Haven’t read “the only book about Steve recommended by the people who knew him best” yet? Hardcover edition of Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader is now on sale on Amazon for just $11.15.

A brilliantly reported, compellingly written book that overturns the conventional view of Steve Jobs—the Jobs that is frozen forever as half genius, half jerk—Becoming Steve Jobs answers the central question about the life and career of the Apple cofounder and CEO: How did a young man so reckless and arrogant that he was exiled from the company he founded become the most effective visionary business leader of our time?

Drawing on extensive interviews with Jobs’s inner circle, family members, friends, and competitors, veteran journalists Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli present a portrait of Jobs that is far more nuanced and intimate than previous biographies.

Get it now for just $11.15.

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

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Thanks to the latest courtroom war between Apple and Samsung, a lot of private mails and documents shared between Steve Jobs and his top employees has be made public. iPhone for normal people, Samsung’s marketing strategy, and a Holy war with Google are some of the most discussed ones. But what is significant for us Apple TV lovers is this excerpt from a mail Jobs sent in 2010 regarding the Apple TV 2.

” Apple TV 2 – David Moody, Jeff Robbin
– Strategy: stay in the living room game and make a great “must have” accessory for iOS devices
– sales so far, projections for this holiday
– add content:
– NBS, CBS, Viacom, HBO, …
– TV subscription?
– where do we go from here?
– apps, browser, magic wand? “

The first two clauses are purely official and sales-related while the rest of’em sheds bright light on what Jobs wanted for Apple TV in the coming years and maybe even forms a part of what he meant when he said he’d “finally cracked the code” for the perfect television.

The next couple of suggestions has indeed been made into reality during or after Jobs’ reign. Apple has been adding channels regularly to their set top box and was said to be in talks with Time Warner for a deal too. Even speculations of a Comcast subscription-based next gen Apple TV loomed around for a bit.

The last strategy of apps and browsers is the one raising the most eyebrows now as it perfectly lines up with the latest reports on Apple TV 4. The next Apple TV is said to come with a support for games, third party apps, custom channels and even game controllers. A revamped and easy-to-use interface is also said to be in the pipeline. You can read all about the Apple TV 4 here.

Now to my favorite and the most mysterious part of the mail, the last word – the magic wand. Though we have no official confirmation on what that is, we can read it closely with some of the latest patents (pic above) registered by Apple, its acquisition of motion-detection firm PrimeSense and listen to what our gut says. The said magic wand is probably a Microsoft Kinect-like device which will enable controlling of Apple TV with a stick-remote, via simple gestures and clicks.

This sort of reminds us of one unique and interesting accessory we tried out earlier: it is called the Kymera Magic Wand Remote Control.

It pairs with your existing infrared remotes and learns the patterns for various functions, which in turn can be converted into gestures. In short, you have a magic wand which you can swish in front of your Apple TV and control it. Looking somewhat like the Elder Wand from Harry Potter, this is literally what we can make of Job’s reference. In case you’re curious, you can get the magic wand for your Apple TV here.

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

The post Steve Jobs’ vision of a next-generation Apple TV: apps, browser and a magic wand appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

In this candid, in-depth interview filmed in 1995, Steve Jobs discusses at length his early days, career battles, and vision for the future. It provides a fascinating look at Jobs at a particularly interesting moment in his career, two years before he would go on to retake control of Apple. The video is free if you are a member of Amazon Prime.

Overview (from the official website):

In 1995, during the making of his TV series Triumph of the Nerds about the birth of the PC, Bob Cringely did a memorable hour-long interview with Steve Jobs. It was 10 years since Jobs had left Apple following a bruising struggle with John Sculley, the CEO he had brought into the company. At the time of the interview Jobs was running NeXT, the niche computer company he had founded after leaving Apple. During the interview, Jobs was at his charismatic best – witty, outspoken, visionary. In the end, only a part of the interview was used in the series and the rest was thought lost. But recently a VHS copy was found in the series director’s garage. Now, cleaned up with modern technology, and put into context by Cringely, the entire interview will be screened in Landmark Theatres.

Watch “Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview” here.

Also check out: ‘Jobs’ movie starring Ashton Kutcher now available from iTunes and Amazon

The post “Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview” now available on Amazon Instant Video appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

If you missed Steve Jobs biopic ‘Jobs’ in the theaters, the movie is now available to buy or rent from iTunes, as well as from Amazon in both DVD and Blu-ray formats.

Here are the available options and prices:

iTunes

• Buy HD: $19.99
• Buy SD: $14.99
• Rent HD: $4.99
• Rent SD: $3.99

Amazon

• Instant Video: $14.99/$4.99 (buy/rent)
• Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD with UltraViolet: $22.99
• DVD: $17.99

Plot summary:

Ashton Kutcher is Steve Jobs, the iconic Apple innovator and groundbreaking entrepreneur. This inspiring and entertaining film chronicles Jobs’ early days as a college dropout to his rise as the co-founder of Apple Computer Inc. and forced departure from the company. More than a decade later, Jobs returns and single-handedly sets a course that will turn the once-tiny startup into one of the world’s most valuable companies. His epic journey blazes a trail that changes technology – and the world – forever. JOBS is a riveting story of a true American visionary, a man who let nothing stand in the way of greatness. Co-starring Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad, J. K. Simmons and Matthew Modine.

