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hulu plus on new Apple TV?

will this happen?

iPhone OS 3.1.3

Posted on Sep 1, 2010 10:21 PM

Reply
96 replies

Sep 3, 2010 1:20 PM in response to capaho

Why do you need a 'browser' to run apps?

My understanding is that the new Apple TV is running iOS, as such, native apps could easily (read - with minor modification) run on the platform.

Keeping Apple TV a closed environment, makes no sense. Offering developers similar API access as other iOS devices is a no-brainer. Half of what makes the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch so great is the healthy open app/developer marketplace. This will help them compete with Internet connected TV's (and their badly implemented 'Apps').

Also, if you think about the size of a iPhone or iPad screen in your hand, compared to a TV across the room, it's the same(ish) relative size. Or maybe I need a bigger TV. Anyway, touchscreen aside (why not offer the new touchpad to get over this?), it makes sense to open Apple TV to the app market place. Then, hulu et al would be able to be easily added.

I have my fingers crossed.

To get there, I think Apple should help solve the TV problem by first doing what it does best - solving the mess of boxes and contracts associated with most peoples TV/Media setup - and presenting things in a 'usable' and attractive way.

Rather than try and make big bucks from TV show sales first - effectively strangling the product - by offering a 'solution' to people that want to cut the cord from the cable company, they would win massive loyalty and adoption. Then they'd be in a position to help us all by using the user-base leverage to negotiate with the networks and film industry.

Now that would be magical. 🙂

Sep 4, 2010 6:41 PM in response to capaho

I believe you are jumping to conclusions. Although the ATV does not have the ability to download apps or be hacked like the previous ATV, this does not mean that when allowed the permissions to do so, that Hulu and Apple will not work together to provide an OS update to the ATV to include a program for Hulu Plus subscribers to stream via the ATV.

Proof of concept. My Blu-ray player offered, when first purchased, the ability to connect to Pandora and Netflix for streaming. To updates later, new built in software was included to also allow YouTube and Blockbuster streaming.

In the end, it will come down to whether Hulu is willing to make such arrangements with Apple and whether Hulu can obtain the rights to allow streaming to hulu plus programing to the ATV. Whether Hulu can obtain such rights is important because certain platforms do not fit within the agreed terms and conditions for streaming the provided programing whether they are requirements by the network what provides the program or the studio which produces the program itself.

Sep 4, 2010 6:49 PM in response to Thillbilli

I believe you are jumping to conclusions.


As in assuming that the new ATV will include Hulu Plus in the future? You are correct in that it could be done with a future software update, but who knows if or when that may happen?

It's also worth noting that Hulu Plus does not stream at 720p in the iPad app, but it does in Safari on my Mac mini, so the current Hulu app would not be sufficient for the new ATV, assuming it will be able to run apps at some point in the future.

Sep 6, 2010 12:26 AM in response to capaho

What does flash in a browser have anything to do with native support to play streaming content??!!? You need flash to play Netflix on a browser. Yet Apple TV, as well as other iDevices can play them because streaming functionality is provided by the software. If Apple were to strike a deal with Hulu, a firmware upgrade with internal support to play it's proprietary format using the Apple TV interface would be used. Or ... Is it your thinking that Apple TV plays Netflix movies in the background using browser and flash so the web page is hidden? That's not the way it works.

Sep 6, 2010 7:28 AM in response to numetheus

What does flash in a browser have anything to do with native support to play streaming content??!!?


Nothing, nor did I say it did. At present, to view Hulu, you need a Flash enabled browser, the Hulu iPad or Android app, or a TV or media player with embedded software. The new ATV has none of the above. Apple could add support for Hulu with a software update, but there is absolutely no information anywhere to suggest that might happen.

hulu plus on new Apple TV?

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