At the end of an article at TUAW talking about the possibility of the Mac Mini and AppleTV both transitioning over to Nvidia’s Ion platform, Robert Palmer asks the same question we’ve been musing over:
But what if the next-generation Apple TV and Mac mini were one in the same?
Since the AppleTV is considered an Apple “hobby” product, without Apple’s full weight behind it, it stands to reason that the product is little more than a proof-of-concept with the need for forward movement. Effectively, the AppleTV is little more than a cheap, headless Mac running a quick-to-boot version of OS X. Beyond that, the AppleTV is pretty software on an otherwise normal foundation.
That said, there’s little reason Apple couldn’t simply refresh the Mac Mini and include on it the AppleTV software. Imagine a product that, once booted, loads the AppleTV interface, and includes a way to quickly jump to a the OS X desktop if one wants to use the device’s computing functions. With wireless HDMI and a bluetooth keyboard/mouse, this new Mac Mini could leverage a modern television as a monitor, thus becoming an incredibly cost-effective, family computing solution.
With other entertainment products sporting integrated Netflix and YouTube streaming, and packages like Boxee already available for the AppleTV, there’s little reason that Apple couldn’t gain third-party support to beautifully integrate additional video delivery systems into the AppleTV framework. With a commanding video delivery system and the opportunity to transform ones living room into their office, a new Mac Mini could become a perfect alternative to a secluded office environment, especially for students and young professionals.
With TiVo software already out in the wild for use on PCs, the Mac Mini could further be refined with an integrated version of the TiVo software. This would solidify the Mac Mini’s hold in one’s entertainment center, being a viable alternative to stand-alone units. The only problem here is royalties, which Apple may not be prepared to pay. Of course, knowing Apple, a home-grown TiVo competitor could also materialize, and is exactly what AppleTV users have been asking for since day one.
In any case, here’s hoping the merger of the AppleTV and Mac Mini products actually materializes. Combined with a cheap Apple notebook netbook Annex, our computing needs would pretty much be met entirely.
Similar Posts:
- Apple TV, AirPlay, and Plex. – When we mentioned jailbreaking the Apple TV, we didn’t make clear that yes, a jailbreak for Apple TV…
- The Apple guy told me to pirate TV. – In beautiful form, my visit to the local Apple store today resulted in an ironic flashback to Apple’…
- TiVo buying versus homebrew building. – Sometimes my buddies and I talk about the things we’d buy if we had real jobs that paid real money. …