Imagine coming home, looking at your nicely wall mounted TV, and no cable box, no Tivo, no DVD player, no CD player.  Perhaps the only thing attached to the TV is a premium sound system, perhaps a gaming machine or two.  Even those have potential to be combined

From this TV, you could watch any movie you want, listen to any song ever written, or at the very least access any media file from your non Western Digital hard drive.

Let’s talk about what you can do right now:

You can download just about any movie, even in hi-def on demand via a number of services including, Amazon/Tivo, Apple, Xbox, Netflix, and so on.  No DVD required, no wasted plastics.  No worrying about choosing HD-DVD or Blu-Ray.

Cable companies provide CableCARDs that allow you to have all the features of the cable box without the box.  It is a credit card size card that fits into your TV, Tivo etc.

In Europe and Asia, TVs are being rolled out with built in hard drives and DVRs.   TVs with built in computers already?  Who knew?  Not Americans.  We like devices in our entertainment racks.

Getting them all on one device sounds great right?  Well it is not going to happen here anytime soon.  I will attempt to explain why.

There are simply too many companies offering too many various formats for media.  This is slowly being corrected on the music side, but on the movies side it is just beginning.  Toshiba and Sony have lots of money invested in their competing dead on arrival formats.  With various individual boxes that exist, you can get your HD movies on demand each with their own form of DRM that does not work with your other media devices.  There is still no basic subscription service, only individual pay per view. 

All these great devices and technologies exists as we speak, the issue being they exist separately. 

And that is the crux of my argument.  Here is how it can be fixed without too much money being invested in development.

1. Open iTunes. 
   I am not suggesting Apple give it away.  They have created the best music management system on the market.  Now that most songs will be available DRM free, there is no need to keep it locked.  Apple should license the software to other manufacturers, and in turn make iTunes compatible with their media device.  Second, if you purchase a competing device, and do not want to use their media manager, you can pay a nominal fee for iTunes, let's say $19.95.  Apple makes money, iTunes users are not handcuffed to an iPod if they find a competing device they want to try.
   
   
2. TVs Need Hard Drives with built in Wi-fi.
   Throw a TB hard drive in every TV.  Add a USB port to allow expansion and viola, you have a media center.  With a hard drive and wi-fi, we can jump to number 3.
   
   
3. License Tivo Software. 
   There is nothing worse than someone mis-using the great verb "Tivo'ed" when they do not actually own a Tivo.  Tivo and a cable company provided DVR are not the same thing.  Not even close.  Tivo's software and overall functionality is far superior to any alternative.  In addition to the basic recording abilities, Tivo can:
   
   • Act as a media server allowing you to stream your photos, media, and playlists stored on your computer to your TV
   • Download movies on demand using Amazon's Unbox service
   • View podcasts
   • Play games
   • Schedule TV shows remotely
   • Listen to various radio stations
   • Transfer movies/shows to your portable media device
   • Check local weather/traffic/etc
   • Watch movie previews and buy the tickets
     
     
   That is just a part of the great functionality of Tivo.  As you see, it is a computer disguised as a DVR.  What is not great about Tivo?  The box.  Yes, it is a good looking box as far as boxes go.  Far superior to a cable box, but it is still an unnecessary box in your media rack.  If Tivo stopped selling hardware, and licensed software to TV manufacturers all you would need is the cable card to access all the programming. 
   
   Do no like Tivo?  Perhaps you actually want Apple to be your software, or Windows, Linux etc.  You could use your software of choice, as long as it was supported by your provider.
   
   
4. Movie and Television Studio Backing
   All of the above is useless without content.  Providers would partner with the studios to provide content.  The caveat?  They all have to agree to supply all content to all providers.  No one will buy in knowing they cannot watch Sony movies, or can only watch Disney movies.  The users can then choose a pay per view, or subscription based model.
   
   
5. Sling!
   This might be tough now that Echostar bought Slingbox, but it does not change the suggestion.  TVs need to have built in Slingbox like technology so you can access your TV anywhere you can get a high speed internet connection. 
   
   
6. For the Audiophiles
   Still do not want to have to get a sound system?  Why not incorporate a high quality surround system into the TV.  I personally do not believe it will ever still sound as great at 7.1 audio, but with the improvements in speakers and proliferation of all in one sound bars, this will suit Joe Consumer.
   
   
7. License Sirius/XM Channels
   If you have listened to satellite radio, you know how horrible terrestrial radio is.  This is not necessarily needed, but while I am putting together a wish list, I would love to see this.  Perhaps you pay a small nominal fee each month to your cable company for the service.

Now, I am sure I am missing other great ideas, but this is a start to having perfect home entertainment system with EXISTING technology.  No needing to wait for the technology to be built.  It exists now.  No need to wait.  However, getting all the companies above to play nice together to allow this sort of interoperability?  I might as well send my down payment  in for my flying car.