Canadian cable companies may have fabled Apple iTV prototypes
New rumors of the much-anticipated Apple-branded television set (a.k.a. iTV) have surfaced regarding launch partnerships with major telecom companies as well as the device’s user controls.
Apple has allegedly entered into discussions with Canada’s Rogers Communications and Bell Canada on an iTV launch because the companies are involved in both wireless and broadband markets, according to large Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, which cites unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Additionally, Rogers and Bell … Continue Reading
Apple’s rumored iTV: Analyst outlines three content scenarios
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has reaffirmed suspicions that Apple is on track to launch a company-branded television set by late 2012. His latest comments came in a note he sent to clients Tuesday.
While Munster has predicted the debut of an Apple iTV product for years, his claims have only recently started gaining credibility thanks to comments that appeared in the official Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. In the book, Jobs claimed he … Continue Reading
Dylan’s Desk: The most revolutionary products you’ll see in 2012
Anyone can pick most interesting phones of 2011, but it takes real foolhardiness to predict the most revolutionary products of the coming year.
Call me a fool. I’m placing bets on these five products that will revolutionize technology in 2012.
I made these predictions recently in a TV segment on Bloomberg West with host John Erlichman. Click the picture above if you want to watch the video. And now, on to my predictions.
5. Lytro
Apple’s iTV may feature channel customization, says Sterne Agee analyst
A new report from analyst firm Sterne Agee agrees with recent speculation that Apple will eventually produce its own branded television set.
Apple may soon start iTV production with 32- and 37-inch television sets planned for a summer 2012 launch, containing chips coming from Samsung and screens from Sharp, as VentureBeat reported yesterday.
“Frankly, we are not surprised and believe Apple should enter the TV space as this is arguably the only major end market … Continue Reading
Apple may be preparing 32 & 37-inch iTVs for a summer launch
Apple is allegedly assembling components for a 32- and 37-inch iTV, the Apple branded television set that can connect to the internet for streaming media.
The news comes from Taiwanese blog Digitimes, which has previously picked up accurate news from sources in Apple’s supply chain. The report indicates that Apple is planning to begin assembling the components in the first quarter of 2012 and will launch the iTV product itself in the summer. As for … Continue Reading
TV features emerge as Apple holds meetings with media companies
Apple may be deeper into the television project than we thought, as the company is reportedly visiting media companies to share its technology plans.
Since Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs was released, people have been buzzing about what the late Apple chief executive suggested was Apple’s next adventure: televisions. Many have speculated what an Apple television could be like. Former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée sees it as another box, supporting applications, a function that … Continue Reading
From smartphones to televisions, how Apple will avoid the fate of RCA
The economics of the consumer electronics industry dictate that on a long enough timescale, all products will become low-margin commodities. The companies that make products household names are destined to fade from the public’s memory. Will Apple suffer the same fate as others before it, such as RCA, who revolutionized television sets in a similar fashion but were relegated to the dustbin of history decades later?
It’s products will most certainly be commoditized, but thanks … Continue Reading
Apple will need more than Siri to make its TV plans succeed
“Siri, record all new episodes of the Desperate Bridezillas of Jersey Shore.”
That may be how we’ll talk to our Apple television sets in the next few years, the New York Time’s Nick Bilton postulates.
With Steve Jobs’ posthumous claim that he “cracked” the code for an Apple TV interface, everyone’s trying to figure out just what he meant. Bilton assumes the only logical answer is Siri, Apple’s intelligent virtual assistant, currently exclusive to the … Continue Reading
Apple’s “iTV” may be brought to you by iTunes creator
Apple has apparently turned to Jeff Robbin, who created iTunes and co-developed the iPod, to spearhead development of an integrated television set.
Three sources with knowledge of the project divulged the news to Bloomberg. If true, it means that Apple is prioritizing development of a TV set, potentially called the “iTV.”
In his official biography, released yesterday, Steve Jobs claimed he “cracked” the code for an integrated Apple television, saying “It will have the simplest … Continue Reading
Apple analyst says the 50-inch “iTV” is coming soon
Senior research analyst Gene Munster says an Apple-made TV could be coming as soon as the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013.
