Apple TV

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MG Siegler: major Apple TV hardware has been ‘delayed a bit’

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2013

MG Siegler, a well-known (and certainly well-connected) TechCrunch columnist, blogger, Google Ventures partner and Apple pundit, has gotten us pretty excited by tweeting a month ago that a new Apple TV hardware might be on tap for tomorrow's iPad event.

Although the $99 set-top box is ripe for refresh - the current third-generation 1080p model was introduced 593 days ago - we have literally seen no components leaking out of Apple's supply chain to suggest an imminent update, which had prompted us to take the columnist's claim with a few pinches of salt.

Changing his tune, he now claims a major hardware revamp "has been delayed a bit," which however doesn't mean we won’t see an Apple TV update tomorrow...

Amazon listing suggests possibility of imminent Apple TV hardware refresh

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 18, 2013

The Apple blogosphere is rampant with news that the online retail giant Amazon somehow "confirmed" a new Apple TV hardware in a listing on its German website. Cooler heads caution northing could be further from the truth. What Amazon did is it changed availability date for the $99 Apple set-top box on Amazon.de to October 23. While this does not "confirm" or "prove" anything, the date is nonetheless interesting given Apple is set to reveal its next-generation iPad lineup next Tuesday, October 22.

Let the speculation begin...

Amazon said to be launching Apple TV competitor before the holidays

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Amazon is readying an Apple TV competitor, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The set-top box will offer access to the company's Instant Video and other streaming services.

Reportedly codenamed "Cinnamon," the device is said to be very similar in design and functionality to a Roku box. And Amazon is believed to be looking to launch it sometime before the holidays...

Apple hires cable executive to work on ‘something big’

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Apple has hired cable industry veteran, and former CableLabs executive, Jean-François Mulé for a new engineering director position, according to a new report from Multichannel News. He was the company's SVP of Technology Development.

According to his LinkedIn page, Mulé has been working at Apple since late last month. And in his job description he notes that he is "challenged, inspired and part of something big." So what's he working on? Let's take a look at his background...

Vevo and NHL channels hit Germany in international Apple TV push

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 1, 2013

Although Apple has updated its Apple TV box a few times this year, making it much more useful by enabling a bunch of additional channels, most of the premium content sources are limited to users in the United States due to licensing restrictions. A good example is Netflix, which just rolled out crisp Super HD video streaming that's unfortunately of little use to the folks living outside the 41 Netflix-supported markets around the globe.

It's not just paid streaming services: some of the most popular free channels come region-restricted as well. Take Vevo, for example, which got added to the $99 streamer late-August but did not work in all regions. In a sign that Eddy Cue and his team have been able to negotiate a better deal, Apple TV users in Germany are now reporting sightings of both Vevo and NHL channels on their device...

Netflix Super HD streaming now available everywhere, including on Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

If you're wondering why Netflix would label standard full HD 1080p video resolution as 'Super HD', that's because Super HD applies less compression to the 1080p image for greater clarity.

Now, Super HD video requires more data so it isn'y surprising that not many Internet providers were on board after Netflix soft-launched Super HD and 3D streaming in January 2012.

As of today, Super HD video streaming is available everywhere, regardless of your Internet service provider (but dependent on network conditions). Jump past the fold for the full breakdown...

Apple TV updated with Major League Soccer and Disney Junior channels

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

It's incredible how different the Apple TV's main menu looks compared to a year ago. There's so many more channels. Just in the last 6 months Apple has added a ton of content including WatchESPN, SkyNews, and more.

And it's not showing any signs of slowing down. Earlier this morning the Cupertino company added two new content channels to the popular set-top box in an over-the-air update: Major League Soccer and Disney Junior...

How to set up your Apple TV using an iOS device

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 23, 2017

Yesterday, I let you in on a trick to selectively show or hide unwanted app icons from your Apple TV's Home screen. Today, I want to talk about another great Apple TV enhancement, one just implemented as part of the newly-released Apple TV 6.0 software update: tap-to-setup. In a nutshell, you can now use an iOS device to quickly set up your $99 hockey puck.

Sure, the third-generation Apple TV does allow for greater flexibility by letting folks pair a Bluetooth keyboard in order to quickly type in any pertinent information during the setup procedure (or afterwards). Tap-to-setup, however, takes easy to the next level by automatically transferring common settings from your iOS device...

How to hide unwanted Apple TV app icons

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 24, 2013

I'm loving my Apple TV a lot, even more so after the past few updates have made the set-top box way more useful by bringing out a host of cool features and new content sources such as Disney, Vevo, iTunes Music Festival, HBO Go and more.

On the downside, each new channel brings with it a brand new icon. And just like that - before you know it, your Apple TV becomes littered with a bunch of icons. Wouldn't it be great if you could somehow declutter the interface? While Apple makes it easy to re-arrange the icons by holding down the Select button on the remote until they start wiggling, there's no straightforward option to remove unwanted ones from the Home screen.

Assuming you're willing to dive into the Apple TV's Settings menu and flip a few switches, you can do just that. Jump past the fold and I'll tell you all about it...

Apple TV 6.0 update returns after being pulled for bricking issues

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

The Apple TV 6.0 update that Apple pulled over the weekend is now once again available as an over-the-air download. The software features a number of new features, including support for iTunes Radio and more.

Following the update's initial release on Friday, there were several reports that the update caused errors for users, forcing them into a full iTunes restore. The newly updated software supposedly fixes those issues...

Apple pulls ATV 6.0 update following user complaints

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

I was met with disappointment yesterday, when I turned on my Apple TV to download and install the new 6.0 update. The set-top box, which is still running ATV software version 5.3, told me that my firmware was already up-to-date.

And apparently, I'm not the only one experiencing this issue. I guess in addition to support for iTunes Radio, AirPlay from iCloud, and iTunes music purchases, the software also included several bugs. Because Apple just pulled it...

Apple TV 6.0 is out: iTunes Radio, AirPlay from iCloud, iTunes music purchases, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 29, 2016

Following today's launch of the new iPhone 5s/5c and Wednesday's public release of iOS 7, Apple on Friday issued a major new software update to its "hobby project," the $99 Apple TV streaming set-top box. The company's been testing a companion Apple TV update since announcing iOS 7 at June's WWDC.

We previously caught glimpses of some of the new features such as AirPlay enhancements, automatic device configuration over Bluetooth, custom subtitles and Conference Room Mode for presenters. All of these goodies - and then some - are now readily available to Apple TV owners.

Go past the fold for the full details on iCloud Photos and Videos, iTunes Music Store purchases, Podcasts, AirPlay from iCloud and other Apple TV enhancements...