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Tag: Apple TV

  • Foxconn Begins Apple iTV Production Trials [RUMOR]

    It was recently reported by China Daily that Foxconn is investing $210 million into building a new production line in Huai’an City, China. Foxconn plants, known for various questionable practices including employing underage workers, while underpaying and likewise overcharging employees to live in on-site dorms, prompting strikes and mass-suicidal behavior. Now Chinese news site Sina reports that Foxconn is now taking orders for Apple’s TV platform, tentatively called iTV. No word on whether the TV might be manufactured in the new facility.

    Below is a mockup of Apple’s iTV:

    apple itv

    The report states that the iTV “trial production stage” at Foxconn, regardless of Foxconn’s CEO denying that the company will be producing the device earlier in the month. The Apple TV is rumored to look similar to Apple’s present lot of LED Cinema Displays, though larger. It is also rumored that the TVs will feature Siri integration, a built-in iSight camera that will allow for FaceTime calls and AirPlay integration.

    It’s been previously reported that the iTV would launch later this year, though some expect it to launch in sometime in 2014. Still, there has been specualtion that Apple might make an official announcement regarding the device in December.

    Hat tip to Cult of Mac.

  • Apple iTV Announcement To Come In December?

    It seems that rumors surrounding the HDTV Apple may or may not be working on (sometimes called the iTV, sometimes just the Apple TV) have been coming more frequently of late. Today we’ve learned that analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray believes that Apple may announce such a device in December.

    In a note to investors, Munster predicted that an Apple HDTV would “freeze the market” for HDTVs during the 2012 holiday season. He also predicted that an iTV would be in the 42-55-inch range, and cost $1,500-2,000. He also suggested that the iTV would include Siri, App Store integration, and an iOS app for interface control (a la the Remote app already in the App Store). Munster also believes that such a TV would capture 10% of the overall TV market within the first 1-3 years following its release.

    While 10% of the market is certainly nothing to sneeze at, it’s worth wondering whether that constitutes the kind of market revolution Apple has tended to target with its new products over the last few years. The HDTV market is full of smart TVs with many of the same capabilities Munster ascribes to the iTV. It raises the question of whether Apple might be better off going with a device like the hypothetical iHub we told you about yesterday.

    Either way, Apple’s entrance into the TV market with some sort of TV-like device – whether the iHub or iTV – is looking increasingly likely. Whether Apple will be able to differentiate itself from the rest of the TV market enough to perform another iPhone- or iPad-like miracle remains to be seen.

  • Apple iTV May Not Be A TV At All

    Apple iTV May Not Be A TV At All

    With all the rumors that have been circulating in recent months about Apple’s possible iTV, there have been all sorts of questions about the device. How big will it be? What features will it have? How much will it cost? When can we buy one? One question, however, has plagued the device all along: can an iTV do to the HDTV market what the iPhone and iPad did for the smartphone and tablet markets? More to the point, can the iTV do in in a way that the Apple TV can’t?

    Many have felt that the answer is probably no. The HDTV market is too well-established for Apple to come along and revolutionize it the way they have other markets. The smartphone had almost no appeal to the consumer market until Apple came along and showed consumers the iPad. The tablet market was hardly worthy of the name until the iPad. That’s not the case with the TV market. The TV market has been targeted mainly at consumers since the beginning, and there are countless good TVs available for customers to choose from – many already having the advanced “smart TV” features of the kind you find in an Apple TV (e.g., Netflix).

    What, then, is Apple to do? While it’s possible they could release an HDTV that would revolutionize the TV market in the same way the iPad and iPhone revolutionized their markets, it doesn’t seem terribly likely. And yet all the signs point to Apple having some sort of TV-like device in the works. Not least among these signs is Steve Jobs’s statement to his biographer, Walter Isaacson, that TV was one of the last things he worked on at Apple, and that he had finally “cracked it.” That makes it sound like Apple does plan to revolutionize the market. So what’s the solution?

