The BBC Have Your Say thread on this new Apple device is quite lively with people who are saying, generally, one of three things:

• An Xbox can do this stuff already
• Why would I want to plug my computer into my TV?
• Why does the BBC advertise Apple’s products?

To which, I would answer:

• It’s not an Xbox, nor is it a Media Centre PC
• It’s not a computer
• Most news is actually advertising

And, while I’m on a roll: Live television: what’s that good for? News and Sport. Everything else is view on demand, at least in my house. I just record what I want to watch with Sky+, then watch it when I feel like it. And get this: I do exactly the same with internet radio. Catch my drift?

A note to the naysayers: Apple’s iTunes Store is the fifth largest retailer of music in the U.S.