New Apple TV model

[JulianL]

Perhaps if the minions at the crashed space ship in Copertino spent more energy chasing results instead of free ice cream and skateboarding to the on site spa/gym/gameroom etc we might see real AI and home automation. Apple has lost a lot of the edge that made it so successful and seem to spend a LOT of energy on USELESS glitter and glitz like the idiotic " Magic Glass " . I still scratch my ( thinning and gray ) head over that hype . Does anybody really care about magic glass ? Might be time for Apple corporate to regroup and examine a lot of its so-called culture and re-emphasize work .

It upsets me as a consumer but I think I'd feel even more upset if I was an Apple hardware engineer, particularly the ones working in the various Apple silicon teams, because I see pretty much all of the problems being in the software teams with the hardware folks still pushing out A-Series and M-Series chips that just keep on getting better just to see the impact of their great work blunted by software teams that don't seem to be up to anything like the same standard. Even the modem team, maligned by many for a long time while we waited to see first products shipped, look to now be delivering with worthwhile efficiency improvements compared to Qualcomm in what has shipped so far - not easy to do against such a dominant and well-established competitor. I'll be interested to see how the higher-end (C2) modems turn out when they are released.

When it comes to my criticisms of the software teams I'll grant one massive exemption to the FaceID team. Obviously a combination of hardware and software but the software is a critical component and boy is it impressive in terms of speed, reliability and (due to the 3D nature of the scanning) security. That's going back a few years since it was first released but it still impresses me to this day.

 

[texag76]

It upsets me as a consumer but I think I'd feel even more upset if I was an Apple hardware engineer, particularly the ones working in the various Apple silicon teams, because I see pretty much all of the problems being in the software teams with the hardware folks still pushing out A-Series and M-Series chips that just keep on getting better just to see the impact of their great work blunted by software teams that don't seem to be up to anything like the same standard. Even the modem team, maligned by many for a long time while we waited to see first products shipped, look to now be delivering with worthwhile efficiency improvements compared to Qualcomm in what has shipped so far - not easy to do against such a dominant and well-established competitor. I'll be interested to see how the higher-end (C2) modems turn out when they are released.

When it comes to my criticisms of the software teams I'll grant one massive exemption to the FaceID team. Obviously a combination of hardware and software but the software is a critical component and boy is it impressive in terms of speed, reliability and (due to the 3D nature of the scanning) security. That's going back a few years since it was first released but it still impresses me to this day.

I just spent some time on the Google AI -Gemini and have discovered how FAR ahead Google is in the realm of AI and home automation. It's not even a race. Apple isn't in the damn stadium !! The crashed space ship really MUST get into the game DAMN SOON or it will be an insurmountable task. I wonder if the gods of Apple , who are responsible for the insane hype and drama over pure GLITZ ( magic glass and the like ) even have the will or ability to join the developing world of 21st century automation

 

[OverTheHill]

It's possible that Apple is planning to expand the scope of the next generation Apple TV. From there rumours that we've seen there is quite a lot that suggests that Apple might be about to expand its offerings in the smart home market with rumours of a new HomePod with a display, a security camera, a FaceID doorbell and an updated HomePod mini that some commentators speculate might be getting held back until there is at least something to show from the Google Gemini work. We've also already seen the name change from Apple Homekit to Apple Home that might also be part of an Apple plan to get more market share in the smart home market by making Apple offerings sound more accessible and less technical/geeky.

If Apple is looking to make a bigger push into the smart home market then Apple TV could play a very interesting role as an optional component in a smart home setup. If an ATV isn't there then any Siri requests that can't be processed locally by a HomePod's S-Series processor get passed up to Apple's servers for processing (much like on the more recent S-9 and above Apple Watches today) but if there is an Apple TV is on a user's local network with an AI-capable A-Series SoC in it then that could be running a local LLM so that more requests can be processed locally before needing to hand off to Apple servers. It's obviously not going to be anything like a frontier model but it could disambiguate mangled and/or oblique device names or other entity and/or action references, do some local processing on video feeds etc. That could improve responsiveness for users, give more resilience to network failures, give some people more reassurance about security, and have a benefit for Apple by reducing computational load on its servers.

Maybe I'm in a niche group because I love the concept of smart speakers and use voice for a lot of stuff but I know that others consider then spying devices that are the work of the devil and wouldn't dream of having any in there home. For me at least I would love such a setup - assuming of course that Apple can get the new Siri to perform well - and as time goes on I become more and more worried that we might even be waiting beyond 2026 for that.

