Apple TV

The hacking has begun.

Mike Curtis of HD for Indies is tracking developments at his new blog.

Some internet-video entrepreneurs believe that Apple TV could open up opportunities for independent videomakers.

I wish Apple TV easily facilitated the playing of YouTube videos and the like instead of just iTunes-purchased videos. Several times this year I have been at a social gathering where someone just has to show everyone their favorite so-awful-it's-brilliant YouTube video (two nights ago it was this). So everyone who wants to see it now has to position themselves behind the laptop, which has a small screen as well as speakers that were designed for a single person sitting at close range. Others in the room simply watch other people watch a computer. It would be great to be able to hit a button and have that same video playing on the more appropriate device sitting right there in the room -- the TV.

An elegant solution to this problem is the kind of thing Apple has repeatedly done quite well. But I don't know if Apple wants to acknowledge the existence of content outside the universe of the iTunes Store.