Reported by: Liam McClelland 06/08/2015 at 16:50pm
New Apple TV 2015 release date rumours: Apple TV 'Launching in September' plus patent filed for Touch ID Remote.
We've been waiting since January 2013 for Apple to update its Apple TV, some would say 2012 (which is when it last had a significant update), so it's no surprise that there are so many rumours surrounding the new version of the Apple's set-top box. We've got release date rumours and speculation about new features that the device needs if it is to compete with the alternatives to Apple TV, especially here in the UK. We'll update this story as more Apple TV information becomes available, so be sure to check back from time to time.
Latest: Apple TV coming in September The new Apple TV will launch in September, perhaps alongside the new iPhone.
Sources “familiar with Apple’s plans” have apparently told BuzzFeed News that we can expect Apple to announce the new Apple TV in September at the traditional iPhone event.
According to the Buzzfeed report, we can “Expect a refreshed and slimmer chassis and new innards; Apple’s A8 system on chip; a new remote that sources say has been “drastically improved” by a touch-pad input; an increase in on-board storage; and an improved operating system that will support Siri voice control. Crucially, the new Apple TV will debut alongside a long-awaited App Store and the software development kit developers need to populate it.”
Apple’s subscription internet-TV is also apparently in the works, but it won’t be ready for launch in September. Instead, the Buzzfeed sources think that that will arrive: “Late this year — maybe, but more likely next year.”
Latest: Patent filed for Touch ID Apple TV remote It sounds like the remote that will ship with the new Apple TV will be able to identify you by your fingerprint, according to a report on Patently Apple.
Apple has been granted a patent for an inbuilt touch ID sensor for the Apple TV remote. The patent describes how the finger print identification could be used to grant the user access to their account, and offer personalized user profiles.
Finger print scanning arrived for the iPhone on the iPhone 5s in 2013. The Apple TV related patent was filed in January 2014.
Along with providing personalized program information, if the Apple TV becomes the hub for HomeKit devices in the home, it could be used to define the optimum setting of gadgets in the home, as preset by the user. The best bit: you’d never have to enter your Netflix password again. It will also help parents ensure that kids don’t gain access to content they aren’t authorized to view.
Another Apple patent has been filed with the US Patent & Trademark Office that describes a new interface for media playback of future TV streaming services from Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV and more, also according to Patently Apple.
Apple’s patent application appears to describe how it will provide a new circular progress bar in the graphical user interface for controlling the playback of media, it appears that this system will be used across the media services found on the Apple TV.
Code inside the El Capitan beta also suggests Apple is planning to launch a new Bluetooth Remote Control with a Multi-Touch trackpad with, it appears, Force Touch and inertial scrolling support.
The device also appears to support audio, which could indicate either playback or input for Siri, notes 9to5Mac.
New Apple TV 2015 release date: Apple TV launching in September
The new Apple TV will launch in September, according to BuzzFeed sources.
Apparently we can expect Apple to announce the new Apple TV in September at the traditional iPhone event, according to the Buzzfeed report.
The launch of the new Apple TV has been rumoured for some time. When Apple revealed its second quarter financial report, and during the earnings call CEO Tim Cook said a few things that convinced many that Apple was going to release a new Apple TV soon, and all eyes were on WWDC for a launch on 8th June - but the Apple TV didn't launch then. It is thought that the launch was postponed because Apple is seeking to do deals with cable companies in order to provide a subscription internet-TV.
However, according to the report, Apple's Netflix rival won't be ready for launch in September. Instead, the BuzzFeed sources think that it will arrive: "late this year - maybe, but more likely next year." Speaking to analysts about the Apple TV shipping estimates slipped to 1-2 weeks in the US, which often a sign that a product is about to undergo a refresh. In the UK at time of writing (6th August), Apple TV shipping times still say 1-2 business days, but we'll be keeping an eye on the dispatch estimates and will update you if anything changes.
The biggest indicator that the Apple TV would arrive at WWDC was the invite to this year's WWDC - which had a round cornered square at the 'epicentre' of the images that look just like an Apple TV.
Latest: Apple TV coming in September The new Apple TV will launch in September, perhaps alongside the new iPhone.
