[sc:hardware-category ]There has been quite a bit of talk over the last few months about the future of TV hardware, Google has tried to get GoogleTV built-in, rumor’s of an Apple branded TV with Apple TV built-in are flying, etc.
But does any of it make sense? Not really and here’s the fundamental reasons why:
- TV’s last 10 years
- Smart TV boxes last about 2 years
That’s a big difference. Most people don’t go out and buy a new TV every year or two, they buy them only when they need to replace a defunct unit.
Smart TV boxes are like cell phones, you replace them every couple of years because they get outdated.
It makes sense to keep them as separate devices. It’s easier to replace a $200 smart TV box than a $2000 TV just because someone came up with a new format that is no longer supported by the TV you bought.
I purchased a new TV a couple of years ago, it’s going to last me at least another 5 years or more. It has some built-in internet functionality, Ethernet connectivity, etc. But I NEVER use it, it’s slow and doesn’t support the new services I might use on it (like NetFlix) and there’s no update from the manufacture because it doesn’t get them any new sales to do so.
TV started in the 1940’s and remained mostly unchanged until HDTV came along in the 90’s. That’s 50 years of NO CHANGES to the TV spec and even how those TV’s from the 40’s still work with today’s equipment. HDTV will unlikely have as long as life, but it will still be significantly longer than any smart TV standard will last.
The smart TV technology will be advancing very quickly over the next decade and I see no reason to try and marry the two technologies in to a single device until it has matured.
