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Apple TV 3. What to expect?

There are a lot of possibilities with an ATV app store. TV networks could create live stream apps (including ads) that allow users to watch their programming as scheduled. They can then offer rentals via iTunes for on-demand viewing.

It could become the a la carte "cable tv" everyone has always wanted but cable companies will never provide. We could subscribe to the channels we want, ignore those we don't, rent one off programs from iTunes on occasion as well.

HBO, ABC & others already offer on demand content on the iPad. This could be a much more viable format.
 
Mak47 said:
There are a lot of possibilities with an ATV app store. TV networks could create live stream apps (including ads) that allow users to watch their programming as scheduled. They can then offer rentals via iTunes for on-demand viewing.

It could become the a la carte "cable tv" everyone has always wanted but cable companies will never provide. We could subscribe to the channels we want, ignore those we don't, rent one off programs from iTunes on occasion as well.

HBO, ABC & others already offer on demand content on the iPad. This could be a much more viable format.
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Ya. I am surprise that the jailbreak community hasn't done more in terms of getting apps like the ABC app up and running on the ATV2.

XBMC is already a blockbuster. Add the other apps and I would be set.
 
So I guess we'll finally see an A5-based 1080p compatible ATV this year given that iOS5 is set to let the iPad2 natively play back 1080p files. Would be silly to let that device play them back (without even having a 720p screen) and not letting you Airplay the same file to a TV.
 
Next Apple TV

The next apple TV will probably have 1080p, Facetime, and... a screen. Chances are the next Apple TV will actually be a TV.
 
SuperBrown said:
I got a bluray player a year ago, I've yet to watch a single bluray disc. It's all about streaming. Optical media is dead.
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I couldn't disagree more.

You're counting out one powerful factor in the TV market - manufacturers' desire to continue selling newer TV.

So, what we'll start to see is that even higher resolution panels will show up at retail - (that typically called "4K" displays primarily). On larger screens, FED native content, they will put our 1080p displays to shame.

Then you'll start to see content to match it, broadcast, cable/satellite, and whatever format replaces Blu-ray. And because most of the world is not ready for even 1080p streaming (remember, even the version that Apple is rumored to be considering uses 10 Mb/sec bandwidth. Blu-ray uses more than that to deliver what is now the best quality picture and sound).

So, until network infrastructure improves to allow for streaming those yet-to-come higher resolutions, there will continue to be a need for physical media.

It happened to VHS and Beta.
It happened to DVD.
It will happen to Blu-ray (and it won't stop there).

Streaming, for the foreseeable future, will be more for convenience.
 
Irishman said:
I couldn't disagree more.

You're counting out one powerful factor in the TV market - manufacturers' desire to continue selling newer TV.

So, what we'll start to see is that even higher resolution panels will show up at retail - (that typically called "4K" displays primarily). On larger screens, FED native content, they will put our 1080p displays to shame.

Then you'll start to see content to match it, broadcast, cable/satellite, and whatever format replaces Blu-ray. And because most of the world is not ready for even 1080p streaming (remember, even the version that Apple is rumored to be considering uses 10 Mb/sec bandwidth. Blu-ray uses more than that to deliver what is now the best quality picture and sound).

So, until network infrastructure improves to allow for streaming those yet-to-come higher resolutions, there will continue to be a need for physical media.

It happened to VHS and Beta.
It happened to DVD.
It will happen to Blu-ray (and it won't stop there).

Streaming, for the foreseeable future, will be more for convenience.
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I don't agree. I think both display technology and streaming technology are improving, but streaming technology is making faster progress. In 18 months or so we'll probably have the successor to H264 which means a streaming file will "only" have to be about 15 Mbps to look as good as a BluRay and it's more than likely that even at 10 Mbps, the new HEVC codec will be practically indistinguishable from 10 feet away.

Yes, storage will improve - we're probably getting on for 200 GB discs being possible, but does anyone care. Likewise, I'm sure in 18 months 2K displays will be possible, but will anyone actually buy a 2K TV when 1080p is only just starting to be broadcast (the BBC are doing trials)? There will be a market for 2k displays for computer monitors, but I'd argue that 1080p is already at "retina display" resolutions unless you sit way too close to your TV.

