Apple's announcement for the iPhone 6s is just days away, but the smart money is saying there's more to this event than just a couple of new smartphones. We're also expecting to see a long-awaited refresh of the Apple TV, a device that hasn't seen any design changes in more than three years. So, what can you expect from the 2015 Apple TV? Read on and find out.
What is it? | A long-awaited update to the Apple TV |
When's it coming out? | Before the end of 2015, with an announcement expected on Wednesday 9 September 2015 |
How much will it cost? | More than the current model, which is £59 |
Specifications
According to a source familiar with Apple's Plans, who spoke to BuzzFeed, the new Apple TV will use the latest A8 chip, which is found in the iPhone 6 and 6 plus. This chip might be more powerful than ever, as TechCrunch hypothises, because instead of being throttled back by a super-compact phone chassis and a small battery, the chip in the Apple TV could have more room to breathe and will benefit from mains power, meaning it can finally unleash its full potential.
Not only that, BuzzFeed reckons that there'll be a lot more onboard storage than the current 8GB; leaving more room for apps and downloads.
Remote control
Over at the New York Times another leaky Apple source was found. This time, it was on the topic of the remote control, which is also set for a complete overhaul. The classic iPod-style wheel will disappear, with a touchpad replacing it along with two physical buttons. The source said that the remote would be "comparable" to that used by the Amazon Echo personal assistant/Bluetooth speaker. The Apple TV can already be controlled via an iOS app instead of a remote control, so this isn't entirely unfamiliar territory.
Even better, BuzzFeed's source reckons the 2015 Apple TV will have Siri integration, with a microphone in the remote control bring Xbox Kinect-style voice commands to the system for the first time.
Content
Away from the hardware itself, Apple had been expected to announce a subscription-based TV service to sit alongside its new Apple Music service. This failed to materialise earlier this year, with Re/code informed that it might not arrive until 2016. It's not a huge issue, as there are plenty of apps and services that support Apple TV, so for us its appeal isn't hugely diminished by this news.
Elsewhere, expect the same apps you can already use on your current Apple TV and, with a bolstered processor, perhaps a selection of games. This will put it in direct competition with the Kindle Fire TV box and the Android TV-based Nexus Player if this does come to pass, although with no mention of a dedicated gaming controller, it might feel a little ham-fisted.
Price
Apple's website currently lists the Apple TV as costing "from £59". Since there are no other models currently available, it wouldn't be crazy to expect Apple to continue selling the current model as a budget box, and offer a more expensive model with extra features and better performance.
4K
Apparently, the new Apple TV will not support 4K Ultra HD video. Given the few TVs and current lack of content, I can understand why, but with Apple's access to content we'd love to see it deliver the latest films and TV shows at higher resolution. It looks as though we may have to wait a while for this to happen, though.
