Apple TV Said to Have Motion Sensitive Remote Control Targeted at Casual Gamers

[b1wils1]

i really don't care what the price is. i'll buy it, and i'll use it. will i cut the chord on directv? not until i can also get nfl sunday ticket through apple. but, when that happens in 2017, i'll have slowly weened myself off of directv and can use apple's interface.

take my money!!!

 

[rp2011]

With Internet tv exploding Apple could not have delayed this upgrade any further.
And as much as I use the chromecast stick, and as convenient as it is, it really is pretty junky. But it's been the most convenient device to date.

Expect google to follow rather quickly. Advertising directly into the living with the death of traditional tv sounds rather lucrative. Especially for Google with the slow death of Windows consumer desktops and laptops and ad blocking on Apple devices.

A brave new world. The further expansion of the Internet with more old world entrenched players losing their monopolies and new opportunies for young blood.

 

[lionsy]

That's the big question. Is the 2015 AppleTV with new OS, processor, remote, and app SDK any different from the 2010–2012 AppleTV? Or is it still the same?

One would hope they've redesigned it rather than crammed more into an already poor interface.

 

[2010mini]

I can do casual gaming on my phone, if I can't replace my Xbox with this thing it'll be a huge let down.

Not sure if serious....

 

[Unami]

if it ever arrives will be underpowered like almost any first-gen apple product. but that's not that bad, the wii was also underpowered when it came out, but still a lot of fun.

i'm still sceptical about the rumored remote: touchpads without screens suck for anything but scrolling through menus in two dimensions - and "buttons at the bottom" sound like the typical appe-home/remote/volume buttons. no fun for play. sounds like it will only be usefull for the most casual types of games (like wii sports or boom blox).

on the other hand - it will offer mfi controller support eventually, and probably a lot more cheaper and better mfi controllers will follow.

i just wished, they'd partner with nintendo or make their own more complex haptic pointing device (imho the wii remote was pretty genious), but they most likely won't.

 

[autrefois]

It'll be the thinnest TV remote ever, but it will be lopsided on the side that has the transmitter, and the battery will be so small that you have to charge it every night. Who needs a remote with a battery that lasts longer than that, after all you can just charge it overnight!

 

[baller1308]

I can do casual gaming on my phone, if I can't replace my Xbox with this thing it'll be a huge let down.

No way is it going to replace an Xbox and I'm sure Apple isn't really targeting it to do so.

It'll be the thinnest TV remote ever, but it will be lopsided on the side that has the transmitter, and the battery will be so small that you have to charge it every night. Who needs a remote with a battery that lasts longer than that, after all you can just charge it overnight!

They could make it rechargeable as silly as it might sound. I'm sure the battery would be able to easily last quite a while without a display needing to be powered. I have an old home theater remote with a b/w screen and it lasts a few weeks before needing a charge.

 

[Rogifan]

One would hope they've redesigned it rather than crammed more into an already poor interface.

I guess people didn't actually read the TechCrunch story:

http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/27/apple-is-about-to-lay-down-its-tv-cards/

If Apple did indeed ‘delay’ the Apple TV from being released at WWDC, then it probably had a reason. And, if my sources are correct, that reason could well be polish, polish, polish. The experience of using it is said to blow away the types of junky smart TV interfaces we’ve had to deal with so far. This is the first real Apple TV product.

 

[blairh]

What do you think the chances are that FIFA 16 or PES 2016 will be playable on the new ATV?

 

[CmdrLaForge]

If I had a TV I would get one for sure.

 

[brendu]

I can do casual gaming on my phone, if I can't replace my Xbox with this thing it'll be a huge let down.

If you plan on replacing a $400 gaming console with a $100 set top box you will be disappointed

 

[nazaar]

They had me at "Apple TV will no longer be Apple's "hobby" product". Where do I throw my hard earned $?

 

[Bonte]

Would be nice to use an iPod as a remote

 

[Piggie]

Why do you think Apple feel they can't compete in the Games Industry?

It's sad that they don't feel there is a market for Apple and Gaming.
Way way back in the good days at Apple, Apple was right up there for Gaming with the Apple II.

Others have blasted past, made loads of money, become household names, in almost ever childs bedroom around the world, and yet, from Apple Nothing.