    James McQuivey of Forrester Research has an idea about what Apple might do instead of an iTV. He thinks that instead of just building a TV, Apple plans to build – or should build – “the world’s first non-TV TV.” This device, which he calls the “iHub,” would be, as the name suggests, the hub of a family’s daily life. Here’s McQuivey’s description below:

    Instead of selling a replacement for the TV you just bought, Apple should convince millions of Apple fans that they need a new screen in their lives. Call it the iHub, a 32-inch screen with touch, gesture, voice, and iPad control that can be hung on the wall wherever the family congregates for planning, talking, or eating — in more and more US homes, that room is the dining room or eat-in kitchen. By pushing developers to create apps that serve as the hub of family life — complete with shared calendars, photo and video viewers, and FaceTime for chatting with grandma — this non-TV TV could take off, ultimately positioning Apple to replace your 60-inch set once it’s ready to retire.

    Whether the kind of device McQuivey is talking about really is what Apple is working on is impossible to know at this point, but his idea certainly has merit. As he points out, the life cycle of a TV is generally far longer than that of most other consumer electronics. Most of us don’t buy new TVs nearly as often as we buy new phones, tablets, or computers. As McQuivey points out, Apple isn’t going to make its customary zillions of dollars by trying to convince people to replace a product they may have spent a thousand dollars on just a few months ago. A device like McQuivey’s iHub would provide Apple with a foot in the door of the TV market while also convincing people that they need another device that’s far more than just a TV – and that’s uniquely Apple. When Tim Cook unveiled the new iPad in March he talked a lot about the post-PC world and the iPad’s place in it. A device like the iHub would go a long way toward both hastening the arrival of the post-PC world, and introducing the post-TV world along with it.

  • Motorola debuts DreamGallery by Motorola Medios

    The Cable Show, a yearly trade show for the cable industry, is taking place in Boston this week. There, cable companies gather to show off their new products and services. This year’s hot item seems to be software that are similar to, yet not as good as, an Apple TV or Roku.

    Motorola is announcing DreamGallery by Motorola Medios. DreamGallery is a new on-screen display. Specifically, Motorola is touting DreamGallery’s bookmarking function, which allows content to be marked for later viewing. The platform also has recommendations.

    “Consumers spoke. We listened. DreamGallery is to TV what search was to the Web,” said John Burke, senior vice president and general manager for Converged Experiences at Motorola Mobility. “Consumers want to be able to find personalized and relevant content, fast. We set out to address this hunger by leveraging our expertise in media software and our leadership in content delivery. We ended up reinventing the entire interface for television. DreamGallery isn’t just a better search and discovery experience. It’s a better way to watch TV.”

    Presumably, DreamGallery will come standard on new Motorola DVRs. Also, much like Comcast’s just-announced X1 platform, there is no mention of DreamGallery having any meaningful internet connectivity. No YouTube, Netflix, or Hulu to be seen in the preview video below. DreamGallery does, however, allow users to watch programming on multiple devices. How this works, and what restrictions might be placed on it, have not been revealed.

    These Apple TV-like devices have not been impressive, though The Cable Show is not for consumers. Comcast and Motorola are trying to impress cable service providers. To that end, these products feature interfaces that can be changed easily to promote programming or otherwise control the viewing environment of the subscriber. This focus on cable companies as customers instead of end-users is why many in the U.S. are simply dropping cable altogether.

    Take a look at DreamGallery below in a video provided by Motorola:

  • Comcast Announces an Apple TV Clone

    The Cable Show, a yearly trade show for the cable industry, is being held in Boston this week. There, cable companies showcase their latest technologies and developments. What’s the trend in cable technology for this year? Copying Apple, of course.

    Comcast is touting its new X1 video platform for its DVRs. The platform sports an Apple TV-like interface (seen above) and allows customers to use their iPhone or iPod as a remote control. Users will be able to access TV, DVR recordings, and Comcast Xfinity On Demand programming. The company will launch Xfinity TV on the new X1 platform soon, starting in Boston and rolling out to other major markets throughout the year.

