BenBishop.me.uk

2006 is gonna be a lot of fun. With the scheduled release of Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Revolution towards the back end of next year they are gonna join an already crowded market vying for the space in you living room. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 launched in November and is undoubtedly the hot Christmas present this year thanks to a combination of a technically impressive games console, lack of direct competition and massive shortage of units. This machine has undoubted gaming potential but Microsoft’s attempt at offering a device that keeps everyone happy was never gonna happen. Short of ideas as an innovative media centre or even as a central hub for all your AV devices there still leaves a big gap in a potentially very lucrative market.

With an estimated advertising budget in the billions ($US), Microsoft is gearing up for a big 2006 and with the release of their next operating system, Windows Vista. Closely followed by a Vista based update to their Media Centre operating system, it’s thought to have built in support for CableCard which will eliminate the need for the box that the cable or satellite company provides. This must be make or break time for Microsoft in a market they haven’t managed to dominate like their desktop equivalent despite various revisions of their Windows Media Center Edition. Due to a number of reasons such as purchasing restrictions with a new PC, high quality open source equivalents such as the Linux based ‘Myth TV’ and perhaps the market just not being ready this lack of success has left the door wide open for a consumer conscious company to make its mark.

Enter Apple, with the Mac and Ipod creator making the gradual switch to Intel in the coming year, a move into our living rooms seems a logical step for them to make. Having an infrastructure already in place with ITunes, a move to Video seems inevitable and Apple certainly seems well poised to make the transition. Further in collaboration with Intel amongst other electronics giants, Apple are developing a new interface for video between computers and HD TV’s and our PC screens that further fuels the speculation. In the Mac Mini there is an established system available and combined with Front Row they already have half a step into our living rooms.

The eagerly awaited Macworld Expo that takes place from the 9th – 13th January 2006 in San Francisco should have many of the answers. Steve Job’s keynote speech traditionally makes public many of Apples plans for the coming year and its unlikely that the pundits have all the answers. Could the Ipod mobile phone be revealed? More likely is a further developed Ipod, with bigger widescreen display matching or exceeding that of the PSP, Wi-Fi access and it being actually branded the ‘Ipod Video’. What ever the outcome its one hell of an exciting time to be sat enjoying the show!

Roll on 2006!