Apple TV as a smart home hub? I think notApple TV is a set-top box. How could it possibly be made into a voice activated assistant?
It's once again rumored that Apple is working on making its set-top box, Apple TV, into an Amazon Echo-like device with a speaker and microphone.
From VentureBeat:
Apple has considered several options — turning the existing Apple TV into a more comprehensive assistant, making the Apple TV's Siri Remote the key device, or even building a standalone speaker just like Echo. Ultimately, the third option was dropped, given how much money Apple has spent on the development of Apple TV.
Sure, it's possible that Apple's research and development department looked into the idea, maybe even drew up some designs. But, it would be a bad—no, terrible—idea for Apple to turn its set-top box into a smart home hub.
Apple TV... for the TV
Apple TV is for the television set. While the average household may have three TV sets (Nielsen report, circa 2010), it isn't likely that they are in the dining room...
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Apple TV as a smart home hub? I think not