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Apple Television Set Not Expected Until 2015 or Later, But A7 Apple TV Could Come in 2014
- Thread starter MacRumors
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Er. the apple tv is $99 and the xbox is $500. Chalk and cheese.
I have one xbox... 4 Apple tv's.
I have two Apple TVs. They get more use than our TiVo.
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The XBox is two to three times more expensive than the Apple TV. Not to mention that it caters to a completely different audience.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_tv
Do you think the A7 would be capable of driving 4K Res? Well, now that I think about it, it drives Retina displays super well...Retina is pretty close to 4K I believe.
Not everyone cares about console games (myself included). However, there are plenty of games already available for iOS that my kids and I would love to play on a bigger screen.
Google TV
They have this. Google TV has native plex app, cable in and voice control. I have a first gen. device (Android 3.2) and it is pretty clunky, but the newer boxes running JB/KK look nice. I would switch to and apple tv if they added those things. I think they could really turn the apple tv into something nice.
Another note. My google TV is a "smart TV" and given how fast technology increases I will never buy an integrated device like this again. TVs should last years, not just a few like smartphones. Already google isn't supporting upgrades to my device because they switched from Intel to ARM chips. So who cares about an iTV, just make apple TV good.
Just give us an A7 + some storage + 802.11ac + an App Store and we'll be happy, Apple
EDIT: All I want is a native Plex app, sadly.
EDITx2: Actually, steal some ideas from Xbox One. HDMI-in for your cable box to control your cable, whilst also allowing voice controls via Siri.
EDITx3: Oh, and a camera for FaceTiming!
They have this. Google TV has native plex app, cable in and voice control. I have a first gen. device (Android 3.2) and it is pretty clunky, but the newer boxes running JB/KK look nice. I would switch to and apple tv if they added those things. I think they could really turn the apple tv into something nice.
Another note. My google TV is a "smart TV" and given how fast technology increases I will never buy an integrated device like this again. TVs should last years, not just a few like smartphones. Already google isn't supporting upgrades to my device because they switched from Intel to ARM chips. So who cares about an iTV, just make apple TV good.
They have that, its called a Mac Mini.
I have two as a 10.6.8 servers, ripped all my CDs/DVDs to it, and we can now stream any of them to multiple devices simultaneously. And its all saved onto a 12TB RAID array. I also get automatic back ups of our laptops, web server, DNS server, mobile accounts so my laptop/desktop remain in sync.
Nice set up you have there. Unfortunately, it's not a mass market consumer set up. Mass market needs to be more plug n play. You are right though. Everyone is essentially asking for a simplified Mac Mini.
On topic: The idea of a television set needs to be dropped. This thread is full of multiple valid reasons. The only group truly excited by an Apple TV set is Samsung. They probably have multi-sized prototypes of Apple branded Samsung TV's ready for demo just based on these rumors alone.
Yay lets applaud Mac Rumors, it's managed to make another story up about a vapourware non existent Apple product, I applaud you at your imaginations and ability to generate page hits. Well done 
I guess genuine rumours are non existent today?
I guess genuine rumours are non existent today?
Just give us an A7 + some storage + 802.11ac + an App Store and we'll be happy, Apple
EDIT: All I want is a native Plex app, sadly.
EDITx2: Actually, steal some ideas from Xbox One. HDMI-in for your cable box to control your cable, whilst also allowing voice controls via Siri.
EDITx3: Oh, and a camera for FaceTiming!
sounds like you want an XBOX ONE
Come on now, you know people on here seem to think the planet revolves around Apple and Apple literally owns all the money on the planet and can make the laws up as it goes. Because it would need to do all that to simply 'buy up' all these business like UK's ITV and Sony and Fox and Paramount etc etc etc.
Gahd who cares, an actual Apple TV does not and will not ever exist, they would have launched it already otherwise or leaked more info on it. And even if they did launch a 4k set, good luck with anyone being able to afford it..
I have seen 4K a lot in this thread. I just don't see it, nor do I see any viability for 4K.