They would of course have total hardware control and could get great game exclusives.
Yes, nothing.

It's such a shame as I'm sure they could if they tried hard.
such a shame

 

[btrach144]

Sounds a lot like the Wii. I wonder how much it will cost.

 

[Unami]

so what do you guys think it should cost? 200 would be the sweet spot for me, like an ipod touch which roughly has the same parts.

but i also thought, that the watch would sell for 250...

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

What do you think the chances are that FIFA 16 or PES 2016 will be playable on the new ATV?

Generally, the answer to all such questions will be: can you play ________ on iPhones/iPads? The guts of this and those is (very likely to be) the same, so the gameplay that we know on iDevices is very likely to be the potential of gameplay (quality) on some new TV. I wouldn't expect anything much better than the best of what we've played on iDevices (other than whatever ongoing adoption of new iOS features like Metal brings to apps). There's always the IMO remote possibility that Apple would customize an A chip as part of dropping the "hobby" tag so that THIS immobile iDevice would have something extra and special, but I wouldn't expect that myself.

Given the massive popularity of games on iDevices, I would expect bringing the same kinds of gaming experiences as part of a revamped TV to HDTV screens would probably be a BIG HIT (much like bringing podcasts, then video and vodcasts to iPods back in the day): a tangible, whole new application for the little box in the living room. Given that games on iDevices tend to be free, freemium but generally < $10, there's potential that Apple could beat Xbox and PS on price: both for the hardware itself AND for the total cost when you factor in buying a collection of games over time. Apple doesn't generally win on price that often but this seems like a scenario where that could actually play out.

IMO, this is the most hopeful part of the whole article...

Almost instantaneously, the Apple TV will no longer be Apple's "hobby" product.

I'd love to see Apple give the little box some dedicated FOCUS for a while and see where it can go. I've long believed it could be HUGE for Apple the company AND us Apple product consumers if Apple would just get after it.

 

[kds1]

I doubt it - but i hope it has always on listening and a small speaker, like the amazon Echo, when my iphone is plugged it - its awesome - i can tell it to turn on/off the lights - ask it my next appointment - set up new ones. Here's hoping Apple brings us the Star Trek computer!!

As an option only

 

[JDHiro]

Despite previous rumors, I'm really hoping this is 4K. A year or two ago, they could have made the case for a 1080P device, but not at this point.

I loathe having to use my TVs built in Netflix app to watch 4K video. I'd so much rather have it on Apple TV.

 

[RogerWilco]

Two flagship products in two years?

You forgot the /s.

 

[liven2]

I have a feeling this puppy will be priced at 149.00 to 299.00 though. The sweet spot for me would be $149.00 if that was the case. I am having very hard time seeing this staying at $99 if all (most) of the features rumored exist.

 

[Daalseth]

This is one thing that I'm very excited about. I'm on the edge of cutting the cable so it'll be this or a Roku. I'd rather this if it has Apps and gaming.

 

[SteveBlobs]

I doubt it - but i hope it has always on listening and a small speaker, like the amazon Echo, when my iphone is plugged it - its awesome - i can tell it to turn on/off the lights - ask it my next appointment - set up new ones. Here's hoping Apple brings us the Star Trek computer!!

Always on speaker would be sweet. Also the remote should have an audio jack like the Roku. I also want to see an amazing photos app for the Apple TV app store that really allows us to show off our pictures.

 

[Unami]

Given that games on iDevices tend to be free, freemium but generally < $10, there's potential that Apple could beat Xbox and PS on price: both for the hardware itself AND for the total cost when you factor in buying a collection of games.

i'm not so sure they are directly competing with microsoft and sony. i think an xbox and playstation will still be different beasts when it comes to power and type of games. but nintendo won't be too happy if they entered the market with a motion based casual gaming console with huge developer's support.

 

[liven2]

I'd love to see Apple give the little box some dedicated FOCUS for a while and see where it can go. I've long believed it could be HUGE for Apple the company AND us Apple product consumers if Apple would just get after it.

Obviously, they have and are, if rumors are true. They have probably been working on this for years and I can guarantee you that after 9/9 this will no longer be a hobby.