its output from the mobile display to a wirelessly connected TV (see How it Works). Video could be discovered or organized with a mobile app, but ultimately viewed on the TV. Maybe we will soon see an update to the iPhone SDK to support an AirPlay icon and menu for switching video output to any connected TV. This would enable developers to better build "TV apps".

Video stored on an iPod could be streamed to the TV, but it is also likely the iPod could alternatively just send the storage location of the video to the TV, along with the play-back position. This would reduce network traffic. A mobile app may find or select a video for TV viewing, but it need not have to be actually stream to the TV. Once given the video's network address, the Apple TV alone could deal with the decoding and presentation.

Now consider the tangle of boxes and multiple remotes. One solution would be a relatively simple video receiver box with no remote controller or built-in TV UI. In effect, a NAS-like box (Network Attached Storage) sitting next to an Apple TV and network-wired to the Apple TV. The box could receive ATSC, DVB-t or cableCARD-type CA-protected broadcast video. The UI for accessing the video would be on the iPod or other Apple mobile device. It would be easy and network-efficent for the UI on the user's mobile device to have the video "sent" to the TV for display, as the video's network address is close (wired) to the TV.

Such a system would easily support video time shifting and TV access to any video reachable on the home network, such as video stored on a laptop computer. All the TV-remotes are gone, replaced by the iPod of the like. Missing from the story, is the ability to control the graphics engine inside the Apple-TV. AirPlay only provides a means of switching the location for video decode, there appears no means for a UI application to incorporate such things as graphics transition animation between video playback. But maybe that's a future Apple demo.

Daniel Mann

Use your iPhone or iPod to watch big-screen TV

The latest "Navigate YouTube" iPhone/iPod touch app brings news reports, entertainment highlights or full-length movies directly to your TV -- no mouse clicks or monthly service fees required.

Full-screen video appears on the TV when it is connected to an iPhone or iPod touch via an Apple AV Composite Cable. Apple’s cable design does not replicate the entire mobile screen. The touch screen is used to start-stop-pause-step play or return to normal iPhone/iPod operation.

Thousands of individuals and companies such as Independent Television News (ITN), PBS, PBS NewsHour, Associated Press (AP), Discovery Networks, Film Movement, France 24, France 24 (English), Lionsgate Films, and OpenFlix, to name only a few, have YouTube channels. These channels contain a dizzying amount of uploaded videos, playlists and connections to other interesting video.

“Navigate YouTube” enables playlists or video channels to be watched in sequence with TV-like freedom -- no need to continually click a mouse or screen. It also makes it easy to find and subscribe to new channels. You can also exchange video recommendations with friends, or piggyback on their playlists and channel subscriptions.

The iPod touch in my home has effectively been turned into a Set-Top Box for watching TV.

So, lean back in front of the TV and sswatch the latest internet-delivered video, uninterrupted by mouse clicks. All without any monthly service fee.

Daniel Mann

What could friends know about your YouTube viewing ?

The updated version 1.3 of the iPhone and iPod touch app, Navigae YouTube, makes it easy to review the activity history of your friends and enjoy what they enjoy.

When someone adds your User ID to their YouTube address book (easily done with the Navigate YouTube iPhone app), you will receive an email request to become a friend of the requestor. If you accept the request, then you are promoted from an ordinary contact in their address book to a friend.

Similarly, you can easily use Navigate YouTube to request that a contact be converted to YouTube friend status. You can then look at their activity and better share your interest in YouTube video.

Navigate YouTube makes it easy to use the iPhone/iPod Touch to review the YouTube activity of one’s friends. In the example screen shot below, Pam is a friend. It is easy to review some of her recent YouTube activity. This is a great way to find interesting new video.

This feature, along with other interesting YouTube access features, is now part of the new version 1.3 update. The app makes it easy to be a YouTube expert-user.

There is more info at the iTunes App Store or at the user instructions webpage.

