“The Apple TV is one of the few products in Apple’s lineup that doesn’t include an integrated camera, but that may change with future versions of the hardware, according to new job listings from the company, potentially paving the way for gesture-based motion controls in the living room,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider.
“Mentions of camera support for Apple TV were discovered this week by AppleInsider in a handful of advertised available positions for Apple’s Camera Software team,” Hughes reports. “The listings reveal that the team builds capture and camera foundation across “all of Apple’s innovative products,” and goes on to include the currently camera-less Apple TV alongside camera-equipped devices like the iPhone and iPad.”
“There is a large amount of evidence that Apple is planning to improve upon its existing set-top box business, potentially with new hardware that could add camera-driven motion controls,” Hughes reports. “Perhaps most notable is the company’s late 2013 acquisition of PrimeSense, an Israeli 3D sensor firm that was responsible for the technology behind Microsoft’s first-generation Kinect motion controls for Xbox 360. Apple is said to have paid about $360 million in the deal.”
Much more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Kinecting the dots: Why Apple bought PrimeSense – November 26, 2013
Apple, late to the gesture game, tries to catch up with PrimeSense acquisition – November 25, 2013
Analyst: Apple’s PrimeSense acquisition sets stage for future Apple television products – November 25, 2013
For what will Apple use PrimeSense’s 3-D motion sensing tech? – November 25, 2013
Apple confirms acquisition of Israel’s PrimeSense, company behind Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect, for $350 million – November 25, 2013
Why is Apple buying the company that invented Microsoft’s Kinect? – November 18, 2013
Apple in talks to acquire PrimeSense – November 18, 2013
Apple in talks to buy Israel-based PrimeSense, company behind Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect, for $200 million – July 16, 2013
Apple’s latest patent is a game-changer for iPad – August 20, 2013
Apple partners with TV industry on ‘grand vision’ – July 18, 2013
Report: Apple could have obtained Kinect technology before Microsoft – November 5, 2010
I’ve been transferring all my DVDs to AppleTV over handbrake, and I absolutely love it. I’m ready to make AppleTV the only input for my television, except for live television and network shows, which I can’t get on Apple TV unless I buy.
Apple bought what made sense PrimeSense, yet https://www.leapmotion.com/ could have done equally well for them. However, lets see if Appel absorbs LeapMotion as well.
Hoping to see the 64-bit, A7 and M7 chip set, two USB 3 and two Thunderbolts ports, plus iTune game purchases on the new AppleTV unit. At 115.00 USD.
How long before we cease calling Apple TV a “set-top box” given what the top of today’s TV sets look like?
Hockey puck.
I’ll be live streaming my wares on Apple TV. For those of you with a Cook bent, there’ll be a Stripper John channel as well.
Hey Jane & John, can you beat $81 an hour? I don’t want to quit my job as a scammer.
/s
“Apple job listings suggest cameras coming to Apple TV”
Can I announce black tape coming to cover my Apple TV camera?
If Apple TV incorporates a camera in the future, there will need to be a redesign of the housing as the existing shape doesn’t fit on top of a modern TV and there would be no compelling reason to do so either. Most users seem to tuck it out of the way somewhere near the TV.
I would imagine that if Apple TV were to acquire camera functionality, the camera would be a plug-in camera so that it could be neatly clipped on top of the TV.
On a slightly different tack, as it now appears that both TMSC and Samsung are able to make 64 bit A8 processors in quantity, it might make sense for Apple to use them in Apple TV so that all new IOS devices will be 64 bit and able to run apps written for any IOS device.
A camera on AppleTV would be great for FaceTime.
Why not a wireless addition, rather than a camera, say like LeapMotion device – to control AppleTV which better suits Televsion viewing and control.
“Why not a wireless addition … ?”
Because cameras need power and power travels best along a wire. Wireless is great for a peripheral that you move around, like a mouse or a keyboard, but once you perch a camera on top of your display, it’s likely to stay there, so a wire isn’t a hardship and also avoids needing batteries.
Motion Control, huh… Please let the following be approved gestures for the stuff coming out of Hollywood into the AppleTV
If you like something, give it ‘Thumbs-Up!’
If what you are watching is pure crap, give it ‘The Finger!’
HolyWould n’t that be great.
Rummaging through the tea leaves again…
Once again, I’ll say Eye tracking is BETTER than waving your hands around. I had an eye tracking system WORKING on a TRS -Color computer, back in the 80’s.
Works just like a mouse. You can check out EyeTech as an example. Com’on people, the mouse has been used since about 1985….. But waving your hands around would be different. Not BETTER than eye tracking.
Uh, didn’t Apple already buy PrimeSense? This seems obvious. It’s the only possible way to control an iPad app without looking down at the iPad.
Just one problem: according to friends of mine that own the Xbox 360 + Kinect…. they never use it.