    To be fair, Comcast hasn’t actually succeeded in cloning the Apple TV. For example, though it claims that X1 will deliver the world’s largest collection of video, there is no mention of a YouTube app. There is no mention of Netflix, Hulu, a browser, or internet access of any sort aside from the weather, traffic, radio, “social networking” and a couple of other apps. Comcast uses buzz-phrases such as “IP enabled” and “cloud-enabled” in a very odd manner. Speaking of “cloud-enabled,” there is also no mention of customers being able to store video, or anything, remotely.

    “The X1 platform makes the TV smarter, richer and more personalized – and that’s only the beginning. Our goal is to leverage this platform to redefine the entertainment experience for our customers,” said Marcien Jenckes, senior vice president and general manager of video services for comcast cable. “X1 is a giant leap forward, essentially transforming our video product from a hardware experience to a software experience, allowing us to innovate faster and more aggressively.”

    Will Comcast innovate faster and more aggressively? All of the innovation in the cable industry has come from outside of it and was then absorbed in a less-functional incarnation. Take TiVo, for example. The company innovated and brought DVR to the market. Cable companies, unable to ignore consumer demand for the technology, built DVRs of their own that had just enough functionality to make them passably usable. Comcast’s X1, a watered-down version of Apple TV or Google TV, is more of the same, giving customers “just enough” to keep them from fleeing cable altogether. This sort of begrudging change is why more Americans than ever are finally abandoning cable.

  • Apple iTV Confirmed by Foxconn CEO

    It turns out the rumors are (finally) true: Apple will be selling a television set in the near future. Terry Gou, Foxconn’s chairman and president, gave an interview with China Daily in which he confirmed that the company, which manufactures Apple’s products, is preparing to manufacture the iTV. Foxconn recently entered into a 50-50 joint venture with Sharp Electronics for a factory in Japan, and Gou confirmed that this was one of the preparations for iTV manufacturing.

    Though Gou said no development or manufacturing has begun, China Daily repeated claims about many of the features that are already rumored for the device. The iTV will supposedly resemble current Apple Cinema Displays in design, complete with an iSight camera for video calling. Also, a remote remote that uses Siri voice commands and tight integration with other Apple devices over AirPlay are also rumored.

    Apple is usually out in front of new markets, yet it seems it will still be quite a while before consumers will get to sit back on their couches and tell Siri to turn on their iTV. Meanwhile, LG already has plans to debut a TV set running Google TV in less than two weeks. It could be that Apple’s supplier problems got the better of them and delayed the iTV project.

    What do you think? Is Apple being unfairly hindered by suppliers who are close with competitors such as Samsung? Or was Apple truly late to the connected-TV market? Leave a comment below and let us know.

    (China Daily via BGR)

  • iTV Is Real, Comes With Siri And FaceTime [RUMOR]

    Apple’s HDTV is real, and includes Siri and FaceTime, according to a recent report. The TV is currently in the prototype phase, and is being prepared for a market release later this year.

    Citing an anonymous source, CultofMac is reporting that Apple’s new TV closely resembles the company’s current line of LED Cinema Displays, except on a much larger scale. While few of the TV’s specs are known, the source does say that it will have Siri integration, a built-in iSight camera that will allow for FaceTime calls, and AirPlay integration.

    Check out CultofMac’s mockup of the TV below:

    Apple TV iTV Mockup

    Rumors of an Apple-branded HDTV have been around at least as far back as the launch of the Apple TV 2 in 2010. Since then, rumors of what is usually called an iTV have surfaced with some regularity. Of course, nothing has ever come of these rumors. This time, though, it looks like Apple really does have a TV in the works, whether CultofMac’s source is to be believed or not. According to Steve Jobs’s biography by Walter Isaacson, Jobs was working on the TV during his last days at Apple, and told Isaacson that during that time he finally “cracked it.” Since then, increasingly reliable rumors have suggested that Apple really is working on their own TV.

