While all the idiots out there get their jollies from speculating about an Apple tablet device they know nothing about, including whether it really exists, my co-worker and friend Brad and I repeated a question we’ve long asked that has more practical value: Where’s the Apple home media server?
All of the pieces exist.
- Large hard drives, as evidenced by the 2TB Time Capsule.
- Small but capable hardware, as evidenced by the Mac mini server.
- A terminal-type device to get media to and from the server and your television or stereo, as evidenced by the AppleTV and AirPort Express.
- The foundation of library synchronization, as evidenced by the AppleTV again and the Home Sharing feature from iTunes.
- A fast wireless way to move data, as with AirPort Extreme.
- The ability to control the hub via web browser, in the style of MobileMe.
- And an automated way for all the parts to discover each other, in the form of Bonjour.
The key piece missing from Apple’s media array is the centralized hub where potentially hundreds of gigabytes of media are stored and distributed to devices for playback. Technologically inclined homes need the ability to store and organize multiple media libraries belonging to the individuals who live there, and there needs to be an ability to watch or hear different things at multiple locations when they’re wanted.
My vision is to have a device like a tall Mac mini server with 2TB of expandable storage that boots a trimmed-down OS X and media sharing app, similar to what AppleTV does now. The server is a fashionable but discreet box that resides on a desk or in a closet. Start it and forget it. My television is connected to an inexpensive AppleTV-like terminal device that converts 802.11n media streams to HDMI out. In addition, I can also optionally acquire an AirPort Express-like device that turns 802.11n media streams into audio out. All of these pieces find each other and configure themselves using Bonjour. Desktops and notebooks would be terminal devices for media as well. The management interface, advertised over Bonjour, would be accessed through a web browser and resembles iTunes in that it’s function is management of your media library.
When you purchase media using iTunes on your notebook, it synchronizes with the server and presents the option of retaining a local copy. All devices, including iPhones and iPods, have the option of porting selected media around and synchronize over wireless where possible.
Currently, desktops are slowly falling out of favor and are, presumably, used by people for something productive and rarely left running a copy of iTunes for the sole purpose of sharing. Apple’s most popular desktop model, the iMac, comes with an LCD, keyboard, and mouse that would be unnecessary. Notebook hard drives are limited in their capacity to store HD video and the apps and data tech-capable users need. The current AppleTV can’t sync with more than one user library at a time. AirPort Express is an entire wireless access point where only a simple relay is needed.
I assume that Apple is purposely ignoring Blue Ray because they see the future of digital media as being delivered via the Internet through iTunes in a future form. How about giving us a reasonably priced, expandable, more efficient way to enjoy that media, and the media we already have? As I usually state in these situations, surely if I’ve thought of this idea, some engineer at Apple who actually, you know, uses this stuff is working on this project, or has at least brought it up in some meeting, right? What’s stopping it? What am I missing that I see the potential for this setup when Apple may not? If Apple really is part computer systems company and part consumer electronics company, what could better serve to penetrate every crevice of the electronics-heavy consumer home than a central server and lots of simple satellite devices?
Screw your guesswork tablet. Wake me when Apple introduces something big.
Posted by Aaron Adams 
