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...

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Top Rated Comments

fdanna Avatar
151 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
151 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
151 months ago
Too late Apple. I bought a Roku.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
b166er Avatar
151 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
151 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
151 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)