Apple's AirPlay is one of the more prominent examples of Apple's 'it just works' ecosystem and is arguably the best reason to own an Apple TV. Being able to take audio and video from an iOS device and throw it over to a big-screen TV or audio system is the thing of dreams, and the fact it works so well just adds to the mystique.
Amid the well-publicized release of iOS 7.1 today, Apple has also dropped a noteworthy bump to the firmware of Apple TV, bringing the version number up to iOS 6.1. The marquee feature of the update is the new-found ability to hide channels, and we've got the rest of the important details right here.
Sports entertainment industry is perhaps one of those that will always continue to bloom, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is right in the middle of it. About 20 days back, we told you about the entertainment giant’s plans to go digital only, thriving in the world of online subscriptions and specifically aiming for getting a spot in the digital space. The network at that time claimed that it will go live on the digital platforms February 24th, and we promised that we’ll remind you when that happens. Well, it’s here - the moment is live - and WWE now resides on the Apple TV, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox and the Web.
The Apple TV roster seems to grow by the week, and if you're a music fan - specifically, a Beatles fan - then you'll be more than a bit excited by the Cupertino set-top box's latest acquisition. To mark the 50th anniversary of the iconic British group's Stateside debut, Apple has added a Beatles channel to Apple TV, and provides access to an array of content tailored to the most widely-recognized band of all time.
In its continued efforts to update and improve the Apple TV set-top, the company behind the little black box has been upping its game in recent months by securing various content partnerships with well-known providers. Today, an app from Red Bull has been added to that fast-growing list, and the new offering will serve as an extension of the Red Bull TV website; delivering various content relating to music, culture and, as many will be familiar - extreme sports.
There's no getting away from the fact that Tim Cook once described Apple TV as a "hobby," but with once-rampant speculation of the company's connected TV plans having apparently died down, it's fair to say that the understated set-top box has been treated with a little more respect by its overlord during the past few months. A plethora of updates have seen various content arrive from a host of Apple's partners, and now, it looks as though a looming update could also bring gaming to the party.
Another year is drawing to a close, which means that we'll have gone another twelve months without an Apple television being released. While that fact seems to perpetually bamboozle so-called analysts, it probably won't come as too much of a shock to those that don't spend their days with their heads in the clouds. Still, just because Apple hasn't announced its own television, that doesn't mean that we can't have some fun.
Some analysts, as well as many general Apple fans, have been under the impression that the fruit company would, at some stage, come through with its own connected TV effort, unofficially referred to as 'iTV.' The name itself probably wouldn't hold; at least, not in the UK, where it is the name of one of the foremost broadcasting services, and by the lack of any tangible activity or evidence to suggest otherwise, it doesn't seem as though iTV is anywhere near the top of Apple's to-do list. The substantial improvements to the range of Apple TV content suggests that the little black box is doing just fine for now, and if Jony Ive and his design minions did feel like revamping the OS in the image of iOS 7, perhaps the concept below, dreamed up by designer Andrew Ambrosino, offers us something of a preview.
Apple TV has sat almost dormant for a couple of years now, with barely any software updates and no new hardware since the launch of the iPad 3. But in recent times, the talk of a major connected TV effort has quietened down, with feasibility issues seemingly shelving that idea, and instead, there's renewed impetus on the small, almost forgotten set-top. Today, the Cupertino has updated Apple TV once again, bringing new Watch ABC, Bloomberg, Crackle and KORTV channels. Further details can be seen after the break.
Apple's TV push may not be as grandiose as some analysts have touted over the past few years, but the Cupertino's treasured hobby has certainly gotten more respect and attention over the last few months. Following on from the wide range of services and content recently added to the little black box, Yahoo has brought its Screen app to Apple TV following the release of the AirPlay-enabled app for iOS early this fall. Details, as ever, can be seen after the jump.
