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More Evidence for Apple TV Apps?

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Apr 12, 2001
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Last week, we presented our belief that the new iOS-based Apple TV was designed to eventually accept third-party apps from its own App Store. Steve Jobs even suggested that Apple was poised to launch an Apple TV App Store when the time was right.

The launch of Apple TV-specific apps would make some sense as Apple continues to find itself competing against Google. Google's recently-announced Google TV offers developers an opportunity to deploy their own applications to that device. We don't expect the Apple TV App Store to allow customers to run existing iOS apps on the device, but instead to open the door to Apple TV-specific apps.

Adding a bit to the evidence is a LinkedIn profile showing a recent Apple intern describing their summer position as an "Apple TV Apps Engineer". While this could represent work on the built-in Apple-supplied functionality, the internal view that the Apple TV is simply a collection of apps seems to be in line with future third-party expansion.

Article Link: More Evidence for Apple TV Apps?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/09/22/more-evidence-for-apple-tv-apps/
I don't think so...

I usually think you are pretty much on the money, arn... But with all due respect, I think you are reading a little too much into this... I'm not saying that the new Apple TV won't have apps... In fact, it probably will... But I don't think this should be considered evidence of that one way or the other... Besides... Even if this was compelling evidence... Couldn't this have been a hoax anyway? I mean, I could replicate this LinkedIn page right now...

TheYankees1903 :apple:
 
3D Apps

Apple TV apps should be launched "BIG" in my opinion, I personally think the gamer generation will want to dominate on this platform.

Also all those 3D patents may seem like they'll come into play when this launches. Imagine 3D Apps
 
They must have been working on the built in 'apps' I still can't see them adding apps to it as it is just a device to stream content from your other iDevices. ie stream video from iPlayer or Hulu or whatever from your Mac, iPad or iPhone.
 
Right now I have zero reason to get a new Apple TV, as my old Apple TV has more functionality.

However IF the new ATV gets an SDK and an App Store, I will be buying it.
 
TV Apps?

I'm having a hard time imagining what a TV App could do. If you're using Apple TV for content (whether renting from the iTunes store or streaming your own locally stored collection to the living room), don't you want to be spending your time enjoying the content itself? What would an Apple TV app do that isn't just an annoying distraction from enjoying the content? Maybe I'm missing the obvious, but I can't think of what a killer app would be for Apple TV. Any ideas?
 
A couple of things here...

I don't understand why you wouldn't expect the Apple TV to run existing apps. Why not. There are a lot of game apps that would be a lot of fun on the big screen, so how is it any different from having an iPad and iTouch/Phone version. Plus, with the big screen, you'd have the option of eventually making this a full blown game console.

Second, those that don't understand how a content app would work must not have played with existing internet TV systems like Boxee, Plex, etc. The best example of an app that would be a hit on Apple TV is the MLB.tv app that currently exists on Boxee. This is the benchmark for how internet TV should be done, and its a bargain at its price of $100+ a year. It is a portal into every MLB game played in the last several years, and provides a very easy to use interface to deal with today's games. I can only imagine that this would be better with Apple TV. For all the sports organizations (NFL, NASCAR, NBA, etc.), as well as ESPN, this model would be great. I believe that other networks and shows could also benefit from the same model, but we'll have to see where it goes...whether they concentrate on just trying to rent content on a one off basis, or sell subscriptions to shows with these apps built in.
 
99John said:
I'm having a hard time imagining what a TV App could do. ..... Any ideas?
Click to expand...

1. Games
2. Instant info (weather, stocks, sports scores, etc)
3. Social Media

You could have those things overlaying content / music that are currently playing. Think of Dashboard for your TV. People turn on CNN / ESPN / CNBC all the time to read the scrolling info / headlines / scores / stock quotes. Apps for a TV would be even better / customizable for the content you want.
 
convergent said:
A couple of things here...

I don't understand why you wouldn't expect the Apple TV to run existing apps. Why not. There are a lot of game apps that would be a lot of fun on the big screen, so how is it any different from having an iPad and iTouch/Phone version. Plus, with the big screen, you'd have the option of eventually making this a full blown game console.