The big thing that will delay streaming isn't speed - it's bandwidth. Too many ISPs in the UK are limiting customers to 10 GB/month!
 
kiranmk2 said:
I don't agree. I think both display technology and streaming technology are improving, but streaming technology is making faster progress. In 18 months or so we'll probably have the successor to H264 which means a streaming file will "only" have to be about 15 Mbps to look as good as a BluRay and it's more than likely that even at 10 Mbps, the new HEVC codec will be practically indistinguishable from 10 feet away.

Yes, storage will improve - we're probably getting on for 200 GB discs being possible, but does anyone care. Likewise, I'm sure in 18 months 2K displays will be possible, but will anyone actually buy a 2K TV when 1080p is only just starting to be broadcast (the BBC are doing trials)? There will be a market for 2k displays for computer monitors, but I'd argue that 1080p is already at "retina display" resolutions unless you sit way too close to your TV.

The big thing that will delay streaming isn't speed - it's bandwidth. Too many ISPs in the UK are limiting customers to 10 GB/month!
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Not 2K.....4K.

2K is 1920 x 1080p.

Just for clarity's sake :)
 
What about apples rumored text to speech. what if you could tell the ATV to play (song) or (artist) and it did so...Or open Pandora, or anything the ATV is capable of doing. You would have to add a mic and probably a pretty good one at that, but thatd be a desirable feature as when Im in the kitchen my remote isnt straight on and I have to walk over and turn the song...
 
Day48 said:
What about apples rumored text to speech. what if you could tell the ATV to play (song) or (artist) and it did so...Or open Pandora, or anything the ATV is capable of doing. You would have to add a mic and probably a pretty good one at that, but thatd be a desirable feature as when Im in the kitchen my remote isnt straight on and I have to walk over and turn the song...
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Voice recognition never works well with me. I end up having to repeat myself to the point where I just give up.

In the kitchen I would just use the Apple remote app anyway. Works like a charm.
 
1080p support
app store integration
XMBC functionality native to aTV (unlikely)
Facetime via ipad/iphone over Airplay to aTV

these would make me love my aTV2 even more than i do already....
 
ssgrif said:
1080p support
app store integration
XMBC functionality native to aTV (unlikely)
Facetime via ipad/iphone over Airplay to aTV

these would make me love my aTV2 even more than i do already....
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Wonder how This HD+ service plays into an ATV3? IF it was coming, when would the ATV3 historically be released?
 
Video Playlists

We would love to be able to use Video Playlists. Although this is probably a mix of iTunes software and AppleTV software. We have over 200 Videos in our iMac iTunes and having to scroll through them on the AppleTV is getting painful. By the end of this year we will have over 300 Videos. Thought it a bit odd that we cannot have Video lists in iTunes that show up in the Apple TV like available for music. :confused:
 
MadeMac said:
We would love to be able to use Video Playlists. Although this is probably a mix of iTunes software and AppleTV software. We have over 200 Videos in our iMac iTunes and having to scroll through them on the AppleTV is getting painful. By the end of this year we will have over 300 Videos. Thought it a bit odd that we cannot have Video lists in iTunes that show up in the Apple TV like available for music. :confused:
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I am pretty sure under Settings --> Audio & Video, there is an option to show All playlists, however, I think the default is to show music only. I have been using video playlists for a while now.
 
Video Playlists

Thank you WesCole. And thanks to MacRumors forum. We now have the Video play lists going, and will spend some time sorting out the 200+ Videos into different play lists, again from the Island of Bali in Indonesia. Many thanks :)
 
Teleportaion

This way when I read threads like this I can go back in the past and erase them before they start :eek:

Seriously I want them to bring back the HDD model, but since I have a Mini and I am thinking of replacing my ATV with anothe Mini, I am finding less of a need for ATV, however the difference is $99 for ATV2 and $600 for Mini, but to me it is worth it.
 
If you already have a Mini, why do you need the HDD model? The ATV2 is perfect in combination with the Mini. The Mac Mini can serve as the "always on" iTunes server and handle all of your storage needs as well thus eliminating the need for a hard drive on the ATV2 itself.

With Home Sharing, the ATV2 just accesses the Mini and its much better this way especially when you add multiple ATV2s to your network. You can even set the Mini to sleep and the ATV2 will wake it automatically when needed although the Mini uses so little power I don't even sleep mine.

