Foxconn is disavowing suggestions that chairman Terry Gou leaked news of an Apple TV set, writes The Next Web. Last week, Foxconn chairman Terry Gou was believed to have confirmed the existence of an Apple-branded TV. The executive was misquoted, Foxconn now says, and the company can neither confirm nor speculate about any such hardware.
A German TV maker, Loewe AG, is denying rumors that it has been in talks with Apple about a possible buyout, according to Heise Online. A tip to AppleInsider recently suggested a deal worth $113 million, and that Loewe's board of directors were going to make a decision before May 18th. A Loewe spokesman now insists, however, that there is "absolutely nothing" to the claims.
Asian supplier Foxconn is making preparations for an Apple TV set, but development and manufacturing hasn't begun, according to company chairman Terry Gou. China Daily reports that the executive made the comments in a recent speech. Gou also indicated that a recent deal with Sharp was made with an Apple TV set in mind; in March Foxconn bought a 10 percent stake in Sharp for $808 million, helping out the latter company's finances. Apple has reportedly been interested in using Sharp IGZO panels for iPads, and could conceivably use them in a TV as well.
Following the release of iOS 5.1.1 for most iOS devices, Apple has updated its custom firmware for the second- and third-generation Apple TV to v5.0.1 (build 9B206F). Because the version of iOS running on Apple TV is customized and offers a different UI, the company numbers it slightly differently, but the new release roughly corresponds to firmware on other devices.
A "well-placed" source has seen a prototype of Apple's upcoming TV set, claims Cult of Mac. Visually the hardware is said to resemble Apple's current Thunderbolt Display, but with a size "much larger" than 27 inches. The centerpiece is actually an iSight camera, which will allegedly support Siri voice commands and FaceTime video calls.
Warner Bros. has begun offering parts of its movie catalog in 1080p HD on iTunes. Shoppers can now buy titles such as 300, Batman Begins, Clash of the Titans, Happy Feet, Speed Racer, and The Dark Knight for $15.
Apple has been discussing a possible deal to get Epix' on-demand movies on its media devices, a pair of tipsters clamed late Friday. The talks were to both support the Apple TV as well as "upcoming devices that stream content," which Reuters took to mean a future TV set. Any progress was early, one of the contacts said.
Apple job listings have shown that Apple is still actively researching 3D visual display and capturing technology that would extend to its iOS devices. An iOS Software Engineer position is looking for a doctorate holder who can handle "cameras and surfaces in a 3D environment" as well as "multi-view stereo and 3D reconstruction." Although it's unclear how long the same technical requirements have existed for the job, employees have been mentioning work in 3D imaging for at least two years.
The latest 1080p-capable Apple TV uses an A5 processor but it is based on 32nm architecture, the Chipworks crew found when they dissected the media player. The part number, APL2498, thus mainly differs from the previous-generation A5 chip (part number APL0498) used in the iPhone 4S by being based on Samsung Semiconductors' 32nm high-k metal gate LP CMOS process technology. The older chip used Samsung's 45nm LP CMOS process.
Apple edged closer to having a complete iTunes in the Cloud on Saturday with previous holdout Universal adding support. Movies from the studio can now be re-downloaded on any device with an Apple ID, or streamed directly to an Apple TV. The expansion adds hundreds or more videos to those from existing supporters like Sony Pictures.
Owners of the now-previous (the "720p black" or "ATV2") AppleTV box now have an option of jailbreaking the device in a limited way, even if it has been upgraded to the newest 5.0 (iOS 5.1) software. FireCore has updated it's Seas0nPass jailbreak tool and aTV Flash (black) software to work with the new jailbreak, which allows users to retain the advantages of the Apple TV 5.0 software while adding various unofficial plug-ins such as Last.fm and NitoTV for additional content.
The XBMC team has posted a finished version of its comprehensive 11.0 Eden update. The version is the first fully updated version to simultaneously reach both desktop platforms as well as jailbreak-based implementations on the second-generation Apple TV and iOS. Every platform now lets an XBMC device serve as an AirPlay target for video and more.
