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

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The post Confirmed: next Apple event is September 9, invitation hints at Siri-controlled Apple TV 4? appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Apple TV in 3D? Well, for now that is a no but soon we will be able to remote control our Apple TV’s in the 3^rd dimension. Apple has recently won 22 patents, as reported by Patently Apple, which covers everything from Electromagnetic Induction (battery extension for iOS devices) to a new 3D Apple TV remote technology that potentially includes a “wand”, a touch interface, as well as a gyroscope sensor. Patently Apple describes what this patent could mean to our living rooms:

Apple’s granted patent covers a media system may include an electronic device, a screen, and a wand. The user may interact with one or more media applications implemented on the electronic device using the wand. The wand may include any suitable components for providing instructions to the electronic device. For example, the wand may include a motion detection component providing outputs reflecting the movements of the wand to the electronic device.

To me, this seems remnant of an Apple TV Remote crossed with an iPod touch and a Wii-Mote. We will just have to wait and see.

This patent could add evidence to speculation that Apple is working on its own branded TV set.

Check out Patently Apple’s article for more details on the future 3D Apple TV remote.

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