Apple Reportedly Prepping Revamped Apple TV: iPhone OS, Cloud-Based Storage, $99 Price Point?
Engadget's representation of "iPhone-like" Apple TV hardware
Engadget reports that it has received detailed information on a forthcoming revamp of the Apple TV, a major shift for the product that will reportedly see it resembling "an iPhone without a screen". Based on the next-generation iPhone hardware and software and relying on cloud-based storage rather than an internal hard drive, the new Apple TV is said to be set to carry a price point of only $99.
The new architecture of the device will be based directly on the iPhone 4, meaning it will get the same internals, down to that A4 CPU and a limited amount of flash storage -- 16GB to be exact -- though it will be capable of full 1080p HD (!). The device is said to be quite small with a scarce amount of ports (only the power socket and video out), and has been described to some as "an iPhone without a screen." Are you ready for the real shocker? According to our sources, the price-point for the device will be $99.
According to the report, while streaming content will be the focus of the device, users will also have the option of pairing the new Apple TV with a Time Capsule for external local storage. In addition, while the forthcoming Apple TV will reportedly utilize an iPhone OS-based operating system, there is no word on whether it will support App Store applications as with Android applications on the forthcoming Google TV platform.The report concludes by noting that we should not expect to see an introduction of the new Apple TV at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) early next month, as that event is set to primarily focus on the next-generation iPhone. And so while no specific timeframe for a launch of the revamped Apple TV is known, the project "is most definitely full steam ahead."
Apple has long considered the Apple TV a "hobby", noting numerous times that it feels "there is something there" and that it will keep investing in the platform. Rumors and speculation, as well as an Apple job posting, had also suggested that the company is looking to extend the iPhone OS to new devices, possibly including the Apple TV.
Update: Daring Fireball's John Gruber notes that the revamped Apple TV carries an internal codename designation of "K66", which has been mentioned in the iPhone OS 4 betas for several months now.
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If it can't do this I'm going to buy a mini.
This sounds promising. :)
To resurrect the past:
AppleTV is simply much too expensive for what it offers right now. There are far cheaper alternatives on the market, and it's about the same price as an iPod with the same capacity.
Storage isn't nearly as necessary for the AppleTV, since you can stream. Apple needs to seriously drop the price. Offer a smaller hard drive if needed. Get it to $99-149 (if $149, then 1080p playback).
Otherwise, it'll be a niche product.
The PS3, for example, is $299. It includes a 120 GB hard drive, and plays Blu-ray, in addition to having the AppleTV's streaming capabilities and wider format support.
The XBox 360 is $249, and lacks a hard drive, but matches the streaming capabilities and has a huge gaming library.
Right now, the AppleTV's price point competes against the Playstation 3. And the Playstation 3 obliterates it, matching every feature and also including Blu-ray, 1080p playback, gaming, and in the next update, 3D movie playback.
I bought a PS3 over an AppleTV for streaming, with no regrets.
If I were a betting man, I'd wager that we'd see an announcement about this in September at the iPod event.
That is very reasonable speculation. You'd expect it then.As a long-time AppleTV user, I'm eager to see the direction Apple takes with the platform.
If nothing else, this shows us the real potential of the 4th-gen iPhone. Wow - 1080P out.
Number one thing keeping me from buying an TV is having to sync it with a computer. I don't want all my video in 2 places, i want it at the TV.
If it can't do this I'm going to buy a mini.
You don't have to sync it, you can also stream it. So if you have an external hd hooked up to your computer you can store all your media on the external and stream it to the Apple TV. No need to sync it..
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