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What will September’s new iOS 9-based Apple TV bring to the living room?

tim-cook-apple-tv

Apple plans to hold one of its annual fall media events on Wednesday, September 9th to introduce the new iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus with Force Touch, and after many fits and starts, it appears that the long-awaited next-generation Apple TV will also be unveiled. We’ve been reporting on this upcoming model since 2014, as Apple has been planning to update its set-top-box with support for an App Store for quite some time.

Earlier this year, Apple had locked in a June WWDC debut for both the new Apple TV hardware and software upgrades, but the company ultimately decided to delay the introduction until the fall. While some had speculated that the announcement was pushed back due to a lack of content deals, we are told that the delay was internally attributed to a concern over compromising iOS 9 engineering resources, as the latest OS release is focused at least as much on polish as on new features.

Why would the new Apple TV potentially take away resources from iOS 9? According to sources, this new Apple TV model, codenamed J34, will be the first model to run a full-blown iOS core. Specifically, the new Apple TV operating system will be a TV-optimized version of iOS 9. In addition to the new hardware inside, running iOS 9 will give the new Apple TV a series of benefits over the current model. Below, we explore what users can expect from Apple’s next-generation living room product.

New Device Hardware Design

After living with the same external look for over five years, a new industrial design for the next-generation Apple TV is a lock. We’ve heard that the new model looks like the prior Apple TV, but it is slimmer thicker and slightly wider. As the Apple TV is a product that needs constant connectivity to wireless standards such as Wi-Fi networking and Bluetooth, it is likely that a mostly plastic body will be retained in order for the best compatibility with routers and Bluetooth remotes.

Apple-TV-Concept-03

<a href="https://curved.de/news/apple-tv-touch-so-koennte-die-4-generation-aussehen-29810">Mockup by Curved</a>

New Dedicated Remote Control

Speaking of remotes, another lock for the new Apple TV is a brand-new remote control. As we first reported, the new Apple TV is planned to include a larger remote control with new and more tactile keys. In addition, as indicated by both our sources and findings inside of files hidden within recent OS X 10.11 El Capitan developer betas, the new remote control will include touch-based input and gesture support. With Apple’s integration of Force Touch across MacBooks, Apple Watches, iPhones, and future iPads, perhaps the technology will make an appearance on the Apple TV remote as well.

The files indicate that the new remote control will include both Bluetooth technology and an infrared sensor, which suggests superior control responsiveness as well as the potential for backward compatibility with non-Bluetooth home AV equipment. As our Jeremy Horwitz noted earlier this year, the introduction of a new remote control could help open up the door for improved gaming. With an integrated touchpad, in addition to the Apple TV SDK we’ll discuss later in this article, Apple could open up the remote to developers looking to bring gaming to the Apple TV box. Critically, this new remote will likely pack enough technology to deter users from losing the controller, which happens often with the older Apple TV remotes.

The aforementioned El Capitan files also indicate that some sort of audio technology wil be integrated into the new remote control, and we believe that this raises three possibilities. First, it is possible that the new remote integrates a small speaker to augment the sound experience of the new Apple TV, which could be important for gaming. Next, perhaps the new remote will include an audio jack to connect to headphones to enable private listening/viewing, similar to the latest Roku models. Last and most likely, the audio feature could refer to a microphone that enables Siri support.

Siri Support

We’ve been hearing for a while, as also reported by John Paczkowski at BuzzFeed, that this next-generation Apple TV will include support for Siri. Currently, there are two main ways to control an Apple TV: the Remote app on iOS devices, and the small aluminum remote that makes typing characters difficult. Utilizing a microphone in the new physical remote, the Apple TV could make searching for content or beginning playback simpler by using the voice-based Siri system. For example, users will likely be able to search up a James Bond movie by saying “Search for Goldfinger,” or begin playback of an Apple Music playlist by saying “Play my Party Mix.”

