iOS 5 to Unlock Bluetooth Capabilities of Apple TV?

Tuesday July 12, 2011 12:24 pm PDT by Eric Slivka
Apple's forthcoming iOS 5 contains code that, if activated, would allow users to connect a Bluetooth wireless keyboard to the second-generation Apple TV. The new Apple TV contains a combination Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip, but the Bluetooth functionality is not enabled in its present state.

Broadcom Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in second-generation Apple TV (Source: iFixit)

As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, the Apple TV iOS 5 beta contains Bluetooth activation strings such as:

- "Your Apple TV is paired with this %@"
- "The pairing attempt was unsuccessful. Make sure your device is in range of this Apple TV, turn on and 'discoverable.' When ready, click Continue to try again."
The ability to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with the Apple TV would obviously make for significantly easier text entry, simplifying such tasks as initial setup with iTunes Store accounts and Wi-Fi network passwords as well as day-to-day content searching.

But activation of the Apple TV's Bluetooth capabilities could also open the door to a host of other developments on the platform if Apple were to allow third-party apps on the Apple TV. Such possibilities include the ability to use other Bluetooth peripherals such as gaming controllers.

With the Apple TV running on the same iOS code base as the company's mobile devices, app development for the Apple TV should be a relatively straightforward process once design considerations for the lack of direct touch input and other differences in usage are accounted for. Apple CEO Steve Jobs even acknowledged at the time of the Apple TV's debut last September that the company could launch an App Store for the device when the time is right.

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42streetsdown
112 months ago
a cheap game console?
Rating: 8 Votes
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nate13
112 months ago
a $100 fully functional iOS/ basic computer on an existing piece of hardware? With awesome connectivity to the most popular PC music player/ smartphone/ tablet/ iTouch, access to a wide range of existing application code? FOR $100 DOLLARS!?

I'm sorry, but that would be absolutely genius- we truly are in the Post PC era.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Cander
112 months ago
AppleTV becoming a game console anyone?
Rating: 5 Votes
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justflie
112 months ago

Yes please! YouTube is so impractical without a keyboard.


...if you don't have an iDevice to use as a keyboard.
Rating: 5 Votes
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definitive
112 months ago
would be nice if apple tv had a safari browser built in. would go nice with a wireless keyboard.
Rating: 5 Votes
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macduke
112 months ago
Magic Trackpad for Safari and simple games like Angry Birds would be even better.

I love playing my iPad 2 on the aTV with iOS 5. I think Apple should release a remote app for games on aTV. That way if you only owned the aTV version, you could still play from your iOS device. It could provide an SDK for devs that could load in the custom UI for controls and provide other feedback such as inventory or in-game map. This has three benefits: eliminate some of the lag of streaming from one device to another (controls can sometimes lag when streaming the whole game over video), provide better battery life for the controller device, and simplify all the separate remote apps into one, provided by Apple, with an SDK.
Rating: 4 Votes
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handygeek
112 months ago
And come to think of it, why should we not be able to load any number of iOS apps on the thing, including a browser?
Rating: 4 Votes
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handygeek
112 months ago
I'd be happy if I could pair my BT headphones with it.
Rating: 4 Votes
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DJinTX
112 months ago

So if you bought a new Apple TV it has bluetooth but you can't use it until Apple says so? That's innovation at it's best.


So Apple decided to include a wifi/bluetooth combo chip in the first revision of the ATV2, to make it more future proof and to support their future product roadmap. And of course their internal plans are not made public. But because they thought ahead to include a chip with this functionality, but have not yet activated it, then you equate it to not being innovative?

I for one am shocked that Apple is not consulting with you for their big decisions, as your thought process seems to be spot on and strategic. Kudos to you. I'm sure Steve will be calling you any day now, so make sure you stay by the phone.
Rating: 3 Votes
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HobeSoundDarryl
112 months ago
2 rumors associated with :apple:TV in one week still far from the Fall iDevice refresh. Is that some kind of record for this "hobby"?

Personally, glad to see the interest. I think this hobby has massive potential if Apple would just include a few things long-since overdue. Maybe this year?
Rating: 3 Votes

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