“Apple is finally getting serious about pushing into our living rooms,” Katie Benner and Brian X. Chen report for The New York Times. “That ambition will be underlined at an Apple event in San Francisco on Wednesday, when the company plans to unveil an upgraded Apple TV, a device similar to a set-top box that brings video and music from the Internet to a television, according to people briefed on the product.”
“The upgrade, the first in three years, will expand Apple TV’s uses in gaming, including a redesigned remote control with a touch pad that can double as a game controller, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity,” Benner and Chen report. “Importantly, the new device will include support for apps and games made by independent software developers.”
“The company this year announced an exclusive deal with HBO to bring HBO Now, an app that lets users stream HBO’s programming without a cable subscription,to the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. Apple has also held talks with several leading television groups to offer an Internet-based TV service for its iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, but the service will not be ready for an announcement next week, according to people briefed on the talks,” Benner and Chen report. “Apple is also raising the price of the device to $149 from $69, which puts pressure on the company to deliver expanded capabilities that go beyond what Apple TV and its rivals now offer.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The reported lack of 4K puts a slight damper on our enthusiasm for the product – especially since Netflix and Amazon Prime already offer a selection of 4K content, albeit rather limited. We need content to feed our 4K Sony Ultra HD TVs!
SEE ALSO:
Apple dominates pay TV streaming with 61.9% viewership on Apple devices – September 4, 2015
Analyst: New Apple TV platform is bad news for Netflix – September 3, 2015
The new Apple TV’s potential beyond gaming – September 3, 2015
New Apple TV to offer A8 chip, 8/16GB storage, same ports, no 4K, and new black remote – September 2, 2015
New Apple TV will feature universal search, start at $149 – September 2, 2015
Apple TV 4 to focus on extensive Siri control, deep support for gaming – August 31, 2015
Apple TV 4 coming in October for under $200, Apple TV 3 becomes entry level; both get new streaming service – August 30, 2015
Apple TV said to have motion-sensitive Siri-capable remote with touchpad – August 28, 2015
The next-gen Apple TV’s marquee feature – August 18, 2015