Improved Proactive-Based Search

Speaking of search, it sounds like one of the reasons behind making the new Apple TV software directly based on iOS 9 is for its new Proactive search support. In iOS 9, Proactive search brings new, more powerful and accurate system-wide search support. As Jeremy Horwitz also noted in March, one of the biggest omissions from the current Apple TV is system-wide search support. For example, a user cannot search for “James Bond” and see results across the iTunes Store, Netflix, the Crackle app, and the Apple Music library. Apple is said to be planning to fix that with the next-generation Apple TV software, but we are told that the company may wait to integrate the new search features until the Apple TV is populated with third-party applications.

App Store + Developer SDK

Third-party applications support plus a full Software Development Kit for the Apple TV will be two tentpoles of the new device. This means that developers, just like with the iPhone and iPad, will be able to build apps for the Apple TV. These applications will likely be able to be downloaded via a dedicated App Store accessible via the new Apple TV.

We are told that Apple’s focus on Apple TV App Store apps has been video-centric applications, which would allow media companies to release new channels on the Apple TV on their own schedule, and not on Apple’s. Apple has slowly added channels to the current-generation Apple TV on a sporadic basis, ranging from every few weeks at times to every several months. Of course, gaming apps, news applications, and others could make sense on the Apple TV as well, but don’t expect opportunities for content creation akin to the iPhone and iPad.

More Storage + Faster Processor

In order to support additional content, new search features, the new remote, additional wireless technology, and apps, the new Apple TV will include a new processor, a dual-core variant of the iPhone 6’s A8 chip in all likelihood, which BuzzFeed also noted. This will be a substantial improvement over the single-core A5 chip driving the current 1080P Apple TV that was introduced in 2012. In order to provide better caching for video content in addition to space for App Store apps, a big leap in storage space should also be expected. The current Apple TV features 8GB of flash storage and 512MB of RAM, but we would expect that RAM count to at least double to 1GB (if not to the 2GB from the next iPhone), and flash storage to at least quadruple to 32GB. Perhaps there will be multiple storage tiers like with the iPhone now that the current 8GB Apple TV sits at the entry-level $69 price point.

AppleTViOS7

Refreshed User-Interface

To go with the new iOS 9 core and redesigned hardware, we are told that the new Apple TV will include a refreshed, more iOS-like interface. While the new system is likely to improve the current scrolling list of large icons, we are told that the general aesthetic will be similar to the current look. We’ve received one tip indicating that the new operating system looks somewhat like the mockup above, which is to say it will look more like an iOS Software product. When Apple launched the redesigned Apple TV operating system in 2012, it brought the new look to earlier-generation models, not only to the new 1080P box, so perhaps Apple will port over at least some new features to existing models. We are told that the new Apple TV iOS 9 builds internally run on both the current J33 Apple TV and future J34 model, but internal testing does not always accurately forecast public launch plans.

No Live Cable-Replacement Service (Yet)

Lastly, as we first reported early this year, the new Apple TV will not launch with Apple’s long-in-the-works Cable TV replacement service. Apple’s discussions with TV networks indicate that Apple wants to launch a $40/month plan for Apple TV users that allows customers to get their favorite channels without the need of a cable connection. The content would be streamed from the web and integrated with iTunes on the new Apple TV. Sources say that internal prototypes of the next-generation Apple TV are fully designed to unlock content via cable networks in the same manner as current and past Apple TVs, so it appears that the new TV service won’t launch until at least next year.

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Comments

  1. i think it would be so dope if the Apple TV would double as an Airport Express so you can create a massive wifi network connecting all the Apple TVs in the house

    • Robert Nixon - 9 years ago

      Who doesn’t already have a wireless router these days? If you do, then your Apple TVs are already “connected” to one another, in a sense. Having too many routers can be detrimental to wireless performance, so I think it’s extremely unlikely that this would ever be the case.

      • mikhailt - 9 years ago

        > Who doesn’t already have a wireless router these days?

        What does that have to do with what he said, he was talking about extending the network. In multi-floor houses, you generally do need to extend your network to reach all rooms via extenders, especially if you’re streaming HD and upcoming 4K videos. The farther out your living room from your router, the worse it gets. 5Ghz has a much shorter range compared to 2.4Ghz, so you’re definitely are not going to get all the rooms.

