New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Reportedly Set to Open Up Apple TV to Third-Party Developers at WWDC

Friday June 8, 2012 8:15 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Following up on its report from last week claiming that Apple will show off the operating system for its future television set product at next week's Worldwide Developers Conference, BGR now briefly reports that Apple will be using the event to introduce a new software development kit (SDK) to allow third-party developers to build apps for the Apple TV.
We have heard from a trusted source that Apple will be introducing a TV SDK at WWDC next week. This would enable third-party developers to create software for Apple’s TV products.
The report reveals no other details on Apple plans, but we do note that Steve Jobs himself admitted just as the revised Apple TV was launching in September 2010 that the company could open an App Store for the Apple TV "when the time is right".

With rumors of an Apple television set continuing to build, Apple may now consider the time right to begin allowing developers to build apps for the existing Apple TV set-top box ahead of the company's larger entry into the market.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12, tvOS 13
Tags: bgr.com, Apple TV Guide
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
[ 371 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
ModestForumName
94 months ago
I still hold by the idea that a television set is NOT what they're planning. I think the "cracked" format is the current Apple TV. They're cheap, upgradable and gives a user freedom to do what they will with their tv screen. Imagine having an obsolete tv in 3 years and having to buy a new one. That's not a perfect solution, therefore, not apple.
Rating: 27 Votes
Avatar
newyorksole
94 months ago
you know what this means right? some developers have already had access to the Apple TV SDK and will be present to demo some apps!
Rating: 24 Votes
Avatar
HobeSoundDarryl
94 months ago

I don't really understand the real purpose of apps on your TV


Look at a product like Roku which has tons of "channels" (as apps). Instead of having one company who publicly calls the :apple:TV a hobby showing it a little love when they feel like it, you can have hundreds or thousands of developers filling in the gaps on all of the things various pools of people wish that it could do.

Also look at the jailbreak features for :apple:TV. These exist because those developers want more out of the little box than it delivers "as is". With an app store some of those kinds of "apps" could become apps (without a jailbreak required). Again, it extends the functionality for those interested in "more".

Thirdly, mentally time travel back to when the iPhone launched with just the handful of apps that Apple chose to include. Imagine it it had stayed that way (only Apple developing apps for the iPhone). Now think about how much utility & fun were added when the third parties got to contribute apps. That should frame the concept of potential for this little iDevice too (imagine what the third parties will be able to do... and then think about what you can't imagine that they'll do too).

Personally, this is (IMO) the best rumor for WWDC. Sure I definitely need a new Macbook Pro but I'm more excited about this rumor than the others.
Rating: 20 Votes
Avatar
profets
94 months ago
If we can get some XMBC and Plex action like this on the 1080p Apple TV and not worry about jailbreaking I'll buy 3.
Rating: 18 Votes
Avatar
basesloaded190
94 months ago
Finally! This will probably be the thing that makes me retire my gen 1 Apple TV and upgrade.
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
DTphonehome
94 months ago
If true, this is WAY bigger news than retina macs. Every network, HBO, movie streaming service, and hulu are going to drop apps immediately.
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
d21mike
94 months ago
The time has been right for years. Could you imagine where the iPhone would be today if they never created the App Store for it. Now imagine what would have happened if they had released the App Store along with the Apple TV 2.

If this is true, then hard times are ahead for all of the other STB's on the market today.
Rating: 14 Votes
Avatar
mac26
94 months ago
With all these reports about Apple launching new things at WWDC, WWDC is going to be awesome:

- possibly Retina Macbook (Pro)
- iOS 6
- OS X 10.8
- Possibly all Macs updated at once (including Mac Pro)
- possibly new iPhone
- Apple TV for developers
the list goes on and on
Rating: 14 Votes
Avatar
Eric8199
94 months ago
Here's what I don't get: Why would Apple even want to build a TV set? They've already got the AppleTV, which is cheap for consumers, and it can't get traction. Why would they spend the money to build a $2000 TV that won't sell either? TVs are a terrible industry, because people keep their TVs for YEARS! The reason the iPhone and the iPad are doing well is because people buy new phones every two years, typically, some more often. The iPad has been defined as a product you update every couple of years by Apple with their yearly upgrades. But the TV market is already defined. I just don't see the point in getting into a market where you are destined to fail. I don't see what an Apple TV set could do that the current AppleTV can't do. I think everyone has read into Steve's comments too much. I think his reinvention of a TV has nothing to do with an actual television set, and instead has to do with the AppleTV set top box, and is more along the lines of how to get programming to people, and less to do with the device they are getting it from.
Rating: 13 Votes
Avatar
WannaGoMac
94 months ago

They better introduce a new model with more RAM. You need up to 6gb of RAM just to watch a 1080p movie.


LOL, wtf are you talking about!? 6gb of ram to watch a movie??? ROTFL. I think you're confusing memory with disk storage. And it's a streaming device, minimal local storage needed for some caching
Rating: 13 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]