New Apple TV Anytime Soon?

[TallManNY]

Do folks think a new Apple TV will be released anytime soon? With more Apps coming out and with one step log in about to make those Apps much easier to access I'm getting more use out of A TV 4 in the living room. But I just have an A TV 3 in the bedroom. The difference is utility is starting to get a bit annoying. I guess I will wait until the September event and see if new hardware is released. But if new hardware is a year off, I might as well buy as soon as that event is done.

I don't need 4k output since neither my projector in living room nor TV in bedroom is 4k and I don't expect to get 4k anywhere for many years. So maybe the next hardware won't make any difference to me anyway.

 

[benjitek]

Maybe -- Apple hasn't announced anything yet, but this is the site for rumors

 

[jdillings]

If Apple is serious about the Apple TV and it's no longer a hobby, they'll update it this year. Both Roku and Amazon will have new devices out this year. Would Apple really sit this year out and allow Roku and Amazon to further dominate the market? Apple is already at a disadvantage because they don't offer a stick which are the best selling devices in the market.

News sources for the new Roku and Amazon devices:

Roku Hints at Fall Device Refresh with New FCC Filings
http://variety.com/2016/dirt/news/roku-fcc-filings-fall-refresh-1201829929/

New Fire TV to coincide with Amazon Prime Video launch in India
http://www.aftvnews.com/more-evidence-amazon-will-soon-launch-the-fire-tv-in-india/

Also, this week Target, Best Buy, Staples, and Kmart are all discounting the Fire TV to $70 in an apparent attempt to clear the shelves of old stock which points to a new device coming soon.

 

[s15119]

Unlikely

 

[mw360]

I suspect a new model is a couple of years away. Apple doesn't update this stuff often and its unlikely they have any big ideas to move it forwards in the short term. Upping the gaming specs doesn't have a lot of utility from Apple's POV - the current hardware is barely getting warmed up and the Android-based competition is cheap and laggy.

 

[TallManNY]

I suspect a new model is a couple of years away. Apple doesn't update this stuff often and its unlikely they have any big ideas to move it forwards in the short term. Upping the gaming specs doesn't have a lot of utility from Apple's POV - the current hardware is barely getting warmed up and the Android-based competition is cheap and laggy.

I think you are right. But if Apple wanted to really start getting serious about A TV, it would get a version out there with an A9X chip in it. Now you can say the current version works fine and its hardware is already underutilized. That is true. But Apple could just make the hardware a bit better and leave it to the developers to take advantage of that hardware. Apple could get the A TV on a regular once a year upgrade cycle like its phones and that would show a level of support which might bring more developers into it.

 

[BuffaloTF]

I don't expect anything until next year. It isn't just the 10 year anniversary of the iphone... but the 10 year anniversary for the TV. I know this fall would be closer to its "birthday" than next fall, but I guess I'm anticipating a big media push for the 10 year anniversary stuff to capitalize on that at the same time, rather than confuse the message.

 

[geesus]

If Apple don't come out with a 4K option sooner, rather than later, I'm going to go Nvidia I think. Since upgrading my TV recently I've used it's in-built apps more than my Apple TV.

 

[BeefCake 15]

If Apple don't come out with a 4K option sooner, rather than later, I'm going to go Nvidia I think. Since upgrading my TV recently I've used it's in-built apps more than my Apple TV.

The problem with the Android based TV boxes is the GUI is very ugly and Roku doesn't have apps..

 

[kiranmk2]

I think it depends on two things (both unlikely)

• Apple's plans to ditch the other A8 devices; so long as these are around, there's no need to update the Apple TV. It's possible the iPad Mini gets an update, the iPhone SE replaces the iPhone 6 as the cheapest phone and the iPod Touch is discontinued but unlikely.
  
• When Apple plans to unleash 4K onto the iTunes store. I'm guessing they're getting it stocked but until there are enough titles available I can't see Apple letting the puclic loose on them. As an aside, I'm guessing these will have Dolby Atmos sound to match VUDU 4K.

I can't see any other reason Apple would launch a new Apple TV. The TV streaming service doesn't seem to have moved on at all, and there is no other reason to launch a new model - I don't think an A9(X) chip is going to be enough to get more people to buy if 4K isn't present.

 

[Wahlstrm]

The current model is ATV4 and ATV1 was about 10 years ago, so no probably not.
ATV5 will come when 4K is super cheap, available everywhere AND Apple has managed to close a deal with providers for their "Video"-service..

 

[NickTuesday]

Before Apple slept on it, I believe every other year was the pattern. I personally think the current OS needs some fixes before they even think about bringing out an updated model. All that time waiting for a new model and it still released rather sloppily.

 

[Peepo]

4K is not a big deal for me for ATV. I do have a 65" 4K TV but I really can't notice much difference at my viewing distance vs. 1080p while watching a movie. I have tried streaming 4K Netflix using built in TV App and while I guess it does look better, it is not a super big difference. What looks real good though is my GTX1080 playing 4K games on it, but even with that setup I cannot play at highest settings. The only thing I would like for a newer ATV is a faster processor to play x265 files and get rid of that remote, but other than that ATV4 works good enough for me - I can use one in the Bedroom for Netflix etc. and works great because it is very small and has a nice interface.