        If you have an Apple TV in your living room, you could turn it into an AP for your devices in the room giving you the strongest possible signals.

        However, Apple TV would need to have a lot of antennas to make this work well and you would be better off the router wired to the Apple TV making it an AP. Thus, this won’t happen because of the costs, not because of what you said.

        > Having too many routers can be detrimental to wireless performance, so I think it’s extremely unlikely that this would ever be the case.

        If you don’t know what you’re doing, yes, you can make it worse, especially if you’re repeating the signals rather than extending it via wires and/or dual band setups.

      • of course Apple TVs are connected, duh… but i mean it would be nice if they could also work as a wifi hotspot, not only as a wifi reciever, so we could connect speakers to work with Airplay and if you have 3 or 4 Apple TVs at home, they all can create a nice wifi network so everywhere you go in the house will have great wifi signal

    • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

      I see Airport being built in being most useful for HomKit and making Apple TV a great connected hub.

      • Steve O - 9 years ago

        Skate where the puck is going … doesn’t the “next” Apple TV have to be part of the HomeKit infrastructure/ecosystem? Sit down for a show, turn down the lights at the same time? Or is the phone in your pocket / watch on wrist good enough?

    • Thomas Rector - 9 years ago

      Wurd!

  2. nutmac - 9 years ago

    Confirmation on whether it will have 4K output? I am hoping it will at least be render UI and photos in 4K, similar to 2nd generation Apple TV.

    • Robert Nixon - 9 years ago

      Not sure what you mean. The second-gen Apple TV could only output 720p, regardless of whether it was outputting UI, photos or video.

      • nutmac - 9 years ago

        2nd generation Apple TV does indeed output 1080p, but it is limited only for the user interface and photos. Video contents (limited to 720p max) are upscaled to 1080p.

  3. chrisl84 - 9 years ago

    Wonder if third gen will see anything new or if it’ll be fully retired

  4. Do you think the new hardware will support 4k content? I believe the current gen goes up to 1080p and not 2160p. Thanks

    • As someone who is getting a new 4K TV this weekend, I sincerely hope they add 4K support. An AppleTV that outputs 4K from Netflix (and additional apps later) could be the catalyst 4K content needs to make it blow up.

      • Inaba-kun (@Inaba_kun) - 9 years ago

        4K will never be mainstream as the difference is only visible on gigantic TVs. Unless houses get much bigger, and given that world population densities are heading dramatically upwards that will never happen, 4K is rather pointless.

        It’s destined to end up in the same place as 3D did.

        1080p is the end game for TVs, at least for the next few decades.

      • o0smoothies0o - 9 years ago

        Inaba-kun. Does a 50″ TV count? I can tell you with 100% certainty that 4K is easily visible. It’s an insane difference if you see GOOD 4K content playing. 4K content shot in 4k-8k running uncompressed, and shot with great cameras. There is a distinct difference and if you can’t tell then you need to put your glasses on.

      • inferno10 - 9 years ago

        In response to Inaba-kun and o0smoothies0o, I have a 40-inch 4K TV and the difference is also noticeable at that smaller display size. But yes, the difference will be more noticeable with large displays, especially when in a constricted space.

    • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

      Apple is holding off 4K content for now. The rumors of Apple going with a8 instead of a9 chips also make it harder for it to do 4K content.

  5. mikhailt - 9 years ago

    Change the background in the mockup to black and that’s more likely to be the interface for Apple TV. White or bright backgrounds are no no on big TVs, especially when they’re in dark rooms.

    The App Store is the only thing that is exciting because Apple is getting destroyed in the amount of content that is available on Ruko and other media players. Plus, it also means support for Amazon Prime streaming, smaller networks like Acorn, Twitch, upcoming YouTube Gaming and so on.

    • rogifan - 9 years ago

      Yeah I’m quite skeptical Apple will change the interface from black to white. There are aspects of iOS that are dark like parts of iTunes and the Watch app.

      • Zach Oxley - 9 years ago

        Maybe something funky like iCloud.com? I think they will probably want to make sit seem extraordinarily different from the current iteration of AppleTV devices.

    • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

      Open iTunes Store on iPad for television and movies and you get black screen, open for music and you get white. This mockup resembles the looks of those stores. Black is definitely better for watching movies and shows.

  6. bhayes444 - 9 years ago

    Throwing the A8X in the device would make it really nice for gaming and future app support. It would make for a killer set top box! I just wonder what they will price it at, as the 2nd/3rd gen was $99.

    • fredhstein - 9 years ago

      Surely we will see price tiers. With the old model at $79, I would bet the new model tiers start above $100 and go up to $300 or more. Just my guess. Apple would rather provide a dramatically better system than compete on price. I’d also bet the average term of ownership is 3 years or more. Finally, if they provide a a good platform for games and edutainment, parents will pay “up” to get it.

    • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

      Price will depend on if Apple makes a HomeKit version with Airport built in and sensors for gestures and one without those features. $149 or $199 is my guess.

  7. Seth Long (@sethlong) - 9 years ago

    The app-centric UI of the current model (as well as the Roku and most other streamers) is a real problem. People don’t care about apps or networks when watching TV – they care about content. Say what you will about Amazon’s FireTV or Google’s latest Android TV reboot, but they get the content-centric UI.

    It should present what you’ve been watching (or listening to – context is important!) and make it easy to get back to whatever series you were in (where you left off) and present great recommendations. If there’s something live and the TV knows it’s something I’m interested in, present it on the main screen. Don’t make me dig or bounce between apps.

    Content issues aside, Apple’s current TV UI is a usability wreck. The app-centric grid model makes for a LOT of L/R, Up/Down navigation. Apple drops new apps into your grid whenever they do a new deal, which means your grid gets reshuffled and wrecks whatever muscle memory patterns you’ve established. It’s like Apple sneaks into my house every 6 weeks and rearranges the furniture.

    If Apple installed new apps like that on phones users and iOS pundits would riot.

    • o0smoothies0o - 9 years ago

      Content should be coming in an iCloud based manner and using handoff. If you were watching on an iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, or Mac, each one of them should clearly show an available handoff of the content you were watching which starts off where it left off, instantly. No delay, just seamless transitions from one device to the next, with no issues. When Apple launches their service it should also be available on iCloud.com and iTunes.

    • tmeesseman - 9 years ago

      Sorry, but I completely disagree. People subscribe to Netflix and therefore look for Netflix. People subscribe to Hulu and therefore look for Hulu. They don’t subscribe to certain programs. Your suggestion would make sense IF you could exclude certain services/apps from the universal search. But as of now, I HATE Amazon’s UI. It’s designed to sell me stuff by showing me shows and movies that I don’t currently have access to. If I DO want a specific app, I find it confusing as hell to find.

      • So, sample size of one, but I actually do really prefer the content based approach. 9 of 10 times when I pop up my Netflix (or insert service here), I want to resume a series I was watching, or a movie I had saved for later. It’s actually quite annoying to me to have to go into the app, find the section for recently watched or saved for later, etc.

    • Ron Gijzen - 9 years ago

      I completely agree with you Seth!

  8. I really hope Apple does more than this. If all we get is a big version of iOS9 on my TV screen, I’m going to be disappointed.

    I’d like to see global search (duh) and more importantly, a global queue. Anything I subscribe to–from YouTube to Hulu and Netflix should show up there. I’m tired of hunting through apps to find which shows have new episodes.

    Those are the big ones. More thoughts here: http://latetotheparty.co/building-better-tv-interfaces/

  9. Lee Miller - 9 years ago

    I have DirecTV. What would Apple TV do for me?

    • Zach Oxley - 9 years ago

      They’d tell you to buy an AppleTV. Don’t think there’s much else they could do for ya. The endpoint is to provide content via the AppleTV set top box, so I’d assume they won’t be working with other providers to make it easier for the consumer.

    • mlaiuppa - 9 years ago

      They’re going to try to provide the same services for half the price, then convince you to cancel Direct TV and go with their service instead.

