Apple's Rumored Amazon Echo Competitor Could Be a Next-Generation Apple TV

[Icaras]

This rumor makes much more sense and is much more realistic for Apple to do. I'm already looking forward to the next generation Apple TV.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Disagree. Apple typically targets the biggest group of customers. They have sold a lot of ATV but they don't dominate in marketshare. Plus, this rumor has them adding hardware to existing ATV or introducing a new ATV. That means in order for this new Siri ATV to take hold, they would need millions of customers to forget they just bought an ATV recently. And don't forget about all the cord cutters out there who don't even own TVs. They can't win them with an ATV but they can with a Siri appliance similar to Echo..

A majority of the 'millions of customers' would cheerfully (or not) give Apple a mulligan if a high-end AppleTV device was released that had a crapload of new bells and whistles.

While there are a lot of people that don't have TV's, I would be surprised to find that there was a high correlation between wanting home automation and not having a TV. That said, it could be equally easy to make the AppleTV configurable as headless device.

 

[ike1707]

Please! Don't forget to support 4K video, for that reason I ended buying the Roku 4.

Curious, but what do you watch in 4K?

 

[69Mustang]

If it's built around the Apple TV, more likely the mic would be in a satellite rather than in the main device. A distributed system over Wifi makes more sense than a monolith.

This would have to be it. I see something closer to an Amazon Dot, not a revamped ATV. The mic can't be as close to the television as most ATV's are.

There still isn't enough 4K content available out there yet though.

This argument doesn't work considering Apple seems to be going all-in on 4K. All of their major products support it with one glaring exception: the ATV. Even if there was no 4K beyond content produced on Apple devices one would think the ATV would be the perfect place to display it.

 

[displayblock]

4K would be nice, but I'm not sure what I would do with it since:
3. No one seems able to stream uncompressed 4K to me

I mean, what's wrong with compressed 4K? Netflix is delivering that. Amazon is delivering that. Sony is, Vudu is, etc.

I highly doubt that any of the streamed 1080p content you're watching now is "uncompressed," unless you count a set-top box as streaming.

 

[Nunyabinez]

Just because you don't have it doesn't mean everyone doesn't. And Apple shouldn't be the laggard when Amazon, Roku, Xiaomi, etc. are all offering 4K.

As for streaming, I am able to stream 4K from Amazon, Neflix, and Vudu just fine. Keep in mind that 4K uses much more efficient HEVC compression.

Yes, but it is still compressed. Right now 4K is really marketing and future proofing. Comcast still is only broadcasting 1080i, and the 4K you are getting is for how many shows and movies?

I understand that some people want it and I wouldn't think of trying to deny it to you. But, for the majority of people, the marginal difference in Full HD and Compressed 4K is trivial, especially given the amount of content that is 4K through the entire production process.

 

[bpeeps]

How about a feature that inverts the mic in the Siri Remote to a speaker so I can say "hey remote" allowing it to beep so I can find the remote when inevitably gets lost 18 times in the couch during a movie?

But let's add Siri so I can scream "order me a pizza" and then it tries to "hoarder me a spritzer"

Remote also needs legs so it can reorient itself if you pick up the wrong end.

 

[zone23]

So the new ATV was just to get developers to start making apps then apple will kick it down the storm drain along with my money and release a new one with a new Siri. Nice Apple. This is getting old quick.

 

[JPLC]

I've seen the Google keynote and have to say, quote impressive. Made me wonder how to set up something like that in my home. Love the whole concept of wireless speakers and voicecontroll combined with OK google.

 

[Nunyabinez]

I mean, what's wrong with compressed 4K? Netflix is delivering that. Amazon is delivering that. Sony is, Vudu is, etc.

I highly doubt that any of the streamed 1080p content you're watching now is "uncompressed," unless you count a set-top box as streaming.

The Blu ray content I watch is 1080p uncompressed. The cable I watch is 1080i and probably compressed. I enjoy both and only notice a difference in broadcasts when they are at 720.

