The iPhone 4S was released last week. Of course, people were camping out at Apple stores to buy it. Of course, Apple sold a zillion of them in the first five minutes. Of course, you already have one, and you're probably reading this blog on it.
There are several reasons why iPhones are so popular. The first is that they inspire feelings of genuine affection. The second is that your iPhone is more fun to hang out with than your friends. Seriously, think about it. Your friends were never that great to begin with, and now iPhones are clearly way more interesting.
Case in point: the iPhone 4S has speech recognition and voice software, as well as an attitude. This lets you talk to the phone and listen to its answers. Naturally, this has sent the iPhone fanboys and girls into a frenzy, asking all kinds of weird questions. For example, ask the phone to “Open the pod bay doors” and it responds with a HAL voice, “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Or if you say, “I love you,” it responds with, “I bet you say that to all your Apple products.”
There’s even a website that collects clever iPhone dialogue. I mean, seriously. . . this is almost as good as the Magic 8 Ball.
In any case, quickly, before phones kill off any remaining interest in home theater, A/V receiver manufacturers need to install sarcasm into their products. For example, it would be great if you were sitting in your La-Z-Boy watching a flick, and your home theater started talking:
“Dude, do you realize this is a chick flick, or are you too stupid to notice?”
“Ewwwww, what’s that smell? I really think you need a new carpet.”
“I wish I had been purchased by someone with a nice home.”
“Hey fat boy, Ben & Jerry’s called and they’re out of ice cream.”
“While you were out drinking last night, your girlfriend was on the sofa grinding on some guy from New Jersey.”
“For the love of Pete, put on some pants.”
Frankly, I think the idea of talking receivers is brilliant. In a flash, people would stop wasting time with their phones and start wasting time with their home theaters. This would save the A/V industry. Moreover, in a few years, when the human race is extinct, your phone will have someone to talk to.
At first this seems cool that gadgets can do this, but after awhile I would be creeped out. AI takeover, anyone?
I think you are almost dead on. Home theaters need more than to adopt the snarky AI of iPhones. Home theaters need to become a natural extension of these devices. I want to stick my iPhone in a dock in my A/V system somewhere and send and receive video content. I want my A/V system to be aware of my notifications on the web- RSS feeds, twitter updates, etc. and let me know in a subtle way what's happening. The A/V amplifier of the future is a computer on the web. It doesn't have to sound bad- seems like you could easily stick the functionality of a PC into the chassis of an A/V control center.
This Ken Pohlmann is the biggest horses ass that i have ever read. The guy is a total idiot that thinks everything he says is a fact as opposed to just his opinion which is all that it is. Blu ray disc is dead? What a total idiot. I like your magazine but this guy has to go.
First, Let's keep it civil here. Ad hominem attacks aren't welcome, so cool it. Second, seems like Ken's touching a nerve, which is a good thing. Third, he's pretty clearly expressing an opinion (and lightheartedly so) — and you are free to express yours. If you disagree, tell us what you think about these issues. Fourth, you might want to read up on Ken's background a bit. http://mue.music.miami.edu/faculty/ken-pohlmann
I have read up as you say on his "background" and that doesn't mean a thing to me. I have been a subscriber the the magazine for many years and the guy is irritating to say the least, and I would not agree with you that "is a good thing" maybe he is talking tongue in cheek, I hope that is the case but I don't believe that. I did get a little aggressive about it but it is the first time that I had a chance to "vent" about what I think is the worst opinion writer in your Magazine. So it is what it is. That is my last word it I can assure you.