      I’ve already cut my cable and am on an antenna for local and Apple TV for Hulu and HBO Now. Amazon Prime I can stream from my iPhone or laptop via Airplay. By the time they get their service up and running, I may not be interested anymore.

  10. RP - 9 years ago

    If the price remains anywhere near the old price, this thing is going to blow up. The TV network nonsense us something they have wasted their time on. Stream whomever WANTS to be streamed and let whomever else in the ol’ timey television game wilt and die on the vine if that’s what they want. But Netflix, Hulu, and whomever else, PLUS IOS9 apps and this is one hell of a little time wasting distraction machine.

  11. o0smoothies0o - 9 years ago

    You guys completely neglected the Homekit aspect this device will have. It will likely be shown to be a secure hub which, with Homekit certified devices, eliminates the need for any hubs from other companies for any Hkmekit devices. That would do multiple things, firstly, security and privacy would be exponentially better. Secondly, you wouldn’t have to hookup numerous different companies smart device hubs, and have to buy new ones for new devices. Thirdly, it would eliminate the need for third party apps, if Apple puts a Home app on the Apple TV and on iOS and OSX. Couple that with Siri, and secure control over the Internet.

    It will likely have Bluetooth 4.2 as will the new iPhones and iPads, and likely the new Macs.

  12. driverbenji - 9 years ago

    Have there been any hardware leaks? If so, I missed it. Have they actually made deals with content providers? Nothing seems to be close to being final, from what I’ve seen. No, there will not be a new ATV in September. Perhaps look for Jan.-March 2016.

    As far as 4K goes…don’t buy a 4K TV yet. UHD standards are being set, and this will include HDR and wider color gamut, something only very few TVs will be compatible with, if at all, just 4K resolution is not going to be enough to sell it. HDMI 2 standards are still being set to handle HDR, not sure it will give us wider color gamut (I wish they’d switch to DisplayPort, it’s completely capable of delivering everything now.) We will see UHD blu-ray players begin to show up this holiday season that will be able to deliver all of it. Streaming services may be starting to serve up 4K, but, is it going to have the improved dynamic range and color with HDR & wider color gamut? 4K TV makers will have to include HDR and wider color to meet these new standards. …Will there be content? It’s going to take some time still.

    …If the new Apple TV is going to be 4K, it will not be coming before January at the earliest, IMO.

    Personally, I hope they up the sound to, at the very least, Dolby Digital +, with 7.1 & Atmos ability. As it stands now, ATV’s only do DD5.1 (lower quality/more compression, basically same as DVDs).

    I also think Apple will not release a 4K ATV until they have some UHD HDR content. In fact, that could be part of the delay.

    • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

      The hardware leaks started 2 years ago. The device was delayed because of software at WWDC this year so it won’t be delayed till next year.

      It will be 2 more years before Apple works with 4K on Apple TV.

      The streaming is delayed because Apple rolling out its own internet networks and getting the old network giants to make the deals they want.

      • driverbenji - 9 years ago

        If the streaming is delayed because of content deals not being made yet, what makes you, or anyone else here think Apple will give us a new Apple TV without the new content? That is not how Apple works. If they are going to deliver a new product with new abilities, they are not going to release it with only the old abilities. It will come when they can sell the whole package. What if they release the hardware and the content providers all decide to wait 6 more months?

      • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

        Ability to play games and use apps, Siri, voice and touch remote, new hi are all new features. Apple was ready to unveil it in June why would they delay it until Mach now?

        That would be like Apple not releasing any iPhones until Apple Music was ready. Apple’s tv subscription does not equate to Apple TV. The subscription service will work with iPhones,iPads and Apple TV.

