Pop quiz! Name the TV character whom, upon entering his "ready room," frequently requested, "Earl Grey. Hot!" Question number two: To whom did this character make his request?
Now, imagine walking up to your TV and saying "Siri! Earl Grey. Hot!" Then, realizing that Siri had yet to learn how to boil water, you revised your request: "Siri, show me Star Trek, The Next Generation, Episode #23."
First, just like Captain Jean Luc Picard on the Starship Enterprise, you would be addressing a computer. More specifically, you would be addressing the latest (2015) version of AppleTV, the first digital media player that, like your iPhone, allows you to engage in conversation with the ever-helpful, honest, hard-working queen of voice recognition, Siri.
Of course, talking to a computer, or a phone, while perhaps still novel to those of us who grew up with Kirk, Scotty, Spock, Picard and Data, is hardly new anymore. Still, when the science fiction of our twenties becomes the reality of our sixties, we can't help but gape a little. The transformation of the way we consume information and entertainment over the course of our lifetimes, from our rooftop antennae's picking up I Love Lucy and Art Linkletter on the b&w RCA Victor to on-demand music, video, games and TV streaming over any number of devices is nothing less than profound. Now, the ability to access more than movies, music, games and TV shows is making that big flat screen on your wall look and behave more like the PC or tablet on your desk.
For those that haven't made the leap to Smart TV or a digital media player, the choices can be daunting. If you want a living room quality flat panel TV, you'll have a hard time finding one that isn't "smart." It will stream Netflix, Hulu, Pandora and other content from the Internet, include various apps, games and a web browser as well. If you're happy with your traditional TV, adding a digital media player from Roku, Google, Apple or a host of others will provide you with all the features of a Smart TV, and more. It's also reported that digital media players provide a broader selection of streaming content, are easier to navigate, and are updated with new services more frequently than Smart TVs.
As with all smart devices, it's the apps that make the difference. The truth is that streaming TV in general, whether it's via smart TV or a digital media player, isn't exactly ubiquitous in U.S. households. According to a 2014 Harris survey, Americans still prefer to "see what's on" live TV to streaming and recorded TV. The idea that we "channel surf" until something strikes our fancy, versus having something particular in mind, is a behavior that probably won't change with AppleTV 2015, at least not right out of the chute. As one reviewer remarks, the true innovation is the ability to use Siri on your TV. Those that haven't developed a relationship with Siri on their iPhone aren't likely to be too excited about it, even though some reviewers are all agog about the cool Siri-enabled remote. The touchpad reportedly makes interacting with the content on the screen much easier than it's been with the remote for your average Smart TV. Some gamers may be disappointed with the remote, but there are real gaming remotes for AppleTV 2015 available from 3rd party suppliers.
The other promising innovation is the introduction of TVOS, a new operating system that enables software developers to build sophisticated apps for retail/ecommerce, travel, and fitness, some of which are extensions of apps you're already struggling to see on your iPhone or iPad. If you can imagine how some of your favorite apps will be enhanced when optimized for the large screen and the voice-controlled remote, you may want to keep an eye on the app store as it evolves.
Speaking of "oh wow" technology, while it may be awhile before Siri can make us a cup of Earl Grey, hot, you can bet that Picard's "ready room" is just around the corner. Apple's "HomeKit," (the collection of Siri-controlled remotes for your thermostat, window shades, lights, etc.) interfaces with AppleTV 2015, is probably only an app or two away from feeding the dog, washing the windows and bringing you breakfast in bed. Stay tuned!