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Sharing our musings about the web, tech, Apple products, design, development and everyday life.

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I want my Apple TV gaming console

I’ve covered a lot of Apple products in the last week, like CarPlay and the new iPhone screens. Jared talked about the AppleTV in his blog post a week ago, even mentioning the topic of my post today, gaming. Here is what he said:

Look for gaming to be an added feature.  Candy Crush on a 50 inch HD screen!  Use your iPad or iPhone as a controller as the game plays on your TV.

There have been many reports Apple TV gaming in the last few weeks, like this one, this one, this one and this one. If you don’t have time to click on those non-descriptive links, they all hint to Apple adding a gaming sector to their living room set-top box. I’ve owned a console during every generation since 1995, when I had a Super Nintendo system towards the end of it’s run. I got the N64 for Christmas, had a Sega Genesis, a Dreamcast (albeit late in it’s doomed tenure), a PS2, a PS3 and an XBOX 360 (I never had an original XBOX because I was still a Nintendo-fanboy).

The WiiU fell short for many.
The WiiU fell short for many.

I owned a Wii near launch and played it for awhile. I thought the Wii was revolutionary and fun. It came out when I was in college, so a case of beer can make any simple WiiSports game fun. Nintendo’s next attempt, the WiiU, fell short for me. I didn’t understand the controller with the screen and there were no games that made me have to buy it. That, coupled with the fact that Nintendo has fallen behind as far as tech goes, and I am probably never going to own the U.

But if all can be believed about Apple’s movement towards gaming on their next TV device, I will be the first in line. I don’t need 120fps rates or even “life-like” graphics, but instead like story lines and gameplay. I am a devotee to the Zelda series and the Ocarina of Time iteration remains as my favorite video game of all time. I think I’ve run through it a dozen times. The first time through, I made it a three-mont affair, grabbing all the available tools and weapons, while finishing all of the side quests.

Why do I think Apple’s gaming sector will bring back these feelings? Well, there is Pixar, which will always be connected to Apple as they share the same c0-founder. There is also Disney, also connected to Cupertino by way of stock ownership and similarities of Boards. These two companies, Pixar and Disney, have been crafting eloquent stories for the better part of two decades. While primarily geared for children, the deft understanding of plot and character building, something by which great games are made, is abundant amongst the creative staffs of both.

Finally, I think that Apple is smart regarding content. The App Store is chock full of gaming choices, I would argue that it is too full. Candy Crush clones and games with the word “Flappy” in them are plentiful, and weaving through all of the bad choices can be painstaking. There are 1.5 million apps in the App Store, far too many if they were all games.

I don’t think this will be the direction that the Apple TV goes in. I’m not going to say that indie developers will be held out, I just think there will be a larger fee associated with submitting a game. This should limit the choice, but enhance the quality. And when it comes to competing with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo on console gaming, a fight that I believe Apple wants, quality will be key.

After all this, I’m secretly hoping that we’ll start seeing back catalog games on a new Apple TV. I’d love to play Ocarina of Time again, on my 50-inch flat screen and will gladly pay $10 or so for the opportunity to do this. The question is how will this come about and will content providers play ball? It is the same fight that always seems to exist with Apple. They can build it, but will it be supported.

Luckily, AAPL usually wins.

 

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Here’s to CarPlay not being resigned to the rich and famous

CarPlay
The Apple CarPlay system will mimic the iPhone, but be catered to those on the road. (Apple.com)

I spoke the other day about Tesla’s Model E, and how it could revolutionize car buying by bringing a technology to the masses that is currently for the wealthy at the moment. On that same day, Apple announced their CarPlay system, which was previously referred to as “iOS in the Car.” The integration would “iPhone-icize” the touchscreen interfaces that have become standard in most new cars, allowing for a deeper experience for the driving iPhone user.

Immediately, videos began to surface of carmakers showcasing CarPlay in their new automobiles. Volvo says the tech will be introduced in their XC90 model. Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari have also uploaded youtube videos of their interfaces built into their fancy cars. On the CarPlay website, Apple lists those three makers along with Jaguar, Honda and Hyundai as “available in 2014.” Neither Honda nor Hyundai has commented on the model at press time.

I own a Mazda2. At the time (October 2011), it was the cost-effective way to get myself in a new car. Today, I am on the verge of shopping again, this time for a Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra or an American mid-size sedan. My question is this:

Will the car I buy have, whether standard or as an option, access to the new CarPlay interface?

