By Tim Ferguson, 22 May 2008 16:56
NEWS
Apple will dominate the digital home by 2013 with its range of existing and new products and services that will be networked together.
That's according to a report from analyst house Forrester Research, which predicts Apple's product strategy will promote the linking up of digital content, PCs, TV and stereo.
Existing Apple products such as the Mac, Apple TV, Apple Store and iTunes will combine with new products such as an Apple home server, network-enabled devices and home installation service, says Forrester.
This Apple revolution will pose a threat to a range of companies, including HP and Microsoft as well as consumer electronics manufacturers such as LG and Sony.
Service providers, such as ISPs and broadcasters could also be affected by this development.
Forrester Research principal analyst, JP Gownder, admitted that the analyst house doesn't have inside knowledge of Apple's product roadmap but said it's "highly likely" this development will take place.
But Apple will also face challenges, such as competition for home installation services as well as the company's commitment to closed systems which makes it harder to make products from other companies compatible.
Comments
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1. anonymous
"But Apple will also face challenges, such as competition for home installation services as well as the company's commitment to closed systems which makes it harder to make products from other companies compatible."
what commitment to closed systems? the only thing that is proprietary is the Fairplay system, which I agree Apple should cross-license for video, but the issue with music is that it is the music corporates themselves who still insist that Apple use DRM at all - Napster are now allowed to sell DRM-free, so why not Apple?
Everything else Apple does is based on open standards, including the operating system itself, so where is this 'commitment to closed systems' you speak of?
the only thing making it proprietary is the insistance on DRM on music and video - as soon as music
2. anonymous
What rubbish.
With the exception of iPod and a low %tge of Macs, Apple are no-where in homes.
UK TV will be dominated by Freeview, Sky and Virgin, as at present, with the market largely migrating to Internet connected Hard Disc Recorders with >1Tb disc storage (PVR's like Sky+/HD, BT Vision, Humax/Topfield etc).
It would be nice to stream round the house from these devices, but many don't interoperate, or like Sky and iPod are DRM hobbled.
3. carole railton
Recently I have been working more from home and switched to an MacBook The reason, I can for £99 get 121 training weekly on any subject of my choosing and when you are away from big corporations you need to protect yourself.
OK maybe Apple's products are not the most technically advanced, but they certainly embrace all design styles and maybe one day they will connect to other makers products.
In the interim I suggest we all look at the issues from a customer's prospective rather than a technical one. The customer knows what they like even if that is at odds with the experts.