What’s Next For Apple? Follow The Money Trail.

From what we know, the iTV wireless product has a USB connection. A future version may also have a Firewire connection.

Regardless, USB and a USB-connected iSight camera with built-in iChat software becomes a new money trail.

Think about it. Not only will we be able to use Front Row to display our movies, TV shows, play music, show iPhoto slideshows on a digital TV via iTV’s HDMI interface, we can do something no one else does well.

What’s that, Kate? On screen video and audio iChat to mom and dad or grandma via the TV.

The trail forward is becoming obvious. What a great way to communicate well beyond an iSight camera built in to your Mac.

Have it built in to iTV, add an iSight camera, and Remote Control and Front Row do the rest from the comfort of your living room chair.

I’m not talking just talking. The picture of the future isn’t just digital video of your family talking to you on the TV set, though that’s very cool.

The trail goes on. Why not have iTV play movies and slide shows and display photos on mom and dad’s TV on the other side of the country.

Of course, they’ll need an iTV, too. And perhaps a Mac mini. And Front Row and that remote control. Remember, this is Apple software. It’s so easy your mother can use it.

At the basic level, they won’t even need a Mac or OS X. iTV and a remote control will get it started, an iSight video camera brings the pieces together.

At an extended level even more begins to unfold on Apple’s money trail.

We’re not just collecting music, TV shows, and movies. We’re not just playing them back on our new digital TV set in the living room.

We’re sharing some of our digital media with friends, family, and business associates in an ultra easy way—Mac or Windows (though the Mac experience is substantially greater).

Again, it’s a money trail. Apple sells iTVs to Mac users and Windows users, though there’s greater functionality when connected to a Mac, just as there’s greater interoperability with iTunes which integrates with iLife components.

The future money trail becomes even more obvious with the cell phone. The question isn’t if, but when. When will Apple launch a cell phone product?

What can we expect in Apple’s cell phone? Again, the trail tells us. First, it’ll be an iPod with plenty of memory and not a crippled Motorola RAZR with 100 songs as the limit.

Second, it will sync with your Mac’s AddressBook and Calendar, and probably Microsoft’s Entourage. Finally, there will be video done the Apple way, and it will communicate not only with Macs, but with iTV.

Why iTV? Because that’s where the Windows users will be. Apple cannot afford a Mac-only product these days.

The trail of success with the iPod and iTunes Store is because of market expansion to gather Windows users into the Apple fold. Apple will not abandon that opportunity.

iTV and Front Row, Apple’s cell phone, and Apple digital TVs, will be products aimed at Windows users.

What did I just say? Apple digital TVs? Why not? All Apple needs is three models to cover the market, build in iTV functionality and an iSight camera, all running an updated version of Front Row, just like the stand-alone iTV product.

Apple’s future product trail can be determined by the money trail of recent products. We can also determine products that won’t show up for awhile.

For example, what of TiVo? Haven’t we all screamed for Apple to buy TiVo, do TiVo on a Mac, buy ElGato, do something about TV?

Based on the money trail, Apple won’t do anything like TiVo. Yet. Why? There’s no money on that trail.

Apple doesn’t want to alienate content providers, TV show producers, movie producers, by doing TiVo the Apple way. Doing TiVo means no money for Apple. For now.

The money trail continues when you and I buy Apple products, hardware, software, music, TV shows, movies. There’s no money trail when we use a Mac to record TV shows.

A digital video recorder functionality is a logical extension of a premium product, say an iTV Extreme for $399, but that event is a few years away.

What’s Apple’s future product line? Check the money trail, past and present.

The future money trail is where the products are. Or, is it the other way around?