There is nothing wrong with compressed 4K, but there is not enough right about it for me to spend money to get it instead of sticking with my uncompressed or compressed 1080. When there are ubiquitous 4K movies on disk, or sufficient bandwidth to stream 4K that takes advantage of the improvements over FHD I will be all over it, but not yet.

 

[dancefreak]

There still isn't enough 4K content available out there yet though.

There's already plenty of 4K content on Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, etc... And the amount of available content is growing at an exponential pace now. Apple really needs to make 4K an available option (both through software and hardware) for movies and TV downloads or they'll be left behind.

 

[npmacuser5]

Why would we need an "enhanced" version of the Apple TV to add more robust Siri functionality? It has an A8 chip, a microphone on the remote, and it plugs into a television, which has speakers. It is more than capable of being a "hub," except that Apple hasn't done **** with it. For years, we were hearing rumors about the Apple TV being revamped and it would be a HomeKit hub, and replace your cable box and blah blah blah. Then it came out and we got... an empty app store. I sit down, start a movie and hit the Siri button on the remote and ask her to dim the lights: "Sorry, go get your iPhone because despite the fact that I'm twice as expensive, I'm still useless."

TV on 24 hours a day, remote mic may work with hey Siri, not a good mic from afar, in fact to work as a control hub you need multiple mic's with noise cancelling technology, to name a few problems. True the computing power is adequate, the mic's and TV always on need addressing.

 

[Analog Kid]

Makes sense. The Apple TV should be the main hub in the household.

While you're probably right from a consumer perspective, I still dream of Mac Mini being that hub...

 

[Rigby]

Seriously, that's fine, but what if you don't want the Apple TV portion?

For me it's the other way around: I don't want the "Echo" portion. Hopefully there will still be an Apple TV that doesn't force me to pay for this. And I don't really want far-field microphones listening 24/7 in my home either.

 

[69Mustang]

When the original article came out I noted it didn't make sense for Apple to build a separate echo like device because users already have an echo, it's their apple watch on their wrists or phone in their pocket rather than buying an Apple Echo for each and every room of their house. And that AppleTV's already have a mic (the remote), and speakers (your tv or home theater speakers), which is why another product like the Echo wouldn't make much sense. They could add a speaker/mic to the appletv box itself but that seems little odd since the apple tv would have to be tremendously larger to have good enough speakers which seems like a waste since its already attached to external speakers. They could add a mic to the box but usually apple tvs are wall mounted behind a tv or in a electronic cabinet behind glass where they the mic wouldn't work.

So as noted before Apple already has an "Echo" with it's existing devices.

Sorry but that sounds like a horribly inelegant scenario primarily geared for a bachelor. If Apple built an Echo type of device it would probably be more affordable to outfit 3 rooms instead of buying an AW. There'd also be no requirement to have a phone or watch and anyone could use it.

 

[Icaras]

If Apple does finally release a 4K Apple TV, they better damn introduce iTunes movies and TV shows in 4K along with it. Even just a handful of content with a slow trickle of new 4K material weekly would make me quite happy.

 

[dancefreak]

The Blu ray content I watch is 1080p uncompressed. The cable I watch is 1080i and probably compressed. I enjoy both and only notice a difference in broadcasts when they are at 720.

There is nothing wrong with compressed 4K, but there is not enough right about it for me to spend money to get it instead of sticking with my uncompressed or compressed 1080. When there are ubiquitous 4K movies on disk, or sufficient bandwidth to stream 4K that takes advantage of the improvements over FHD I will be all over it, but not yet.

If we're comparing apples to apples...meaning streaming to streaming:

Compressed 1080 < Compressed 4K

You're correct that compressed 4K isn't all that different than a 1080p bluray disk, but that's apples and oranges and most people consume a lot of their media via streaming.

I recently picked up a UHD 4K Blu-ray player which is the ultimate experience currently available and let me tell you it looks incredible. I don't expect 4K streaming to come close to that, but I do consider it my best option when streaming.
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If Apple does finally release a 4K Apple TV, they better damn introduce iTunes movies and TV shows in 4K along with it. Even just a handful of content with a slow trickle of new 4K material weekly would make me quite happy.

