The new iOS based AppleTV is awesome. Streaming from iTunes and AirPlay is great and it is one of the best NetFlix clients out there. But where are the Apps and the AppleTV App Store? We have an App Store for iPhones, iPads and now even for the Mac. So why not AppleTV?
Here is my theory... I think Apple is looking for the best way for the user to interact with the AppleTV before opening up app creation on it. A remote control just isn't an Apple-like way to do user interaction, it is so 1970's. I think maybe Apple is working on something like Microsoft's Kinect for XBox or some other futuristic way to interact with the big screen. Maybe some form of voice and gesture combination based interaction. Imagine a device that plugs into the AppleTV's USB port and sits above or below your TV that has a camera, microphone and other motion sensors like Kinect. This device could respond to voice commands, as well as gestures, to control the user interface or to play games. For example, you could just say "AppleTV open NetFlix" and the NetFlix app launches. Then you could scroll through movie lists using swipe gestures. This device would also allow the AppleTV to be an excellent FaceTime client! Just tell the AppleTV to "Call Grandma" and boom, you are video chatting with Grandma and she can watch her grandchild taking their first steps across the living room.
Hopefully Apple has something like this up it's sleeve for the next version of the AppleTV, then I think it will go from being just a hobby to being the next big hit for Apple.
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