    Unfortunately, CultofMac’s source gives little real information about the TV other than its general look and the three features already mentioned. There is no information on when Apple might release such a TV, how much it might cost, or what size options there will be. What is fairly certain is that they will not actually call the device an “iTV,” owing to the fact that two separate entertainment companies – one British, one American – currently operate under the name ITV.

    Of course, this rumor could wind up like all the other iTV rumors and never actually pan out. Even CultofMac acknowledges that this could be the case, as their source does not have a perfect record when it comes to leaks of this kind, “due to the fact that our source tends to see products in the prototype or early development stage.”

    That said, it’s a fair bet that Apple does want to break into the HDTV market. There are questions as to whether an Apple-branded TV could revolutionize the TV market the way the iPhone and iPad revolutionized their respective markets. After all, neither the smartphone nor the tablet had broad consumer appeal before Apple got into those markets, while the Tv market is aimed primarily at consumers. That said, there is no doubt that such a TV would be quite popular.

    What do you think? Would you buy an Apple HDTV that looked like the one above? Could Apple do to TVs what they did to smartphones, or is that market too well-established already? Would you use a TV for FaceTime calls? Let us know in the comments.

  • Apple Projected iPad Sales at 12M in Q1

    Apple Projected iPad Sales at 12M in Q1

    Apple is set to submit is Q1 2012 sales report in a week, and analysts have predicted that the company will post 33 million iPhone sales and 12 million iPad sales. These predictions come from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, and are a bit off from Wall Street’s January-March analysis, at 30.5 and 13 million respectively. Munster also foresees 4.3 million Macs being sold, against 4.4 million suggested by Wall Street.

    Apple broke its own sales records with the release of it’s new iPad, shipping three million units in 4 days, and Munster says he doesn’t think that is prediction of Apple shipping 1 million shy of Wall Street’s mark will affect investor confidence. Munster expects Apple’s March revenue to hit $38.3 billion, and puts earnings per share of $11.41, in contrast to Wall Street’s $36.2 billion in revenue and $9.86 EPS. Apple’s trends in growth are described in the chart below:

    apples sales

    With Apple selling a record 37 million iPhones over the holidays last year, Munster foresees the release of the iPhone 5 as being the next big product launch for the company. The most recent reports claim that the new iPhone device will hit the market some time in October. Apple’s TV product was also mentioned as being a big earner, though an Asian research firm recently reported that the iTV isn’t expected to be released until some time in 2013.

    In related news, last week Munster pointed out that he thinks Apple is set to become the first trillion-dollar company in the world, by 2014.

  • iPad 2 Quietly Gets A Processor Upgrade

    When Apple unveiled their new iPad early last month, they also announced that last year’s model, the iPad 2, would be getting a reduction in price. Each model of iPad 2 got a $100 price reduction in the wake of the new iPad announcement, dropping the price for the lowest-end model, the 16GB Wi-fi only version – down to $399.

    This is pretty standard practice for Apple: a new product comes out at the same price points as the previous model, and the previous model gets a price cut. That’s why you could get an iPhone 3GS for free with a two-year contract after the iPhone 4S launched last year. What Apple doesn’t do, however, is upgrade the old versions. Except this time, that’s exactly what they did.

    It seems that the iPad 2 models that are currently rolling off the production line have a slightly more energy-efficient processor the A5 chip that has been in the tablet since it launched last year. This modified version of the A5 is the same chip that’s found in the new third-gen Apple TV that launched alongside the new iPad.

    According to AnandTech’s Brian King, who first made the discovery, the updated A5 chip is the same design as the old one, but “ported” to Samsung’s new 32nm HKMG manufacturing process. The result is a chip that performs almost identically to the old version, but does it with somewhat improved energy efficiency. For the end user, then, the upgrade doesn’t necessarily mean much, except that those who get the latest version of the iPad 2 may see slightly better battery performance than those who have the older version.

