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Will Apple TV be updated anytime soon?

V

vince217

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 16, 2009
7
0
Hi,

I'm thinking of getting an Apple TV, but since it is about a year old now, I'm wondering if Apple will release a new hardware version of it anytime soon.

If they do, what could be improvements to the current one?

thanks in advance for the advice.
 
The update cycle of the Apple TV 2 is going to be hard to predict. Judging by the update cycle history of the Apple TV line, we'll be using the same hardware for about two more years. Another thing that helps this option is iOS devices have a three year update life. This means that Apple could just release a newer iOS version for it, but keep the same hardware. The current hardware still has lots of life and locked secrets in it. Some of these secrets include Bluetooth and the capability to play 1080p.
 
The old Apple TV hardware was completely neglected by Apple for three years, although they updated the software periodically.

Now that it runs on iOS and is much cheaper, there could be updates every september along with the iPod lines. There were rumors of an A5 Apple TV that outputs 1080p at the very least, and would assume to be out this September. If not, then next year.

Either way, software updates will be coming along as well now that Apple cares about the device again.
 
Last edited:
I would definitely expect a refresh before the holiday season. As the other posters stated, it will likely be running off the A5 chip and have support for 1080p. I've been eager to pick up a second AppleTV (moved the one I got for the holidays to the bedroom where I don't have a cable box), but I will definitely be waiting until I can have glorious 1080p on my plasma.

Perhaps part of the reason that the AppleTV hasn't been updated yet is that Apple is working to build enough A5 chips as they not only power the still difficult to find iPad 2, but will also likely power the next iPhone.
 
Maybe I'm just careless with money, but the Apple TV is rather cheap.

You could get one, enjoy it for 6 months, then sell it if there is an update that warrants it.

AS for 1080 output, the current Apple TV can do it if you can be bothered jail breaking the little puck.
 
Unfortunately that's not true, the ATV2 can play 1080p video but even when hacked it will only output 720p.

I expect there'll be an A5-based 1080p version pretty soon, hopefully in September. We know from the iPad 2 that the A5 has no trouble outputting 1080p.
 
wasn't there a rumor that Apple was working on a TV set with integrated ATV for release this fall?
 
I'd bet we'll see an A5-equipped Apple TV this year, simply because once the iPhone and iPod Touch are upgraded to A5, it will be cheaper for Apple to put the A5 in the Apple TV than to keep producing the A4.
 
Aidoneus said:
I'd bet we'll see an A5-equipped Apple TV this year, simply because once the iPhone and iPod Touch are upgraded to A5, it will be cheaper for Apple to put the A5 in the Apple TV than to keep producing the A4.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this for next year, since Apple will probably continue to sell the iPhone 4 next year (like they still sell the 3GS this year) so will still be making plenty of A4s. Fingers crossed for this year though.
 
vince217 said:
Hi,

I'm thinking of getting an Apple TV, but since it is about a year old now, I'm wondering if Apple will release a new hardware version of it anytime soon.

If they do, what could be improvements to the current one?

thanks in advance for the advice.
Click to expand...

What improvements do you want? 1080p files will be too big for Apple to sell and Hollywood will sell them thru iTunes last so they can have a negotiating point. so that's not coming soon, blame the studios not apple

Apps would be great but the AppleTV doesn't need a hardware upgrade for that.

I think that their will be a hardware upgrade every 2 years or so... Only sooner if they try to compete with game systems which are released every 5 years?

Don't think I'd be waiting if in was considering a new purchase?

It's pretty cheap as it is.
 
kokojd said:
It is not seem that it will update to a new generation but it will continously refresh its content and not soon before it offers an easy streaming of MLB and NBA games directly through its $100 media-streaming unit. I get this from website, is it true? :confused:
Click to expand...

It already streams live MLB and NBA games directly. And my guess is the NFL is coming this fall through an NFL Sunday Ticket app like is available for the other iOS devices already. There have already been reports that a survey was sent out asking customers about having it on the Apple TV.
 
spacepower7 said:
What improvements do you want? ....
Click to expand...

I'd like to see them bring the hard drive back, at least as an option. I am one of the people that don't want to stream everything. When my entire iTunes library was being housed in my Macbook I didn't want to keep it on just to watch a movie or listen to music. I have an original :apple:TV and didn't upgrade to the :apple:TV 2 simply because it didn't have a hard drive. 3 models of a 3rd :apple:TV would be nice. $99 basic. $149 for a 40 GB, $229 for a 160 GB.

Either include a hard drive or make the USB ports and external drives an option. If I could plug in a USB flash drive to the back of it then I'd be happy too.
 
Yeah, not to seem wasteful, but with the cheap price of the Apple TV and their usefulness (the Apple TV is probably my most pleasant surprise of all Apple products - I love the thing) I would go ahead and get one and if they introduce a new model I would move the old model to a different TV, because, let's face it, everyone has more than one TV. Move the Apple TV 2 to the bedroom and use the new Apple TV for the living room. That's a pretty rad worst case scenario. At a $99 price point, it's worth every penny, in my opinion.
 
newagemac said:
And my guess is the NFL is coming this fall through an NFL Sunday Ticket app like is available for the other iOS devices already. There have already been reports that a survey was sent out asking customers about having it on the Apple TV.
Click to expand...

Not a chance in hell that this happens when DirecTV shells out $1 billion+ per year for the TV rights.
 
I don't think we will see a new Apple TV until next year. It seems pretty obvious that Apple is positioning the Apple TV as a relatively bare-bones and cheap display adapter for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Well, that and a TV-connected client for the iTunes music/video store.

It's possible that with iOS 5's Airplay-enabled video mirroring that Apple feels that they've answered the call for 3rd party apps on the Apple TV. Video mirroring may not work that well for quick reaction games but for everything else it should be okay.

Perhaps by Apple's way of thinking the benefit to limiting apps to mirroring is that it will encourage users to upgrade/purchase the next generation iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches rather than simply sticking with the $100 Apple TV. It kind of makes sense because you'll still need some type of iOS-friendly, wireless controller for enhanced functionality on the Apple TV so why not just keep that device an iPad or next generation iPhone/iPod touch (the latter for wireless video mirroring).
 
We have a rumor that iTunes will offer 1080p files. We also have rumors of an iPad+ with a Retina Display that could display those 1080p files and rumors of an Apple-branded LCD television that would, logically, display 1080p files.

So if iTunes is going 1080p, we'd need a new :apple:tv that could output those 1080p files.
 
If they did a 1080p capable :apple:TV :)apple:TV3?) I'd definitely get one. The :apple:TV2 I have would go to the bedroom plugged in to the 32" LCD.
 
I'm sure they will probably make an atv3 that does 1080p and next year, they will probably make a new one that can process HD audio. Hopefully by 2013, they will have a even newer one that does 3D.
 
The answer is yes.

Apple TV has so much potentials to be just sitting in the dark.

iPod touch is basically kicking both Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.

Apple TV can very well kill Wii Plus and Wii.

Apple TV with A5 chip should be powerful enough to handle make any games look so decent. With titles like infinity blade, there are just way too much potentials.

Why should I pay 60 dollars for a game on xbox 360 and Ps3? There are a lot of decent titles of iPad 2 with 5-10 dollars.

I am getting Apple TV as soon as apple announces that they will allow developers to make apps for it.

Apple needs to quit calling it as hobby.
 
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