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Apple Could Be Planning to Release Updated Apple TV Box Next Month
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Surely there will be some silent updates, they can't cram all of that into one event.
No need for this unless they're adding some hardware required to make it also function as an AirPort base station (that is, if it doesn't already have the hardware).
If my ATV is plugged in with wired ethernet, which it is, why can't I use that wifi chip to give other devices network access? Or at least WiFi Direct support like the Macs and iPhones have for AirDrop. AirPlay shouldn't need an existing network to work from a device to the ATV.
If my ATV is plugged in with wired ethernet, which it is, why can't I use that wifi chip to give other devices network access? Or at least WiFi Direct support like the Macs and iPhones have for AirDrop. AirPlay shouldn't need an existing network to work from a device to the ATV.
Not necessarily true. The Apple TV isn't as mass produced as the iPhone and iPad lines.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
For those concerned about app storage in only 8GB on board, keep in mind that an 
TV is fundamentally different from other iOS devices. It is married to a computer somewhere else in the house and it is really about running one "app" at a time. As such, it could store 100 favorite apps on the big hard drive attached to that computer somewhere else in the house and stream whatever app someone wants on the TV screen on demand.
Conceptually, this would be like pulling most of the flash out of an iPad and having it in a separate box attached by a cable. That doesn't make much sense for other iDevices because they are mobile devices. ButTV is generally stationary so it's app storage space wouldn't have to be built in.
Or think about it like a fat HD movie library as if they were all individual apps. You don't need all of those movies in that 8GB of space- just one movie streamed over when you want to view it. HD movies and apps are just blocks of data. If one could have dozens or hundreds of GB of data for an on-demand movie library, one could have dozens or hundreds of GB of data as a big collection of apps.
So, unless an app needed more than 8GB at one time (unlikely with any app), it could easily stream it's data from big storage elsewhere in the house. Even a big app such as a very detailed racing game could load tracks between levels by streaming them (much like streaming a HD movie).
TV is fundamentally different from other iOS devices. It is married to a computer somewhere else in the house and it is really about running one "app" at a time. As such, it could store 100 favorite apps on the big hard drive attached to that computer somewhere else in the house and stream whatever app someone wants on the TV screen on demand. Conceptually, this would be like pulling most of the flash out of an iPad and having it in a separate box attached by a cable. That doesn't make much sense for other iDevices because they are mobile devices. But
TV is generally stationary so it's app storage space wouldn't have to be built in. Or think about it like a fat HD movie library as if they were all individual apps. You don't need all of those movies in that 8GB of space- just one movie streamed over when you want to view it. HD movies and apps are just blocks of data. If one could have dozens or hundreds of GB of data for an on-demand movie library, one could have dozens or hundreds of GB of data as a big collection of apps.
So, unless an app needed more than 8GB at one time (unlikely with any app), it could easily stream it's data from big storage elsewhere in the house. Even a big app such as a very detailed racing game could load tracks between levels by streaming them (much like streaming a HD movie).
I'm in the market for one. I'd love a spec bump, so that I can buy with confidence knowing that it will be brought along for the ride, instead of left behind in the dust like the iPod Touch 4 that was being sold a couple months ago.
Here's some speculation I read about awhile ago. Now that the fingerprint sensor is a reality AND the 64 bit A7 exists, I think it's even more likely:
Apple TV 4th generation may be released with A7 chip and an OS update to allow apps, and specifically games, with the idea of enabling it as a gaming console.
The new fingerprint sensor appears to be able to scan your fingerprint in real time. Hypothetically it should be able to function much like an optical mouse then. IOW, as a thumb controller. So then the iPhone could be used as a game controller for the Apple TV (or on its own if you're away from home).
We'll know more when it comes out and various websites start benchmarking it and technical specs get released, but I think the press may have underestimated the importance of the A7 chip. And no, I'm not saying this b/c of the 64-bit part. I think that's more setting themselves up for the future if and when they expand the internal memory beyond 4 GB of RAM, or possibly for security encryption purposes.