(Update: Margolis contextualizes) Former Apple TV engineer Mike Margolis has claimed that the new Apple TV interface was actually a previously rejected idea. He claimed that they had been "tossed out" five years prior in favor of the text-heavy design, as "SJ [Steve Jobs] didn't like them." Although only one designer had been directly responsible for user experience, a wider overhaul of the larger staff and a lack of Jobs' oversight led Margolis to think Apple had lost a necessary level of restraint.
Hulu has added Hulu Plus support for several new devices. The new components include select Toshiba 2012 Blu-ray players, Sharp 2012 TVs, and Best Buy’s Dynex Blu-ray players. Hulu confirmed that it hoped offer to its premium service through Apple TVs and Boxee Box systems "someday soon."
Google Play's Movies section may be steered into offering full movie sales against Google's own will. Multiple movie industry contacts described a situation to CNET where Google was interested in offering the service, but primarily as it was required to get any rentals from certain studios. Movie rentals were "tiny," the informants said, hinting that Google wanted to get what it could.
In a rare first ahead of more official outlets, XBMC forum member aicjofs has posted a teardown of the newer 1080p-capable Apple TV that shows a number of changes. As suspected, it has upgraded from an A4 to an A5, although it's now using a slight variant on the iPad 2/iPhone 4S version with an APL2498 part number. Apple's media hub now has 512MB of RAM as well, which along with a second core should improve performance across the device, not just in the higher resolution video.
Apple finished the week with a post to its developer page for Mountain Lion Developer Preview 2. Build 12A154Q is primarily meant to address earlier flaws and doesn't specifically outline what's new or fixed. The build is clearly unfinished, however, and is currently missing 32-bit kernel extension support, a large number of Game Center features, limited Notes support, and issues with NVIDIA graphics drivers, DVD Player, and limited Recovery Partition features.
Apple has started shipping out the updated Apple TV to people who bought it from the company's online store, according to a customer's shipping notice shared with AppleInsider. While the email states that the package should arrive on the 16th, the official launch date for the set-top, FedEx tracking data suggests it will actually arrive a day early.
Apple could start commercial production of a TV set in May or June, likely building somewhere between 2 to 5 million units, says Jeffries & Co. analyst Peter Misek. The claim is based on a recent trip to Asia. "We believe specialty components have begun to ship to Apple’s Asia panel suppliers with polarized films, filters, and [Sharp] IGZO components starting to move in small quantities," he writes. As before, a fourth-quarter launch is anticipated.
Intel is in the midst of developing its own online TV streaming service and hardware to match, leaks disclosed Monday. It would create a form of virtual TV that would sell access in cable- and satellite-style bundles, the Wall Street Journal understood. While possibly a white box service that would let others put their own badge on top, Intel would sometimes run under its own name.
Users trying out the new Apple TV software update v5.0 have uncovered a significant change in the way the unit (both the previous 2011 version and the new 2012 edition) handle "iTunes digital copies" that are often found on purchased Blu Ray and SD DVDs of movies. Once the digital copy is transferred to iTunes, other devices can just stream the movie from iCloud -- effectively an "iTunes Match" for movies at no additional charge.
The government's regulatory body on telecommunications and computer equipment, the FCC, has officially approved the new products announced today at Apple's event in San Francisco. The updated, 1080p-capable Apple TV, and three versions of the new iPad (Wi-Fi only, AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) have been cleared for sale in the US. The reports included teardown pictures of the Apple TV but not the new iPad models.
In addition to the announced Apple TV and iOS apps that were mentioned and showcased at today's new iPad unveiling, Apple has also updated numerous other iOS apps, mostly to add support for the new Retina Display on the iPad but also in some cases adding support for iTunes Match, bug fixes or new minor features. Among those updated that were not previously announced are Find My Friends, Find My iPhone, iTunes U, iBooks and Remote.
Apple through an update has given existing Apple TV owners the same software interface as for the new Apple TV hardware. We've tried it, and the upgrade replaces the text-heavy earlier interface with an easier-to-decipher icon layout. We found it quicker to use than before if you need to go into one of the third-party services, although scrolling down also hides previews of content that would normally be visible at the top.
[Update: Video is now available on iTunes] Apple has posted an official video stream of today's iPad press event. The focus of the event was a third-generation iPad, but Apple also introduced several other products, including a new Apple TV and the first iPad version of iPhoto. iOS 5.1 is mentioned only briefly.
