September 10 Apple TV rumours

[Lord Hamsa]

You may think it is a win for Apple because it sells more units, but they may see it as a losing proposition as it might eat into their iTunes and iCloud sales/rentals/income.

Can't see how. Apple's own recommendation is to download all purchases and back them up yourself, in case they ever become unavailable in the store. You're also not going to sell a lot of units by telling the people most likely to use it that they can't use their own libraries.

Yes, it works as-is, but it's a hacky kludge to have to introduce a third device into the mix, just to act as the iTunes client. Build the client into ATV (it's running iOS anyway, this shouldn't be rocket science to do, and the chip it uses is more than capable of handling the workload), enable the USB port, and allow the ATV owner to point the iTunes client to an external or network drive where the actual library resides. Then you cut out the otherwise unnecessary third device from the communication chain.

It's that simple. And iIt doesn't require any extra on-board storage, or even a form-factor change; it should just be software and firmware as the ATV is already networked and it has the USB port, just disabled.

 

[iOrbit]

i'd be happy with:

App Store / SDK Release

Updated and improved software.

A new improved remote that could be used to play games or work with exciting apps that demand more than what the current apple tv remote can offer - or atleast let iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone be supported remote devices i.e. as a keypad/ trackpad / etc

Aluminium Unibody again

24fps playback and or any other Supports (DTS etc)

 

[m1key]

Flash storage would be great to store and load movies rather than streaming them.

I believe that anyone that has used an apple tv would attest to the fact that streaming your movies to it work great and good enough even for HD. I sympathize with the option to have it -- but again, it would be silly to have it on board, it would be much more efficient to have a usb port for it where you can attach a external hd to it.

You may think it is a win for Apple because it sells more units, but they may see it as a losing proposition as it might eat into their iTunes and iCloud sales/rentals/income.

Exactly. This is all about apple trying to make money from itunes. That's why I said it would never happen 🙂

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Can't see how. Apple's own recommendation is to download all purchases and back them up yourself, in case they ever become unavailable in the store. You're also not going to sell a lot of units by telling the people most likely to use it that they can't use their own libraries.

Yes, it works as-is, but it's a hacky kludge to have to introduce a third device into the mix, just to act as the iTunes client. Build the client into ATV (it's running iOS anyway, this shouldn't be rocket science to do, and the chip it uses is more than capable of handling the workload), enable the USB port, and allow the ATV owner to point the iTunes client to an external or network drive where the actual library resides. Then you cut out the otherwise unnecessary third device from the communication chain.

It's that simple. And iIt doesn't require any extra on-board storage, or even a form-factor change; it should just be software and firmware as the ATV is already networked and it has the USB port, just disabled.

You are missing the point that iTunes isn't the only place where you can get your media.

 

[Shearwater]

I guess I don't understand the need for local storage - would just increase it's size and cost. Everything streams (in my house anyway) effortlessly to my 2 ATV's (3rd gen) without a hitch. I leave my iMac with iTunes running anyway, so it's no hassle.

Is there another angle to this that I am missing? What do people see being added to the next gen ATV that is currently missing?

Seems like it works exactly as it should right now...

My $0.02 anyway

Totally agree...what is the obsession with asking for storage?

 

[eecyclone]

I guess I don't understand the need for local storage - would just increase it's size and cost. Everything streams (in my house anyway) effortlessly to my 2 ATV's (3rd gen) without a hitch. I leave my iMac with iTunes running anyway, so it's no hassle.

Is there another angle to this that I am missing? What do people see being added to the next gen ATV that is currently missing?

Seems like it works exactly as it should right now...

My $0.02 anyway

When the ATV 2 first came out I had 2 ATV's. I thought not having built in storage would be a deal breaker. But it turns out that it is much easier to manage what I am watching on the ATV's, and everything is always in sync. I just leave my mac mini server on 24/7 (which it was anyway), and now I don't have to worry about managing media on the devices like I used to, and like I still do on my iPhone. Now that I think about it, maybe I need to try iTunes Match so I won't have to manage my phone as much.

