Apple TV

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NYT spells out Apple’s living room strategy

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 18, 2013

Apple's plans for the living room have rested largely on the Apple TV the company's leadership continues to call "a hobby project." While there's been talk that the tech giant could unveil its own television set, rumors of revamping the television experience have been greeted with industry concern and fruitless negotiations.

However, now comes word Apple wants to be friends with Time Warner, Disney and other content producers - and along the way improve some of the worst aspects of current television viewing.

One result of the partnerships is an upcoming Time Warner Cable Apple TV app that would turn Apple's $99 set-top box into a channel guide for live and on-demand programming much superior to the clunky software now offered by the distributor...

Alien Blue for iPad 2.2 brings Reddit to the Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Reddit, for those who aren't familiar with the social news and entertainment site, is an interesting place. You can find almost anything there—GIFs, photos, videos, you name it. In fact, most of the viral stuff you see online probably started here.

There are many apps available for browsing the site on your iPhone or iPad, but what about the Apple TV? Don't you wish sometimes that you could watch that funny video or GIF on the big screen? Well, now you can with Alien Blue for iPad 2.2...

Over 50% of all streaming set-top boxes sold are Apple TVs

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 15, 2018

According to the latest Frost & Sullivan Consumer Video Devices Market report, the Apple TV currently accounts for more than half of all streaming set-top boxes sold worldwide. That makes it the leader in the space by a long shot, with Roku coming in second at 26%.

The market research outlet posted the report this morning, which details a number of data points including market drivers, restraints to growth, product and pricing trends, and competitive landscape. And Apple's $99 hockey puck-shaped device came out on top...

Apple allegedly proposing ad skipping for upcoming TV service

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

It appears that Apple's long-rumored TV service is alive, and slowly but surely moving forward. According to a new report, Apple has spent the last year seeking rights from cable companies and TV networks for a new Internet television service.

The offering is said to allow users to watch live and on-demand television programming over an Apple-branded set-top box or TV set, and, as claimed by people with knowledge of the project, it could feature the ability to skip TV commercials...

Target giving away gift cards on iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple TV purchases

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

The United States retailing corporation Target is advertising a promotion where they're giving away free Target Gift Cards for every qualifying purchase of iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Apple TV device from Apple. Free gift cards range in denominations from $10 to $50 and are good against purchases at the retailer, including iTunes Gift cards which Target has been offering for some time now.

And if you're planning on getting an iPhone 5 from Target, the retailer just sweetened the deal by throwing in a $25 coupon and reducing the entry-level 16GB model down to $149.99 with a qualifying two-year plan...

Is Apple’s magic wand ‘the simplest interface’ for iTV that Steve Jobs envisioned?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

As Tim Cook & Co. continue “pulling the string” on the TV space, readers with a keen interest in Apple's many patent applications are aware of a 2009 filing involving a wand remote of sorts that may include a motion detection component meant for the television interface.

Last June, the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) granted that patent. And just last month, another major wand-related patent surfaced in USPTO's database that could be the magic required to make the TV experience “just work.”

It outlines a remote control containing fingerprint sensors, theoretically enabling identity and trust in order to authenticate viewers securely and deliver personalized content. It's especially noteworthy in the context of the rumored fingerprint scanning thought to be the killer feature of the upcoming iPhone 5S...

Bloomberg: Time Warner Cable channels coming to Apple TV ‘in a few months’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Hot on the heels of releasing the Apple TV 5.3 software which enabled access to Disney's WatchESPN and HBO Go through the $99 set-top box, Bloomberg now reports that the iPhone maker is on the cusp of announcing a major agreement with Time Warner Cable.

The gist of the story: the deal would give subscribers of the cable television service access to channels via the Apple TV. HBO, of course, is owned by Time Warner, under the operating subsidiary Home Box Office Inc.

But it gets even better: Apple is apparently hiring away Hulu executive Pete Distad to help Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of Internet Software and Services, in negotiations with media and cable companies. An agreement will be reportedly announced "in a few months". Tuesday news doesn't get any bigger than this...

Foxconn chief talks diversification amid lack of Apple product launches

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 26, 2013

There is a ripple effect underway in the smartphone industry. As consumers shift from high-priced smartphones to basic lower-cost alternatives, companies such as Apple look to produce lower-priced handsets. The latest in line are manufacturers, such as Foxconn, which for years has tied its profit wagon to Apple's success. Now comes word Foxconn's parent company seeks to diversify into e-commerce and perhaps licensing its vast library of patents...

Apple TV hack enables Russian video service, no jailbreak required

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2013

Remember a recent hack which cleverly tricks Apple TV's stock Trailers app into streaming video from the popular Plex media player, no jailbreak required? Apparently, the same trickery can be exploited in order to enable access to certain online video services. A Russian blog today spread word of a very similar hack that lets owners of the second and third-generation Apple TV stream content from Russia's UnliMovie digital TV service, directly through the set-top box's Trailers app...

Why it took HBO GO so long to come to Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Yesterday morning, Apple announced that an update was available for its Apple TV devices. The new software, which was earmarked as version 5.3, featured a handful of content streaming apps including WatchESPN and HBO GO.

Users have been clamoring for HBO GO to land on Apple's ATV platform for quite some time, as its been available on iOS for years. So what took it so long? According to HBO's chief technology officer, it was building the app itself...

Apple TV update enables WatchESPN, HBO GO, Sky News, Crunchyroll and Qello

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 19, 2013

Apple on Tuesday announced that users can now stream ESPN and HBO to their television through the $99 Apple TV set-top box. Available as a free software update for the second and third-generation Apple TV, the just-released Apple TV software version 5.3 enables the popular iOS apps, WatchESPN and HBO GO, on your Apple TV, as well as an additional three content providers, UK's Sky News, anime site Crunchyroll and music concert streaming service Qello...

Hands-on with Apple TV 5.4 Beta: iTunes Radio, Conference Room Display, custom subtitles

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2013

To go along with the recently released iOS 7 Beta 1, Apple has also made a companion Apple TV beta software available for download to its registered developers. The pre-release code enables such new capabilities as iTunes Radio free music streaming, a new Conference Room Display setting and fully customizable subtitles.

The first beta of what would later become the Apple TV 5.4 software update was posted to Apple's portal for developers after last Monday's keynote. The pre-release version is meant to be used for testing AirPlay with third-party iOS apps. As we haven't had a chance to cover it extensively, here's what to expect in terms of features...