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Speaking at a breakfast hosted by The Wall Street Journal, Sony CEO Howard Stringer said the company is working on a “different type of TV” to re-energize the television market. Hi didn’t give any details on what Sony is developing but said “there’s a tremendous amount of R&D going into a different kind of TV set”. Stringer also said that he has “no doubt” that Steve Jobs was developing an Apple TV set. “That’s what we’re all looking for”, he noted.

Stringer admitted that he spent the last five years building a platform so he can compete against Steve Jobs. “It’s finished, and it’s launching now”, he said. He was referring to Sony’s “four screens strategy” designed to seamlessly sync smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions. This includes Sony’s own acclaimed network services, like the PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network. Stringer believes the company it’s well positioned to produce the changes needed in the making and selling of televisions, even as it faces design-savvy competitors like Apple.

There are rumors flying that Apple has already started the production of the Apple TV set. According to analyst Gene Munster, the new Apple TV, controlled by Siri, “will be the most revolutionary product ever created.” He believes that the device will be introduced around WWDC 2012.

You may also want to read:
How to Jailbreak Apple TV 2 on iOS 5 (Apple TV 4.4) Using Seas0nPass – Tethered
Apple TV 4.4 Software Released
Media Player 0.9.4 for Apple TV 2 Now Available

The post Sony CEO: No doubt that Steve Jobs was developing an Apple TV set appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

This week in “Apple TV News from the Web”:

1. Steve and the TV puzzle
2. Apple is already building prototype TV sets
3. The Apple iTV gets mocked up
4. Hulu Plus coming to Apple TV
5. Apple TV and Siri

We are open for submissions: if you find anything related to Apple TV and you think it may fit here, send us a tweet or a Facebook comment and we’ll post it the coming week.

—————-

1. Steve and the TV puzzle

From the new biography of Steve Jobs author Walter Isaacson said that the new Apple TV could be the best innovation from the iPhone to the present. With this TV you will not have to use your remote and also you will not have to struggle with movies, everything will be just a “touch” away. The new TV would be synced with all of the devices and with iCloud, Steve Jobs didn’t want users to complicate with DVD players and cable channels.

TUAW, Steve “finally cracked” the TV puzzle, says bio
Computerworld, About this Apple TV revolution chatter

2. Apple is already building prototype TV sets

The analyst Gene Munster, who anticipated Apple TV set from a long time, says there are rumors that the company have already started the production. According to Munster, the new Apple TV, controlled by Siri, “will be the most revolutionary product ever created.” He believes that the device will be introduced around WWDC 2012. Also, on Sept-11, an Asian component supplier said that the prototype from Apple TV is in works.

CNN, Piper Jaffray: Apple is already building prototype TV sets

3. The Apple iTV gets mocked up

Soon after the rumors about the Apple TV set started to fly around, the new product got mocked up. Guilherme M. Schasiepen an artist on Flickr, said that iTV combines the best of Apple, with a multi-touch screen, iTV application, HD effects, Siri and iCloud.

9to5mac, iTV gets mocked up

4. Hulu Plus coming to Apple TV

The Hulu Plus app may run in the Apple TV 2. The first thing crossing your mind is that there has to be some technical issues, that the service isn’t available on the atv yet. Well, there are only political. Seems that the Hulu Plus app could get more sales that iTunes, and Hulu also wanted to sell itself to Google. But 9to5mac has gotten word that “inside Apple there are Apple TVs running the Hulu Plus app natively. The app is feature complete and ready to roll out to Apple TV users on current builds”. We should wait and see.

9to5mac, Hulu Plus app and Apple TV

5. Apple TV and Siri

As you can read from the news above, Steve Jobs was quoted saying that he made the final invention on Apple TV. The rumors are spreading to the web and many are speculating that the new Apple TV set could be controlled by Siri. Here, you can already see what an Apple TV without any physical controller can be, thanks to the newest episode from “30 Rock”, where Alec Baldwin boasts with his new voice recognition TV.

[image by Guilherme Schasiepen]

The post Apple TV News from the Web: Edition 7 appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

We are open for submissions: if you find anything related to Apple TV and you think it may fit here, send us a tweet or a Facebook comment and we’ll post it the coming week.

Edition 2:

1. The Apple Logo
2. Kicking in, Steve Jobs
3. The Mighty Jonathan
4. Pricing, Pricing
5. Cool!

The Apple Logo

Apple’s logo is probably one of the most easily identifiable. It has gone by several iterations [1] but has been easily recognised since the colour strips in the 80s. Designed by Ron Janoff, not by one of the company founders or designer, but by an advertising man [2]. Of course, being so distinctive ensures quick lawsuits if someone has a similar logo… Or even not a very similar logo, like this poor company in China has found out [3]. One more reason to be happy with our awesome new logo!