Sources “familiar with Apple’s plans” have apparently told BuzzFeed News that we can expect Apple to announce the new Apple TV in September at the traditional iPhone event.
According to the Buzzfeed report, we can “Expect a refreshed and slimmer chassis and new innards; Apple’s A8 system on chip; a new remote that sources say has been “drastically improved” by a touch-pad input; an increase in on-board storage; and an improved operating system that will support Siri voice control. Crucially, the new Apple TV will debut alongside a long-awaited App Store and the software development kit developers need to populate it.”
Apple’s subscription internet-TV is also apparently in the works, but it won’t be ready for launch in September. Instead, the Buzzfeed sources think that that will arrive: “Late this year — maybe, but more likely next year.”
Latest: Patent filed for Touch ID Apple TV remote It sounds like the remote that will ship with the new Apple TV will be able to identify you by your fingerprint, according to a report on Patently Apple.
Apple has been granted a patent for an inbuilt touch ID sensor for the Apple TV remote. The patent describes how the finger print identification could be used to grant the user access to their account, and offer personalized user profiles.
Finger print scanning arrived for the iPhone on the iPhone 5s in 2013. The Apple TV related patent was filed in January 2014.
Along with providing personalized program information, if the Apple TV becomes the hub for HomeKit devices in the home, it could be used to define the optimum setting of gadgets in the home, as preset by the user. The best bit: you’d never have to enter your Netflix password again. It will also help parents ensure that kids don’t gain access to content they aren’t authorized to view.
Another Apple patent has been filed with the US Patent & Trademark Office that describes a new interface for media playback of future TV streaming services from Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV and more, also according to Patently Apple.
Apple’s patent application appears to describe how it will provide a new circular progress bar in the graphical user interface for controlling the playback of media, it appears that this system will be used across the media services found on the Apple TV.
Code inside the El Capitan beta also suggests Apple is planning to launch a new Bluetooth Remote Control with a Multi-Touch trackpad with, it appears, Force Touch and inertial scrolling support.
The device also appears to support audio, which could indicate either playback or input for Siri, notes 9to5Mac.
New Apple TV 2015 release date: Apple TV launching in September
The new Apple TV will launch in September, according to BuzzFeed sources.
Apparently we can expect Apple to announce the new Apple TV in September at the traditional iPhone event, according to the Buzzfeed report.
The launch of the new Apple TV has been rumoured for some time. When Apple revealed its second quarter financial report, and during the earnings call CEO Tim Cook said a few things that convinced many that Apple was going to release a new Apple TV soon, and all eyes were on WWDC for a launch on 8th June - but the Apple TV didn't launch then. It is thought that the launch was postponed because Apple is seeking to do deals with cable companies in order to provide a subscription internet-TV.
However, according to the report, Apple's Netflix rival won't be ready for launch in September. Instead, the BuzzFeed sources think that it will arrive: "late this year - maybe, but more likely next year." Speaking to analysts about the Apple TV shipping estimates slipped to 1-2 weeks in the US, which often a sign that a product is about to undergo a refresh. In the UK at time of writing (6th August), Apple TV shipping times still say 1-2 business days, but we'll be keeping an eye on the dispatch estimates and will update you if anything changes.
The biggest indicator that the Apple TV would arrive at WWDC was the invite to this year's WWDC - which had a round cornered square at the 'epicentre' of the images that look just like an Apple TV.
The words 'The epicentre of change' set inside the Apple TV shaped box also hinted that the Apple TV would be gaining a new impotance in Apple's line up. Just because the Apple TV didn't launch at WWDC doesn't mean this is not the case, as you will see if you read on, there are a number of rumours that the Apple TV is set to become the centre of Apple's HomeKit set up. The june release date had been expected for some time. In March reports suggested that Apple would be unveiling a new Apple TV at WWDC in June, and along with news about a rumoured streaming service for TV shows, and Apple did launch 'Apple Music' which is their new music streaming service and is with the IOS 8.4 update.
