You could be forgiven for thinking that the Apple TV set-top box isn't a very popular gadget amongst consumers, after all, it doesn't really receive a great deal of attention thanks to being overshadowed by the insane popularity of the iPhone and iPad. With Tim Cook calling the little black puck a "hobby", it's evident that they aren't placing as much emphasis on it as they are on other products, but that doesn't detract from the fact that they have shipped well over 3 million units.
So then, that Apple TV's pretty cool right? Right, but you know what's really cool? An imaginary television that may or may not be in the works from a company that refuses to pursue the home entertainment line of products that it already makes.
The controversial new Apple TV software was in testing at Apple five years ago, according to an ex-employee, and then-CEO Steve Jobs was the man that knocked it back. Years later, Apple has released it upon an unsuspecting public.
When Apple held its media briefing earlier this week, there was more on the agenda than just a new iPad. Those who have kept up on the events of Wednesday will already know that a new Apple TV was also announced, and it has a trick up its sleeve.
The San Francisco based Apple Media Event is on its way. With some of the world’s leading technology press packed into the Yerba Buena Arts Center, Tim Cook and his team took center stage to unveil the expected next-generation iPad as well as a revamped and improved Apple TV set-top box.
The media, consumers, Apple fans and retail staff workers are all counting the days until Apple’s media event, of which we are still confident will bring us some new product goodness, obviously it will. We have been hearing rumors over the last few weeks about possible technical specifications of the new iPad tablet, as well as the possibility that Apple could announce a second product during the event, possibly a new Apple TV set top box.
We should all know by now that the rumor mill which surrounds Apple and its products will never stop. As soon as a product is launched, the speculation regarding its replacement begins and continues for the next twelve months until we actually see the launch happening in front of us. One of the latest and most persistent rumors surrounds Apple’s intention to release a branded physical television set which some have dubbed the 'iTV'.
We all use a variety of technology during our daily lives, and no more so than in the living room. If you look under your TV then you'll no doubt see plenty of set-top boxes, DVRs and games consoles along with various audio equipment and the like.
Running out of patience with the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 rumors? Well, then you have come to the right place, as today has brought about some new speculative chatter, this time pertaining to the capabilities of the expected Apple TV set. In the last ten years, Apple has been on a rampage with the sole mission of revolutionizing and improving the music, mobile and portable device industries and it would take a braver man than me to say they have succeeded in doing so, and then some.
I recently wrote an article which covered the hype surrounding the development of MobileX for the Apple TV allowing iOS applications to run natively on the device. As a quick summary, developer Steven Troughton-Smith has been working to enhance the functionality of the fantastic, but often under used Apple TV device by acquiring MobileX which is effectively a re-implementation of what we know as Springboard on other iOS devices.