In a quote to Business Insider, the Piper Jaffray web expert said, “We believe Apple is investing in manufacturing facilities and securing supply for LCD displays. These displays could range from 3.5″ mobile displays to 50″ television displays.
“More recently, in September 2011, we met with a contact close to an … Continue Reading
Steve Jobs claimed he had “cracked” the code for an integrated Apple TV
Apple is planning an easy-to-use, advanced television, according to comments made by the late Apple founder Steve Jobs to his biographer.
“I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud,” Jobs reportedly told the biographer, Walter Isaacson.
“It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.”
The comments, made to author Walter … Continue Reading
New Apple TV may finally offer Netflix streaming video access
As if we needed any more rumors surrounding Apple’s media event on Wednesday (we covered the major rumors in an earlier post), we’re now hearing that the company may finally bring Netflix’s Watch Instantly streaming video service to its revamped Apple TV, three unnamed sources tell Businessweek.
Netflix’s streaming video service was first released in 2007 with support just for Windows PCs. It quickly gained popularity as it landed on popular devices like the Xbox … Continue Reading
What to expect from Apple's Wednesday event: New iPods, Apple TV, and more
Apple’s next big media event is set for this Wednesday, September 1 at 1PM EST (10AM PST), and as always, there’s no shortage of rumor and speculation floating about. We’ll be at the event, and will be following any major announcements. But first, let’s take a look at what Apple may have up its sleeve.
iPod Touch Updates – Given the Apple-branded guitar in its event invitation, as well as the fact that it’s been … Continue Reading
Roku slashes prices on streaming video set-top boxes in preparation for Google TV
Roku aggressively lowered the prices of all of its internet video streaming set-top boxes yesterday, in an attempt to remain competitive with upcoming web video-to-TV offerings like Google TV, Apple’s revamped Apple TV (which may be called iTV), and Boxee’s set-top box.
Roku’s SD (standard definition) box is now available for $59.99, its HD box for $69.99, and the top-end HD-XR has now squeaked below $100 to $99.99. The SD box was reduced by $20, … Continue Reading
Talk of 99-cent iTunes TV rentals points to revamped Apple TV
As if we needed more evidence that Apple is planning to launch a new Apple TV (which will most likely be called iTV), now there’s word that the company is preparing to let iTunes users rent TV shows for 99 cents, according to Bloomberg.
Three people familiar with the plan tell the site that Apple is in “advanced talks” with News Corp. to make content from Fox available, and it’s also in discussions with NBC, … Continue Reading
Should you buy Google TV or wait for the new Apple TV to launch?
There’s little doubt that TV and the internet world will eventually merge, and Google and Apple are both making efforts in that direction. Devices based on Google TV are launching this fall, and Apple is expected to launch a new, stronger version of its Apple TV (now dubbed iTV) sometime next year.
It’s yet to be seen whether Google TV or iTV will succeed where others such as WebTV (now called MSN TV) have struggled, … Continue Reading
Week in review: Oracle sues Google, Irrational Games unveils new BioShock
Here’s our roundup of the week’s tech business news. First, the most popular stories VentureBeat published in the last seven days:
Oracle sues Google over Android — Oracle announced this week that it has filed suit against Google for alleged patent and copyright infringement. The business software giant, headed by Larry Ellison, said that the suit concerns intellectual property related to the Java programming language.
HP’s PR nightmare spreads across the Internet with nude photos … Continue Reading
New Apple TV renamed iTV — gains apps, restricted to 720p HD video
In May, we reported that the next Apple TV would potentially retail for $99 and run on iPhone-like hardware with iOS. It was an exciting reveal for a product that has long been ignored by Apple — but now it appears that the news surrounding the new Apple TV isn’t entirely rosy.
Engadget has received information on the project, which apparently has been renamed iTV (the original name for the Apple TV). The sources say … Continue Reading
Finally, Apple announces iPhone — vows to leapfrog other smart phones
In May, we reported that the next Apple TV would potentially retail for $99 and run on iPhone-like hardware with iOS. It was an exciting reveal for a product that has long been ignored by Apple — but now it appears that the news surrounding the new Apple TV isn’t entirely rosy.
Engadget has received information on the project, which apparently has been renamed iTV (the original name for the Apple TV). The sources say … Continue Reading