    • Paul Van Obberghen - 9 years ago

      If you are that technicaly demanding, and rightly so, I suppose you’ll stick to physical media and coming 4K BluRay players and disks. Only those players will have the processing power to deal with such demanding specs. At 100$ or so, even with an A9 processor, 32GB of space (that is _one_ BluRay disk!) and such a small form factor, the Apple TV is never gonna be that power horse. Maybe there will be a day when Internet Bandwidth will be available to get streaming 4K content with these specs, but that wont be before long and the Apple TV will need huge processing power to deal with it while staying at a reasonnable price.
      As for 4K content, there is more than movies or sport watching to it. What about the pictures we take with our iPhones, and possibly soon even 4K videos? Many smatphones already support 4K filming, the iphone will surely come next, especially now that there is an iMac 5K.
      And if there is an App store for the Apple TV, there will be games – which will look great in 4K – and other means to get 4k content.
      And if YouTube, Netflix and others can deliver 4K content, I don’t see why Apple couldn’t. Basically, it mostely depend on the bandwith your IP is providing, not Apple.
      As of those who say that 4K is DOA, I’d suggest that they first drop by a store where there is one on display and watch. Next thing will be to collect their jaws scathered on the floor… Same was said for 1080p, DVDs, Color TV, etc,… who need these? Most manufacturers are already working on 8K, and Sony said they would simply skip 4K to 8K when it comes to professional video equipments. So 4K is here for sure.

  13. mytawalbeh - 9 years ago

    Awesome features and great improvements especially remote controller and new iOS based App Store.

  14. hunterweston1 - 9 years ago

    Waiting to experience all the features of an Apple TV. hope to have a great experience.

  15. Paul Van Obberghen - 9 years ago

    Apple will need to solve the multiple users problem in iOS. IPhone, iPad, iPod, Watch, these are mostely personal devices. A TV set is more like a collective device, shared by many. Apple will need to address that, maybe with multiple user accounts.

  16. Andy Smith (@Anndra) - 9 years ago

    If the new model still doesn’t have iPlayer and still has channels dedicated to weird foreign sports (base the ball?) then you can take your parochial box and go home.

  17. gadgetfriendlyusa - 9 years ago

    What will the new apple tv bring to the table that current devices like the Shield TV dont already do? iOS as a whole is much more restricted too so out of the box there is no XBMC, tunneling abilities, root access etc.. Seems like too little too late

    • sleepyhead14 - 9 years ago

      I get what you’re saying but why would you want root access to watch TV? I think your particular wants are far outside what the average consumer wants. Most people would struggle to properly configure XBMC even, a lot of the people I talk to at work aren’t even massively competent at plugging in USB cables. They would, however, be interested in a remote that let them just tell their TV to play whatever they want to watch.

  18. modeyabsolom - 9 years ago

    I’m looking forward to this introduction far more than I am the updated iPhones. But I’m a little disappointed that the new design will continue to be plastic. I understand the reasons for this, yet I was still hoping for something akin to the slick metal CGI mockups that have been posted here and on other sites (Gizmodo had a great one!) over the last couple of years. Anyway really looking forward to the September event!

  19. Alexander Bittan - 9 years ago

    What it should have as a service is not a “skinny bundle” of channels like most predict but they should do what they did with apple music for movies and TV shows. Pay a monthly fee and have access to watch on demand the collection of movies and tv shows in the iTunes movie and tv show store. That would be way better and much more content then watching a couple channels. Just my opinion not sure why this isn’t a no brainer for them to do already. If they could lock deal with the entertainment companies to do this then they would be sure to take business from all other streaming services such as netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, showtime, etc.. If you forget about the content made by netflix for example all the other shows like HBO’s game of thrones or Showtimes Ray Donavan are all available to buy from apple’s tv store currently so being able to stream them all in one single place without switching between different streaming apps would be a sure killer to all other streaming services…. Also I hope they come out with a separate Video Game Console type of Controller that they should sell separate from the regular controller to be used with all developers game apps. Just food for thought.

  20. Peter Payne (@jlist) - 9 years ago

    Apple, DO NOT FAIL to support apps like Plex. I will not buy any box that doesn’t let me us the Plex server I’ve already set up.

  21. Sudath Wijeratne - 9 years ago

    It will be disappointing if apple delay 4K support for later version as they did with 1080p! photo viewing is one of the common functions people use apple TV for.

  22. mitchelldav - 9 years ago

    Will I have to purchase the new Apple TV to have access to Apple Music or will there be an update for that to the Apple TV I now have?

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