Apple to Debut New A8-Based Apple TV Box With App Store and Siri at WWDC

[Sol]

If the new AppleTV uses at least an A8, it can drive a 4K display without any problems. An A8X would be even better of course. Maybe Apple will use their A8X salvage parts and disable the third core (like they did with the A5), so it has a dual-core A8X in the new AppleTV. I would actually prefer this over an A8, because the A8X has a lot more graphics performance, higher memory bandwidth and should also be pretty power-efficient when you disable it's third core.

Some very sensible assumptions in your post. The A8X would have 4K 60fps video covered but I wonder how it would cope with rendering 3D at that resolution, as it would be expected to if the next Apple TV has an App Store.

Of course it could up-scale 1080p graphics but the option to render graphics at 4K would give console owners an incentive to get an Apple TV, if only for 4K 2D games (which could look amazing).

 

[diamond.g]

Of course it could up-scale 1080p graphics but the option to render graphics at 4K would give console owners an incentive to get an Apple TV, if only for 4K 2D games (which could look amazing).

I would wonder what the newer Apple TV could do game wise that a PS4/XB1 couldn't do already (aside from be cheap).

 

[nando87]

I would wonder what the newer Apple TV could do game wise that a PS4/XB1 couldn't do already (aside from be cheap).

Gaming related, nothing, obviously.

 

[diamond.g]

Gaming related, nothing, obviously.

Every time there is an Apple TV update rumor, folks just assume it will wipe the floor with the existing home console market. Or even bring something new and untried to the home console market.

I guess I am willing to be surprised.

 

[Mockenrue]

Every time there is an Apple TV update rumor, folks just assume it will wipe the floor with the existing home console market. Or even bring something new and untried to the home console market.

I just want the ability to play iPad games on TV without having to deal with AirPlay. An ATV game can use a direct HDMI connection which makes all the difference. Hopefully this will also encourage more game developers to add controller support. I was hoping Fire TV would fill this role, but the game library is still weak because they have to do a full port. AppleTV should be a much easier transition for existing games.

 

[Philcox19842013]

4k support?

4k support? / HDMI 2?

 

[nando87]

Every time there is an Apple TV update rumor, folks just assume it will wipe the floor with the existing home console market. Or even bring something new and untried to the home console market.

I guess I am willing to be surprised.

Too much kool aid

 

[PsykX]

Every time there is an Apple TV update rumor, folks just assume it will wipe the floor with the existing home console market. Or even bring something new and untried to the home console market.

I guess I am willing to be surprised.

It will not do anything never tried, but it will finally be that "one device that does it all". And I'm also pretty sure the price will beat the competition, considering a PS4 costs $450+taxes here and an HD TV Receiver costs around $500+taxes or $10-14/month for 3 years.

The AppleTV in itself will be rather cheap compared to those two together, but I expect the downsides will be :
- not that much space
- less powerful than a PS4
- will most likely need iOS devices such as iPhones, iPads or Apple Watches in order to really get the complete experience
- will require Internet bandwidth, as opposed to watching TV on my normal HD TV Receiver.

Personally, I can't wait and will most likely buy it from day one and give my current one to my parents.

 

[Sol]

I would wonder what the newer Apple TV could do game wise that a PS4/XB1 couldn't do already (aside from be cheap).

If it could do 4K, that is something neither of the other two consoles can do today.

Graphically, if it uses the latest hardware found in iPads, it could do a lot. Also, the current Apple TV can mirror a Mac display over a local network so if the new one can do that with imperceptible lag, then it could let you play games with better than console graphics on your TV.

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I just want the ability to play iPad games on TV without having to deal with AirPlay. An ATV game can use a direct HDMI connection which makes all the difference. Hopefully this will also encourage more game developers to add controller support. I was hoping Fire TV would fill this role, but the game library is still weak because they have to do a full port. AppleTV should be a much easier transition for existing games.

The lag of the Lighting to HDMI connector is ridiculous. Apple really chose a bad solution for their second generation iOS connector standard.

 

[diamond.g]

If it could do 4K, that is something neither of the other two consoles can do today.

Graphically, if it uses the latest hardware found in iPads, it could do a lot. Also, the current Apple TV can mirror a Mac display over a local network so if the new one can do that with imperceptible lag, then it could let you play games with better than console graphics on your TV.

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The lag of the Lighting to HDMI connector is ridiculous. Apple really chose a bad solution for their second generation iOS connector standard.

I figure the Xbox can upscale to 4k, not sure if Sony can do the same. As far as Mac games with better graphics than the current gen consoles.... What games (where there exists a version on the console)?

