Apple's iTV Set for September Launch With iAd-Supported Channels, iPad as Remote?

[gugy]

A few things I hope it includes:

• option to use local storage without having to have a computer turned on, or, at least the opportunity to use local storage attached to one or more household computers (like the current one can do),
• option for hardware expansion even if that means one or more simple USB ports, so that companies like Elgato could add some functionality desired by some buyers that Apple doesn't seem to want to build in (this would at least leave room for other companies to offer local HD TV tuners, DVR and/or BD add-ons for those interested in that kind of thing, which would be a great way to also address local news, live network sports, etc).
• 1080p output even if there is no 1080p iTunes content to rent/buy, nor no upgrades to U.S. broadband capable of transporting a lot of 1080p video files for some time to come. (The current heavily compressed) 720p is not good enough for everyone, but a 1080p platform would give the "720p is all I want or need" crowd every bit of what they want, while shutting up the rest of us that want a little more than minimal 720p. Everyone wins if the hardware is reasonably future proofed.

I hope so man,
I have a huge library of movies and I don't like to have my Mac on to watch them. Give me a local storage and 1080p and I am happy.
I considered the MacMini as HTPC but is just too expensive and Front Row is not nice and Plex has a learning curve and I want something simple so wife and kids can navigate it at easy. AppleTV is almost there so I hope this new update can solve these issues.

 

[0098386]

So, does your current sig explain why all of your comments are pointless? At least troll based on the actual discussion, not something essentially unrelated.

Whoaaaa there, don't get mad. It's entirely relevant.

 

[Champ1]

I cancelled my cable television almost a year ago and have only been paying for internet since then. The prices all of the cable/dish companies are charging is ridiculous. I refuse to pay it. I can live without cable television. Hopefully Apple & Google will revolutionize the television industry. This is what I have been waiting for. Internet based television for a price everyone can afford.

I've heard that if you cancel your cable and you have cable internet they slow down your internet to discourage you from doing just that. Did you notice a slow down in your internet service?

 

[dgalvan123]

Hmmm. We've seen the $99 associated with the iTV for a long time. Does anyone believe the product is going to be priced at anything other than $99? In the past when low prices have been thrown out, it seems points of (higher price) contention show up so that Apple can wow everyone when they come out with something lower than the latter rumored prices (but higher than the former). I assume Apple might feed those latter rumors themselves when they notice that someone has guessed too low, and it's gaining some traction.

My guess about a classic remote is built on the price of $99. I just don't envision a touch screen in a box with a new iTV unit for $99. I can envision a non-touch (classic?) remote in the box.

I'm also NOT saying that would be useless & cut down. A tactile remote lets you control what you are watching solely based on touch (not look at it so you can touch the right spots), which is how much of the world controls their TV viewing now.

It's only a problem for how to then make the tactile remote reconcile with how current apps are used in other iOS devices. Best I can guess if we're going to get some kind of touch-oriented element, it is probably going to be something more like the Magic Mouse (no screen) with a partially transparent circle(s) on (the TV) screen to show the relative position of your fingers to the app interface (much like how touch demonstrations were shown via quicktime demo videos on the Apple website). Would this work well or be clumsy? I'm guessing the latter but we'll see if that's the way it is delivered.

OR, maybe we get a customized app store that doesn't need much in the way of touch beyond what can be done on the tactile remote (or it's replacement)?

Anyway, I just can't picture a touch screen remote and an iTV in a box from Apple priced at $99. Since I can picture $99, one of those is probably not in the box, and since the iTV has to be in a box labeled iTV...

Since you need some kind of remote to control an iTV, if we believe that $99 is the price, then some cheap remote has to be in the box. Thus, we probably end up with a classic tactile remote included (with the option to also control it with remote apps on iDevices).

My guess is that the best we could hope for at $99, while still trying to cover some of the breadth of accumulated wishes, would be some kind of new- but still tactile- remote that might have additional buttons, etc on it for other kinds of interactivity. Maybe some wii-like controller elements? Maybe a joystick or joypad? Etc.

I agree with this.

I use Rowmote with an old powerbook G4 hooked up to my TV right now. It works fine, but honestly I think I'd prefer a tactile little remote. It's easier to operate stuff from the couch using touch. Any iPhone app will require you look at the iPhone screen while controlling it.

 

[garethpauljones]

One day, these devices may actually let us engage with the TV Programmes being shown. It would be quite cool to interact with a quiz show for example (a bit like 1vs100 on the XBOX)

 

[important]

Here's all Apple needs to do to get the new ATV to sell:

1. Have it run the Netflix app
2. Have it run the Air Video app
3. Price it at $99

Now you have a device that can stream any format video from your home network to your TV and will also stream your Netflix instant queue. Do you know how many devices out there do that? None that I am aware of.