They could start with an Atmos 5.1.2 soundbar with AppleTV built in and a camera for FaceTime. This would be good for a bedroom or people living in small homes or an apartment. Camera would need a cut off feature, maybe just support for one via USB. Doubt they will though.

 

[subjonas]

They could start with an Atmos 5.1.2 soundbar with AppleTV built in and a camera for FaceTime. This would be good for a bedroom or people living in small homes or an apartment. Camera would need a cut off feature, maybe just support for one via USB. Doubt they will though.

The problem with combining speakers and cameras with the ATV is it narrows who can use it and how. A soundbar ATV with camera means it has to be mounted right above most people's TVs, which may not be desired or practical for some. And if they already have an existing superior soundbar or sound system, then the ATV has a soundbar that makes it more expensive and takes up space for no reason. So it could likely only exist as an additional model.

 

[erihp]

The problem with combining speakers and cameras with the ATV is it narrows who can use it and how. A soundbar ATV with camera means it has to be mounted right above most people's TVs, which may not be desired or practical for some. And if they already have an existing superior soundbar or sound system, then the ATV has a soundbar that makes it more expensive and takes up space for no reason. So it could likely only exist as an additional model.

the other problem is that speakers should never go obsolete or 'lose support' by the manufacturer.

buy dumb speakers yall.

 

[OverTheHill]

The problem with combining speakers and cameras with the ATV is it narrows who can use it and how. A soundbar ATV with camera means it has to be mounted right above most people's TVs, which may not be desired or practical for some. And if they already have an existing superior soundbar or sound system, then the ATV has a soundbar that makes it more expensive and takes up space for no reason. So it could likely only exist as an additional model.

It’s an option. I still want to see a simple box. That said, I think they are missing out on a solid product. It can also be mounted below the screen or set on a A/V cabinet. No problem.

We currently use this in the bedroom:

Shop Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | Home Cinema and Speakers | Bose

Shop the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. Voice control, cinematic sound. Order now and get free shipping, plus enjoy our 90-day risk-free trial!

www.bose.com

Setting on top of this with the display mounted above it:

Salamander Designs® Chameleon Chicago Low Profile 347 with TV Mount Black Oak Speaker Integrated Cabinet | Flanner’s Home Entertainment

Black Oak finish with Tall Grass Texture & Black Glass top.

www.flanners.com

For a living room, it would set nicely on this:

Salamander Chameleon Chicago 247 Quad-Width AV Cabinet (Black Oak)

The light look and feel of tall grasses is finely set in a horizontal textured pattern on the quad-width Chicago AV cabinet. Black oak with black glass top and black feet work in unison, creating the cabinet's hi-tech façade. This cabinet may be mounted to the wall by simply removing the feet...

skybygramophone.com

 

[OverTheHill]

the other problem is that speakers should never go obsolete or 'lose support' by the manufacturer.

buy dumb speakers yall.

That’s what our home theater is for. If we lived in an apartment or condo, it wouldn’t be practical. Nor is it practical in a secondary room in our home.

 

[subjonas]

the other problem is that speakers should never go obsolete or 'lose support' by the manufacturer.

buy dumb speakers yall.

True. In general it's better to buy separate devices if they don't need to be combined, including smart speakers (which combine smart and speaker).

However, if they don't come separate, you don't have much choice. Also in some cases a combined device does have benefits.

I bought some OG HomePods because there was no other way to get all the same functionality out of dumb speakers hooked up to an Apple device. I could get most of the functionality that way, but not all. And it's not as clean of a setup as HomePods.

Ideally Apple would make some sort of tiny module with chips and good mics that could turn any dumb speaker(s) into a fully-functioning HomePod (minus the spatially adaptive audio assuming it's a one-directional speaker). But probably not going to happen. Alternatively, when the HomePod eventually stops receiving updates, maybe it could become a quasi-smart speaker (maybe limited offline functionality) if someone makes a wireless adapter that, instead of making wired devices wireless, makes the wireless HomePod wired. Something like a (lossless) wireless transmitter dongle that plugs into an aux output. Not sure how feasible that is though. Final hope would be some way to hack an 'aux in' into the HomePod itself, but that could be a lot of work and turn out not great-looking.