Apple TV 4th generation may be released with A7 chip and an OS update to allow apps, and specifically games, with the idea of enabling it as a gaming console.
The new fingerprint sensor appears to be able to scan your fingerprint in real time. Hypothetically it should be able to function much like an optical mouse then. IOW, as a thumb controller. So then the iPhone could be used as a game controller for the Apple TV (or on its own if you're away from home).
We'll know more when it comes out and various websites start benchmarking it and technical specs get released, but I think the press may have underestimated the importance of the A7 chip. And no, I'm not saying this b/c of the 64-bit part. I think that's more setting themselves up for the future if and when they expand the internal memory beyond 4 GB of RAM, or possibly for security encryption purposes.
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On's tough but off is easy:
1) turn off Apple TV screen saver
2) set Apple TV to sleep after 15 minutes (general)
3) set TV to 'no signal power off' after 15 minutes
Both are auto off after 30 minutes following a viewing
could be for next month event ? where apple could introduce :
- the new ipad
- updated ipod touch
- this new apple tv
- updated haswell mbp
- maverick launch
i'm hopeful
new iPads are a given,
new iPods are IMO unlikely,
new haswell MBPs - given,
new Mac Pro - very likely,
OS X Mavericks - given
new Apple TV - given Siegler's solid connections, likely
I always wanted a Gold Apple TV !!
Now I can watch Scarface in iStyle
I actually want a pink AppleTV and they could create a case ($29) for it with different sized holes that could be green and I could have my green and pink AppleTV.
Just imagine the television ads: a bunch of slackers in suits dancing around an office clicking the case on and off of the AppleTV. Now that's television!
Have you tried one of these? http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=optical+to+rca
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Please let there not be... Or at least not like they botched iOS. Like most, I tend to primarily use the tv in the evenings and I'm not trying to light my house with the blinding UI they've put on the mobile devices.
I bought the Roku 3 because it has more content. YouTube is easily side loaded; I did it in less than 5 minutes on the day my Roku arrived and I'd never sideloaded anything in my life before. And there's Twonky for 'airplay'. And, of course, Plex. And 1,000 other channels and counting everyday including Fandor. And a microSD slot and USB connectivity for a hard drive. And you can plug your headphones into the remote which seemed kind of silly to me until I used it and was able to conveniently block out a month of sewer pipeline drilling next door by putting in earplugs under my Beyerdynamics plugged into that remote. It cost $99 compared to the $75 the Apple refurb store asks for the current but now last gen tech aTV.
Assuming Mavericks really does allow the TV an aTV is hooked up to to be turned into an additional monitor and they get a freaking app store for the thing, I'll definitely consider getting one.
I think it's a bad idea, however, to make the device any more reliant upon the user having an iOS device. My 70+ year old mother and stepfather have started streaming Netflix this year and they'll never buy or want iPhones or iPads but an easy to use streaming box with a remote would be a lot more enjoyable for them than using an HDMI cable and adapter and audio cord hooked up to the tv and having to keep getting up to go back to the desk to choose the next episode or a different show, etc. They don't even know how to use the DVR they get with their cable and have never used it and refuse to learn. And it took my mother nearly a full year to remember how to change the input from the cable box to her MacBook and back. So, for likely future users like them, a really simple remote with like 3 buttons and no need for any other 'confusing' devices is really best.
Assuming Mavericks really does allow the TV an aTV is hooked up to to be turned into an additional monitor and they get a freaking app store for the thing, I'll definitely consider getting one.
