iOS 5 to Unlock Bluetooth Capabilities of Apple TV?

MacRumors · Jul 12, 2011, 01:24 PM

Apple's forthcoming iOS 5 contains code that, if activated, would allow users to connect a Bluetooth wireless keyboard to the second-generation Apple TV. The new Apple TV contains a combination Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip, but the Bluetooth functionality is not enabled in its present state.

Broadcom Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in second-generation Apple TV (Source: iFixit)

As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, the Apple TV iOS 5 beta contains Bluetooth activation strings such as:

Quote:

- "Your Apple TV is paired with this %@"
- "The pairing attempt was unsuccessful. Make sure your device is in range of this Apple TV, turn on and 'discoverable.' When ready, click Continue to try again."

The ability to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with the Apple TV would obviously make for significantly easier text entry, simplifying such tasks as initial setup with iTunes Store accounts and Wi-Fi network passwords as well as day-to-day content searching.

But activation of the Apple TV's Bluetooth capabilities could also open the door to a host of other developments on the platform if Apple were to allow third-party apps on the Apple TV. Such possibilities include the ability to use other Bluetooth peripherals such as gaming controllers.

With the Apple TV running on the same iOS code base as the company's mobile devices, app development for the Apple TV should be a relatively straightforward process once design considerations for the lack of direct touch input and other differences in usage are accounted for. Apple CEO Steve Jobs even acknowledged at the time of the Apple TV's debut last September that the company could launch an App Store for the device when the time is right.

Article Link: iOS 5 to Unlock Bluetooth Capabilities of Apple TV?

wordoflife · Jul 12, 2011, 01:27 PM

I believe this. They did the very same with the 2nd gen iPod Touch.

definitive · Jul 12, 2011, 01:27 PM

would be nice if apple tv had a safari browser built in. would go nice with a wireless keyboard.

42streetsdown · Jul 12, 2011, 01:28 PM

a cheap game console?

dustinsc · Jul 12, 2011, 01:29 PM

Yes please! YouTube is so impractical without a keyboard.

justflie · Jul 12, 2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustinsc

Yes please! YouTube is so impractical without a keyboard.

...if you don't have an iDevice to use as a keyboard.

FanBoyTroll · Jul 12, 2011, 01:31 PM

... and basic functionality to read/write e-mails.

jaw04005 · Jul 12, 2011, 01:32 PM

I've been keeping my Apple TV updated with each new beta, and there's something weird about this one (iOS 5 Beta 1 and 2). It makes me think they're going to change the interface and the current UI/app is just a temporary placeholder until September.

Photostream feels tacked on.

handygeek · Jul 12, 2011, 01:33 PM

I'd be happy if I could pair my BT headphones with it.

Digitalclips · Jul 12, 2011, 01:34 PM

And maybe a track pad too?

handygeek · Jul 12, 2011, 01:34 PM

And come to think of it, why should we not be able to load any number of iOS apps on the thing, including a browser?

j2-core · Jul 12, 2011, 01:36 PM

So if you bought a new Apple TV it has bluetooth but you can't use it until Apple says so? That's innovation at it's best.

wordoflife · Jul 12, 2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handygeek

I'd be happy if I could pair my BT headphones with it.

This!
I would totally buy an Apple TV provided it has such a feature

bjett92 · Jul 12, 2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by definitive

would be nice if apple tv had a safari browser built in. would go nice with a wireless keyboard.

Agreed I'm not a fan of the browser from atv flash...

OmegaRed1723 · Jul 12, 2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handygeek

And come to think of it, why should we not be able to load any number of iOS apps on the thing, including a browser?

There's only 8GB of storage on the current

TV, which, among other things, is used for buffering downloads of iTunes rentals. This, and the prospective introduction of 1080p content coming to iTunes leads me to believe that we will see an

TV3 launch in the near future with at least 16GB of storage.

wackymacky · Jul 12, 2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

[url=http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/12/ios-5-to-unlock-bluetooth-capabilities-of-apple-tv/]
[center]Image
[i]Broadcom Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in second-generation Apple TV (Source: [url="http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple-TV-2nd-Generation-Teardown/3625"]

.... Apple CEO Steve Jobs even acknowledged at the time of the Apple TV's debut last September that the company could launch an App Store for the device when the time is right.

Article Link: iOS 5 to Unlock Bluetooth Capabilities of Apple TV?

When the times is right? The time is right NOW as far as I'm concerned!

wackymacky · Jul 12, 2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j2-core

So if you bought a new Apple TV it has bluetooth but you can't use it until Apple says so? That's innovation at it's best.

Would you expect anything else from our friends at Infinity Loop?

Consultant · Jul 12, 2011, 01:42 PM

What can bluetooth do that wifi can't? Slightly faster screen sharing?

FakeWozniak · Jul 12, 2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 42streetsdown

a cheap game console?

Exactly. It'd be nice if my Dual Shock 3 worked with it.

jbyun04 · Jul 12, 2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Consultant

What can bluetooth do that wifi can't? Slightly faster screen sharing?