    Meanwhile, Chipworks confirmed the presence of the new chip inside the iPad 2 in the simplest way possible: they took one apart and looked. Here’s what the chip looks like:

    Enhanced A5 chip

    While they suspect that a similar change has been made in more recently-produced models of the iPhone 4S, they have not yet managed to confirm that.

  • Foxconn’s Investment In Sharp Hints At Apple’s iTV

    Foxconn’s recent deal with Sharp may be the biggest confirmation yet that Apple’s long-rumored iTV is on its way. Apple has reportedly been in talks for several months with component suppliers, though some – Samsung and LG, particularly – have been less than receptive to Apple’s overtures.

    Yesterday Foxconn made news with an announcement that its parent company, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., was investing $1.6 billion in Sharp. Diminishing demand for its products has hit Sharp hard recently, to the point that the company expects to post a $3.49 billion loss for the fiscal year (which ends on March 31st). Hon Hai’s investment in Sharp allows the struggling company to stay afloat while providing an easy shortcut around Apple’s display supply problems for the iTV.

    Apple’s iTV has been rumored for years, since the launch of the second generation Apple TV in 2010. Despite these rumors, such a device has never materialized. Last year, though, Steve Jobs’s biographer Walter Isaacson revealed that the iTV was among the last projects Jobs was working on during his time at Apple, and Jobs revealed to Isaacson that he had finally “cracked it.” In the months since then increasingly credible reports have said that an iTV (though that likely won’t be its final name) is in the works. Many expect the iTV to launch sometime this year – most agree that the third quarter is likely – but news this morning suggests that 2013 might be more likely.

  • Apple iTV Not Coming Until 2013, Says Research Group

    Apple iTV Not Coming Until 2013, Says Research Group

    In all the hubbub over the latest iPad and the increasing rumors about the next iPhone, it’s almost easy to forget that there have been rumors flying for several months that Apple had their very own HDTV set in the works.

    The release date for the iTV, as it’s usually called (though that’s not likely to be its final name), has been very much in question. Early reports late last year suggested a launch date sometime in the third quarter of 2012. While other dates have been rumored, the general consensus has tended to uphold a third quarter timeframe. Now, though, that may be in doubt. Asian research firm CLSA recently published a note to their clients suggesting that the iTV would not be coming until 2013. Business Insider got their hands on a summary of the note, which you can read below:

    We continue to view Apple TV hardware as a 2013 event. The timing of Hon Hai/Foxconn’s equity stake and partnership with Sharp along with Hon Hai Chairman Terry Gou’s separate 46.5% investment in Sharp’s Sakai City plant lends further credibility that Apple TV is in the works. This also follows reports that Apple is investing ~$1.3bn in equipment destined for Sharp facilities. The fact that Hon Hai is investing rather than just procuring panels from Sharp underscores a deeper level of integration which Apple/Hon Hai are accustomed to, increased reliability as Sharp has struggled with iPad3 qualification, and an effort to improve Sharp’s financial position before becoming a more meaningful supplier to Apple. We also believe Corning has an 83% market share at the Sakai facility and would ultimately benefit from improving utilization that is expected to happen over time. Sharp accounted for 10% of Corning’s overall sales and 25% of its display sales in 2011

    Most clients agree that a TV is coming; the critical question becomes how the video providers fit into the equation and how apple’s offering would/could differ from current tv’s beyond ios/icloud. Biggest commentary yesterday centered on LG Display as the big loser.

    There have been rumors of an iTV for years, ever since Apple launched the second generation Apple TV in 2010. Much like the fabled iPad Mini, though, those rumors have never actually amounted to anything. In Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, though, it was revealed that the iTV was one of the last things Jobs worked on at Apple before he died, and Jobs told Isaacson that he had finally “cracked it.” Since then it has become increasingly clear that Apple really does have an iTV in the works.

    While rumors about the iTV’s size, features, and availability are plentiful, there are few firm details as yet. Given how little is known about the iTV and where Apple is in the process of development, a third quarter 2012 release date isn’t really more or less likely than a 2013 release date at this point.

