Thunderbolt. It's basically PCIe. If you can run a high zoot video card on a slot-PCIe, you should be able to run it at the far end of a cable-PCIe.
So make a TV-sized display with a 6970 or whatever ATI is shipping these days *inside* the TV. And a Thunderbolt port, of course. Yeah, I know, a GPU in that class is total overkill for 1080p, I'm just drawing a scenario here. :) Drop in a $100 one-step-below card, it's all good.
Now every cheap-ass MBA with a POS integrated Intel graphics decelerator and a Thunderbolt cable is a high-powered gaming machine. Drop a Thunderbolt into the next AppleTV, and even that lowly device can outgun the PS3's future replacement. We're talking Battlefield 4 in 1080p60 sensurround smellomatic reach-out-and-touch-me goodness.
Coupled with a CouchAppStore...
...Instaconsole.
Apple charges an extra $300 for the TV. 60% margin on the price differential. Partner with Samsung or Sony or Sharp - Apple never even has to touch the high-hassle distribution side of moving 60" panels.
And sells mega freighter loads of ATVs. 40% (or whatever) margins.
$$$.
$$$
Gamers never have to buy another console. Open up the Blutooth API, with $100 dev kit charge, of course, and you'll have an explosion of personalized, custom controllers.
The future is right there...can you taste it?
CAN YOU TASTE IT?! |