Second, those that don't understand how a content app would work must not have played with existing internet TV systems like Boxee, Plex, etc. The best example of an app that would be a hit on Apple TV is the MLB.tv app that currently exists on Boxee. This is the benchmark for how internet TV should be done, and its a bargain at its price of $100+ a year. It is a portal into every MLB game played in the last several years, and provides a very easy to use interface to deal with today's games. I can only imagine that this would be better with Apple TV. For all the sports organizations (NFL, NASCAR, NBA, etc.), as well as ESPN, this model would be great. I believe that other networks and shows could also benefit from the same model, but we'll have to see where it goes...whether they concentrate on just trying to rent content on a one off basis, or sell subscriptions to shows with these apps built in.
Click to expand...

Sports is the reason I could never cancel cable. But, if MLB, NFL, NHL, etc released an app for some price each year to watch any game using the ATV, I could save myself hundreds of bucks a year being cable less.
 
Any idea where these apps would reside? Does the AppleTV have onboard storage at all, like the iPhone/Touch? Maybe Apple hosts the software and downloads (or whatever the right term is) to the atv as needed? Since the atv apparently has to have a live internet connection to work, I suppose that would work. Upside, you don't have to bother storing/updating/backing up apps. Downside you are at the mercy of your internet connection's speed & reliability and the whims of Apple regarding the apps.
 
leveedog said:
Any idea where these apps would reside? Does the AppleTV have onboard storage at all, like the iPhone/Touch? Maybe Apple hosts the software and downloads (or whatever the right term is) to the atv as needed? Since the atv apparently has to have a live internet connection to work, I suppose that would work. Upside, you don't have to bother storing/updating/backing up apps. Downside you are at the mercy of your internet connection's speed & reliability and the whims of Apple regarding the apps.
Click to expand...

The Apple TV does have onboard storage; how big it is, we don't know yet. I'm thinking even if it was a 1GB flash storage; that would be more than enough.
 
No local storage on Apple TV?

Just curious, but given that the Apple TV appears to have no local storage whatsoever (at least according to the published tech specs), where would "Apple TV" apps run from?

How could a potential game like the recently released Epic Citadel demo run on an Apple TV if it has no local storage? "Streaming" the app from the cloud (or another computer in the house) doesn't seem like a practical answer.

Perhaps streamed via AirPlay on another iOS device, although that doesn't seem very likely either...

Edit: oops, looks like I was beaten to the punch with this question already. :-(
 
leveedog said:
Any idea where these apps would reside? Does the AppleTV have onboard storage at all, like the iPhone/Touch? Maybe Apple hosts the software and downloads (or whatever the right term is) to the atv as needed? Since the atv apparently has to have a live internet connection to work, I suppose that would work. Upside, you don't have to bother storing/updating/backing up apps. Downside you are at the mercy of your internet connection's speed & reliability and the whims of Apple regarding the apps.
Click to expand...

No one knows yet. Until these things start shipping and someone rips one apart...all of this is nothing more the rumor and heresay....
 
rorschach said:
Right now I have zero reason to get a new Apple TV, as my old Apple TV has more functionality.

However IF the new ATV gets an SDK and an App Store, I will be buying it.
Click to expand...

Just because I feel like your post could confuse many, the old AppleTV will not support all of AirPlay. Presumably just the Audio portion. There are in fact some features that the new AppleTV can do and at a cheaper price.
 
Well what is Netflix streaming ability going to be in terms of implementation on appletv? Will it be an app or part of the firmware?
 
bdkennedy1 said:
I have a feeling when we crack open our Apple TV's we will find Bluetooth.
Click to expand...

Hasn't anyone taken one apart yet? Are they for sale yet? If not, then I'd bet Jobs has an opening day surprise in store (app store for Apple TV). That would be the ultimate "One more thing". :D
 
iDisk said:
Apple TV apps should be launched "BIG" in my opinion, I personally think the gamer generation will want to dominate on this platform.

Also all those 3D patents may seem like they'll come into play when this launches. Imagine 3D Apps
Click to expand...

3D: two separately rendered frames for each eye. In essence, to get 30fps experience, you need to render at 60fps. So for fluid 3D play, you need 120fps, something like Epic Citadel barely manages half of that.
 
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