A report in March, from BuzzFeed, authored by an ex Re/Code journalist, suggested that we'd get our first glimpse at a new Apple TV during WWDC 2015. That website claims that " sources familiar with the company's plans "have said that the new Apple TV is coming at WWDC with a software kit for developers to allow them to create new apps specifically designed for the set-top box.
That same report claims that the Apple TV will have an A8 chip powering it, with much more storage than the 8GB in the current Apple TV model. Siri will also be included, and will work closely with HomeKit to act as a hub for home automation. These are all rumours that have been floating around for a while now but seem to have stuck, which history suggests means they're probably accurate.
There have been many rumours that an updated Apple TV set-top box will appear this year, but not everyone expected to see it as soon as WWDC. Piper Jaffrey analyst Gene Munster believes it will be part of the company's Autumn 2015 product lineup.
In February, Munster said: "We believe that a content service could be paired with an updated Apple TV box in a fall event alongside a new iPhone or iPad. We believe that an updated Apple TV and/or content offering could be one of the core new offerings from Apple in 2015, given our belief that the phone is likely to be an 'S' upgrade cycle, and there appears to be a little new on the iPad side other than a potentially larger screen."
It is thought that the reason Apple didn't launch the Apple TV at WWDC was that it wanted to make a wide announcement about a TV streaming deal and a Apple TV apple Store, but the deals weren't all in place so the company decided to bide it's time.
How IOS 9 hints at new Apple TV Features
When Apple unveiled it's plans for IOS 9 at WWDC in June, there were a few hints at new features that we might see in the Apple TV, we examine then below.
For example, IOS 9 hints at a solution for finding the content on your Apple TV that you want to watch - in-app search. Currently if you want to watch a programme on your Apple TV but don't know whether it's on iTunes or Netflix, or even Sky Now, you have to look inside the app to search for it. In IOS 9 the new Spotlight API will allow developer to give users access to the app data in system-wide search. If this rolls out to the Apple TV you could search for the show you want to watch and see which Apple TV channel will offer it, suggests Josh Centers over on Tidbits.com.
Centers also suggests that Siri suggestions in IOS 9 might hint at more Apple TV related goodies. In IOS 9 you can swipe to see suggestions based on your habits, be they recently used apps, nearby places, or new items. On the Apple TV this could be shows you have been watching, new TV shows you might like. In addition to this, we already know that in Apple's homeKit support documentation the company outlines how the Apple TV will be used as a gateway device. The document reads: "If you have an Apple TV (3rd generation or later) with software version 7.0 or later, you can control your HomeKit-enabled accessories when you're from home using your IOS device. Sign into iCloud with the same Apple ID on your IOS device and Apple TV, and you'll be able to use Siri commands to remotely control your accessories. If your remote access isn't working, sign out of iCloud on your Apple TV, then sign back in".
Plus AirPlay support in Safari in El Capitan will include the ability to stream web video to your TV, which will open up many more options for watching TV via your Apple TV.
Massive 4th Gen Apple TV clue spotted on Apple's website
Apple has published a new support document about HomeKit, it's new smart home platform for internet connected devices, and in that document is a massive hint that a new Apple TV is about to launch. In a section of the document titled "Control your accessories away from home", Apple has written: "If you have a Apple TV (3rd Generation or later) with software version 7.0 or later, you can control your HomeKit-enabled accessories when you're away from your home using your IOS device."
FFor the eagle-eyed among you, you'll notice that the "3rd generation or later" comment is particularly intriguing because there is no "later" yet. We are waiting for the fourth generation to launch, and it looks like September/October Event is going to be the day. However, there is one possibility that could mean Apple hasn't confirmed the next Apple TV after all, and that's because Apple could be referring to the 3rd Gen A version of the Apple TV, which was a minor update to the third generation that launched in January 2013.
And after our excitement about the clue in Apple's support document, a new report from the New York Times says the new Apple TV was planned for launch at WWDC 2015 but has in fact been postponed because "the product was not ready to be demonstrated."
Apple TV price: how much will the new Apple TV cost?
At the Apple Watch launch event in March, Apple cut the Apple TV's price, from $99 in the US to $69, and from £79 to £59 in the UK. It also announced that the HBO Now service will be available on Apple TV - but that's only in the US.