Connect peripherals without annoying dongles and munch on your battery life like no other

whoami · Jul 12, 2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaRed1723

There's only 8GB of storage on the current

TV, which, among other things, is used for buffering downloads of iTunes rentals. This, and the prospective introduction of 1080p content coming to iTunes leads me to believe that we will see an

TV3 launch in the near future with at least 16GB of storage.

they "could" use iCloud for apps on demand..

macduke · Jul 12, 2011, 01:47 PM

Magic Trackpad for Safari and simple games like Angry Birds would be even better.

I love playing my iPad 2 on the aTV with iOS 5. I think Apple should release a remote app for games on aTV. That way if you only owned the aTV version, you could still play from your iOS device. It could provide an SDK for devs that could load in the custom UI for controls and provide other feedback such as inventory or in-game map. This has three benefits: eliminate some of the lag of streaming from one device to another (controls can sometimes lag when streaming the whole game over video), provide better battery life for the controller device, and simplify all the separate remote apps into one, provided by Apple, with an SDK.

nate13 · Jul 12, 2011, 01:49 PM

a $100 fully functional iOS/ basic computer on an existing piece of hardware? With awesome connectivity to the most popular PC music player/ smartphone/ tablet/ iTouch, access to a wide range of existing application code? FOR $100 DOLLARS!?

I'm sorry, but that would be absolutely genius- we truly are in the Post PC era.

DotCom2 · Jul 12, 2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handygeek

I'd be happy if I could pair my BT headphones with it.

This is a MUST for me!
Here's hoping!

Consultant · Jul 12, 2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbyun04

Connect peripherals without annoying dongles and munch on your battery life like no other

Yeah I guess the game controls might be interesting, especially for some developers who can't figure out how to do good touch control.

Jul 12, 2011, 01:27 PM	#2
wordoflife macrumors 604 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Republic City, URN.	I believe this. They did the very same with the 2nd gen iPod Touch. __________________ "When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change."
	-1

Jul 12, 2011, 01:28 PM	#4
42streetsdown macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Gallifrey, 5124	a cheap game console? __________________ Sudo make me a sandwich. "There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes" -The Doctor
	8

Jul 12, 2011, 01:34 PM	#10
Digitalclips macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sarasota, Florida	And maybe a track pad too? __________________ Been using Apple since Apple ][ - Long on AAPL so biased MacBookPro i7, MacBookPro i5, iPhones 3Gs and 4s & iPad 2.
	0

Jul 12, 2011, 01:36 PM	#12
j2-core macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2011	So if you bought a new Apple TV it has bluetooth but you can't use it until Apple says so? That's innovation at it's best.
	-15

Jul 12, 2011, 01:42 PM	#18
Consultant macrumors G5 Join Date: Jun 2007	What can bluetooth do that wifi can't? Slightly faster screen sharing? __________________ * Is redesign innovation? The false burdens of Apple iOS * \| Apple User Art \| Celebs with Macs \| Mac: Power Users \| Tech Humor
	-3

Jul 12, 2011, 01:27 PM	#3
definitive macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2008	would be nice if apple tv had a safari browser built in. would go nice with a wireless keyboard.
	5

Jul 12, 2011, 01:29 PM	#5
dustinsc macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2009	Yes please! YouTube is so impractical without a keyboard.
	0

Jul 12, 2011, 01:31 PM	#7
FanBoyTroll macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2010	... and basic functionality to read/write e-mails.
	0

Jul 12, 2011, 01:32 PM	#8
jaw04005 macrumors 601 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: AR	I've been keeping my Apple TV updated with each new beta, and there's something weird about this one (iOS 5 Beta 1 and 2). It makes me think they're going to change the interface and the current UI/app is just a temporary placeholder until September. Photostream feels tacked on.
	2

Jul 12, 2011, 01:33 PM	#9
handygeek macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2007	I'd be happy if I could pair my BT headphones with it.
	4

Jul 12, 2011, 01:47 PM	#22
macduke macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Columbia, MO	Magic Trackpad for Safari and simple games like Angry Birds would be even better. I love playing my iPad 2 on the aTV with iOS 5. I think Apple should release a remote app for games on aTV. That way if you only owned the aTV version, you could still play from your iOS device. It could provide an SDK for devs that could load in the custom UI for controls and provide other feedback such as inventory or in-game map. This has three benefits: eliminate some of the lag of streaming from one device to another (controls can sometimes lag when streaming the whole game over video), provide better battery life for the controller device, and simplify all the separate remote apps into one, provided by Apple, with an SDK. __________________ MacBook Pro R-Type / Quad 2.6GHz Core i7 / 2880×1800 / 16GB / 512GB SSD Canon 7D w/grip / 24-105L / 100-400L / Pro9000 MkII Printer 64GB iPhone 5 / 32GB iPad 2 / 8GB iPhone
	4

Jul 12, 2011, 01:49 PM	#23
nate13 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fargo, ND	a $100 fully functional iOS/ basic computer on an existing piece of hardware? With awesome connectivity to the most popular PC music player/ smartphone/ tablet/ iTouch, access to a wide range of existing application code? FOR $100 DOLLARS!? I'm sorry, but that would be absolutely genius- we truly are in the Post PC era. __________________ MBP Uni 2.53
	7

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