My next hobby

So here's the thing. Apple releases the iPhone SDK and a ton of developers swamp the network to download it and to write apps for the iPhone. This will, in turn, make the iPhone and iPod Touch more attractive devices because they are also the platform of choice for developers.

But Apple was already on track to sell like a gazillion of these things any way. What if they did the same thing with AppleTV? What if Apple made AppleTV a platform by opening up the APIs.

First, it would be nice to see people adding different input devices. I'm not talking keyboard here, but support for more full featured remotes would change how we could interact with our tv.

Second, developers could create a wide range of applications for your tv. Just as games are coming to the iPhone, they could come to your AppleTV. You could build your own portal. I can easily imagine the NCAA or some fan creating a March Madness portal or a customizable news or business portal. There may be iPhone restrictions to using VOIP but there aren't any for AppleTV. You could build a rich communications center application for your AppleTV.

You could flick the remote and page through everyone's commitments for the next couple of days whether it be meetings, homework assignments, or whose turn it is to wash the dishes.

The tv set is, for better or worse, usually a central and stationary fixture in most homes. There has been an evolution in who controls what goes on the box and when. First it was local stations and networks who made those decisions. Cable meant that there are many more choices for what you are watching but you were still tied to watching it when it was on. The VCR and TiVo meant that you could change when you watched something. You have already begun to program your tv. Now it's time to actually program your tv.

Apple could make their hobby into your hobby.