What the Next Apple TV Could and Should Be

If the rumors are true, the next Apple TV will be a cloud-connected, iPhone-based device. Not only it makes sense, but it's the only way they can create a best-of-breed gadget that can best Google TV, and be truly successful.

In order for that to happen, this is what the new Apple TV should be:

It should be infinitely expandable and customizable using applications
Everyone is familiar with the applications model, which has become a natural way to add new functions to our gadgets. Of course, the Apple TV applications' user interface and controls would need to be tailored for the new device, but that's not hard to imagine, since Apple is already pushing two interface models with iPhone/iPod and iPad.

It will play any video file in any format in your network
Applications like Netflix, the ABC player, and Hulu (whenever it comes) would be there, providing with on-demand access to tons of content. Apple's own video library will be there too, and probably others—like Amazon's.

But the key for making this a completely successful device should be the ability to play any video format present in your network, from a DVD in your desktop PC to any ripped movie in a network disk. And the beauty of the apps model is that Apple doesn't need to provide with this ability. Thanks to applications like Air Video, users would be able to play whatever they want in their Apple TVs, streamed over Wi-Fi.

It will be a video game console
Given the amount of games available for iPod touch, iPhone and iPad, this is a given. The only problem here is the user interface, but Apple has already solved that. First, the existing developer tools support external controlling devices via Bluetooth. There have not been any of these out yet, but it's only logical to think that the new Apple TV would play games using external controllers, but also...

It should be completely integrated with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
The current iDevices will make perfect controlling surfaces. Developers should be able to use them in new ways. Like with the iPad, a family would be able to play a game like Risk or Scrabble, using their iPod touch or iPhones as controlling devices, with the main display on the TV. Or you could be able to play a racing or a space combat or a strategy or a role-playing game using an iPad or iPhone as your control device.

And of course, it only makes sense that you would be able to take total control of the Apple TV using the iPad or iPod touch, like you can take control of iTunes using the Apple Remote application. I can imagine browsing Netflix on my iPad, choose a movie, and have it play automatically in this new Apple TV. In fact, given its rumored $99 price, it's not hard to imagine people getting the Apple TV as a complement to their iPad.

Apple needs to do the above to have a successful presence in the living room beforeGoogle TV takes over it. They can't afford to have the crap they have right now. If they can nail the wishlist above for $99, they will have a winner.

Sprint's HTC EVO 4G Ad Takes a Tour Through History's Innovations

Honestly, my eyes felt a little moist while watching the ad below. If you haven't seen it yet, you're in for a treat. Boasting of selling the first 4G phone, the ad shows all of history's other "firsts."

So old man, just how many of the innovations shown in the video have you owned/used? [YouTube via BGR]

Microsoft updating Live app suite, declares Windows 'better than Mac for photos, hands down'

Looks like it's blowhard season up in Redmond these days, as the latest word from Microsoft on its Live Essentials suite of apps has been accompanied by the brash pronouncement that it's now markedly superior to Apple's efforts in Mac OS X -- at least when it comes to photos. This verdict was delivered by Brian Hall, General Manager for Windows Live, and is backed by a laundry list of new features we can expect by the holiday season of this year. Windows Live Photo Gallery and Movie Maker will soon be able to link up directly to sites like Flickr, Facebook and YouTube -- which will allow for painless uploads as well as pulling in any additional tagging done on Facebook. New photo stitching and retouching abilities, along with face recognition (rather than mere detection) are also being touted, but the ultimate arbiter of the new software's utility will obviously be the real hands-on experience for users. We shouldn't have to wait too long for that, as a beta version of the freely downloadable (on Vista and 7, XP holdouts are no longer being served) suite should be making the rounds in the coming weeks.

Leaked Photos of BlackBerry Curve 9300 Surface

The Curve range of BlackBerrys looks likely to grow from the 8500 model to the 9300 model—which brings it far too close to the higher-end Bold series, beginning with the 9000and ending with the just-announced 9650.

These are the first leaked photos of the forthcoming 9300, and show the shiny bezel and optical trackpad which is fast becoming standard. It apparently includes 3G, Wi-Fi, and 256MB of internal memory, and has been shown running BlackBerry OS 5—no OS 6 love for the new Curve? That might be one way to differentiate between the two series of phones, with the more premium Bold range getting the new OS. Starting with the 9800 slider phone, right RIM? [CrackBerry]

Can You Count 400 Billion Stars In This Galaxy-Spanning Panorama?

Astronomers estimate that there are 200 to 400 billion stars in our galactic neighborhood, the Milky Way. I guess that someone tried to count them in thisfully-zoomable, ultra-high-definition 800,000-image mosaic and got tired around 296,351,284,702.

The 800,000-image mosaic was assembled by NASA last year from Spitzer Space Telescope photographs. But looking at a 120-feet image is hard unless you are in front of a printed copy. That's why someone has put them all together into a fully-zoomable panorama that you can enjoy here. [Thanks Joe!]

Download the Official 64-Bit Firefox Pre-release Now

If you're willing to be a guinea pig and you want a 64-bit version of Firefox to match your 64-bit version of Windows, Mozilla has made their Firefox 64 pre-release available for download.

Keep in mind, aside from questionable stability and a lack of automated installer (you'll need to grab Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package to complete the install, and if that sort of thing freaks you out, just stop now), Flash has yet to be made available for this build, meaning FF 64 basically turn your computer browsing experience into a big iPad. And Mac users are out of luck at the moment as well as this version is Windows exclusive.

Having said that, please download Firefox 64 asap. I need you suckers to debug the product so it's rock-solid when the final release hits and I finally download it. [Armen Zambrano's battlefield via webmonkey]

Verizon and iPad Are Getting Cozy

According to the generally reliable Boy Genius Report, Verizon Wireless is in the process of testing iPads compatible with their CDMA network, along with a 4G model. An iPad on Verizon? Be still my heart.

The news is particularly welcome on the heels of AT&T's new pricing model, which will be especially onerous on data-heavy iPad owners. (Then again, Verizon's on record as being in favor of tiered 4G plans as well.) And while AT&T had a five-yearexclusivity agreement in place for the iPhone, there's no indication that a similar deal was reached at the iPad's launch. We'll update if and when more detail becomes more available. [BGR]