Apple has been struggling with the big bad content and cable companies of late over what it wants the future of Apple TV to be, which it sees as an a la carte streaming future. Now we’re getting details on what it’ll likely be from the WSJ: a cloud-based DVR that lets you watch any show on demand.
It’s a concept that’s been attempted to some degree before in the US but more or less it works like this: viewers can start any show at any time through Apple’s set-top box because all the TV shows are stored on the cloud. Ideally, right when the show airs live, viewers can start playing a show on demand. On top of that, Apple wants to let users access all episodes of any show’s current season (instead of just a few).
The WSJ is saying the interface of the new Apple set-top box would lean heavily on iOS’ navigation icons and may even let the iPhone and iPad be used as remote controls. There will also be some social aspects built in to the future of Apple TV, like sharing to Twitter.
Could it end the tyranny of distance when it comes to shows airing in Australia? [WSJ]