The fact that the device doesn't exist is probably the only reason why we don't have 4K movies/TV via iTunes yet.

 

[cmichaelb]

There's already plenty of 4K content on Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, etc... And the amount of available content is growing at an exponential pace now. Apple really needs to make 4K an available option (both through software and hardware) for movies and TV downloads or they'll be left behind.

Not really. I have a high end 4K TV and there is not that much content yet.

 

[Rigby]

I don't see that happening, a device like that needs to stand on a central place away from the TV. It could only work when integrated into a real TV but you would still need standalone versions for other rooms.

Apple could sell an accessory that contains only microphones and speaker (but no CPU) and connects to the Apple TV via Bluetooth.
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The Blu ray content I watch is 1080p uncompressed.

Blu-ray is heavily compressed compared to the digital masters, just a little less so than most streaming/download content. But the difference is shrinking (and the H.265 codec that is used by the new 4K streaming services is significantly more efficient than H.264, which is used on Blu-ray).

 

[jephrey]

Self pat on back.

Yeah, you said exactly what I was thinking. Apple doesn't typically introduce a completely new product line just to meet up with the competition and this seems perfect built into the ATV.

I still believe in a central computer and I think for a home, a single computer should be the device with all the processing power and the ATV should just be a wireless monitor link. I believe today's desktops should allow 2 or more users to be signed into 2 different accounts at the same time working on different monitors, each with their own keyboard and pointing device but all the processing on the same central machine. The ATV would act somewhat like a remote logon to a different user (or the same if you wish). It could even be set up to run the ATV "app" when logging on from the ATV.

 

[nt5672]

I would love a media hub. But not an Apple TV, I want something I can control, not Apple. We use a Mac Mini now but it is so sad that it requires 3rd party software because Apple can be bothered to make sure their TV stuff runs on a basic mini. What a shame. If Apple would quit trying to control the world and just put out good technology like they used to, there would be no limit. Sure make it easy for people that just want basic functionality, but that does not mean that people like me that need and/or want more should be ignored. Any more for anything to be a new Apple product it has to be brain dead, thin, small, and only one port to screw up. Hopefully this is a temporary diversion. But I am not getting my hopes up.

 

[rp2011]

Jeez. For only like 5 years people have been asking and speculating about this. Way before Alexa.

Apple has been perpetually dragging its feet on Apple TV and only acts when someone else whizzes past them.
They have been acting like an old relic of a company since SJ was there putting coal to the fire.
Really sad. Are they going the same direction as the last time SJ left?

 

[nuckinfutz]

The usage case for an Apple AI device goes far beyond something that hooks up to a TV.

1. The initial product must have a speaker.
2. Airplay and Bluetooth support
3. A good microphone with solid far-field accuracy.
4. Apple Music support built in (for subscribers)
5. Homekit

Apple needs to reach as many users as possible. By putting in a decent speaker they leverage their Beats acquisition. Airplay and BT support not only could deliver whole house audio with sync but also BT Beacon support. I'd love to have Homekit leverage Beacons for my automation toys and also have Find My Phone become smarter by letting me know where my devices are based on proximity to the closest Beacon.

I have two TV in my home and one isn't even hooked up. There's little reason to create an AI device that attaches to a TV. That's artificially limits your sale opportunity.

Eventually Apple could come out with speakers-less model a la the Dot.

 

[samcraig]

While convergence of devices is great - I think if they go this route - they should sell one version without the assistant/speaker and one with. Not everyone who wants a streaming service wants an assistant/speaker device. Plus the price point. A standalone device (in my opinion) would still be better. Apple could always have that device take control of Apple TV functions like Google is doing with it's home and chromecast integration.

 

[a.gomez]

so basically apple is way behind on what has become a hot market niche and is throwing out leaks to reporters so that we know that eventually they will try to catch up even though there will be nothing to show in 2016.

everything i own in tech is an apple product but lately they seem to be chasing everyone else and nothing is an innovation.

yep, they on the Samsung "me too" system.