 

[erihp]

That’s what our home theater is for. If we lived in an apartment or condo, it wouldn’t be practical. Nor is it practical in a secondary room in our home.

ok and?

you can buy a soundbar that doesnt run an operating system or need wifi or software updates.

 

[subjonas]

It’s an option. I still want to see a simple box. That said, I think they are missing out on a solid product. It can also be mounted below the screen or set on a A/V cabinet. No problem.

We currently use this in the bedroom:

Shop Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | Home Cinema and Speakers | Bose

Shop the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. Voice control, cinematic sound. Order now and get free shipping, plus enjoy our 90-day risk-free trial!

www.bose.com

Setting on top of this with the display mounted above it:

Salamander Designs® Chameleon Chicago Low Profile 347 with TV Mount Black Oak Speaker Integrated Cabinet | Flanner’s Home Entertainment

Black Oak finish with Tall Grass Texture & Black Glass top.

www.flanners.com

For a living room, it would set nicely on this:

Salamander Chameleon Chicago 247 Quad-Width AV Cabinet (Black Oak)

The light look and feel of tall grasses is finely set in a horizontal textured pattern on the quad-width Chicago AV cabinet. Black oak with black glass top and black feet work in unison, creating the cabinet's hi-tech façade. This cabinet may be mounted to the wall by simply removing the feet...

skybygramophone.com

Sure, those mounting solutions would work well with a soundbar sitting below the TV, or if a TV stand has a shelf below for the soundbar. But of course that doesn't cover everyone's situations.

But the main reason I said that it would have to be mounted above is because of the camera if it is indeed built in. Higher angle camera is generally more desired, plus its view doesn't get blocked by feet or other objects on the coffee table/ottoman. As you mentioned, a dedicated external camera option is a better more versatile solution.

 

[erihp]

True. In general it's better to buy separate devices if they don't need to be combined, including smart speakers (which combine smart and speaker).

However, if they don't come separate, you don't have much choice. Also in some cases a combined device does have benefits.

I bought some OG HomePods because there was no other way to get all the same functionality out of dumb speakers hooked up to an Apple device. I could get most of the functionality that way, but not all. And it's not as clean of a setup as HomePods.

Ideally Apple would make some sort of tiny module with chips and good mics that could turn any dumb speaker(s) into a fully-functioning HomePod (minus the spatially adaptive audio assuming it's a one-directional speaker). But probably not going to happen. Alternatively, when the HomePod eventually stops receiving updates, maybe it could become a quasi-smart speaker (maybe limited offline functionality) if someone makes a wireless adapter that, instead of making wired devices wireless, makes the wireless HomePod wired. Something like a (lossless) wireless transmitter dongle that plugs into an aux output. Not sure how feasible that is though. Final hope would be some way to hack an 'aux in' into the HomePod itself, but that could be a lot of work and turn out not great-looking.

luckily i think airplay is here to stay.

as for wired -> airplay, there is a solution if you have an extra iOS device.

i use an app called Quanta to airplay the output of my record player

audio source -> usb sound card -> ios device with quanta -> airplay 2

 

[subjonas]

luckily i think airplay is here to stay.

as for wired -> airplay, there is a solution if you have an extra iOS device.

i use an app called Quanta to airplay the output of my record player

audio source -> usb sound card -> ios device with quanta -> airplay 2

True, AirPlay will surely be around for a long time, but the thing is the Airplay protocol could theoretically get updates and eventually lose compatibility with older devices such as the OG HomePod. I suppose keeping an old device around to AirPlay to the old HomePod is another option, but then you're limited to only using that old device--and likely offline only. But with say a wireless to wired adapter (maybe like the solution you mentioned, although I think aux would be safer than usb which occasionally changes, and preferably a smaller self-contained solution rather than depending on a sound card and an iOS device), that would open up an old HomePod to being used with pretty much any device for the foreseeable future (possibly with the aid of another dongle). Albeit AirPlay dropping support for an old HomePod probably won't happen for a very long time, there's a decent chance it will happen eventually. Whereas aux is truly here to stay, unwavering. Well, I suppose aux could also theoretically get updated or replaced at some point, but likely not for an even longer time, if ever. And even if it does, since it's purely simple hardware with no proprietary tech, an adapter would likely be easily made.

