Disney CEO Robert Iger, who apparently has yet to get the memo not to discuss features of unreleased products, has apparently confirmed that Apple's forthcoming iTV digital media device will feature a hard drive as speculated. The iPod Observer reports that while speaking at a Goldman Sachs conference call, Iger spilled the beans.
What he doesn't point to – and what will probably be absent from the product – is any ability to record live television broadcasts. Apple makes a lot of money selling movies and TV shows for download – they're not going to use the device that makes them legitimate home entertainment and have it cut off the strategy at the legs. Which sucks, and is a conflict of interest, but whatever.
To my mind, the only reason I would consider an iTV instead of a low-end Mac mini for my home entertainment needs would be if I could use it as a DVR. At $300, it has to do more than relay data and cache it for later use, but that's what it sounds like...
Via TUAW.