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Bloomberg: Apple Working on New Apple TV With Integrated HomePod Speaker and FaceTime Camera

So... is anyone going to ask the obvious question? What apps would the camera be for? Currently there are no apps available. So maybe a complete overhaul of TvOS, or simply adding in FaceTime and an api for developers to use the camera for their apps. Hmm
 
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LeadingHeat said:
So... is anyone going to ask the obvious question? What apps would the camera be for? Currently there are no apps available. So maybe a complete overhaul of TvOS, or simply adding in FaceTime and an api for developers to use the camera for their apps. Hmm
Click to expand...

Wouldn't be that tough to just add a FaceTime app to it. Why would it require a complete overhaul of the OS?
 
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Aeronauts said:
Most people have a smart TV now with the Apple TV app built in. I don’t think we actually need a separate Apple TV box anymore.
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Have you actually used a 4K Apple TV or the Apple TV+ app on a smart TV?

You still need an Apple TV to run their other echo system apps. Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness etc. These aren’t available on smart tv’s that have the Apple TV+ app.
The Apple TV app is just Apples streaming service, not the app platform.

You could argue the point that Apple should just release their other apps to 3rd party TV's. And while that might work for some apps, you can't bring over the entire tvOS app platform. By that point it would be the Apple tvOS running on 3rd party TV's - Which is never going to happen.
 
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LeadingHeat said:
So... is anyone going to ask the obvious question? What apps would the camera be for? Currently there are no apps available. So maybe a complete overhaul of TvOS, or simply adding in FaceTime and an api for developers to use the camera for their apps. Hmm
Click to expand...
I don't think that's a logical question to ask at all, seems like a no brainer.
If Apple added camera support to tvOS for Facetime, then soon enough they would release an API for adding camera support on the tvOS app platform.

Then what apps would use it? well umm since a mounted camera on your TV isn't the most practical for photography, i'm gonna assume that video conferencing apps would be category 1, followed by AR gaming.

Apple could also add the facial recognition framework used in homekit, for automatic profile login to the Apple TV.
 
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Meh, my home theater doesn't need all those combined devices, just a new Apple TV.
I have a great speaker system, will never use the pod in any way connected to my TV viewing experience.
I'm still hanging by a thread to my Apple TV 2....all it does now is access my iTunes video library.
I'd jump in on the latest Apple TV if they'd cut the price a little..
 
Being able to show a FaceTime call on the TV would be cool but most people sit a distance from their TV so at least one of callers would visually suck. If you could easily broadcast the call to the tv from your phone it would be better. Your eyes would still not be looking at the camera though.
 
joecomo said:
the integrated device exist already and is called iPhone.

Quality loudspeakers should be positioned based on acoustics and not where I want to make a videocall -
and most Apple TVs anyhow are already connected to an AVR that provides the loudspeaker connection.

So yes, they could integrate video-calling into an Apple TV - but it seems very strange to integrate a loudspeaker
in the line of the original HomePod.
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I disagree. If they can make it into a soundbar form factor it would quite useful for many. TVs these days have terrible sound, having a soundbar with decent quality speakers will sell very well in the marketplace.
The thing I worry about is Apple trying to overengineer a soundbar (see Homepod) and charge too much for it. It needs to stay near Sonos Beam pricing ($400) not Sonos Arc ($800).
 
SirAnthonyHopkins said:
Not sure why it would need to be integral to the OS. What kind of uses are you thinking?
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Haha I’m not sure. Maybe just port over all the camera apps from iPhone/iPad/Mac. Photobooth could be fun, but yeah other than that I guess it would just be the API for developers.

Or to quote this user and their great ideas:
insomniac86 said:
Then what apps would use it? well umm since a mounted camera on your TV isn't the most practical for photography, i'm gonna assume that video conferencing apps would be category 1, followed by AR gaming.

Apple could also add the facial recognition framework used in homekit, for automatic profile login to the Apple TV.
Click to expand...
 
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smaffei said:
If it's not a Dolby Atmos Sound Bar, then, why even? The high end already has Sonos Beam (with Alexa / Google Home support) and the low end already has the Roku Sound Bars
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Actually Sonos Beam is their low end ($400), high end is Arc ($800). If you go Atmos, it would be at the higher end, thereby greatly limiting market size.
 
AEWest said:
I disagree. If they can make it into a soundbar form factor it would quite useful for many. TVs these days have terrible sound, having a soundbar with decent quality speakers will sell very well in the marketplace.
The thing I worry about is Apple trying to overengineer a soundbar (see Homepod) and charge too much for it. It needs to stay near Sonos Beam pricing ($400) not Sonos Arc ($800).
Click to expand...
Yes - you could integrate that into a soundbar, but a soundbar up to Apple’s quality standards would be more in the +1500k $ range.
 
Part of the problem with Homepod has been Apple coming in at a premium and competing with Amazon and Google products. This only highlighted the relative limitations of Siri. By positioning Homepod as competing against Sonos, Apple is in a better position to articulate value. A compact Sonos beam-like soundbar that pairs with Homepod mini's for surround, integrates Apple TV, and adds a 4k Facetime camera would actually be a gamechanger. If they brought it in for an MSRP of $599 or less it would also represent a tremendous value.
 
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joecomo said:
Yes - you could integrate that into a soundbar, but a soundbar up to Apple’s quality standards would be more in the +1500k $ range.
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Unfortunately that's where this idea will fall apart. Not many will pay $1500 for a soundbar with ATV.

Make it $500 with Sonos beam size bar, no Dolby Atmos. Let it connect to Homepod minis for surround sound. And of course make it a Homekit hub.
 
insomniac86 said:
Have you actually used a 4K Apple TV or the Apple TV+ app on a smart TV?

You still need an Apple TV to run their other echo system apps. Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness etc. These aren’t available on smart tv’s that have the Apple TV+ app.
The Apple TV app is just Apples streaming service, not the app platform.

You could argue the point that Apple should just release their other apps to 3rd party TV's. And while that might work for some apps, you can't bring over the entire tvOS app platform. By that point it would be the Apple tvOS running on 3rd party TV's - Which is never going to happen.
Click to expand...
We have Android TVs so why not iOS TVs?
 
morningsong said:
Meh, my home theater doesn't need all those combined devices, just a new Apple TV.
I have a great speaker system, will never use the pod in any way connected to my TV viewing experience.
I'm still hanging by a thread to my Apple TV 2....all it does now is access my iTunes video library.
I'd jump in on the latest Apple TV if they'd cut the price a little..
Click to expand...
For those with Home theatre set ups, it wouldn't make sense. But for those that don't, a simple soundbar with ATV could be quite useful.
 
So this is one Apple product I’d never buy. My Apple TVs live inside cabinets, with wiring hidden in the cabinet or behind the wall. Speaker or camera in the cabinets would be useless. Nowhere to put this thing in my house where it would be useful. Oh, well. Maybe by the time it comes out my kid will be in college and she can have one for her dorm room :cool:
 
morningsong said:
Meh, my home theater doesn't need all those combined devices, just a new Apple TV.
I have a great speaker system, will never use the pod in any way connected to my TV viewing experience.
I'm still hanging by a thread to my Apple TV 2....all it does now is access my iTunes video library.
I'd jump in on the latest Apple TV if they'd cut the price a little..
Click to expand...
For those with Home theatre set ups, it wouldn't make sense. But for those that don't, a simple soundbar with ATV could be quite useful
Aeronauts said:
We have Android TVs so why not iOS TVs?
Click to expand...
Apple won't license iOS to third party tv manufacturer.
 
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