Apple's "iTV"

Over at Engadget the "Real Geeks(TM)" are pissing all over themselves with respect to the latest rumor in the Apple Universe. A "trusted source" explains that Apple will be announcing a new set-top-box called the "iTV" based around their A4 architecture sometime this fall.

Several observations...

1. This makes a whole lot of sense given that Google has announced an STB.
2. Apple has stated that the Apple TV was just a "hobby".  Whether folks realize it or not, Apple is very strategic in their forward thinking and planning.  It has been a "hobby" because they needed to be able to get the early adopters to play with the technology to figure out where to go.  If you don't understand how the iterative process works, you won't get that last statement.  You won't also understand why Apple does the things it does.  E.G. copy-and-paste on the iPhone.
3. The "Real Geeks(TM)" are aghast at the idea that this device won't run 1080P.  Misses, the point.  The point is that if the $99 price point is correct this will entice consumers like crazy!  The average consumer could care less, probably can't define the difference between 1080i/1080p/720p.  Most probably can't visually tell the difference either.
4. And now, for the Péice de résistance.  Games.  The blowhard "Real Geeks(TM)" are debating technical merits when the real meat here is that this is how Apple will make an entry into the Living Room gaming market.  Several iOS game apps have millions of downloads and are played an average of an hour per day per user.  Think about that.  Now think about that as it applies to leisure time in front of the television.  Get it?

One other observation here.  Based on the idea that the "iTV" will be based on iOS, that should mean Bluetooth keyboard connectivity.  A nice option for couch-surfing.

I can think of a couple of places where this will be useful, even though our home already has three AppleTV devices.

Non-human intelligence?

Robots in the stock market? Or maybe extra-terrestrials?

Connecting the dots in Vinge's "A Deepness in the Sky". The Emergent's use their advanced knowledge of computing and networking to compromise the Spider's systems and networks. Effectively running their own software company.

Could just as easily manipulate the markets in other fashions.

Plausible? I suppose so. Likely? Not very.

It doesn't matter. We are all human.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Seong Yong Kim on Vimeo.

Why automated driving will take over

Traffic shockwaves, those traffic jams that occur for no apparent reason, have been reproduced in a laboratory setting for the first time.  This is one of the primary reasons that automated driving systems will take over.  Humans are unpredictable.