In tandem with announcing a third-generation iPad, Apple has also brought its AppleCare+ warranty option to the tablet. By default an iPad is only given a limited one-year warranty, with 90 days of free support. Paying $99 extends coverage up to two years, and allows for two incidents of accidental damage, although in each instance a $49 service fee still applies.
As expected, Apple on Wednesday officially announced a new Apple TV, capable of 1080p video playback. The user interface has been improved as well, and people will have the ability to stream movies they've already purchased on iTunes via iCloud. Previously, only TV shows could be streamed. Corresponding with the hardware upgrade, iTunes movies are now being offered in 1080p for the first time.
(Update: done) Apple is holding its promised live event at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. It's expected to unveil a new iPad with a 2048x1536 display and possibly both a new Apple TV and new content deals. Check our real-time coverage of updates as they emerge, starting from 1PM Eastern, 10AM Pacific.
Apple in an aggressive step has already taken down the online Apple Store ahead of Wednesday's iPad event. The familiar "we'll be back soon" note has gone up about three hours before the event event starts, at 1PM Eastern. Apple often waits until closer to an event to take the store down, suggesting that it has a more substantial addition than usual.
Apple's imminent Apple TV update received its price in a last-minute rumor Tuesday night. It would keep the $99 price of before in 9to5's tip. Also mentioned was a $39 price for an unknown accessory with a B82 model number, likely a reference to a new video adapter cable.
Another rumor surfacing less than a day before Apple's next-generation iPad event may have filled in some of the in-between details of the future iPad and the Apple TV. While recapping most of the common beliefs, such as the 2048x1536 display and sped-up A5X dual-core chip, The Verge understood there would be more RAM. How much wasn't mentioned, although 1GB is most likely given Apple's tendency to double RAM and the need to hold large art assets in memory.
A US company, iTV Entertainment, is preemptively pursuing Apple over the iTV name, according to a press release. "iTV Entertainment, LLC announced today that its counsel, Bart S. Fisher, had sent a letter to Apple, Inc. board director, Al Gore, suggesting that a meeting be held 'to see if an amicable and fair transaction arrangement' could be made between the parties with regard to Apple’s use of the 'iTV' mark displayed throughout their U.S. Patent No. 2011/0154394 A1 for a product that is rumored to be in development by and being planned for a possible launch in 2012," the company writes. "Apple describes its device as being 'an audio and video entertainment center'."
Among the flurry of rumors surrounding the next iPad is a new claim emerging from retail. The tip to 9to5 had Apple's retail stores getting ready for a "big Apple Store event" peaking on March 16. With talk of a Harrods store-in-a-store and a new Houston store due to open the same day, it's considered probable that March 16 is the street date for the tablet.
Checks through the online Apple Store in the US and abroad has shown that both retail and some online availability has almost disappeared entirely for the current-generation Apple TV. Only a handful of usually flagship-sized US retail stores now have the media hub, with even Apple's preferred Stockton Street store in San Francisco now saying it won't have a resupply until March 14. Most instead ask those wanting a pickup to "check availability."
Apple's imminent new iPad event may be putting unique pressure on companies trying to get their own products in. A rumor brought up Monday by MacRumors had other companies complaining that they couldn't use air freight normally as Apple had booked much of the supply. Freight managers either had to accept paying as much as a 20 percent premium on shipping rates or else had to find different shippers to complete deliveries on time.
Various part leaks for the next iPad came full circle on Sunday after a project successfully melded several parts together. MIC Gadget was able to get the front, back, and glass of the future Apple tablet assembled to prove that they were part of a cohesive design. As already suspected, the new iPad's case was just slightly thicker than its predecessor, although a more gradually tapered back could make it feel thinner in the hand.
Valve Software is entering the console race by developing its own hardware platform, new rumors brought up early Saturday. The approach outlined by The Verge would have typical PC hardware with a Core i7, 8GB of RAM, and NVIDIA graphics, but it would serve as a fixed platform for three to four years. Developers would then target their games to the system, which as expected would use Steam as its primary way to get games.
Apparent new leaks have suggested Google is developing a very broad, multi-platform alternative to Siri. So far called Assistant, the concept TechCrunch saw would translate Google's search content into a "personalization layer" that would understand the relationships between data points. A voice-based recognition engine would, like Apple's system, focus on returning a key useful result or accomplishing a task, not just pushing a raw list of results.