 

[DJHB1980]

id almost think a modular approach to this would work
with a soundbar having a "blank" slot with a logo that can be swapped out for the box or a stick
similarly a camera "blank" slot too also with an optional phone holder attachment best of present circumstances allows the soundbar to sell independently to the tv box or stick also the camera module too.
the camera module could be "Kinect" type but 'apple-y-fied' (new word i just made up) as i think apple has the IP on that technology via PrimeSense

too sensible i know 3 products that create 1 product
the only one that doesn't really sell independently for use is the camera
so maybe that would have to be part of the speaker system or in the tv box

let me know if this is a bazaar post that has no logic

 

[erihp]

luckily i think airplay is here to stay.

id almost think a modular approach to this would work
with a soundbar having a "blank" slot with a logo that can be swapped out for the box or a stick
similarly a camera "blank" slot too also with an optional phone holder attachment best of present circumstances allows the soundbar to sell independently to the tv box or stick also the camera module too.
the camera module could be "Kinect" type but 'apple-y-fied' (new word i just made up) as i think apple has the IP on that technology via PrimeSense

too sensible i know 3 products that create 1 product
the only one that doesn't really sell independently for use is the camera
so maybe that would have to be part of the speaker system or in the tv box

let me know if this is a bazaar post that has no logic

i think you mean bizarre and yes, it is.

 

[RandomKiwi]

New Apple TV 4K and HomePod Likely Won't Launch Until New Siri is Ready

Apple has a new version of the HomePod and a new Apple TV 4K ready to go, but the devices may be tied to the Siri update that's been continually postponed, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report on a planned September launch for new Siri capabilities and the home hub that's reliant on...

www.macrumors.com

 

[erihp]

New Apple TV 4K and HomePod Likely Won't Launch Until New Siri is Ready

Apple has a new version of the HomePod and a new Apple TV 4K ready to go, but the devices may be tied to the Siri update that's been continually postponed, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report on a planned September launch for new Siri capabilities and the home hub that's reliant on...

www.macrumors.com

So tired of this guy pretending to know things.

 

[Paddle1]

New Apple TV 4K and HomePod Likely Won't Launch Until New Siri is Ready

Apple has a new version of the HomePod and a new Apple TV 4K ready to go, but the devices may be tied to the Siri update that's been continually postponed, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report on a planned September launch for new Siri capabilities and the home hub that's reliant on...

www.macrumors.com

If this is all true the next Apple TV is going to be fairly outdated by the time it launches. The A15 in the current model was only a year old when it came out. By the time this Apple TV launches with the A17 Pro the A20 will be out. I could see it being quickly succeeded with a 5th gen 4K like the 2021 model was in 2022.

 

[DJHB1980]

I’ve been saying putting a 3 year old chip will be a mistake (regardless of the competition) that’s so embarrassing it must be the A18 Pro or newer & the N1, Audio Passthrough and a few other highly requested features.

This device must not only crush the competition but force standards up, like Apple do in other product sectors. Roku, Amazon & Google can do better than what they currently supply so this product will have them either lifting up their base product to a higher standard or being left behind.

I’ve had both Roku’s & Firesticks and both are underwhelming and often struggle to do what they should easily especially over time.

 

[kiranmk2]

I’ve been saying putting a 3 year old chip will be a mistake (regardless of the competition) that’s so embarrassing it must be the A18 Pro or newer & the N1, Audio Passthrough and a few other highly requested features.

This device must not only crush the competition but force standards up, like Apple do in other product sectors. Roku, Amazon & Google can do better than what they currently supply so this product will have them either lifting up their base product to a higher standard or being left behind.

I’ve had both Roku’s & Firesticks and both are underwhelming and often struggle to do what they should easily especially over time.

It's only a mistake if it starts to struggle with tasks too soon. As has been pointed out many times, the A12 and A15 chips in the 2nd & 3rd gen models are still perfectly adequate for all the video & audio side of things. It's only us geeks that would feel ripped off paying top dollar for 3 year-old tech. The main drawbacks would be if Apple Intelligence starts to rapidly scale beyond the capabilities of the A17Pro (for those that care about such things) or if some of the AAA games from iOS/MacOS start to transition to TvOS too (The A17Pro could run such games, but the performance was pretty terrible).

 

[Icehawk]

Imagine them getting solid games on TvOS and your phone as the controller (or a real one). *drools*

As much as I'd like a more recent processor or even like an M1, yeah, the 1st gen 4k is still a beast. For what this box does currently, it doesn't "need" it. Would be nice if they did something where it did.

