135: ‘Put a Nipple on It’ With Adam Lisagor

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The conversation centers on the new Apple TV, with both speakers largely praising its interface, remote, and app-driven future while debating its current shortcomings, especially 4K support, remote-app limitations, and content access. They argue Apple’s strategy is likely box-first, not TV-set-first, and may be a stepping stone toward a broader Apple streaming bundle. The episode also detours into 3D/VR vision issues and Adam Lisagor’s nostalgic web series Computer Show.

Main Topics: Apple TV as a platform shift (Priority: 5/5): The speakers frame Apple TV not as a simple set-top box but as a new kind of app platform for passive media delivery, discovery, and eventually broader TV aggregation. Remote design and usability (Priority: 5/5): They praise the new Siri Remote’s responsiveness and tactile feel, while criticizing its symmetry, ambiguous buttons, and lack of a usable iPhone/remote-app pairing. Why Apple should stay with a box, not a TV set (Priority: 5/5): They argue Apple is better off iterating quickly on a small box than tying itself to expensive television hardware that ages slowly and cannot be upgraded annually. 4K, 3D, and the future of display quality (Priority: 4/5): They discuss why lack of 4K is not a major flaw yet, given content pipelines and mastering constraints, and debate the promise and limitations of 3D and VR. App Store as the new TV channel model (Priority: 4/5): They note that TV apps function as portals to content, making app discovery and content curation the new equivalent of channel surfing, with fireplace apps and calculators illustrating the medium's weirdness. Computer Show and retro-tech satire (Priority: 4/5): Adam Lisagor describes his web series Computer Show, which reimagines modern technology as a 1983 public-access-style computer program, emphasizing production detail and nostalgic authenticity. Media access friction and ecosystem fragmentation (Priority: 4/5): They compare Apple TV, Netflix, TiVo, Roku, game consoles, smart TVs, and Amazon Prime, arguing that users want one device and one interface rather than many competing paths.

Key Arguments: The new Apple TV is compelling because its interface feels physically responsive and more 'alive' than prior TVs and set-top boxes. Apple should not make a TV set because TV hardware is expensive, infrequently replaced, and would obsolete too slowly to keep pace with Apple’s chip roadmap. 4K is overrated as a near-term selling point because much content is not mastered in 4K and the production pipeline makes universal 4K costly. The real promise of Apple TV is as a content-discovery and media-aggregation box, possibly a precursor to an Apple streaming bundle. The Siri Remote is excellent in motion but flawed in orientation and button identification, especially in the dark. A phone-based remote makes sense conceptually, but Apple likely decided it would be too awkward as a default control method for a cheap living-room device. Apple’s App Store model is uniquely suited to TV because it can place professional networks and indie creators side by side in the same interface. Amazon’s absence from Apple TV feels spiteful because Prime Video content is strong and could easily live on the platform. Computer Show works because it captures the logic of a retro technology show without overexplaining the premise, letting the absurdity stand on its own.

Data Points: Apple TV generations discussed: 4 versions total, with the first three treated as prior eras and the fourth as the new platform - The speakers summarize Apple TV history and its evolution from hobby device to app platform. Apple TV ownership: Host says he has owned all four Apple TVs - Used to emphasize long-term investment in the platform. Home network/TV setup: 4 TVs in the office - Speaker mentions his current home/office setup when discussing Apple TV use. Home network/TV setup: 2 TVs in the office, plus 4 in the office total - Illustrates prevalence of multiple screens and the practicality of a box-based strategy. Video rental window: 24 hours - Discussing why Apple rental timing feels too short and can expire before viewers finish watching. Alternative rental window suggested: 36 hours - Speaker argues this would avoid expiration problems and reduce repeat rentals. Apple TV app store content access: 3 core home-screen items initially shown - The new Apple TV initially surfaces only movies, TV, and settings rather than a cluttered menu. Wealthfront promo threshold: $15,000 - Talk-show-specific promotion waives fees on the first $15,000 invested. Wealthfront fee: 0.25% (25 basis points) - Described as the company’s ongoing advisory fee after the no-fee threshold. Backblaze price: $5 per month per computer - Presented as unlimited backup pricing for Mac backup service. Automatic price: $100 standard, $80 with discount - Connected-car adapter offered at a 20% discount through the show promo. Fracture discount: 15% off first order - Mentioned in the sponsor copy as a listener promotion. Apple TV purchase/rental content: Over 300 iTunes movies - One speaker contrasts his large purchased library with rental behavior. Apple TV era bandwidth issue: 17 hours 43 minutes to play - A joke example of a painfully long ready-to-play time for a rented movie. Computer Show premiere: Shown live at XOXO - Adam describes debuting the first episode in front of a live audience. Computer Show structure: 3 episodes produced so far - He notes the show is resource-intensive and one episode is withheld.

Pivotal Quotes: "We finally cracked it." — Steve Jobs (as reported by the hosts via Walter Isaacson): Referenced as a tantalizingly vague statement about Apple TV’s future direction. "I think this device specifically is used to enrich our lives." — Sean: He argues Apple TV is more than hardware; it’s a medium for media and discovery. "The remote feels alive in a way that like nothing I've ever felt before." — Sean: He praises the responsiveness and tactile immediacy of the new Siri Remote.

Implications: Apple TV may be the foundation for a broader Apple streaming ecosystem, but its success depends on refining remote usability, content access, and app curation while avoiding the trap of premature 4K or a brittle TV-set business.