An upgraded Apple TV, designed to be a node in an iTunes peer-to-peer file sharing network, could allow Apple enormous capabilities. This includes the pre-positioning of content and the delivery of multiple channels of content in concert with Google, according to Bob Cringely.

Mr. Cringely started by thinking about the stackability of the Mac mini, the Apple TV, and even the Airport Extreme. But that only led to a depper analysis of putting all the pieces together. Lately, Mr. Cringely has been examining the Google optic fiber distribution system and reflecting on the relationship Apple might be building with Eric Schmidt of Google.

Basically, a BitTorrent-like file system that is networked via Google's infrastructure and an Apple TV with a hard disk allow Apple and its content provider partners to deliver massive amounts of video, downloaded in the background.

"If you are wondering what Apple might accomplish with such a peer-to-peer distribution system, it would be nothing less than the undermining of TV. First Apple would eliminate its current dependence on Akamai, reducing its network costs for iTunes by about 100X, making the network costs effectively free. Hello HDTV!" Mr. Cringely concluded.

Apple will become your new cable company.

But Mr. Cringely still doesn't know why those Apple products are stackable.