Apple today released a native tvOS app that will allow Apple TV 4 users to live stream Apple’s upcoming event scheduled on Monday, March 21. The “Apple Events” app also makes it possible to watch replays of many of the previous Apple keynotes.

The Apple Events app offers live and on-demansd video of the company’s most important announcements, including presentations by Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Viewers are asked to tune in at 6pm local time on March 21 to watch the live broadcast.

Users of the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV will have to wait until the “Apple Events” channel shows up on the Apple TV main menu, which will probably happen on Monday, a few hours before the event starts.

It is expected that Apple will unveil a 4-inch iPhone SE, a 9.7-inch iPad Pro and new bands for the Apple Watch at the event. Apple may also reveal the release date of the final version of tvOS 9.2.

The event kicks off at 10am PST / 11am MST / 12pm CT / 1pm EST for the US, with the international times for the keynote as follows:

• London – 5:00 p.m.
• Paris – 6:00 p.m.
• Berlin – 6:00 p.m.
• Tokyo – 2:00 a.m. (Tuesday)
• Sydney – 4:00 a.m. (Tuesday)
• Auckland – 6:00 a.m. (Tuesday)

Streaming via Apple TV requires a 2nd or 3rd generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later or an Apple TV 4.

In addition to the Apple TV, the event will be available live on iOS devices and Macs at https://apple.com/live.

Search for “Apple Events” on your Apple TV 4 to download the app.

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It appears that the time has come for the little black box to grow up and become a significant player in Apple’s ecosystem. Some reports even speculate that the Apple TV will be THE center of the Apple ecosystem in homes; connecting Internet of Things devices via HomeKit, showcasing iCloud & Photos content, playing games and eventually streaming broadcast television. While the iPhone 6s will undoubtedly take center stage at this Wednesday’s event, all signs point to the new Apple TV being the real star of the show.

First, the raw details that first leaked at 9to5Mac and have been quoted through out the web since. The device will run iOS 9 and include an updated remote, likely with an integrated touchpad and accelerometers for rough gesture based input.

The internal hardware will be significantly upgraded from the prior iteration with the inclusion of an A8 processor, 2GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11ac wireless capabilities resulting in a $149 price point. It appears the price may be tied to the internal storage space with several variants being considered, likely 8 and 16GB models.

While this will create a very formidable little box, the current rumor is that it will not support 4k video.

One of the biggest improvements with the new device is said to be the interface. While initially ‘clean and simple,’ the grid based icon layout of the current Apple TVs has become a sea of never ending icons and is far from pleasant to use. Frankly I have all but ditched mine as the speed to arrive at an application and then load it is easily surpassed by competitors such as the Roku 3.

Thankfully, iOS 9’s new Proactive Spotlight Search capabilities provide a handy tool for eliminating the need for endless icons. With so many options for streaming, the ability to ‘deep search’ into applications and immediately get to the content you want will be key for TVs of the future. This improved search along with upgraded Siri functionality is said to make the new Apple TV interface really shine.

In the past, this is where the updates would have stopped, a spec and UI bump. Sure there were people that had heard rumors or seen ‘Apple TV’ show up in Flurry results, but a true native App Store for the device never materialized… until now.

Finally, after many years of speculation, desire and even dedicated gamepad support in iOS, the new Apple TV version will have apps! Why now, why not years ago?  Only Mr. Cook knows the truth but I have several theories we can discuss over beers at WWDC next year.

What is most surprising to me is that until now, there has been NO visibility of this in the development tools. None. Apple isn’t about to release an App Store without apps, so what gives? This is complete speculation, but I believe this will be very similar to the iPad launch in that the new Apple TV will support much of the current App Store catalogue with few if any tweaks needed in the code base.

However, for those that have the resources, there will be a 30 day window in which to develop an Apple TV-‘optimized’ build of your application. Much like the iPad launch, these will get special billing in the store.

This actually brings me to one of my theories on the delay, I believe the remote was a big factor and this new remote enables the backward compatibility to fill the store from day one.

Either way, we will see for sure on Wednesday September 9th starting at 10am PST.

Rob Witman (@robwitman)

Read more about Apple TV 4: 

• Apple TV 4 specs and price revealed
• Apple TV 4: big focus on gaming and Siri, support for Bluetooth game controllers
• Apple TV 4 will cost $149-$199, available in October

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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:

• Apple TV 4 hardware, software, release date detailed by Mark Gurman
• Multi-touch Bluetooth remote for Apple TV referenced in El Capitan beta 2
• Apple working on its own web TV service
• WSJ: Apple to launch $30-$40/month online TV service in September
• Reading between the lines of WWDC 2015 keynote

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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Apple has just announced on its Spring Forward event that it became an exclusive launch partner for a standalone HBO NOW streaming service, which is set to debut on Apple TV in April.

We reported on this a few days back, but things became official today when Richard Plepler, CEO at Home Box Office, took the stage during the event and announced the long-awaited streaming service.

Along with the Apple TV, Mac, iPhone and iPad apps will also pick up HBO NOW channel.

You will be able to cut the cord completely, as there is no need of any cable subscriptions. All you need is a broadband connection and an Apple device, says Plepler.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQEhY_MJk9M

The service will carry all HBO original programming, Hollywood movies, HBO films, short films and documentaries, sports and music, and more.

Similar to HBO GO, HBO NOW will offer more than 2,000 titles online. This includes current critically acclaimed series like Game of Thrones, True Detective, Silicon Valley, Girls, Veep and The Leftovers, as well as classics like The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Deadwood.

