Apple TV Roundup: Apple's Plans for Television

apple_tv_roundupFollowing last week's addition of an iPhone 6 roundup, MacRumors today is publishing a new Apple TV roundup covering not only Apple's current set-top box and rumors for future enhancements, but also long-running rumors of a dedicated Apple television set.

While Apple has been busy increasing the amount of content available through the current Apple TV, there is still uncertainty about timing for new television-related hardware from the company. A dedicated Apple television set has been rumored for a number of years, with Steve Jobs having been quoted in his 2011 biography as saying "I finally cracked it" with regard to a television interface concept, but signs continue to suggest that release is not yet imminent.

Apple has also been rumored to be working on Kinect-like motion control for the Apple TV, and Apple's acquisition of PrimeSense, the company behind the original Microsoft Kinect motion control technology, last month has continued to fuel that speculation. But whether that technology will make its way into the next Apple TV as part of a radical revamp or if the next-generation box will primarily be an iterative update based on improved internals remains to be seen.

Continue reading our full Apple TV roundup...

Popular Stories

Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

iPhone Driver's License Feature Launching in Illinois

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois. The announcement confirmed that the...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Here's When Tesla is Expected to Add Support for Apple CarPlay

Sunday November 16, 2025 6:49 am PST by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Tesla plans to add Apple CarPlay support to its vehicles "in the coming months." This is easily the biggest news for the regular version of CarPlay in years, should Tesla actually follow through with offering the system in its vehicles. As noted by Gurman, this would be a stunning reversal for Tesla and its CEO Elon ...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...

Top Rated Comments

fdanna Avatar
156 months ago
Still waiting with baited breath, an app store for the current and future Apple TV System. I personally feel that Apple is missing out on an other possible Application Mecca, that has yet to be tapped into.

It does seem like Apple TV is really missing it's full potential by not having apps, but I suspect something else is going on here.

P.S. It's "bated" breath. Baited breath would be kind of gross :)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ssspinball Avatar
156 months ago
Too late Apple. I bought a Roku.

Unfortunately after using both, the joke is on you. :cool:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMaven Avatar
156 months ago
Too late Apple. I bought a Roku.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
b166er Avatar
156 months ago
I use the Apple TV for Airplay from my macbook or iPad, and for netflix/hulu/HBO Go. I don't really see an Apple TV set replacing those functions that their little box already does. If Apple puts out a TV set, it would need to have something to pull people in.

Right now you can go chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, etc and get an amazing experience on almost any modern TV. I'd rather have an inexpensive, inconspicuous little device hooked up to my TV than buy a whole new TV just to get the same functions.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
156 months ago
Well steve jobs may have "cracked it" but it does not mean apple is ready to release it. They may already have a fully functioning product, but apple will not release it until it makes sense for apple. I guess well just have to wait a little longer.

Steve Jobs may have thought that he "cracked it", and if he had stayed with Apple would have figured out why what he thought of wouldn't actually work well. Quite possible. I wouldn't take one short comment as meaning too much.

He might have figured out that the best way for Apple is to make some small improvements to the existing Apple TV. That's quite possible.

He might have figured out that there is no way for Apple to make a lot of money from the TV market, so he might have "cracked it" by letting others invest and lose money.

Or he might have figured out that to make a meaningful improvement some serious technological advances are needed that are not there yet, and Apple is patiently waiting for these advances to come.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
156 months ago
I bet these services will require that you have a cable/satellite subscription.

Something I've not had in years and refuse to pay for.

We're moving over to the Internet, but companies don't want to give up their old business models. It's irritating. I'd love to pay HBO directly $15 a month for access to Go, but they physically won't let me.

You would think HBO would want to cut out the middleman as much as I would! But nooooo.

Hopefully things eventually change going forward.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)