    What do you think? Would you like to see an iTV in time for the 2012 holiday season? What features would you like to see? Let us know in the comments.

  • Apple TV, Google TV, Boxee, Roku: Which Is Best For Consumers?

    FixYa, a site that specializes in troubleshooting advice for consumer gadgets of all kinds – computers, smartphones, tablets, and more – has recently compiled a report comparing the four leading web TV devices based on the number and kind of troubleshooting complaints the site has received about each devices. The report looked at the Apple TV, Google TV, Boxee Box, and Roku. What the report found may come as a surprise to some of those familiar with these devices.

    The report starts by noting that this sort of web TV device is still fairly new, and has not yet gained major traction among TV viewers. The data also shows that the primary complaint about all four devices was the lack of DVR-like ability to record streamed content. Overall the report found that the Roku was the the simplest and least expensive of the devices examined, making it the best bet for those just getting into web TV. The Google TV, meanwhile, was the worst value, due in large part to its lack of content. The Apple TV’s seamless connection to iTunes was a major point in its favor, however it was also seen as limiting the device, since users can only access iTunes-compatible content.

    Problems with the Big Four

    Each device had its own unique set of problems based on FixYa searches for troubleshooting advice. Check them out below:

    Fixya: Apple TV

    The biggest problem Apple TV users reported was difficulty connecting to iTunes. Considering that one of the primary purposes of the Apple TV is to bring users’ content from their iTunes account onto their TVs, this is a pretty significant problem. While there’s no way to know how widespread this problem is among all Apple TV users, it certainly accounted for a large percentage of complaints on FixYa.

    Fixya: Google TV

    The biggest problem for Google TV is not actually technical at all. By many accounts, Google TV does what it does quite well. The big problem with the Google TV is not its technical specifications, but its content. Unlike the Roku and Boxee, for example, Google TV does not offer access to Hulu, which is a major source of streaming content for many users. Numerous other major content providers have declined to allow their content on Google TV as well, leaving the Google TV with a significant dearth of the very thing web TVs are meant to provide: internet-based content.

    Fixya: Boxee Box

    The biggest problems users had with the Boxee Box were all purely technical. It seems the device has a tendency to lock up during firmware updates, as well as drop its audio feed. On the whole, though, the report says that the Boxee Box generated the more positive feedback overall than the other three devices. The Boxee is by far the most feature-rich of the four.

    Fixya: Roku

    The biggest problem with the Roku was occasional difficulty connecting to the internet, sometimes due to incompatible router equipment. Just as with the Apple TV’s difficulty connecting to iTunes, this problem has the potential to defeat the entire purpose of the device. A web TV device that cannot access the web has a major problem.

    Which is Best?

    The report concludes with some recommendations for users who are looking at getting into web TV. Each of the four devices has its strengths, though Google TV fares the worst by a significant margin, due to its lack of access to content that is readily available on the other three devices – Hulu being a major example. The Apple TV is the best choice for users who get most of their content from iTunes, since much of the video that comes from iTunes has DRM features added that prevent it from playing on most other devices. The Roku provides a simple and economical option that is excellent for users with more limited funds or users who are new to the world of web TV. The Roku also has more content options than some of its competitors, thanks to a variety of channels available in the Roku Channel Store.

    Check out the full FixYa report here.

    What do you think? Do you have any of these web TVs? Which do you think is best, and why? Let us know in the comments.

  • Apple Stock Continues To Skyrocket, Touches $600 Per Share

    Apple’s stock price has been in the news several times recently thanks to a dramatic surge in the past few weeks. Just two weeks ago Apple was trading at nearly $550 per share and hit a remarkable $500 million in market capitalization (the combined price of all tradable shares). The announcement and impending release of the third-generation iPad has fueled a dramatic increase since then. Just yesterday Apple’s stock price hit $582 per share, a new all-time record for the company.