We don't know how much the new Apple TV will cost, but we expect the new unit will have a higher price than the older unit currently on sale. Therefore, when the new Apple TV launches, we think the price may actually rise back to £79 in the UK. Although there is so much competition that Apple will keep it at £59.
Why hasn't Apple updated the Apple TV hardware for so long?
The last time Apple significantly updated the Apple TV hardware was three years ago in 2012. Since then dozens of setp top boxes have entered the market leaving Apple behind in recent years. Why the long wait for an update?
Not only has it been ages since Apple last updated the Apple TV, there has been plenty of reports and rumours over the last year suggesting that a new Apple TV is in the works - even Steve Jobs spoke about TV to his biographer before he died, leading many to conclude that a new Apple TV would be launching soon. Years on and no new Apple TV has emerged. There has been some evidence that a new Apple TV was in the works at Apple. For example, back in February 2014, references to what was thought to ne a fourth-generation Apple TV were spotted within IOS 7 configuration files, adding evidence to the rumours that suggested a new Apple TV is on the way. The references were spotted within an Apple TV framework mentions an "AppleTV4,1" which appears to be a next generation device that follows the current Apple TV called "AppleTV3,2" within the framework.
It Certainly appeared that something was holding things up. Then back in July 2014 a report came in from The Information (subscription required) that suggested the launch of the Apple TV (Which we'd believed was imminent prior to WWDC of that year in the previous month) had been delayed due to negotiations with the cable companies. The reason for the delay: problems negotiations with the cable companies. The reason for the delay: problems negotiating with the Cable companies in the US including Comcast. According to The Information, TV industry executives have said that "Apple has bit off more than it could chew" in terms of it's plans for the Apple TV.
Incidently, a possible reason for the Apple TV delay might have been the fact that Comcast were to be acquired by Time Warner Cable, with the merger, finally approved on 8th October 2014. The rumour that Apple is in negotiations with Comcast/Time Warner has been circling for some time.
It may not be the cable companies that are holding things up, it may just be that Apple has been waiting for the right moment. Senior analyst and founder of Opus Research Dan Miller thinks Apple has been biding it's time, waiting for the role of the TV in the home to be defined, before it updates the Apple TV hardware. He told Benzinga: "The whole battle for rights and the role of the TV and the connected home and that sorts thing is still being defined. What goes on in the home is going to be content-driven. There's no need to upgrade the hardware at this point unless things sort out."
Others just think that the Apple TV isn't a big enought deal to Apple. Analyst, Jeff Kagan, told Benzinga: "We've been talking about Apple TV for years. We thought it would have taken over the landscape for years. but it didn't. It's lost my attention. I don't really pay attention to it anymore. I don't thonk the customer dose either. It's not a typical Apple success story." The delay may also be because Apple hasn't been able to reach an agreement with the networks and broadcasters that all parties are satisfied with.
Has Apple left it too late to update the Apple TV?
Apple might proudly be reporting that it has sold 20 million Apple TVs, but it has lost market share to its rivals, many of which offer better services to customers, particularly those in the UK. At least in the US, where Apple offers a good selection of channels, Apple has 17% of the market, in third place behind Roku (29%) and Chromecast (20%). But here in the UK, Apple may yhave been left behind by those options that include UK on demand television channels.
Apple also talks about how TV is stuck in the Seventies. TV is stuck there, still tied to the schedules, but people aren't. People don't watch live TV, they watch TV via streaming services such as Netflix, or they tune into the OnDemand channels to catch up on shows they have missed.
People are already choosing to watch what they want when they want. The problem is that the Apple TV isn't giving them that. Sure there is a wealth of content on Netflix, but for the new TV shows, being broadcast now, you have to turn to the OnDemand offerings of those channels. And, at least in the UK, these are absent (with the exception of iPlayer, which is available, but only if you stream from your iPhone or iPad - that's a workaround, not a solution).
The Apple TV has limited appeal in the UK because Netflix is available on other devices, and Apples own iTunes content is over priced. The company needs to move to a subscription model if the iTunes content is to have any appeal.
