Jobs hints at coming Apple attractions

Tags: Marketing, Apple, iPod, Video iPod, Apple Movies, Consumer Electronics, HDTV, Steve Jobs, Front Row

Last week we commented that we thought that Apple has an all-in-one HDTV system in the pipeline, based upon its development of the Front Row interface for the new iMac and Apple's work on video distribution. Jobs gave another hint in that direction when talking to Fortune magazine at the event:

As his company moves deeper into music, video, consumer electronics, telephony, software, and services, Jobs is asked, How does he describe Apple Computer Inc. these days? He responds by picking up the new Apple remote control device and placing it against a giant, peanut-shaped remote that comes with a computer running Microsoft’s Windows XP Media Center Edition PC operating system. The Apple remote, sleek and white and smaller than an iPod, has six buttons. The Media Center PC remote is a handful, with more than 40 buttons. "Apple is a company that takes complex technology and makes it easier and simpler to use," he says, and seems satisfied with his answer.

While this is a bit of a Delphic comment, Jobs clearly aims to take something very complicated and make it simple and usable by a broader audience. To me, flat panel HDTV nicely fits that bill.