 

[erihp]

Imagine them getting solid games on TvOS and your phone as the controller (or a real one). *drools*

As much as I'd like a more recent processor or even like an M1, yeah, the 1st gen 4k is still a beast. For what this box does currently, it doesn't "need" it. Would be nice if they did something where it did.

retroarch is the best youre gonna get. tons of playable games! just nothing particularly modern.

 

[DJHB1980]

The streamer, the home hub user and the semi-power not quite console level AAA gamer.

The exact reason for the HDMI stick, the 4K Home Hub box and the Xtra power Pro box
should all fit into this space

HDMI sticks in bedrooms or in the Main TV for casual users or even utilise the power of the Main or Pro box and offload some of the heavy lifting

A 4K Box for those controlling their cameras and lights etc.

The Pro Box for those doing it all and needing that extra boost of power

and these will not cannibalise each other as they all fit into the market at different use levels and price points and fit each demographic the stick (neo) wins the Roku and Firestick users

The box takes the current market and the pro's extend that market out

In the same way we now have a MacBook NEO and Air and a Pro with various chips and use cases this 3 pronged approach could, and I think would, work magnificently.

 

[Icehawk]

Hmm. If the rumor is true htat it'll be sept, I'm thinking it aint worth waiting for it. Wait for a good deal and pull the trigger? It's not like the odds are high its going to be a dramatic difference.

 

[kiranmk2]

The streamer, the home hub user and the semi-power not quite console level AAA gamer.

The exact reason for the HDMI stick, the 4K Home Hub box and the Xtra power Pro box
should all fit into this space

HDMI sticks in bedrooms or in the Main TV for casual users or even utilise the power of the Main or Pro box and offload some of the heavy lifting

A 4K Box for those controlling their cameras and lights etc.

The Pro Box for those doing it all and needing that extra boost of power

and these will not cannibalise each other as they all fit into the market at different use levels and price points and fit each demographic the stick (neo) wins the Roku and Firestick users

The box takes the current market and the pro's extend that market out

In the same way we now have a MacBook NEO and Air and a Pro with various chips and use cases this 3 pronged approach could, and I think would, work magnificently.

I think the HDMI stick that has a older A chip and less RAM that is purely for video/music streaming etc is becoming a good idea as the RAM prices shoot up and may hit the $/£99 price point, especially if it uses the A16 chip.

A "home hub" version that adds a thread border router and chip/RAM powerful enough for Apple Intelligence with perhaps an A18 chip could come in at $/£149 .

I simply can't see a gaming version launching though... Apple would need to convince the studios to port their MacOS versions to TvOS (and even if this is simple, it still requires resource) and it would likely need 512 GB minimum given how large games are getting (the new Crimson Desert game needs 150 GB), and Apple would likely have to sell it with an Apple-branded controller. At this point, this is basically a Mac Mini. A much better approach would be to develop a "big picture mode" for MacOS that would let a Mac have a controller/media based interface that could be automatically launched on boot that mimics TvOS. Then, anyone that wanted a gaming Apple TV could just use a Mac Mini with their choice of controller.

 

[DJHB1980]

I think the HDMI stick that has a older A chip and less RAM that is purely for video/music streaming etc is becoming a good idea as the RAM prices shoot up and may hit the $/£99 price point, especially if it uses the A16 chip.

A "home hub" version that adds a thread border router and chip/RAM powerful enough for Apple Intelligence with perhaps an A18 chip could come in at $/£149 .

I simply can't see a gaming version launching though... Apple would need to convince the studios to port their MacOS versions to TvOS (and even if this is simple, it still requires resource) and it would likely need 512 GB minimum given how large games are getting (the new Crimson Desert game needs 150 GB), and Apple would likely have to sell it with an Apple-branded controller. At this point, this is basically a Mac Mini. A much better approach would be to develop a "big picture mode" for MacOS that would let a Mac have a controller/media based interface that could be automatically launched on boot that mimics TvOS. Then, anyone that wanted a gaming Apple TV could just use a Mac Mini with their choice of controller.

Ridiculous to suggest anything less than an A17 Pro in any ‘new’ device, even insulting to put that in.
Apple “doesn’t ship junk” I think kntbe famous saying goes and anything less despite it’s capabilities would be.
Be it a regular box a beefy stick or a Pro behemoth, it has to be the best in class.

I want and would expect the A17 Pro in a stick or A18 Pro in a regular box at least.