The app idea for ATV is the right strategy. It's made my iPad media consumption experience that much better (Netflix, Air Video, ABC, etc.), and a la carte content is where TV is headed anyway.

 

[dgalvan123]

One possibility for a "touch pad remote" is to have the necessary controls show up on the TV screen as an overlay. I don't mean the full screen, perhaps just a small portion on the side or in the corner (though it could be resizeable or moveable, and the defaults would be user configurable). This way, as you move your finger around the pad, you see a "mouse pointer" move around to various controls on overlay presented on the TV. Instead of a pointer arrow, however, the cursor is shaped like the contact patch of your finger (or fingers, actually, since we are talking multi-touch) and becomes larger/smaller and more-opaque/less-opaque as you adjust the way you press. Tactile feedback is also provided in the form of vibrations when you pass across buttons or other controls that you can "click" (much like various Wii games give you tactile pointer feedback). To interact with buttons and such, you merely press the touch device which in turn increases your contact patch on it, and thus registers a click.

Now, when instead using a device like an iPhone or iPad, which has a touch screen instead of just a pad, these onscreen controls would show up on the controlling devices screen as well so you can operate them without looking at the TV screen (or even being in the same room).



For existing apps where the UI is the only concern visually (i.e. not remote-style apps who UI is being used to control media that is also presented on the TV screen), the same system will work. In other words what you see on the screen is the same as you will on any other iOS device, except that you now have a cursor that becomes an extension of your hand as I described above. The main difference is that instead of a screen tap, the iTV will need to able to recognize the difference between a merely resting your finger on the input device's surface vs. actually pressing it deliberately. I think this could be done reliably for most existing apps, though it might be a gray area for some.

Interesting ideas. This may indeed be what Apple does to take care of controls.

In my opinion, though, it will be really tough to combine the ease-of-use of a tactile TV remote with the functionality of a real wireless keyboard and mouse.

It may end up being the case that certain apps are just easier to control with different controllers. For instance: use a Rowmote-style app on an iphone for menu-selection, but then a tactile controller (by a third party company, perhaps?) to control some of the App store games. Then a trackpad / keyboard/mouse combo for web browsing.

A hassle, admittedly, but at least the user has options.

 

[JAT]

Whoaaaa there, don't get mad. It's entirely relevant.

LOL. I don't even think that was a real news story.

 

[apolloa]

Didn't ITV launch in 1955 already?

Hey, Shut up!!! We don't want to be called people in a 'second world country' again do we??

Sigh, because the MEDIA has blown the iTV thing WAY out or proportion then every bugger and his dead flea is going to use the term now. Even though as we know there is no hells chance of it being called ITV in the UK and frankly there is absolutely no chance of it even selling well here.

Customer: Does it do Sky sports?
Apple sale rep: No chance what so ever I'm afraid.
Customer: No chance what so ever I'll be buying it either then!!

 

[harley3k]

Maybe that little 2” touchscreen we’ve seen in rumor reports could somehow be the default bundled AppleTV remote (rather than a new Nano), while those with an iPod Touch/iPhone or iPad could optionally have more space to work with?

I take it all with salt—even if it’s all planned that way, it might trickle out over time and not all at once.

I was thinking the same thing.
It could be for the new apple remote.

 

[JAT]

I agree with this.

I use Rowmote with an old powerbook G4 hooked up to my TV right now. It works fine, but honestly I think I'd prefer a tactile little remote. It's easier to operate stuff from the couch using touch. Any iPhone app will require you look at the iPhone screen while controlling it.

Any learning remote can learn the Apple commands. Last I checked, they start around $20.

 

[SBeardsl]

For those of us with a current AppleTV are they going to do nothing with the current interface? Somehow let us download iOS for a brand new experience?

No one knows, but my best guess is that it won't happen. The underlying tech is OLD, not ARM, and barely able to do all it does now. I'd guess that it will continue to work as it does now, maybe even get an update from time to time, but if we want iOS benefits, we'll have to buy new hardware in the iTV.

I think the safe guess in no software upgrade, you have to buy the new unit. Not so much because Apple is greedy (in this case) but because the current hardware is OLD.

However, as a sort of geek thought experiment its interesting to think through what would be required given (as pointed out above) the existing hardware is totally different cpu architecture than the current iOS.

1) Apple would need a way to convert the existing iOS ARM code to the intel chips inside the current Apple TV hardware. They do in fact control the iOS source, its compiler (and tools), and the firmware in the current units. The cpu is old but its connect to a plug not a battery and its in a box with vents, not a sealed phone so you can push it harder than the current ARM mobile cpus.

2) They would need a way to update not just their own core apps but allow developers to update those apps that would make sense to run on it. For developers that followed Apple's firmly enforced guidelines all that would be required would be a recompile with xCode with a different complier switch followed by the required testing to refine the update for the new UI context.