I think TV manufacturers are going to try and push 4K just as they did a few years ago with 3D TV's, and I think they are going to meet similar results.
I think 1080p is more than sufficient for a vast majority of folks. 4K content will still be few and far between IMHO, and won't justify the much higher costs for 4K sets.
Found it a shame that the rumors of Apple buying Loewe were fake.
They know how to make high end quality tv sets (you also pay for it, but it's worth it).
My old 55" CRT Loewe tv worked perfectly for 18 years, followed by some minor bugs in the 19th year before it stopped.
I don't know if I would also get the new Apple tv if it doesn't provide an extra experience than xbmc with the Front Row skin.
Since two months I have xbmc FR running on my MBP and I'm very satisfied with it.
I'm contemplating about buying a Mac Mini and use it as a home entertainment system computer running xbmc FR (still need to check if it's technical possible connecting it to the tv set).
They know how to make high end quality tv sets (you also pay for it, but it's worth it).
My old 55" CRT Loewe tv worked perfectly for 18 years, followed by some minor bugs in the 19th year before it stopped.
I don't know if I would also get the new Apple tv if it doesn't provide an extra experience than xbmc with the Front Row skin.
Since two months I have xbmc FR running on my MBP and I'm very satisfied with it.
I'm contemplating about buying a Mac Mini and use it as a home entertainment system computer running xbmc FR (still need to check if it's technical possible connecting it to the tv set).
Everybody's been saying that they should open up the app store on the AppleTV, but it's not that simple, since all of the apps are designed for touchscreen controls. That's not something that's overcome simply. That's freaking HUGE.
As for gaming, don't forget that there's a controller SDK in iOS now. That could be a game-changer. (see what I did there?) No, it won't be an Xbox One or a PS4, but it doesn't need to be to be successful. Hardcore gamers are a large market, but they're far from the only one. The casual gaming market is at least as large as the hardcore crowd, if not larger, and as Apple has proven again and again, you don't have to be #1 in a market to make big money anyway.
If they're not opening up more software/games/whatever, I see no point in the A7 for quite some time. The majority of people don't have a 15mbit connection for 4K TV, and even if they do, they'll suddenly discover that they actually *do* have a bandwidth cap on that "unlimited" package pretty quickly. And with bandwidth to the home being that maxed-out for TV viewing, things are going to get ugly once everyone in the house is on a different device eating away bits of the broadband. Right now we're in a comfortable zone where people can stream video, audio and surf without maxing out. 4K would destroy that balance in today's market.
And yes, Apple is smart about getting ahead of the curve with hardware on stuff like this, but they also have a pretty fast replacement rate, so if you pick up an A7 ATV next month for 4K viewing, by the time it becomes a reality Apple will have yet another generation of ATV with an A8, A9, whatever.
IMHO, Apple really needs to focus on the interface for their current ATV hardware. It's pretty crappy, especially for an Apple product. There's no clock ANYWHERE. There's no way to quit out to the main screen without hitting the "Menu" button 5 times and waiting for each screen to load at every step. It takes too many clicks to do *everything*.
I love my ATV, but its potential far outweighs its current reality.
As for gaming, don't forget that there's a controller SDK in iOS now. That could be a game-changer. (see what I did there?) No, it won't be an Xbox One or a PS4, but it doesn't need to be to be successful. Hardcore gamers are a large market, but they're far from the only one. The casual gaming market is at least as large as the hardcore crowd, if not larger, and as Apple has proven again and again, you don't have to be #1 in a market to make big money anyway.
If they're not opening up more software/games/whatever, I see no point in the A7 for quite some time. The majority of people don't have a 15mbit connection for 4K TV, and even if they do, they'll suddenly discover that they actually *do* have a bandwidth cap on that "unlimited" package pretty quickly. And with bandwidth to the home being that maxed-out for TV viewing, things are going to get ugly once everyone in the house is on a different device eating away bits of the broadband. Right now we're in a comfortable zone where people can stream video, audio and surf without maxing out. 4K would destroy that balance in today's market.