Daniel Mann

Navigateur pour YouTube pour iPhone et le iPod touch

Regardez Une app facile à utiliser pour le iPhone et iPod qui permet au débutant ou au utilisateur confirmé de YouTube d’obtenir le meilleur de YouTube.

Revisez les vidéos standards, les catégories, les canaux et les listes de reproduction. Organisez alors les nouvelles vidéos en vos propres favoris et listes de reproduction. Rendez la Playlist privée ou publique. Souscrivez aux listes de réproduction et aux collections de vidéos d’autres abonnés pour votre accès futur. Souscrivez aux vidéos pertinentes avec des mots de recherche.

Regardez les vidéos préférées publiquement visionnées, les listes de reproduction et les abonnements basés sur vos amis, famille et contacts de YouTube. Envoyez et recevez des recommandations de vidéos de vos contacts de YouTube par l'intermédiaire des messages de vidéo de YouTube.

Recherchez les nouvelles vidéos marquées pour votre région géographique, utilisant le clavier local. Explorez-les pour de nouvelles vidéos par l'intermédiaire de la commutation facile de l'identification de l'utilisateur au propriétaire des vidéos intéressantes - explorez alors leur monde.

Toutes les actions sont maintenues synchronisées avec le PC, l'accès Mac ou Apple-TV à YouTube.

Somaire:

• Regardez toute les catégories de vidéos: musique, nouvelles, sport,…
• Revisez les classements de vidéos : Évalué supérieur, les plus populaires…
• Changez la région géographique : États Unis, France, Japon, Brésil,… regardez alors les catégories et les normes standards pour la région.
• Écrivez des mots de recherche et trouvez des nouvelles vidéos pertinentes.
• Ajoutez les nouvelles vidéos aux favoris ou aux listes de reproduction.
• Créez et éditez les listes de réproduction ou les favoris. Rendez les listes de reproduction privées ou publiques.
• Souscrivez aux vidéos compatible avec les mots de recherche - de nouvelles vidéos sont trouvées sans recopier votre requête.
• Recherchez les listes de réproduction d’autres abonnés et souscrivez pour votre accès futur.
• Recherchez les canaux édités par National Geographic, BBC ou tout autre uploader de YouTube.
• Souscrivez aux canaux pour un accès futur facile et pour tenir à jour avec leurs derniers téléchargements.
• Regardez votre abonnement aux canaux, listes de reproduction, vidéos compatibles avec des mots de recherche ou à tous les favoris des autres abonnés.
• Regardez un sommaire des dernières vidéos ajoutées à votre abonnement de vidéos.
• Ajoutez ou enlevez d'autres utilisateurs de YouTube sur votre liste de contacts.
• Accès facile aux messages de vidéo de YouTube reçus de vos contacts.
• Envoyez une vidéo intéressante à un contact, et ajoutez un message court.
• Commutez l'identification de l'utilisateur à un de vos contacts pour accéder leurs favoris et listes de reproduction publiquement visionnées.
• Commutez l'identification de l'utilisateur à l'identification employée par un uploader de vidéos intéressantes.
• Regardez vos propres vidéos téléchargées.
• Découvrez une nouvelle vidéo, puis trouvez les vidéos pertinentes.

Daniel Mann

iPhoneとiPod Touch向け、YouTube向けナビゲーター

初心者から上級のYouTubeのユーザー向けに、YouTubeに最適化したiPhoneとiPod Touch向けの使いやすいアプリケーションです。

YouTubeの標準のフィード、カテゴリー、チャネル、そしてプレイリストに手軽にアクセスし、新しく見つけた画像を自分のお気に入りやプレイリストとして管理することができます。プレイリストの公開、非公開の設定できます。他のユーザーのプレイリストやビデオコレクションを後で見るために購読に加えることができます。また、検索ワードに合致した動画を購読する機能があります。