I think it's a bad idea, however, to make the device any more reliant upon the user having an iOS device. My 70+ year old mother and stepfather have started streaming Netflix this year and they'll never buy or want iPhones or iPads but an easy to use streaming box with a remote would be a lot more enjoyable for them than using an HDMI cable and adapter and audio cord hooked up to the tv and having to keep getting up to go back to the desk to choose the next episode or a different show, etc. They don't even know how to use the DVR they get with their cable and have never used it and refuse to learn. And it took my mother nearly a full year to remember how to change the input from the cable box to her MacBook and back. So, for likely future users like them, a really simple remote with like 3 buttons and no need for any other 'confusing' devices is really best.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a move to the A7 chip. It would help Apple to move everything to 64-bit ASAP, and there's no reason to not put the A7 in the iPad 5 and Apple TV. Could possibly do it with the iPad mini.
The only reason I would see a storage increase is if it was opened up to third-party apps with an SDK. That would also mean a better remote, because the one right now is limited. I mean it's not bad, but I would love a little more control.
What I would REALLY love is to incorporate iTunes Extras into the Apple TV. You want to kill Blu-ray? Do this. Also, figure out audio commentaries. Those are some of the best extra features and are nowhere to be found in iTunes Extras last I checked.
I would also love the ability to use playlists with more than one type of media. If you have ever used a "help me go snooze" video playlist, you might create with one with both movies and TV shows. I had one that was all sci-fi space stuff. But I have to choose either movies or TV shows.
The only reason I would see a storage increase is if it was opened up to third-party apps with an SDK. That would also mean a better remote, because the one right now is limited. I mean it's not bad, but I would love a little more control.
What I would REALLY love is to incorporate iTunes Extras into the Apple TV. You want to kill Blu-ray? Do this. Also, figure out audio commentaries. Those are some of the best extra features and are nowhere to be found in iTunes Extras last I checked.
I would also love the ability to use playlists with more than one type of media. If you have ever used a "help me go snooze" video playlist, you might create with one with both movies and TV shows. I had one that was all sci-fi space stuff. But I have to choose either movies or TV shows.
I have this setup optical-RCA from the optical output of ATV to the analogue only input in zone 2 of my AV receiver. Works perfectly. Apart from when the kids are using ATV to watch a movie in zone 1 (at the same time as I want to listen to music via ATV outside).
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One thing I'd like to see more than anything (no need to change unit size, shape, etc) is to allow AirPlay streaming direct to the ATV.
As good as can be, depending where your wifi points are, not having things bounce around your wi-fi network would make for a smoother experience.
As good as can be, depending where your wifi points are, not having things bounce around your wi-fi network would make for a smoother experience.
I'm praying for a spec bump, Amazon Prime, Vudu (not necessary), and DEFINITELY a USB port so we can plug in an external drive with movies/pictures.
I have an external drive hooked up to my Apple Extreme router full with songs, photos and movies. It is a perfect "home cloud". The catch is that only iTunes can access these external drives, so I do have to boot up my Macbook and start iTunes to be able to listen that music or watch movies from that drive on my Apple TV.
It would be perfectly enough if Apple would allow the Apple TV to use those home servers without iTunes being on.
Hell even my iPad or iPhone can't access my home server media.
And the iPhone is not a device known for a lot of storage space. I guess Apple just wants everybody to pay for its Music Match service.
...holding off another Apple TV purchase until the dust settles.
Same here. Need another for bedroom. Hopefully it's a significant upgrade being the ATV 3 came out many moons ago
Apple's plan with its Apple TV are quite the mystery. It seems logical that they would open it up to developers, but for some reason they are holding back.
Maybe they think...
Being able to create apps for this device might erode Mac sales somewhat. I know many people/places that could get along with a wireless keyboard, trackpad, AppleTV and their TV instead of a Mac--especially if it had the basic apps. You'd be talking a fully capable computer for less than $300 if you already owned a TV. If they put Safari and iWork on it, it would be awesome.
Why buy an expensive Mac or even a Mac Mini at that point, right?
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I'm praying for a spec bump, Amazon Prime, Vudu (not necessary), and DEFINITELY a USB port so we can plug in an external drive with movies/pictures.
IMHO....that's not the direction Apple wants you to go. They want you to own nothing and keep everything in the Cloud.