Helping set a minor tradition, Apple has been getting custom artwork applied to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts ahead of its third-generation iPad event. While the work done so far gives few clues as to what will be happening inside, as with earlier years, the scheme appears to be unusually nostalgic for Apple. The swirls recall the iPod campaign of the mid-2000s.
Searches and rumors Friday gave further credence to beliefs that a new Apple TV was due side-by-side with a new iPad. Checks by The Verge noted that some Apple stores now listed online availability with an unusually specific March 7 date. Some listed it as in stock, while others had a "check availability" that made the next round of supply unclear.
Apple has been postponing resupplying indirect channel partners with the Apple TV for three straight weeks, according to AppleInsider sources. Partners and channel members have reportedly seen Apple push back deliveries by a week each consecutive week. These kinds of delays are known to be a sign that Apple is winding down one product in favor of an imminent replacement.
An investigation within Android Market stats has suggested that Google TV adoption may be so low as to be under one million users. The TV and Movies app, a core part of the OS, is listed as having between 500,000 to one million installed users, GigaOM found. More than half of them are Logitech Revue owners, while the rest are Sony's combined Internet TV and Internet Blu-ray player owners.
Popcorn Hour has released its latest home media streaming assistant, the C-300. The new model features a new color screen, support for a user-added Blu-Ray DVD player, room for full-sized as well as notebook-sized hard drives (which are easily swappable) and a revamped user interface. While considerably pricier than an Apple TV, the C-300 offers advantages such as storage space, multiple format support and extra content.
A new Apple TV will launch alongside the iPad 3 in March, according to sources for 9to5Mac. The device is thought to have the J33 codename, but no other details have been verified. Earlier rumors, though, have revolved around support for 1080p video, a feature people have demanded since the first generation debuted in 2007. For this Apple may need to upgrade the Apple TV with an A5 processor, possibly the rumored A5X. Apple could conceivably use the introduction of a new Apple TV to simultaneously bring 1080p videos to the iTunes Store; currently, even HD files are capped at 720p.
Foxconn might be quietly delivering at least some iPad 3 units if a UPS manifest is an indicator. The contract manufacturer is believed to be shipping a high security delivery from Chengdu that would go first to Shanghai and then to Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles, all done by March 9 and most no later than March 6. Security would be tight enough that even the time for shipments to be left on the airport ramp would be kept to a minimum.
Apple CEO Tim Cook may have hinted at the prospect of an Apple TV set during today's now-concluded talk in front of the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. The executive was asked about the current Apple TV set-top and possibilities such as a full-sized TV. "We don't want to send a message to you or shareholders that the market for it [the Apple TV set-top] is the size of our other businesses...we don't want to send a message that the length of that leg on the stool is the same as the others," he commented.
IAC has hoped to reinvigorate the idea of live TV on modern devices by starting up Aereo at a special event on Tuesday. The platform streams over the Internet but is getting mover 20 channels of true broadcast HDTV through huge grids of fingertip-sized tuners at Aereo's end. A cloud-based DVR with 40 hours of space lets viewers save favorite shows to watch later.
Samsung's AV product lead Chris Moseley in an interview Monday was dismissive of the threat posed by a possible Apple TV set. In the chat with Pocket-lint, he insisted that image quality was the primary factor and that Apple wouldn't have the image scaling or "world-renowned" picture quality. He downplayed the interface and software features, normally the highlight of Apple's devices, as backseat elements.
An upgraded Apple TV media hub might come sooner than thought after signs emerged that multiple stores ran low on stock. Amazon, Best Buy, Buy.com, Radio Shack, and Target all show the device either as out of stock or taking weeks to ship. Apple and others do have supply, but it follows a pattern of third-party resellers usually running out first.
Apple is facing a rare instance of foreign patent trolling this week after a discovery that Swiss firm SmartData has sued it over a lone patent. The accusation, quietly filed earlier in the week in Apple's home court district in San Jose, alleged that the Apple TV, the iPhone, and the iOS Remote app violated a patent for a "modular computer." Using Remote on the iPhone to control content on the Apple TV copied the technology, the plaintiff argued.