    Of course, as the old saying goes, records are made to be broken. Apple’s stock price has continued to rise since yesterday, and at the start of trading this morning actually hit $600 per share. It has fallen somewhat since that initial high, but not very far. As of this writing Apple’s stock is trading at $593.15 per share. The surge since yesterday has also been enough to add a further $10 billion to Apple’s market cap, which is now sitting at $552.44 billion. This makes Apple the most valuable company in the world, with a market cap now nearly $150 billion higher than that of second-place Exxon-Mobil.

    Apple's Stock Price

    With the new iPad (and a new Apple TV) releasing to the public tomorrow, a new iPhone coming either this summer or this fall, it’s not likely that Apple’s remarkable upward momentum will slow anytime soon.

    How long can Apple stay at the top? Will you be buying Apple stock any time soon? Let us know in the comments.

  • iTunes Updated To 10.6 Following Apple TV, iPad Announcement

    In a move that should surprise no one, Apple has released a new version of iTunes in the wake of this afternoon’s unveiling of the new iPad and the new Apple TV. iTunes 10.6 now supports 1080p video from the iTunes Store. It also includes a few security tweaks, some performance updates for iCloud, improved performance for iTunes Match, and improvements to the way iTunes downloads and displays album artwork.

    As always, iTunes 10.6 is available as a free download from Apple’s website. Mac users can also get the update by running Software Update. The new iPad and the new Apple TV are both available for pre-order from the Apple Store. You can pre-order now for delivery on March 16th (which is also when they are available in stores). The Apple TV is $99, and the new iPad starts at $499.

    Have you gotten iTunes 10.6? Have you noticed any changes we haven’t covered? Let us know in the comments.

  • New iPad, Apple TV Now Available In The Apple Store

    Late this morning we brought you news that the U.S. online Apple Store was down ahead of the unveiling of the new iPad. The store remained down throughout the event and after a few hiccups, appears to be mostly back up and running now.

    Both the new iPad and the new Apple TV are now available for pre-order through the Apple Store right now. The Apple TV sells for $99 with a promised delivery date of March 16th. The Apple TV has 1080p output, supports iCloud and AirPlay, and allows you to watch video from a variety of sources including Netflix, YouTube, Vimeo, as well as stream living sporting events from the MLB, NBA, and NHL.

    New Apple TV in the Apple Store

    The new iPad is also available for preorder, and also promises delivery by March 16th. The new iPad (not the iPad 3 or iPad HD, as it turns out), sports an array of new features including a retina display, a 5 megapixel iSight camera, 4G LTE connectivity, and a beefed up dual-core A5X processor. Launching along with the new iPad are updates to Apple’s iWork suite, as well as updates Garage Band and iMovie for iPad. All new with the retina display iPad is iPhoto for iPad, rounding out the iLife suite.

    New iPad for preorder in the Apple Store

    The new iPad is available in black and white, as well as 4G and Wi-Fi only. It also comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models. The pricing for the new iPad is the same as for the iPad 2: the Wi-Fi only models are $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB, while the 4G models are $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB, and $829 for 64GB.

    Do you plan to order a new iPad? Which kind will you get? What about a new Apple TV? Let us know in the comments.

  • New Apple TV Launches For $99 On March 16

    While everybody was tuned into the Apple event today for The New iPad reveal, Apple snuck in an announcement for an improved and cheaper Apple TV.

    While the Apple TV has been in existence for some time now, the new Apple TV will feature 1080p programming that integrates cloud-based iTunes movies and TV shows into its programming. It also supports Netflix, Vimeo, photos and more audio-visual content all in HD.

    On top of the announcement, it was also revealed that iCloud will now support movies and TV shows from the iTunes store. This will allow users to stream video content onto their HDTVs through Apple TV. Users can also stream content from their iPad or iPhone 4S onto the Apple TV.

    “People are going to love streaming movies and TV shows in 1080p with the new Apple TV, and photos look beautiful displayed at the maximum resolution of your TV,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Apple TV is easier than ever to use with its new icon-based interface and the ability to access your purchased movies, TV shows and music right from iCloud.”