あなたのYouTubeの友人、家族、コンタクトが公開されているお気に入りビデオ、プレイリストや購読を見る事ができます。YouTubeビデオメッセージを使ってYouTubeのコンタクトとお勧めのビデオの送信、受信ができます。

画像検索に地域を設定してサーチできます。ユーザーIDに切り替える事により、画像オーナーの興味ある分野の画像を見られます。

全ての作業は、YouTubeに接続できるPC, Mac, またはAppleTV等他の端末で同期されます。


















概要
• ビデオ・カテゴリーを見る：Music, News, Sports, ...
• 標準のフィードを見る：Top Rated, Most Viewed
• 地域の設定を変更する：United States, France, Japan, Brazil, ...そして、その地域のカテゴリーや標準フィードを見る。
• 検索ワードを入れ、それに該当した新しいビデオを見つける。
• 新しいビデオをお気に入り、またはプレイリストに追加する。
• プレイリストやお気に入りを作成、編集する。また、プレイリストを公開、非公開を設定する。
• National Geographic, BBCやその他のYouTubeの動画提供者が公開したチャネルを検索する。
• あなたの定期購読するチャネル、プレイリスト、検索ワードに合致した動画、または他のユーザーのお気に入りを視聴する。
• あなたの定期購読に追加した最新の動画のまとめをみる。
• コンタクトリストの追加、または削除を行う。
• コンタクトリストからのYouTubeビデオメッセージを簡単にアクセスできる。
• 興味のあるビデオをコンタクトに送ったり、短いメッセージを追加したりできる。
• ユーザーIDをあなたのコンタクトに切り替え公開されているお気に入りやプレイリストにアクセスする。
• ユーザーIDを興味のある動画を提供するIDに切り替える。
• 自分が公開した動画を見る。
• 見つけた新しいビデオに関連したビデオを見る。

Daniel Mann

Navigator for YouTube available for iPhone

An easy to use iPhone and iPod touch App that enables both new and advanced YouTube users to get the best from YouTube.

Browse video Standard Feeds, Categories, Channels and Playlists. Then organize new videos into your own favoritists and playlists. Make plalists private or public. Subscribe to other user's playlists and video collections for future viewing. Subscribe to videos matching search-words.

Look at publicly viewable favorite videos, playlists and subscriptions based on your YouTube friends, family and contacts. Send and receive video recommendations with YouTube contacts via YouTube video messages.

Search for new videos tagged for your language or geographical region, using local keyboard. Explore for new videos via easy switching of user ID to the owner of interesting videos - then explore their world.

All actions are kept in sync with PC, Mac or Apple-TV access to YouTube.

Summary:

• View video Categories: Music, News, sport, ...
• View Standard Feeds: Top Rated, Most Viewed, ...
• Change geographical region: Unites States, France, Japan, Brazil, ... Then view Categories and Standard Feeds for the region.
• Enter search-words and find new videos with matching description.
• Add new videos to Favorites or Playlists.
• Create and edit Playlists or Favorites. Make Playlists private or public.
• Subscribe to videos matching search-words - new videos are found without reentering search-words.
• Search for other user's Playlists, and subscribe for easy future viewing.
• Search for Channels published by National Geographic, BBC or other YouTube uploader.
• Subscribe to Channels for easy future access and keeping up-to-date with their latest uploads.
• View your subscription to Channels, Playlists, video matching search-words or other users' Favorites.
• View a summary of latest video added to your video subscriptions.
• Add or remove other YouTube users to your list of contacts.
• Easy access to YouTube video messages received from contacts.
• Send an interesting video to a contact, and add a short message.
• Switch User ID to one of your contacts to access their publicly viewable Favorites and Playlists
• Switch User ID to the ID used by an interesting video uploader.
• View your own uploaded videos.
• Discover a new video, then find related videos.

Developed by Active-TV Technology. Currently available in English, French and Japanese at the iTunes App Store. User instructions are available in English. Feedback, corrections and comments are welcome.

Daniel Mann