 

[linds15]

When the ATV 2 first came out I had 2 ATV's. I thought not having built in storage would be a deal breaker. But it turns out that it is much easier to manage what I am watching on the ATV's, and everything is always in sync. I just leave my mac mini server on 24/7 (which it was anyway), and now I don't have to worry about managing media on the devices like I used to, and like I still do on my iPhone. Now that I think about it, maybe I need to try iTunes Match so I won't have to manage my phone as much.

for me itunes match is worth the 25 a year just to never have to sync my music to my phone, let alone all the other benefits

 

[Lord Hamsa]

You are missing the point that iTunes isn't the only place where you can get your media.

I agree that I don't get the point of fragmenting your library. I have tons of music and movies in my iTunes that I ripped from disc, and very little purchased from the iTunes store - mostly music I've collected for free via promotions (I do so miss the old Pepsi/iTunes promotion) and movies I've downloaded as digital copies of discs I purchased.

But all of my stuff works in iTunes, so why would I want a second place to store part of my library, especially when I also want to sync my library contents to my iPhone? Sounds needlessly complicated to me.

Plus, we're talking about ATV and what it will support - there's no reason to suspect that Apple would change it to support anything other than an iTunes library.

 

[tonyr6]

Getting rid of my Roku 3 which is terrible for Netflix and ended up going back to the PS3. I heard good things about the Apple TV and Netflix so I am waiting to see if they are going to announce a new Apple TV. I want to buy one so bad but I will wait.

 

[whsbuss]

Getting rid of my Roku 3 which is terrible for Netflix and ended up going back to the PS3. I heard good things about the Apple TV and Netflix so I am waiting to see if they are going to announce a new Apple TV. I want to buy one so bad but I will wait.

Well doesn't look like the rumor of a new ATV will happen on Tuesday. Check the rumors forum.

 

[bozzykid]

I heard good things about the Apple TV and Netflix

Where did you hear that? I think the Netflix app on Apple TV is one of the worst Netflix experiences that exists today. Browsing is slow and the main interface is nothing but a text-based menu. Playing videos works fine of course but the UI is pretty bad.

 

[otisg]

or atleast let iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone be supported remote devices i.e. as a keypad/ trackpad / etc

This is already part of the Remote app that has been available from Apple for quite awhile...

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Where did you hear that? I think the Netflix app on Apple TV is one of the worst Netflix experiences that exists today. Browsing is slow and the main interface is nothing but a text-based menu. Playing videos works fine of course but the UI is pretty bad.

I disagree whole-heartedly. Netflix on Apple TV has the BEST interface I've seen for Netflix on ANY device. It is not merely text based. It has logical and simple layout with pleasing graphics, provides good recommendations, and is easy to navigate.

What exactly do you consider to be a superior Netflix device experience?

 

[bozzykid]

I disagree whole-heartedly. Netflix on Apple TV has the BEST interface I've seen for Netflix on ANY device. It is not merely text based. It has logical and simple layout with pleasing graphics, provides good recommendations, and is easy to navigate.

What exactly do you consider to be a superior Netflix device experience?

Easy to navigate? Ther HTML5 app that they use on most platforms lets you browse all the different categories, your queue (my list), search, etc all from the main interface. You don't have to dig into different categories. Discovery of content is almost impossible on the aTV compared to their normal interface. Maybe you can get use to the interface if you use it all the time but comparing it to the HTML5 interface makes it seem like it was designed in 1990.

 

[PNutts]

Easy to navigate? Ther HTML5 app that they use on most platforms lets you browse all the different categories, your queue (my list), search, etc all from the main interface. You don't have to dig into different categories. Discovery of content is almost impossible on the aTV compared to their normal interface. Maybe you can get use to the interface if you use it all the time but comparing it to the HTML5 interface makes it seem like it was designed in 1990.

