Rumours of an Apple TV upgrade have been knocking around for longer than Bruce Forsyth, but a credible new report claims Apple is plotting a major update to its neglected set-top box this summer. An Apple employee has reportedly leaked details of the new Apple TV to the New York Times, with intriguing revelations about a revamped remote control.
According to the leaked reports, the new remote control will have a touchpad, making it easier to scroll around the Apple TV interface. The remote will be significantly larger than the existing model and will also sport two physical buttons.
The current Apple TV remote is a masterclass in minimalism. The tiny slab of aluminium has a circular D-pad and just two buttons, for Menu and Play/Pause. It's an attractive design, but often makes it difficult to navigate the Apple TV menus, not least if you need to use an onscreen keyboard to enter your password or search for films. Apple also offers an Apple TV remote control app for the iPhone, which already includes a touchpad-style interface and access to the iPhone's software keyboard.
The New York Times says the new Apple TV will be unveiled at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which starts on 8 June. Apple is reportedly working with a number of internet TV providers to put together a package of channels that will be cheaper than buying them from US cable networks. It's not clear if Apple is working on something similar with UK content providers.
Apple hasn't made a significant upgrade to the Apple TV hardware since 2012. Rumours have long persisted that Apple would build its own flat screen television set, but these have all proved to be as false as Brucie's hair.