The XC90 version looks fantastic, but the starting price for the large Volvo SUV is $40,000. The Mercedes-Benz in question, the S-Class, starts at $92,000. The Ferrari costs twice as much as my house.

While Honda and Hyundai could come out today and say that they are putting CarPlay in their Civics and Elantras or all of their cars, I am going to guess that the new toy will not be available to the mass-market at start. Apple is careful at over-saturation and if carmakers can charge a premium for a feature that most people want (and who wouldn’t want an iPhone inspired interface in their car), they are going to do so.

So while I am excited that this feature is out there and Apple continues to expand it’s footprint on the technology world, I am hesitant to think that, barring a MegaMillions win or late-Aunt I’ve never met, I’m not going to be able to enjoy these new toys.

Prove me wrong car makers, please prove me wrong.

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Tesla’s mainstream Model E could ruin big auto’s run

I started following Tesla motors before they released the Roadster, before the IPO,  before they released the Model S and definitely before they were a major player in the automotive industry. One thing is clear now, however, Elon Musk and co. are not playing around.

What started as a rich guy’s hobby soon turned into a venerable business. Tesla Motors is still not rolling in dough. They aren’t making Apple money and, despite reports to the contrary, Apple isn’t going to be buying them.  Still, the concept of first developing a car for the 1-percent — a car that cost most of my first house — was one that was laughed at in the beginning. Surprise, surprise. A wait list of a couple years could not be proven wrong and while Tesla started off as a sign of wealth for the super-wealthy, this is slowly changing.

The Model S showed that Tesla was here to stay. The sedan, which was not the technological marvel that the Roadster was, still had a range of between 230 and 300 miles per charge. It could still go 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, as opposed to the four seconds or so for the extremely-sporty Roadster. Most importantly, the Model S was sold for $70,000 – $80,000, almost $30,000 less than Tesla’s first car.

I couldn’t afford one, but the 1-percent quickly grew to, I don’t know, 2.5-percent of people.

The Model X, a sleek crossover SUV. (Tesla Motors)
The Model X, a sleek crossover SUV. (Tesla Motors)

The Electric Car has been a pipe dream for almost three decades. Now, with Tesla readying their third model for production, it appears that the idea might become a reality. The third Tesla, named the Model X, will be a Crossover SUV that is built primarily on the Model S platform.

The extremely-popular crossover category will get an infusion of talent when this is released, and it will be sold for a similar $60,000.

All this is well and good, if you have around $700 a month to spend on an electric car. Sure the $.02 a mile electricity cost (you spend about $.12 a mile on gas now) is appealing, but coming up with the dough is tough. Until now.

Details have been leaking out for some time now about Tesla’s fourth car, a Model E, which will be the first car that is truly available to the mainstream of this world. Codenamed Bluestar, the car would be a more conventional sedan, much smaller than the extremely large Model S sedan. Reports have the car with a 200-mile range, slightly down from their other models but still pretty impressive considering most people do not drive 200-miles without a chance to recharge. The highest range at this point in the mass-produced market? 70-miles for the Nissan Leaf.

I wouldn’t expect the 5.6 second 0-60 time of the Model S, but assume that the same drop will occur that did between their last two cars. The 2011 Roadster came in at 3.7 seconds (CRAZY), meaning that the drop to the Model S was a 66-percent downgrade in acceleration (but still tops in the class). The same drop to the Model E would mean an 8.5 second 0-60, still above average for the price range.

All of this, and I didn’t even mention the fact that the maintenance on these cars is low. There is little oil, no transmission and just an electric engine. It is basically a remote controlled car that can get you to work more quickly, and more stylish, than anything else. At a price that is accessible for a strong majority of new car buyers.

And these are people that will no longer be stopping at gas stations to fill up. At $.12 a mile, the average American spends about $1440 on fuel per year. At $.02, the Tesla owner will pay $240. That is exactly $100 a month, and gone are the quarterly oil changes. My transmission check is out. No longer will the moving parts of your car’s engine be an issue.

The implications of this math are grave. Given the choice between a Tesla at $30,000 (or so, and this before a current $7500 government rebate) and any other mid-sized sedan or coupe, I’ll side with Mr. PayPal. 

And I think you will too. Other car makers better get on it.