The ever increasing pace of technological development today is now blurring the lines that traditionally separate the platforms by which people consume entertainment content. This is, for instance, the case of Apple TV, which is originally a digital media player that has primarily streamed videos and music to a television screen and other networked devices. Now, however, Apple is poised to unveil on Wednesday a reorientation of the product so that it includes gaming functionality.
The change is huge because the gaming feature will supposedly become a primary selling point for Apple TV. This means that the device will be equipped with more hardware such as better graphics processor as well as a redesigned remote that will now double as a controller, according to The New York Times. To support the new platform, Apple is also reportedly building a dedicated store where users can purchase gaming content.
The announcement would mean that Apple TV would be directly competing with gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Wii, Xbox and Playstation. But, one should remember that these platforms have already encroached Apple TV's turf with their video and music streaming capabilities.
Apple is also expected to introduce groundbreaking features. For instance, there is the assumption that the company will create a new gaming category. "What the Apple TV has the potential to do is to bring casual gaming to the living room and make it a much more social activity," Jan Dawson, chief technology analyst at Jackdaw Research, told the New York Times.
In addition, there is also the Apple ecosystem. Gaming on the new Apple TV could integrate Apple devices and the current app store within a more expansive ecosystem. It is not surprising why game developers have welcomed this development. "No company has done more for the digital man-machine interface than Apple," Trip Hawkins from Electronic Arts said in an Apple Insider report.
Apple TV could fetch around $150 for the starting price, according to The Times Of India.