A report in March, from BuzzFeed, authored by an ex Re/Code journalist, suggested that we'd get our first glimpse at a new Apple TV during WWDC 2015. That website claims that " sources familiar with the company's plans "have said that the new Apple TV is coming at WWDC with a software kit for developers to allow them to create new apps specifically designed for the set-top box.
That same report claims that the Apple TV will have an A8 chip powering it, with much more storage than the 8GB in the current Apple TV model. Siri will also be included, and will work closely with HomeKit to act as a hub for home automation. These are all rumours that have been floating around for a while now but seem to have stuck, which history suggests means they're probably accurate.
There have been many rumours that an updated Apple TV set-top box will appear this year, but not everyone expected to see it as soon as WWDC. Piper Jaffrey analyst Gene Munster believes it will be part of the company's Autumn 2015 product lineup.
In February, Munster said: "We believe that a content service could be paired with an updated Apple TV box in a fall event alongside a new iPhone or iPad. We believe that an updated Apple TV and/or content offering could be one of the core new offerings from Apple in 2015, given our belief that the phone is likely to be an 'S' upgrade cycle, and there appears to be a little new on the iPad side other than a potentially larger screen."
It is thought that the reason Apple didn't launch the Apple TV at WWDC was that it wanted to make a wide announcement about a TV streaming deal and a Apple TV apple Store, but the deals weren't all in place so the company decided to bide it's time.
How IOS 9 hints at new Apple TV Features
When Apple unveiled it's plans for IOS 9 at WWDC in June, there were a few hints at new features that we might see in the Apple TV, we examine then below.
For example, IOS 9 hints at a solution for finding the content on your Apple TV that you want to watch - in-app search. Currently if you want to watch a programme on your Apple TV but don't know whether it's on iTunes or Netflix, or even Sky Now, you have to look inside the app to search for it. In IOS 9 the new Spotlight API will allow developer to give users access to the app data in system-wide search. If this rolls out to the Apple TV you could search for the show you want to watch and see which Apple TV channel will offer it, suggests Josh Centers over on Tidbits.com.
Centers also suggests that Siri suggestions in IOS 9 might hint at more Apple TV related goodies. In IOS 9 you can swipe to see suggestions based on your habits, be they recently used apps, nearby places, or new items. On the Apple TV this could be shows you have been watching, new TV shows you might like. In addition to this, we already know that in Apple's homeKit support documentation the company outlines how the Apple TV will be used as a gateway device. The document reads: "If you have an Apple TV (3rd generation or later) with software version 7.0 or later, you can control your HomeKit-enabled accessories when you're from home using your IOS device. Sign into iCloud with the same Apple ID on your IOS device and Apple TV, and you'll be able to use Siri commands to remotely control your accessories. If your remote access isn't working, sign out of iCloud on your Apple TV, then sign back in".
Plus AirPlay support in Safari in El Capitan will include the ability to stream web video to your TV, which will open up many more options for watching TV via your Apple TV.
Massive 4th Gen Apple TV clue spotted on Apple's website
Apple has published a new support document about HomeKit, it's new smart home platform for internet connected devices, and in that document is a massive hint that a new Apple TV is about to launch. In a section of the document titled "Control your accessories away from home", Apple has written: "If you have a Apple TV (3rd Generation or later) with software version 7.0 or later, you can control your HomeKit-enabled accessories when you're away from your home using your IOS device."
FFor the eagle-eyed among you, you'll notice that the "3rd generation or later" comment is particularly intriguing because there is no "later" yet. We are waiting for the fourth generation to launch, and it looks like September/October Event is going to be the day. However, there is one possibility that could mean Apple hasn't confirmed the next Apple TV after all, and that's because Apple could be referring to the 3rd Gen A version of the Apple TV, which was a minor update to the third generation that launched in January 2013.
And after our excitement about the clue in Apple's support document, a new report from the New York Times says the new Apple TV was planned for launch at WWDC 2015 but has in fact been postponed because "the product was not ready to be demonstrated."
Apple TV price: how much will the new Apple TV cost?
At the Apple Watch launch event in March, Apple cut the Apple TV's price, from $99 in the US to $69, and from £79 to £59 in the UK. It also announced that the HBO Now service will be available on Apple TV - but that's only in the US.
