The world’s most valuable firm may be past its prime
Sceptics point out that plenty of elegant, wafer-thin screens are already on
sale. Moreover, Apple’s existing set-top box, which lets users play content from
iTunes, Netflix and other services on their TVs, has not been a stunning
success. But this misses the—so to speak—bigger picture. The iTV, which may be
controlled via gestures and voice commands as well as via iPads and iPhones,
could be a digital hub for the home. It would let people check whether their
washing machine has finished its cycle while they gossip on Facebook and watch
their favourite soap. Peter Misek of Jefferies, an investment bank, says sales
of it should also boost purchases of iPads and other Apple gear, as more people
get sucked into the firm’s “ecosystem” of linked devices and software.