In addition, HBO NOW will showcase Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, named “best of 2014″ on many critics’ lists;VICE, the Emmy-winning, cutting-edge news magazine series hosted by Shane Smith; HBO Sports documentaries, series and World Championship Boxing events; and groundbreaking documentary programming like Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst and the Oscar-winning Citizenfour.”

Plepler took the best route to make sure he had everyone’s attention. They clubbed its demo with an exclusive trailer of the next Game of Thrones season, which premieres on April 12th.

The service will be available starting this April for $14.99 a month. And to give you the extra push, HBO NOW offers a free one month trial if you sign up with an Apple device this April.

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Apple Events channel has just appeared on the Apple TV main menu ahead of today’s Spring Forward Apple event.

Live streaming will be available on a second- and third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.

Should Apple TV users be excited about the Apple Watch event? Read here.

Today’s event kicks off at 10am PST / 11am MST / 12pm CT / 1pm EST for the US, with the international times for the keynote as follows:

• London – 5:00 p.m.
• Paris – 6:00 p.m.
• Berlin – 6:00 p.m.
• Tokyo – 2:00 a.m. (Tuesday)
• Sydney – 4:00 a.m. (Tuesday)
• Auckland – 6:00 a.m. (Tuesday)

In addition to the Apple TV, the Apple Watch event will be available live on iOS devices and Macs through at https://apple.com/live.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news from the event.

Also read: Apple finishing up work on a new, slimmer Apple TV with App Store

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Apple will be hosting (and live streaming) an event on March 9. Judging by Apple’s track record of cryptic invites, the “Spring Forward” tagline shouts out that the event will be mostly about the Apple Watch. But there are some goodies hidden somewhere here for us Apple TV users, too.

First of all, let’s hope for Apple TV 4. While Apple Watch is sure to take the center stage, the possibility of an Apple TV refresh cannot be ruled out yet. Apple’s beloved ex-hobby device‘s refresh is too much delayed and reliable rumors point to an imminent launch.

As iMore’s Rene Ritchie notes, the Spring event of 2012 is when we saw the last Apple TV get announced and he wouldn’t be surprised if it takes the stage this year as well.

Apple has had spring events before [..] The last Apple TV was introduced at the last spring iPad event. Rumor has it there’s a new Apple TV in the works.

Secondly, the release of the Apple Watch will open up a whole new range of possibilities for existing Apple TVs. Your little black box may be able to do much more, once you have Cupertino’s smart watch on your wrist. This includes using Apple Watch as a remote for your Apple TV or AirPlaying music and photos to it.

I have discussed this in detail in an earlier post – Apple Watch and AirPlay: what Apple’s smartwatch means to Apple TV users.

Anyway, only next Monday will tell us what lies behind that veil and how Apple TV users will benefit from it. By the way, you will be able to watch the March 9 event directly on your Apple TV via an Events channel which will get added to your home screen soon.

Live streaming video requires Safari 5.1.10 or later on OS X v10.6.8 or later; Safari on iOS 6.0 or later. Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.

You can visit Apple’s dedicated subsite and get a reminder for the event with just a click.

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Apple announced on its website that it will live stream March 9th event through a dedicated channel on Apple TV.

Streaming will be available on a second- and third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.

The keynote kicks off at 10 a.m. PDT on Monday, March 9th.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for all the latest news from the event.

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Apple Events channel has just showed up on Apple TV main menu ahead of today’s Apple special event. Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later. Tune in at 10:00 a.m. PDT to watch today’s event live.

It is expected that Apple will unveil the next generation iPads, new Macs and release OS X Yosemite at the event. Though the initial rumors placed Apple TV 4 for an early 2015 launch, the tagline of the event’s invite, “It’s been way too long” gives some hope to Apple TV fans too.

And since the latest beta of Apple TV 7.0.1 software turned Apple TV into the master of HomeKit, it wouldn’t surprise us if Apple announced something regarding this topic as well.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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Apple has sent out invites for their special event to be held tomorrow. It is expected that Apple will unveil the next generation iPad Air, new Macs and release OS X Yosemite at the event. Though the initial rumors placed Apple TV 4 for an early 2015 launch, the tagline of the event’s invite, “It’s been way too long” gives some hope to Apple TV fans too. Read more here.

The latest beta of Apple TV 7.0.1 software turned Apple TV into the master of HomeKit, so there will be no surprise if Apple announce something regarding this topic too.

If you aren’t one of the handful of lucky media persons who received the invite, you can catch a live stream of the event on any of your Apple devices, including the Apple TV.

It’s been way too long.
Join us here at apple.com/live on October 16 at 10 a.m. PDT to watch our special event live.
Live streaming video requires Safari 5.1.10 or later on OS X v10.6.8 or later; Safari on iOS 6.0 or later. Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.

The Events channel, added in the first week of September for the iPhone 6 event, is no longer available on Apple TV. This channel will likely make a reappearance tomorrow and will bring the live stream of the Apple special event to your living room. As usual, the event will begin at 10 am PDT (create a reminder).

As you might remember, Apple’s stream of the iPhone 6 event was so buggy that it was practically unwatchable. Apple engineers are probably working hard to prevent a recurrence and hopefully, you’ll get a better view of Tim, Phil and Craig this time.

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WWDC 2014 keynote kicks off  in less that one hour and Apple will be streaming it live on the Apple TV via a temporary Apple Events channel that should have appeared on your Apple TV’s main menu earlier today. Tune in at 10 am PST/1 pm EST/7 pm CET.

Last-minute predictions from John Gruber: “An updated Apple TV seems like a possibility.”

Stick around here at Apple TV Hacks (Facebook, Twitter, Google+) as we’ll be following the event live reporting on all Apple TV-related announcements.

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