We don't know how much the new Apple TV will cost, but we expect the new unit will have a higher price than the older unit currently on sale. Therefore, when the new Apple TV launches, we think the price may actually rise back to £79 in the UK. Although there is so much competition that Apple will keep it at £59.
Why hasn't Apple updated the Apple TV hardware for so long?
The last time Apple significantly updated the Apple TV hardware was three years ago in 2012. Since then dozens of setp top boxes have entered the market leaving Apple behind in recent years. Why the long wait for an update?
Not only has it been ages since Apple last updated the Apple TV, there has been plenty of reports and rumours over the last year suggesting that a new Apple TV is in the works - even Steve Jobs spoke about TV to his biographer before he died, leading many to conclude that a new Apple TV would be launching soon. Years on and no new Apple TV has emerged. There has been some evidence that a new Apple TV was in the works at Apple. For example, back in February 2014, references to what was thought to ne a fourth-generation Apple TV were spotted within IOS 7 configuration files, adding evidence to the rumours that suggested a new Apple TV is on the way. The references were spotted within an Apple TV framework mentions an "AppleTV4,1" which appears to be a next generation device that follows the current Apple TV called "AppleTV3,2" within the framework.
It Certainly appeared that something was holding things up. Then back in July 2014 a report came in from The Information (subscription required) that suggested the launch of the Apple TV (Which we'd believed was imminent prior to WWDC of that year in the previous month) had been delayed due to negotiations with the cable companies. The reason for the delay: problems negotiations with the cable companies. The reason for the delay: problems negotiating with the Cable companies in the US including Comcast. According to The Information, TV industry executives have said that "Apple has bit off more than it could chew" in terms of it's plans for the Apple TV.
Incidently, a possible reason for the Apple TV delay might have been the fact that Comcast were to be acquired by Time Warner Cable, with the merger, finally approved on 8th October 2014. The rumour that Apple is in negotiations with Comcast/Time Warner has been circling for some time.
It may not be the cable companies that are holding things up, it may just be that Apple has been waiting for the right moment. Senior analyst and founder of Opus Research Dan Miller thinks Apple has been biding it's time, waiting for the role of the TV in the home to be defined, before it updates the Apple TV hardware. He told Benzinga: "The whole battle for rights and the role of the TV and the connected home and that sorts thing is still being defined. What goes on in the home is going to be content-driven. There's no need to upgrade the hardware at this point unless things sort out."
Others just think that the Apple TV isn't a big enought deal to Apple. Analyst, Jeff Kagan, told Benzinga: "We've been talking about Apple TV for years. We thought it would have taken over the landscape for years. but it didn't. It's lost my attention. I don't really pay attention to it anymore. I don't thonk the customer dose either. It's not a typical Apple success story." The delay may also be because Apple hasn't been able to reach an agreement with the networks and broadcasters that all parties are satisfied with.
Has Apple left it too late to update the Apple TV?
Apple might proudly be reporting that it has sold 20 million Apple TVs, but it has lost market share to its rivals, many of which offer better services to customers, particularly those in the UK. At least in the US, where Apple offers a good selection of channels, Apple has 17% of the market, in third place behind Roku (29%) and Chromecast (20%). But here in the UK, Apple may yhave been left behind by those options that include UK on demand television channels.
Apple also talks about how TV is stuck in the Seventies. TV is stuck there, still tied to the schedules, but people aren't. People don't watch live TV, they watch TV via streaming services such as Netflix, or they tune into the OnDemand channels to catch up on shows they have missed.
People are already choosing to watch what they want when they want. The problem is that the Apple TV isn't giving them that. Sure there is a wealth of content on Netflix, but for the new TV shows, being broadcast now, you have to turn to the OnDemand offerings of those channels. And, at least in the UK, these are absent (with the exception of iPlayer, which is available, but only if you stream from your iPhone or iPad - that's a workaround, not a solution).
The Apple TV has limited appeal in the UK because Netflix is available on other devices, and Apples own iTunes content is over priced. The company needs to move to a subscription model if the iTunes content is to have any appeal.