 

[Sol]

I figure the Xbox can upscale to 4k, not sure if Sony can do the same. As far as Mac games with better graphics than the current gen consoles.... What games (where there exists a version on the console)?

Like you said, XBox upscales and PS4 can't even do that. If the Apple TV can run games natively at 4K it would offer something more than those consoles but that is only an if at this point.

Metro Last Light and Borderlands the Pre-Sequel are on all platforms so they could be good for comparison tests.

 

[LordVic]

I would wonder what the newer Apple TV could do game wise that a PS4/XB1 couldn't do already (aside from be cheap).

What the big selling point would be IMHO, isn't that it would outperform the current gen consoles in any pure measurable way, but provide the ability to play your favourite tablet and phone games on the big screen and possibly share their saves and content cross device.

EG: play Clash of Clans on your tablet, pause the game, go sit down at your TV and continue the same game on the big screen. By being in the Apple "camp" it could be compatible cross all Apple Devices. And th A8 is no slouch of a processor for these purposes.

 

[firewood]

4k support? / HDMI 2?

If Apple has to choose between a $99 price point and 4k support, 99% of their potential customer base for the next year will not have a 4k TV, so my bet is no 4k. Game performance from an A8 or A8X will also be better at 60 Hz 1024P than 4k, and that will bring Apple many more new customers at a $99 price point.

 

[diamond.g]

If Apple has to choose between a $99 price point and 4k support, 99% of their potential customer base for the next year will not have a 4k TV, so my bet is no 4k. Game performance from an A8 or A8X will also be better at 60 Hz 1024P than 4k, and that will bring Apple many more new customers at a $99 price point.

I don't think Apple can charge 99 for an Apple TV anymore. I think 69 (current price) is the new forever price. Though, maybe Apple feels that an app store is worth 30 dollar price difference. Of course if they offer an app store for the existing units...

 

[derek4484]

DLNA isn't what some people think it is. It's never been very successful. In fact, more components use Apple Airplay.

Hunh!? DLNA isnt very successful? Are you kidding me? DLNA powers just about all home media servers. I have one in my Western Digital MyBook Live that streams movies to all my TV's that have built in DLNA media receivers in them. It works flawlessly.

 

[largefarrva]

So when we order one in June we can expect to receive by October-November time frame??

 

[ButteryScrollin]

So when we order one in June we can expect to receive by October-November time frame??

probably won't be available to buy until sept/oct. June will be the release of dev tools and a demo.

 

[largefarrva]

probably won't be available to buy until sept/oct. June will be the release of dev tools and a demo.

So September-October ordering with delivery by January-February??

 

[ButteryScrollin]

So September-October ordering with delivery by January-February??

why four months between launch and delivery?

 

[twoodcc]

i would be happy if this happened. come on apple!

 

[Cole Slaw]

why four months between launch and delivery?

Because that's the way Apple rolls these days?

 

[ButteryScrollin]

Because that's the way Apple rolls these days?

can't think of any product they've done this with that wasn't a brand new product (Apple Watch). Can you give an example?

 

[Gedwards8605]

Apple TV update

The Apple TV he's proven to be the streamer to watch out for. I have seen MANY misconception about it. Number one is you do not need a computer running ITunes, it works fine without one. With that said I am running a PC with windows7 and a RAID cabinet with 16tb. This allowed me to store my iTunes purchases since when you buy files from Apple you get a digital copy for your own storage. They are the only ones to do this. It also allowed me to use HD back up copies of my DVD's. It has the best interface at this point in time. It has a ways to go and with the upcoming upgrade and App Store addition it should be unstoppable. I understand the delay on 4k and hopefully that is a firmware upgrade. We do have RUKO's and they get almost no use from all in our household because everybody likes the integration of the Apple TV's with there iPads, iPods, and IPhones as well as the Mac we have. As a whole the system intragation is fantastic. I did chose a PC to run my RAID array since it handles this function better than a Mac, also since I've beta tested Windows since version 2.11 so there is still a bit of misplaced loyalty there. Apple is a bit slow at getting so out on the market and that make them seem behind but features others are using are things Apple has been talking about for a long time.

 

[macUser2007]

I just hope "Apple Store" doesn't mean a dozen apps for channels pre-approved by Apple.

Limited so as not to burden us with too many choices and improve the user experience, of course.

 

[007p]

like the H.265 support that is already included within the A8, but no one currently has access to it, excluding Apple.

What kind of support are we talking about? Isn't possible that they are just 'abusing' the fact that the CPU is fast enough to encode/decode on the fly rather than having any kind of hardware acceleration?