Random notes from this busy fall season: With Apple TV 2.0's availability just a few weeks away, the rest of the smart TV-making device field appears not to be standing still, whether or not there's fear of losing market share. Google's Chromecast 2.0 gets unveiled this week, while the second edition of Amazon Fire TV comes out within two weeks and Nvidia's Shield displays for the first time since its May rollout at Pepcom's Digital Experience showcase here in New York Wednesday night. There is a sense that everyone wants to be ready if Apple CEO Tim Cook's declaration that "the future of TV is apps" – as in informational, transactional or interactive services -- pans out. Travel site Orbitz is now an Amazon Fire attraction, and similar apps for TV are reportedly on the fast track at Chromecast, Roku, Shield and Intel's Compute Stick.
A Sudden Surge in Smart TV-Making Devices