And yes, Apple is smart about getting ahead of the curve with hardware on stuff like this, but they also have a pretty fast replacement rate, so if you pick up an A7 ATV next month for 4K viewing, by the time it becomes a reality Apple will have yet another generation of ATV with an A8, A9, whatever.
IMHO, Apple really needs to focus on the interface for their current ATV hardware. It's pretty crappy, especially for an Apple product. There's no clock ANYWHERE. There's no way to quit out to the main screen without hitting the "Menu" button 5 times and waiting for each screen to load at every step. It takes too many clicks to do *everything*.
I love my ATV, but its potential far outweighs its current reality.
A la carte & cheap should not be used together to reference content. The unintended side effect of a la carte will be the most popular channels will be very expensive to combat potential lost revenue and to continue funding less popular channels. Some would say get rid of less popular channels. If that happens the popular channels will become even more expensive. Why? Advertising. That's where the big money is.
If Apple can show content providers a way to maintain and grow their profit, not Apples, then and only then will we see a change. Show the content providers a profit and they will come running with their content in tow.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
That's almost always the sentiment. Around here- prior to Apple embracing 1080p- I read the very same kinds of things about 720p. And boy were there seemingly a thousand battles about 720p being plenty for "the vast majority," along with putting down 1080p as gimmicky, vast majority can't see the difference, internet will crash, "the chart", and on and on.
It's always the same: Apple hasn't obviously endorsed something, so it's stupid. Then, Apple endorses it and it's spectacular. Pair that with "<something> is good enough for ME, so it good enough for everyone else too" and it often feels like those two concepts apply to most of the crowd here.
I'm a quality hound and I was wanting to cling to "1080p is good enough" myself. Then, the other day, I saw 4K on display. Wow! My mind immediately flipped to wanting a 4K camcorder, 4K display, can FCP X handle 4K?, etc. It's easy to put down without seeing it. But go see it and see if you still feel the same.
"We" can spend the next few years posting "1080p is good enough", "the internet would crash if we tried to stream 4K", "until everything in iTunes is available at 4K", "until bandwidth is expanded everywhere", "the chart", etc.- all in opposition to the idea of 4K. But then, Apple will roll it out and it will be a repeat of "720p is good enough." All that "4K is overkill" sentiment will evaporate and 4K will become "must have", "how did we ever get by without it before", "1080p looks blurry", "shut up and take my money", etc. When it comes to video, it's just the same thing over and over again.
4K is coming and it will be great. The internet won't crash. Bandwidth won't have to be expanded everywhere. Those happy with 1080p or 720p or even SD can still enjoy <4K versions of everything. But it's definitely coming. Eventually the TV people wear out the market for 1080p. They need to bring the "new" or die.
After 4K seems like it is everywhere and <= 1080p is looked down upon as outdated & inferior, 8K is right on it's heels. Then, "the vast majority" won't need 8K, internet will crash, etc. Stay tuned: we've all seen this movie several times before.
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This is exactly right. Too many get the perceptual math wrong. Nobody- Apple included- has any interest in cutting our monthly video bill significantly. Apple just wants to edge into that bill and get their 30%. 30% of $100/month = $30 to Apple. 30% of the $10/month huge discount "we" want is $3 to Apple.
All the players will play ball with Apple if Apple can show ALL of them how they- not Apple- are going to make MORE- not less- money in some kind of new model. And therein lies the problem. Our end of the chain keeps dreaming that we- the source of all of that money- is somehow going to get a big cut in our costs AND Apple can get a big slice of revenue. If so, the other players in the chain have to take a great big hit. Why should they want to do that?
And before someone says, they have to do that or die, I always come back to the key dependency. Who owns the pipe through which any replacement model by Apple entirely depends? Why are they going to roll over and take the hit if Apple's solution entirely depends on that pipe?
i thought the same when i first saw blu ray, but i wasn't about to spend the early adopter price
same with 4K. i bet it looks nice but most of us don't care until the pricing comes down and the content is there with real support
same with 4K. i bet it looks nice but most of us don't care until the pricing comes down and the content is there with real support
how on earth would anyone here know? it hasnt even been confirmed.
