rumors – Apple TV Hacks

Apple TV 5: “dramatically” faster, new features, mass production begins in Q1 2016 (rumor)

tomek — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 14:58:08 +0000

According to Digitimes, Apple is already working on the 5th gen. Apple TV. The Taiwanese site reports that Apple TV 5 will go into trial production in December and mass production will begin in the first quarter of 2016.

According to sources from Taiwan-based supply chain makers, Apple will, for the first time, adopt a heat-dissipation solution for the new Apple TV “to handle the device’s new CPU”:

Apple is planning to adopt a new CPU for the fifth-generation Apple TV to dramatically improve the device’s hardware performance and will add new functions to help it no longer serve only as a set-top box (STB).

Apple is reportedly working on its own streaming service, which is expected to go live “sometime in 2016”. It’s very likely that the next-generation Apple TV set-top box will debut alongside the new TV service.

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You won’t get your brand new Apple TV 4 in October

tomek — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:02:36 +0000

Apple announced that the new Apple TV “will be available at the end of October,” but it looks like you won’t put your hands on the new hardware before the first week of November. According to 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman, Apple TV 4 “will begin showing up in Apple Retail Stores for sale during the first week of November.” And although, as Gurman claims, the new Apple TV will go on sale via Apple’s website in late October, “it’s likely that the first online orders will reach customers in early November.”

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Apple TV 4 specs and price revealed

tomek — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 14:20:16 +0000

New day, new details on the upcoming Apple TV 4. 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman this time reveals some new information about the next-generation Apple TV’s hardware:

he confirms that it will run a A8 chip;
Apple is said to be planing to release two models with 8GB and 16GB of storage (although it’s still possible it will only release the 16GB model);
the new box will include the same ports as the current Apple TV: HDMI, optical audio, Ethernet, micro-USB (for service and support) and a plug for power;
Apple TV 4 will not support 4K video streaming;
the new remote with touch support and motion sensors will be a dark gray/black color “to better match the new box’s aesthetic”

It will still be made of metal. Below the touchpad are a pair of tactile buttons (for Siri and the Home button), in addition to rocker buttons assumed to control volume levels.

BuzzFeed’s John Paczkowski corroborates the information that was first revealed by Gurman, that the new Apple TV will start at $149.

Paczkowski also reports that the Apple TV 4 will have a ‘universal search’ feature that will lenable searches across multiple streaming video services as well as Apple’s iTunes Store when you search for a show or movie:

Instead of searching the catalogs of multiple video services one at a time for a particular movie, you’ll now be able to search all — or most of them — at once and then choose the service on which you’d like to watch it.

You’ll also be able to search for actors and directors, and run other more targeted searches as well — all with Siri.

While Apple’s intelligent personal assistant is core to this feature, sources say there’s another engine driving it as well — Matcha, the video discovery startup Apple acquired back in 2013. iOS 9’s“Proactive” search is also likely part of the mix here, as 9to5Mac reported.

Learn more about Apple TV 4:

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Confirmed: next Apple event is September 9, invitation hints at Siri-controlled Apple TV 4?

tomek — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:48:18 +0000

Apple has just sent out invitations for its next special event on September 9th. The event will be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco at 10:00 am. It is widely expected that the new Apple TV model will be announced during the event.

The tagline this year reads: “Hey Siri, give us a hint,” which may point to Siri-controlled Apple TV.

Apple will be live streaming the event on the web for Mac, iPhone, iPad, PC and Apple TV users. Streaming via Apple TV requires a second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.

Apple TV 4 is expected to be slimmer than the current-generation model and feature Apple’s A8 chip, a new, “drastically improved” remote with touchpad, more on-board storage, an improved operating system with support for Siri voice control and a long-awaited App Store.

9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman has recently provided more details about the forth generation Apple TV:

Apple TV 4 will be the first model to run a full-blown iOS core and it will run a TV-optimized version of iOS 9;
it will look like the prior Apple TV, but will be slimmer and slightly wider;
the new remote control will not only include touch-based input but also gesture support. Perhaps it will also feature Force Touch technology;
Apple is planning to include a support for a system-wide search on the new Apple TV (just like the Proactive search on iOS 9);
as for the Apple TV apps, Apple has fosuced on video-centric applications, “which would allow media companies to release new channels on the Apple TV on their own schedule”;
the new Apple TV will include a refreshed, more iOS-like interface;
it appears that Apple’s long-rumored online TV service won’t launch until at least next year.

More about Apple TV 4:

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Report: Apple TV 4 to be announced on September 9th

tomek — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 15:20:48 +0000

Following his previous report that the new Apple TV will be announced at Apple’s annual September event, BuzzFeed’s John Paczkowski now says that Apple is planning to held the event on September 9th.

Sources familiar with Apple’s plans tell BuzzFeed News the company intends to hold a special event the week of Sept. 7, with Wednesday the 9th being the most likely date.

The long-awaited Apple TV 4 is expected to be unveiled at this event:

Multiple sources familiar with Apple’s plans say Apple TV is currently part of the company’s fall event.

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Apple’s subscription internet-TV service, that was initially rumored to debut this fall alongside the new Apple TV, is now scheduled for Q4 or, more likely, even 2016 release, according to sources.

Back in March, we learned that Apple’s HDTV project had been dropped in early 2014 in favour of Apple TV 4.

Read more about Apple TV 4:

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Apple TV 4 with Siri and its own App Store to be unveiled in September

tomek — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 00:16:51 +0000

According to BuzzFeed’s John Paczkowski, a reputable source for Apple news, Apple is planning to introduce a new Apple TV model at its annual September event.