[1] Neven Mrgan’s Tumbl, The Apple Logo, Neven Morgan
[2] Creative Bits, Interview with Ron Janoff, creator of the Apple Logo,  Ivan Raszl
[3] GoChengDoo, Apple Tells Chinese Food Company To Change Its Logo, Staff

Kicking in, Steve Jobs

We’ll be seeing these kind of posts for a while. Remembrances of one of the technological leaders of our time, satyres to make us laugh, comics. What it feels to be Steve’s neighbour? It means seeing him almost every day, doing business in his garden. Walking around the street. And you also get to see how his sickness gets worse [1]. Sad story, about someone who has seen Steve very often. There are a lot of lessons we can get from Steve, and some of them are best seen in this short and sweet infographic [2]. And in case you missed, you can always watch the ever famous Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish Stanford’s Commencement Address [3]

[1] Palo Alto Patch, My neighbour, Steve Jobs, Lisen Stromberg
[2] The Daily Beast, The Ten Commandments of Steve Jobs [infographic], Leander Khaney
[3] Youtube, Stanford’s Commencement Address 2005: Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, Steve Jobs

The Mighty Jonathan

Jonathan Ive, Apple’s chief designer starts a new battle [1]. One of Apple’s strong points is design. Nice design, sleek design, perfect design. And Jobs and Ive share parts of the pie for doing Apple’s products the most brand-clear, sleek and sought after. Now “Jony”, as he is known will have to face the struggle for the perfect design (ignoring focus groups, market research and anything else as before) without Jobs’ support. Alone.

[1] LA Times, Apple Designer Jonathan Ive Enters a New Era, Jessica Guynn

Pricing, pricing

Apple gadgets are overpaid? A lot of people think so. But once you make the numbers, a MacBook, iPad or iPhone are cheap. You have top notch hardware, and a software capable of getting the most of this hardware without hassles. And if you are not convinced, check this [1] about managing supply chains to lower costs. Or compare a generic tablet with an iPad.

[1] Splatf, The New Apple: The Best Gadgets, but Also the Best Prices, Dan Frommer

Cool!

• The magic numpad, a sticky addition to your Magic Trackpad to turn it into a… numpad!
• Beta 7 of aTV Flash (Black): we’ll be following with a full blown post about this soon… Stay tuned!

The post Apple TV News from the Web: Edition 2 appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

The post “Jobs is an excellent liar”, new Apple TV by next Christmas appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Listen to Jobs:

The problem with innovation in the television industry is the go-to-market strategy. The television industry fundamentally has a subsidized business model that gives everybody set-top box for free, or for $10 a month and that pretty much squashes any opportunity for innovation, because nobody is willing to buy a set-top box. Ask TiVo, ask ReplayTV, ask Roku, ask Vudu, ask us, ask Google in few months. Sony tried as well. Panasonic tried. A lot of people tried. They all failed.

According to Apple CEO, we end up with table full of remotes, cluster full of boxes, bunch of different UIs. That’s the situation we have today.

All you can do is add a box under the TV system, Jobs said.

The only way that it’s ever going to change is if you can really go back to square one and tear up the set-top box and redesign it from scratch, with the consistent UI, across all those different functions, and get it to the consumer in a way that they are willing to pay for it.

And right now, there is no way to do that! – Jobs said firmly (damn…!)

So, that’s the problem with the TV market. We decided what product do we want the most: a better TV or a better phone. The phone won out. But there was no chance to do a better TV because there was no way to get it to market.

What do we want more: tablet or better TV? Well, probably a tablet, but it doesn’t matter because if we wanted a better TV there is no way to get it to market.

The TV is going to lose until there is available go-to-market strategy.

Otherwise you just make another TiVO. That’s the fundamental problem – it’s not a problem with technology, it’s not a problem with vision, it’s a fundamental go-to-market problem.

Is there any chance you partner with some cable operator? – Steve has been asked.

Then you run into another problem, which is: there is no cable operator that is national, he answered.

There is a bunch of cable operators. And than, this is not like there is a GSM standard where you build a phone for the US and it also work in those other countries. No, every single country has different standards, different government approvals, it’s very balkanized.

I’m sure smarter people than us will figure this out. But that’s why we say Apple TV is a hobby; that’s why we use that phrase.

Well, this could all mean that Apple focuses on iPhone and iPad, and they are not planning to introduce a new TV (new set-top box) in the near future. Hopefully there are people who see things differently: Engadget notices that Steve has all this stuff really mulled over – according to the guys at the tech blog this confirms that we’ll be hearing some next-Apple TV news at the WWDC10. TechCrunch even thinks that this all may push Apple to build televisions.

We hope Jobs hasn’t really figured out that there is no way to figure out good go-to-market strategy for the new TV by Apple.

Also read
New $99 Apple TV with iPhone OS, A4 CPU, 1080p and cloud storage

The post No new Apple TV at WWDC10? No new Apple TV at all? appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.