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does the Xbox One have access to the iTunes media catalog? are my iTunes purchases logged in the cloud for playback?
if not, then it fails the use case criteria that one would expect from an upgraded ATV.
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does Google TV have access to the iTunes media catalog? are my iTunes purchases logged in the cloud for playback on it?
if not, then it fails the use case criteria that one would expect from an upgraded ATV.
I think the puck could get about 90% there, but there is definitely room beyond that for integration and making the user experience better.
Assuming they get the content deals, no more clunky cable boxes. Your TV would get content on release day directly over the Internet via "iTunes Cable" or whatever.
An Apple Television set could have a front facing camera and the Facetime app built in. Press "Facetime" on the remote and the TV turns on to Facetime. Siri or the remote dials your contact list, which was taken from the cloud.
No need for multiple remotes, learning remotes, or different device modes on a universal remote. Just a single remote that works right out of the box for everything. No rat's nest of cables supporting 4-5 different boxes. No more HDMI handshaking issues.
Alternatively, the remote app on your iDevice would also act as a remote for the TV and all of its supported services.
I also imagine the hardware would resemble iDevices. Very slim, low power, tiny bezels.
Basically, it would be a greatly simplified experience, a universal interface for all services and apps, less boxes and wires, nice hardware instead of crappy lowest-bidder cases and cheap remotes, plus excellent integration and everything it brings with it.
And this is just from my limited imagination in the last few minutes. No doubt if Apple is really working on this, then they have a team thinking about this for years. No doubt they have additional ideas I haven't thought of.
What bothers me though, is that Apple sells a lot of mediocre displays. As a Pioneer Kuro owner I would expect a much worse picture from an Apple television set unless they suddenly start to care about picture quality.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
This pricing perception is blown way out of proportion. 4K sets of size are not at crazy high prices… unless we compare them to the crashing prices of 720p and 1080p sets, which is how it always goes. For example, here's a pretty high rated 58 inch 4K: http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-58L93...&ie=UTF8&qid=1384366216&sr=1-5&keywords=4K+tv at a price not much higher than what I paid for my 1080p set just a few years ago (and less than a decked out iMac without a 4K screen right now). For my first HDTV (at only 1080i), I paid about $6K so I personally don't see that as a big price for "cutting edge" any more than I see a $3K iMac (loaded) as too expensive.
And, as with all CE tech, those prices will go one way. CES is only about 2 months out and this year's inventory will get cut to get rid of them before the new models are in place. Early adopter pricing was about 2 years ago.
Content is a problem as it was with 1080p and 720p before that. That's chicken & egg every time. Since this is an Apple thread, adding 4K as an iTunes store option is just a matter of the Studios deciding to do so and Apple wanting it too. They don't have to develop 2 competing disc formats this time and then fight it out for patent supremacy, nor will we necessarily need a bunch of alternative hardware. And, with h.265 coming along quickly, there is a storage issue solution already in a mature state… so it's all possible soon.
I will offer again to anyone interested: go see it before you judge it (I perceived mostly "gimmick" too- you know- like "retina," where the pixel density claims get beyond what a human eye can discern). At my local Best Buy they had a display that fed it native 4K content AND 1080p content at the push of 2 buttons. Both looked "WOW!" impressive on that set.
I'm hoping CES brings <$1500, quality 4K camcorders. If so, I may start the jump right there, shooting my own 4K until the Studio's catch up with the commercial offerings. Certain home movies can only be shot in the present so I always want to capture those memories at the highest possible quality.
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Could we start calling the Apple TV set the "iDon'tCare"?
I'm getting more and more confident about it's release date. It will be the day Pigs Fly.
I'm getting more and more confident about it's release date. It will be the day Pigs Fly.