Steve, embrace your inner pirate
December 18th 2007
As Apple TV sales continue to languish, Wired brings us news that Sony has added .divx and .wmv playback support to the Playstation 3.
Also, the v2.10 update adds improved Blu-ray support, including picture-in-picture and limited local file storage.
Realpolitik
Although some individuals do indeed capture and convert their own personal videos to .divx and .wmv, the importance of these two standards is their use by pirates and the illegal distribution of converted content via peer-to-peer networks.
Of course, Microsoft's Xbox plays .divx and .wmv. And, now, with Sony--parent company of one of the largest studios--supping at the alternative movie distribution trough, why doesn't the Apple TV support these standards?
If the Apple TV is to succeed, the mothership needs to facilitate if not embrace the use of this "alternative" distribution model. After all, it was Napster just as much as the iPod's rich "it just works" design that made the iPod a success...
What's your take?
