Steve Jobs Says Internet TV Needs To Go Back To Square One

Steve Jobs not impressed with internet tv

Apple chief Steve Jobs has given his opinion on the merging of television and the internet. He is not convinced that the current system can work as set-top box prices are subsidized way too low for innovation. He beleives that the web and tv will remain as seperate entities for a while yet.

Speaking at the AllThingsDigital D8 conference, he said:- “The only way that’s ever going to change is if you can really go back to square one, tear up the set top box, redesign it from scratch … and get it to consumers in a way that they’re willing to pay for it,” Jobs said at the All Things Digital conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., the Apple Insider reported Wednesday.

He pointed to the pricepoint being the top issue with combining Internet functions and television services. At present, cable companies subsidize the cost of set top boxes in order to secure a customer’s cable service contract. As such, “that pretty much squashes opportunity for innovation, because nobody’s willing to buy a set top box,” Jobs said.

“Ask Tivo, ask Replay TV, ask Roku, ask Vudu, ask us, ask Google in a few months,” he said, taking a jab at Google, which recently announced it would provide televisions — usually the largest screen in the house — with Internet capabilities. “It’s not a problem with technology, not a problem with vision, it’s a fundamental go to market problem,” he said.

He may have a point, but then he may be wrong. Apple have already declared that Apple tv is just a hobby, and they are being left behind by big rival Google with its Smart tv software. The fact is though, when all tv sets come equipped with the same basic software and web connnection is when the service will truly take over.

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