And with what Apple has been adding with iCloud lately, there is becoming less of a need to even own a computer and storage for your ATV2. Right now, all your iTunes TV purchases are stored in the cloud and you can access them directly whenever. I used to not bother outright purchasing movies and tv shows digitally ( I only rent or stream currently) but since I can now purchase TV shows/seasons and not have to worry about storage and backup, I am seriously reconsidering it.

I can see Apple adding purchased iTunes movies next and possibly allowing you to even access movies you've uploaded to your own iCloud storage space. And in the latest Apple TV iOS5 beta, you can take a picture on your iPhone and it will immediately be available on your Apple TV with Photo Stream. No need to upload, download, sync, or nothing. The Apple TV2 is going the post PC route along with all the other iOS devices.
 
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If you read Macrumors enough....

.... you would already know that FaceTime over Airplay is a feature of iOS5.

They would never build a separate FaceTime camera unless it was integrated into their own TV.

Furthermore, there have also been tidbits of evidence in the iOS5 builds that they are downgrading the PC to just a device (does anybody actually listen to Steve anymore?) and making your Time Capsule able to stream all this stuff.

If we do see a hardware upgrade it will be A5, 1080P, and more RAM.

Steve firmly believes that the only thing worthy of the TV screen is the video - twitter feeds on the big screen aren't really that fascinating. That's why there's no app store.

Pay attention to his design principles and you will have your answers......
 
My 2 Cents

* 1080p output
* Support for 7.1 surround sound

Both of the above likely require changes in both the AppleTV and in the HD content available from Apple, but they would put digitally-distributed HD on par with Blu-ray. The 7.1 surround sound is the primary reason I'm still buying Blu-rays and not digital files.

* iTunes locker

Being able to simply stream purchased content from the internet to the AppleTV, without the intermediary of another computer + iTunes, would alleviate many of the complaints (you have to have the other computer on, you have to have iTunes up, etc.).

* App Store

For me, what this boils down to is that I want Hulu Plus on my Apple TV :) But I'd love to see what other creative uses third parties could come up with for the box. Note that having an app store doesn't mean we'd have Twitter on the big screen. Apple could limit apps to only video-related. Vevo, ESPN, Justin.tv/Ustream.tv, Hulu, Pandora, etc - all sources of audio/video content that are currently excluded from the Apple TV. Opening up to third parties means that Apple would no longer be on the hook for doing the work of adding something like Vimeo themselves. They're effectively outsourcing the work to the parties that would benefit from it the most.

* Airplay support extended to everything

I've seen videos of Airplay support in iOS 5 that basically makes your Apple TV-connected display a wireless second monitor. Sweet! Now I want that in Mac OS X as well. The idea is to be able to easily take anything you see on any of your Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac) and throw it up on the big screen with minimal fuss and cables.
 
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What's the latest rumored release date of this new Apple TV?

Not sure to hold out or just get an Apple TV 2 now.

Pricing would be nice to know too.
 
emaja said:
At this point I wouldn't venture ANY guess. Who knows what Apple might be able to push out with a software update.

Just my opinion.
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Continued software updates as Apple makes more deals with the copy-write holders, definitely, but I think a hardware update in the foreseeable future is a real longshot.

On the other hand, Apple has surprised us before.
 
maybe there will be no AppleTV3? Maybe there will be only Airplay functionality in TV's, and the AppleTV part will be in the handheld iOS devices?
 
i think apple will make an atv 3 with an iOS 5 chip and 1080p playback. the real deal comes when apple makes the apple (actual) tv. it will have a FaceTime HD camera built in apple tv and all that good stuff. i think they have to release an updated apple tv later this year or else everybody will start the rumors. "why didn't they update it, they must be launching the real tv soon."

what does everyone think the real tv by apple will look like. do you think more like a giant cinema display or more like the tv they show in ads next to the apple tv? im guessing

-apple cinema display like with apple logo on the bottom.
-run off of the new A6 chip when released
-built in FaceTime HD camera
-iOS 5.X to ship with
-between 40"-50" with a resolution a little higher than the cinema display
-built in speakers
-3 hdmi ports
-ethernet
-2 USB
-VGA and maybe DVI
-component and composite
-fibre optic sound
-co-ax cable
-and of course thunderbolt and maybe firewire
 
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