Today has been quite the day for rumors. Apple’s “Let’s Talk iPhone” event is tomorrow, so everyone is getting in last minute speculation about what we’ll see Cook and co. unveil onstage.
Something from well-known blogger Robert Scoble has been largely overlooked: the claim that Apple is working on a new iPad app to compete with the likes of DirecTV and other cable/dish providers.
Scoble posted some info and thoughts about Apple, Google and Facebook on his Google+ account earlier today. He mentioned that Steve Jobs is probably too sick to attent Apple’s event tomorrow.
An interesting paragraph talks about an iPad app that Apple is allegedly working on:
“I’m hearing that Apple is working on a new iPad app that looks a lot like DirecTV without the dish, too. Again, that app will have Steve Jobs’ fingerprints all over it as it will be more expansive than the press is expecting in its content availability. There’s a reason Apple built a 500,000-square-foot datacenter (about twice the size of a Facebook one, by the way) and that new datacenter is for video and the data that video causes to be shared with everyone. Will Reed Hastings CEO at Netflix be on stage tomorrow to help Apple explain its three-screen strategy? I sure hope so, because that would explain further why Netflix split up its streaming and DVD businesses a lot better than Reed’s been able to so far.”
There have been whispers that Apple will eventually introduce a TV/movie subscription service to compete against Netflix. Netflix recently split up its DVD and streaming divisions. Would Apple work with Netflix, or do its own thing?
What do you think? Is Scoble on to something here?
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
18 responses to “Apple Working On a New iPad App to Compete with Cable Providers? [Rumor]”
Maybe, just maybe, Apple is buying the streaming portion of Netflix. Augment that with some “real time” content (news, sports,etc..) and I might ditch cable altogether.
Just buy Hulu and Netflix, Apple. It’s not like you don’t have the money for it.
I hope so. Ohhhh, I hope so.
That would be great! I’d love a subscription service, as long as it costs under $20 a month. $5-$8 per movie rental and $20-$40 per TV show season is kind of a lot.
Apparently the contracts Hulu and Netflix have with labels and studios become null and void of the company is sold. So why would Apple buy them? The infrastructure? Brand name? They have both.
Until Apple can come to a deal that both sides agree on, it’s easier for Apple to work with Hulu and Netflix.
I call bs. Why? Because they dont need an app. They just need to get deals to have all content right away in higher quality and cut the price.
Which won’t happen until the nets get over their dependence on Nielsen Media and start counting online money for show make good. Until then, everything threatens the ratings and the income
Are u guys really so desperate for hits? Tomorrow’s event is NOT about iPad.
Its “Lets talk iPHONE” Get it???
Dumb rumor. Link bait. Apple has an app to compete with the cable networks. It’s called the iTunes Store. Is he suggesting they are changing they’re business model to streaming? Well that’s not a new app. Apple’s content ambitions have always been limited by the studios, just as Netflix’s ambitions have been.
it may not be about the iPad but it will likely be, to some degree, about iOS 5, iCloud, iTunes and even perhaps the iPods. So this subject could still come up.