Sources familiar with Apple’s plans tell BuzzFeed News that the company intends to announce its next-generation Apple TV in September, at the same event at which it typically unveils its new iPhones.

At the September event, Apple is expected to release an Apple TV SDK.

Apple’s subscription internet-TV service, that was initially rumored to debut this fall alongside the new Apple TV, is now scheduled for Q4 or, more likely, even 2016 release, according to sources.

Back in March, we learned that Apple’s HDTV project had been dropped in early 2014 in favour of Apple TV 4.

Read more about Apple TV 4:

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Apple progressing in talks over its streaming TV service

tomek — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 16:24:47 +0000

Apple is moving forward with its Web TV service as talks with main networks are “rapidly gaining momentum”, The New York Post reports. According to The Post, Apple is currently in talks with ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and it wants to launch the “as-yet-unnamed” service as soon as the late fall.

“The platform is ready and it rocks,” said one source.

Sources say that Apple wants to offer on the service local live TV feeds streamed on any Apple device.

Cable channels, including Discovery, will likely be part of the package as well — “as will ESPN, if Apple gets its way, sources said.”

The price of the service has not yet been decided. According to the “industry sources” it may range from $10 to $40 a month. The Wall Street Journal reported back in March that it will cost $30-$40 a month.

Apple is also expected to launch the next Apple TV model in the fall, with a slimmer profile, new operating system and interface, support for Siri and its own App Store.

Yesterday, Comcast unveiled its live Web TV streaming service called Stream.

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NYT: Apple TV 4 won’t debut at WWDC 2015

tomek — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 21:26:29 +0000

The New York Times reports that the next-generation Apple TV will be absent from the WWDC 2015:

The company planned as recently as mid-May to use the event to spotlight new Apple TV hardware, along with an improved remote control and a tool kit for developers to make apps for the entertainment device. But those plans were postponed partly because the product was not ready for prime time, according to two people briefed on the product.

According to the NYT, “a major setback for the Apple TV involves content”:

Apple plans to offer its Apple TV, iPhone and iPad customers a bundle of channels that is smaller and cheaper than the large catalog of offerings in a typical cable subscription, according to people briefed on the service […]

Media executives have been coy about the existence of the coming Apple TV service — the chief executive of CBS said last week that his network would “probably” sign a deal with Apple.

But in the background, content providers have also whispered that they are far from reaching deals with Apple to offer an Internet-based TV service, largely because they have not come to an agreement on price, rights and technology issues, according to people briefed on the discussions.

Apple TV 4 hardware, software, release date detailed by Mark Gurman

Roshan — Mon, 18 May 2015 22:59:13 +0000

Mark Gurman is probably the most respected and trusted blogger when it comes to breaking Apple news. Today, in a new post at 9to5Mac, he sheds some light on the Apple TV 4, as his sources report major facelifts in both hardware and software domains.

The Apple TV 4 Remote

As rumored before, the next Apple TV will come with a redesigned remote control, which is “fancier” than the current one and will likely sport a touchscreen or touchpad.

The the Apple Watch will be able to not only control your Apple TV, but, according to Gurman, “Apple plans to market the current Apple Watch as a primary input device for the next-generation Apple TV.”

The Apple TV 4 Software

Again, confirming previous rumors, the Apple TV 4 will pack a new operating system, codenamed “MonarchTide”. This OS will allow third party apps, which can be built with a new “TV Kit” included in a future version of Xcode, dubbed “MuirTrail”.

The new Xcode-based OS will also bear support for Apple’s voice assistant Siri.

Media Content on Apple TV 4

Gurman’s source says that the current prototypes, called the “J34” is filled with subscription-dependent channels just like the current Apple TV versions. However, Apple’s own rumored “Live TV” subscription service is expected to get added to them soon.

Apple TV 4 Hardware

The new Apple TV hardware, codenamed “J34,” is twice as bulky as the Apple TV 3, but that is common with all prototypes. Sources confirm that the shipping product will be slimmer than the current Apple TV box.

It will also come with a redesigned remote, as mentioned earlier.

Apple TV 4 Release date

The Apple TV 4 will be announced in June, at the WWDC 2015, like we reported earlier. The online TV service is expected to launch at a later date.

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NYT: Apple TV 4 to be introduced in June with web-based TV service and a new remote with touchpad

tomek — Tue, 05 May 2015 11:19:29 +0000

The New York Times reports that the new Apple TV is expected to be announced this June during WWDC 2015. Citing an anonymous Apple employee “briefed on the product”, NYT claims the 4th gen. Apple TV will get a new, “slightly thicker” remote with a touchpad and will offer a web-based TV service.

When Apple introduces its new TV box this summer, the remote control will gain a touch pad and also be slightly thicker than the current version, according to an employee briefed on the product, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the device was confidential.

The touch pad can be used for scrolling around and there will also be two physical buttons, the person said. The remote’s thicker size is comparable to the remote control for Amazon’s wireless speaker, the Echo, the person added.

The new Apple TV is expected to be introduced this June during Apple’s annual conference for software developers, according to the employee briefed on the remote.

Apple has held talks with a number of leading television groups to offer an Internet-based TV service this year for its Apple TV, iPhone and iPad, according to people briefed on the company’s plans.

The service will offer a bundle of channels that is smaller and cheaper than the broad catalog of offerings in a typical cable subscription, according to these people.

Back in March, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is planning to launch a $30-$40/month online TV service in September.

According to BuzzFeed’s John Paczkowski the new Apple TV will also get Siri and its own App Store.

More on Apple TV 4:

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