The Apple Television has been “a thing” since at least 2011 and the rumors took on special urgency after Walter Isaacson reported in his authorized Steve Jobs biography that the iconic Apple leader said he “finally cracked” television’s go-to-market problem.
Ultimately, however, the problem for the Apple Television is that it never came to market. Why? Because Apple executives killed the long-rumored device over a year ago.
Apple Television is dead and has been for more than a year. Or, so goes the story told by the Wall Street Journal.
Apple had searched for breakthrough features to justify building an Apple-branded television set, those people said. In addition to an ultra-high-definition display, Apple considered adding sensor-equipped cameras so viewers could make video calls through the set, they said.
Ultimately, though, Apple executives didn’t consider any of those features compelling enough to enter the highly competitive television market, led by Samsung Electronics Co.
And, that would appear to be that.
Apple Television est Mort? Viva le Apple TV!
While Apple Television rumor trail went cold more than a year ago, current Apple TV (aka Cupertino’s set top box) rumors point to an upcoming refresh, most likely at next month’s Worldwide Developer Conference.
As for the new Apple TV box itself, expect an updated design and new innards: the company’s latest A8 system-on-chip — or a variant of it: a dramatic increase in on-board storage to accommodate app — well beyond the 8GB in the current device; and an improved operating system that will support Siri voice control of Apple TV, and enable it remotely for a selection of Homekit-enabled home automation devices, as earlier reports have suggested. Presumably it will also feature a new remote — Buzzfeed
Get current generation refurbished Apple TV for just $59
A more fully functional — app store, better remote, more powerful processor + graphics, more storage, etc — Apple TV has been rumored for years now. With the Apple Television now dead, perhaps we’ll finally get the Apple branded set top we’ve all be hoping for…
What’s your take?
Via: MacRumors, Image: All Things D