Comparing HTML5 to Apple TV. Well that's... "Interesting". I've used Netflix on a number of different "set top" devices (dvd players, smart TVs, etc.) and Apple's implementation beats them all. Heck, I don't even know if Apple developed it or Netflix handed it to them. I don't find that interesting. All I know is if you compare apples to apples (ha), Netflix on ATV is a good experience.

 

[bozzykid]

Comparing HTML5 to Apple TV. Well that's... "Interesting". I've used Netflix on a number of different "set top" devices (dvd players, smart TVs, etc.) and Apple's implementation beats them all. Heck, I don't even know if Apple developed it or Netflix handed it to them. I don't find that interesting. All I know is if you compare apples to apples (ha), Netflix on ATV is a good experience.

I'm not talking about 3 year old DVD players. Try using the HTML5 app on Google TV or on the latest TiVo. It is light years ahead of Apple TV in terms of navigation and discoverability.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I'm seeing 2 or 3 rumors about new iPhones having video camera frame rates >30fps. I've seen 60fps and even 120fps rumors. 120 would imply some slow motion capture capabilities so I can imagine some plausibility to those rumors.

Anyone think that flexible frame rates could make it to the TV? For example, if we can shoot at 60fps, could the TV play it back at 60fps? I've already shot a lot of video at 1080p/60fps and would love to use that instead of the frame-reduced version (at 30fps).

Anyone know if existing TV hardware would be capable of 60fps? Or is the hardware itself capped at 30fps (thus pushing for an upgrade if this feature would be desirable)?

 

[mizaco]

i feel apple tv is worthless.

 

[Onimusha370]

i feel apple tv is worthless.

That's deep man

 

[IRISHB]

Direct Subscription to HBO or ESPN?

What are the chances that Apple will announce a direct subscription option for HBOGO and ESPN/Disney Apps?

 

[HE15MAN]

When did Smithsonan, Weather Channel, Vevo, Disney CHannel show up on apple tv?

 

[BackTwoMac]

Where did you hear that? I think the Netflix app on Apple TV is one of the worst Netflix experiences that exists today. Browsing is slow and the main interface is nothing but a text-based menu. Playing videos works fine of course but the UI is pretty bad.

I wouldn't say it's that bad. I just wish it were programmed to automatically go to the next episode of a series, like it does when streaming on a macbook or ipad.

 

[Stuipdboy1000]

When did Smithsonan, Weather Channel, Vevo, Disney CHannel show up on apple tv?

A couple of weeks ago.

 

[bozzykid]

I wouldn't say it's that bad. I just wish it were programmed to automatically go to the next episode of a series, like it does when streaming on a macbook or ipad.

It is missing many other features as well that the HTML5 app provides. Like showing you similar titles at the end the movie/tv show. Also, there's no DIAL support so you can't control it from your iPhone or iPad.

 

[Macnoviz]

I believe that new features on a new Apple TV will probably be mostly software-based, but these could potentially be very significant.

In particular, there was one interesting bullet point buried in the iOS 7 presentation, namely the third-party controller API. With a modest amount of flash storage, the Apple TV might get a limited app store for ATV apps and games featuring controller support. This would put it up against the Ouya and recently released Playstation Vita TV.

This is almost purely software-based, so it could be a surprise to announce at the event, seeing as how most new features for the iPhone have already leaked.

 

[bozzykid]

I believe that new features on a new Apple TV will probably be mostly software-based, but these could potentially be very significant.

In particular, there was one interesting bullet point buried in the iOS 7 presentation, namely the third-party controller API. With a modest amount of flash storage, the Apple TV might get a limited app store for ATV apps and games featuring controller support. This would put it up against the Ouya and recently released Playstation Vita TV.

This is almost purely software-based, so it could be a surprise to announce at the event, seeing as how most new features for the iPhone have already leaked.

The only thing that concerns me is the current aTV is lacking the storage and the RAM to run games natively. I just don't see how they can have an app store and allow games than can use in the GBs of storage. Perhaps it will be some type of streaming games service.

 

[whsbuss]

Well nothing on ATV at today's event.