Cord Cutter's Diary

Good piece by Peter Kafka on how the next generation of Apple TV is being created right in front of us, mostly in the form of AirPlay (and, I would add, iCloud). If this holds up, future histories about the disruption of the television industry will almost certainly begin with this quote by Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt last month: “I’m not sure I know what AirPlay is.”

AirPlay, for the record, is Apple’s dead-simple method for switching media from one device to another — for instance, from your iPad to your Apple TV or from your iPod to your sound system. A few weekends ago, I watched a six-year-old expertly manipulate his iPod Touch to play an episode of Dora the Explorer, snap some photos of his sister, then display it all on his parents’ TV. I know how AirPlay works and all, but this kid was using it like an appendage, seamlessly shifting media from one end of the room to another. Britt really should have been there.

Anyway, since yesterday’s keynote at WWDC came and went without any major updates to Apple TV, I should decide now whether I’m getting one. I already have a Roku XD, and it’s serving me well, but I kind of want to play around with Apple TV and take advantage of AirPlay with my iPhone and iPad. The $99 expense would definitely qualify as an indulgence, but I can always say I’m doing it for science…