I think that Apps pretty much failed on ATV (there is no killer app) and I use mine as a Netflix, Youtube, and Plex client, but mainly MrMC - actually I would call that a killer app for me because otherwise I would have probably needed another box still for Kodi.

 

[Vermifuge]

If Apple don't come out with a 4K option sooner, rather than later, I'm going to go Nvidia I think. Since upgrading my TV recently I've used it's in-built apps more than my Apple TV.

It's going to be a long wait. It took nearly 1300 days to update from ATV 3 to ATV 4. And there is no compelling reason for Apple to make that movie any time soon.

 

[cynics]

I'll be switching from the AppleTV to PlayStation Neo (whatever they call it) if it offers 4K HDR10 streaming and UHD BD support.

I like the AppleTV for ease of use but now that I have a 4K TV and 4K content I want to utilize it as much as possible.

I'll keep the ATV4 hooked up for my iTunes but at this point it will feel redundant. I may even consider moving my movies to my NAS to get away from iTunes.

 

[ipedro]

At WWDC, Apple finally acknowledged tvOS as one of the 4 pillars of Apple. I think we'll continue to see a push forward for the platform.

However, I think that there's plenty of room where it can be improved on software. The existing hardware is far ahead of the use it is being given and there have been no rumours of Apple upgrading the iTunes Store to 4K to justify the only hardware upgrade necessary.

Next year, as Apple Music continues the march towards replacing iTunes on the Mac, requiring a separate app for movies and tv shows, we'll see the store modernized, perhaps even an all you can watch subscription service like Apple Music. At that point, 4K content will be added and new hardware will be sold on that feature.

If anything this year, AppleTV might receive a quiet chip upgrade and/or lower prices to encourge an expanded user base.

 

[cyclocommuter]

What I am looking forward to is not a new Apple TV hardware but a new video and music subscription service which allows me to stream video and music from the service at a nominal fee, of say, 10-15 bucks per month... Similar to Netflix, Spotify, Google Play, Google Play Music, etc. It would be even better if this subscription service can be accessed via apps available on non iOS devices.

Streaming, IMHO, is the future... I have no desire to download stuff and store/manage it locally on my computer, phone, or any other device.

 

[pmau]

Streaming, IMHO, is the future... I have no desire to download stuff and store/manage it locally on my computer, phone, or any other device.

Downloading gives you predictable quality under bad network conditions.
You can be glad that Apple does not use adaptive encoding. You always get the same movie.
This is one of the main reasons I prefer iTunes over Netflix, Amazon, etc.

 

[mrex]

Streaming, IMHO, is the future... I have no desire to download stuff and store/manage it locally on my computer, phone, or any other device.

that is the reason im using the NAS. All files (whatever they are) are there and accessible with whatever device and from wherever.

 

[Cigsm]

Lol wait you want an unlimited music and tv / video streaming service for $10-$15 a month?? Lol. Netflix itself is $10 a month and it takes anywhere from 6 months to a Year to get titles if they get them at all. Why would you think a video and music streaming service would be so cheap.

What I am looking forward to is not a new Apple TV hardware but a new video and music subscription service which allows me to stream video and music from the service at a nominal fee, of say, 10-15 bucks per month... Similar to Netflix, Spotify, Google Play, Google Play Music, etc. It would be even better if this subscription service can be accessed via apps available on non iOS devices.

Streaming, IMHO, is the future... I have no desire to download stuff and store/manage it locally on my computer, phone, or any other device.

 

[Defender2010]

I'd like £20 a month unlimited streaming of all the iTunes Store films, tv shows and music. That's all.

 

[2010mini]

I'd like £20 a month unlimited streaming of all the iTunes Store films, tv shows and music. That's all.

Content owners will never allow that.

 

[cyclocommuter]

Downloading gives you predictable quality under bad network conditions.
You can be glad that Apple does not use adaptive encoding. You always get the same movie.
This is one of the main reasons I prefer iTunes over Netflix, Amazon, etc.

Where I live there is it is very rare I get network issues. Also the popularity of streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu shows that more and more people are fine with streaming from said services as opposed to downloading stuff locally and streaming from there.

For most movies being released nowadays I would rather just stream them as opposed to download or buy Blu-ray versions. But for highly rated movies and TV Shows I prefer to get the Blu-ray copy plus the accompanying digital download from iTunes or UV such as the GoT ATMOS discs:

Lol wait you want an unlimited music and tv / video streaming service for $10-$15 a month?? Lol. Netflix itself is $10 a month and it takes anywhere from 6 months to a Year to get titles if they get them at all. Why would you think a video and music streaming service would be so cheap.

Spotify, Amazon Prime, Netflix, all offer streaming for less than 10 bucks a month. If Apple wants to play with the leaders currently providing streaming services, 15 bucks a month (possibly up to $20) is reasonable IMHO.

 

[BeefCake 15]

The new A10 chip has been promised to handle console based gaming...I would expect an Apple TV update next year to include it and open up for more gaming options, at least compete with the Nintendo gaming fans for content (look for Super Mario on Apple TV soon after it's on iOS)

 

[tennisproha]

Downloading gives you predictable quality under bad network conditions.
You can be glad that Apple does not use adaptive encoding. You always get the same movie.
This is one of the main reasons I prefer iTunes over Netflix, Amazon, etc.

By adaptive encoding, do you mean different resolutions? can you explain further please.