I don't think this will realistically happen but it does serve as an good example of why Apple fought so hard to keep Adobe Flash (and other multi-platform dev tools) off of iOS. If Apple does something like add iOS to the old Apple TV hardware any apps written using Flash would have to wait for Adobe to update its Flash tools before they could be converted.

 

[6EQUJ5]

Which app please????!

Are you familiar with the term 'bonus?'

The current AppleTV comes with a remote. It does everything I need it to. But sometimes I whip out my iPhone to control it because it's faster. My wife does the same. Or perhaps we use my daughter's iPod. They'll all do it, but the original remote is still sitting there if we need it.

How is any of that a bad thing? I've never thought "this isn't working well!"

Which app did you find to control apple tv? I have tried several remote apps and none of them work properly! It seems like an obvious app but i haven't had any luck so far... Someone please let me know which app?

 

[Peace]

Which app did you find to control apple tv? I have tried several remote apps and none of them work properly! It seems like an obvious app but i haven't had any luck so far... Someone please let me know which app?

It's Apple's app called Remote.

 

[aperture01]

Current apple TV

Does this mean current apple tv users are going to be dropped like a bad habit? I just bought mine 6 months ago. I really like it actually. It's intel based I'm sure they could put iOS 4 on it. But I don't see them doing so as there would have to be another version made for the processor architecture. :-( any insights?

 

[SBeardsl]

Another thought, could this + a plug in HD be the cheap Apple solution to backup/update/sync for iDevices in homes lacking computers able to run iTunes?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Does this mean current apple tv users are going to be dropped like a bad habit? I just bought mine 6 months ago. I really like it actually. It's intel based I'm sure they could put iOS 4 on it. But I don't see them doing so as there would have to be another version made for the processor architecture. :-( any insights?

My guess is that the existing TV will not get an iOS update on it. If you like it "as is", it should keep working "as is". However, if you want the new features of the iTV- assuming there are some juicy new features- you'll have to spend (apparently) $99 for a new device.

I just bought a new iMac to retire my old, old, OLD PowerMac G4 from around 2002. That PowerMac still does everything it did before the new iMac took over, but I can't install Snow Leopard on it, and I can't run Windows 7 on it, etc.

The existing TVs- of which I also own a couple- won't stop working on the day the new ones arrive. New ones will (presumably) just do some things better, faster, differently. It should be easy to keep liking what you like now and also liking what you can add when it arrives (like all things in technology).

 

[JAT]

Does this mean current apple tv users are going to be dropped like a bad habit? I just bought mine 6 months ago. I really like it actually. It's intel based I'm sure they could put iOS 4 on it. But I don't see them doing so as there would have to be another version made for the processor architecture. :-( any insights?

I'm pretty sure the posting of this rumor here at MacRumors should have already disabled your TV. You can just throw it away when you get home tonight. Sorry.

 

[NinjaHERO]

TV is long overdue for a revolution. Let's hope this is the spark to start the fire.

 

[Paulyboy]

While this idea makes a lot of sense for Apple and consumers I think it's too ambitious to be realistic. The networks would never go for it.

It might very well do a lot of the things the rumor suggests but I just can't see it completely replacing (including sports) a cable or satellite TV subscription.

-PN

 

[legacyb4]

My 4 year old daughter quickly figured out how to use Plex to pick a movie she wanted to watch; granted that's barring any underlying application error/issues but it's not *that* tough to figure out!

I considered the MacMini as HTPC but is just too expensive and Front Row is not nice and Plex has a learning curve and I want something simple so wife and kids can navigate it at easy. AppleTV is almost there so I hope this new update can solve these issues.

 

[legacyb4]

Guess the one good thing will be that hacked aTVs will no longer get wiped out by accidental updates to the OS

I've got mine configured to pull content off of my living room Mini to play stuff in the den...

Does this mean current apple tv users are going to be dropped like a bad habit? I just bought mine 6 months ago. I really like it actually. It's intel based I'm sure they could put iOS 4 on it. But I don't see them doing so as there would have to be another version made for the processor architecture. :-( any insights?

 

[PhaserFuzz]

There's no way it'll only cost $99. That's way too cheap for a fancy new Apple gadget. I see it being at least $249 for the lowest model.

 

[eoblaed]

We love our AppleTV. We use it almost nightly and it's the primary source of our TV viewing. The screen-saver showing photos from our iPhoto library is far more captivating than one would imagine. We occasionally also use it to play music from our iTunes library through the house.

That said, I've been waiting, sometimes impatiently, to see what the next gen AppleTV would hold; hopefully we'll hear something next month!

 

[santaliqueur]

Seriously, you have to really be into Apple products to buy Apple TV. Why is this crap still around? Even when they change the name it will not take off like other Apple products. Point blank period Apple TV sucks hard.

Speak for yourself. It's one of my favorite pieces of technology I own. Can't wait to see what iTV brings.