    Apple TV Launches For $99

    Speaking of content, the programming available over Apple TV is pretty impressive. There will be over 15,000 movies and over 90,000 TV episodes available on the iTunes Store. On top of all that, there is Netflix, live sports from MLB, NBA and NHL alongside content from Vimeo, YouTube and Flickr.

    The iCloud support will go beyond Apple TV by letting users who buy content stream it on all of their compatible devices. iCloud can also be used to store photos and share between all of your devices.

    AirPlay will also be used to push content from your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to Apple TV. It can also be used to mirror images between the device and Apple TV to stream Web pages, spreadsheets and games.

    The most amazing news out of all this is the price. Apple TV will only cost $99 and be available Friday, March 16. You can buy it at the Apple online store, any of their retail stores or any authorized Apple reseller.

    If you’re interested in getting the Apple TV, you will need a couple of things first. Interested users will need iTunes 10.5 or later, either a wireless or Ethernet network, broadband internet connection and an HDTV capable of 1080p or 720p. It goes without saying that an HDMI cable is required.

    Those who own second generation Apple TV devices will be able to download a firmware update that adds the new UI. Unfortunately, the new Apple TV is required to play 1080p content.

  • Apple TV: Full HD, iOS Looking Interface On Updated Device

    The Apple TV is finally getting a long overdue update.

    The loveable little hockey puck-esque device will finally start pushing out full 1080p HD. Until now the Apple TV has been stuck at 720p, which might still be considered HD, but in the era of the Blu-Ray disc, it’s just not up to snuff with other products currently on the market. Okay, sure the device can handle 1080p, but will any content be in 1080p? Why, yes… yes it will. The device will also allow unlimited streaming of movies you’ve purchased in the past, via iCloud.

    Coming with the new Apple TV is an all new UI, which is getting a total HD overhaul. The new, simplified menu features modern looking icons which will pull in iTunes match, your iCloud items, Photo Stream, and essentially everything you’ve became accustomed to with the previous Apple TV’s.

    Basically we’re looking at an updated Apple TV, at the same $100 price tag. It’ll be on store shelves next week.

    For more Live details of the Apple Event, go here.

  • iPad 3 Release Date March 16th [RUMOR]

    iPad 3 Release Date March 16th [RUMOR]

    Although we know that Apple is set to unveil their newest iPad tablet at an event on Wednesday afternoon, we haven’t yet heard anything regarding the actual date in which it will hit the shelves. According to sources inside an Apple Store, the new iPad will release just nine days after it is announced.

    Google+Reader”>9to5Mac is quoting “reliable” store sources that hint the iPad 3 will be available on March 16th. Apparently, they are busy making preparations for a “big Apple store event” on that day. It’s important to note that March 16th is the Friday following the expected announcement. That’s because the iPad 2 was released on March 11th last year, the Friday after it was announced.

    About the whole “iPad 3” name.; we’ve been seeing mounting evidence that they new tablet will not have a number attached to it, and rather be called the “iPad HD.” Today, we learned that it’s looking more likely that that will be the case.

    Other finds from today include the rumor that the new tablet will in fact sport 4G LTE capabilities (despite previous assurances to the contrary), and the fact that Verizon has already begun to tease us about the new device on their website.

    9to5Mac’s sources also mentioned a separate launch event to occur a week later. Would Apple split up the iPad and Apple TV announcements? All will be revealed at 1 pm EST Wednesday.

  • Apple TV Out Of Stock Almost Everywhere

    Last week we brought you news that Apple might be preparing to launch a new Apple TV alongside the iPad 3 (iPad HD?) at tomorrow’s launch event. Now it looks like we may have some confirmation of that.

    According to a recent report from MacRumors, stocks of the current generation of Apple TV are dwindling at retailers across the country. While stocks have been diminishing at stores like Best Buy for awhile now, it looks like Apple’s own retail stores are starting to run out of the Apple TV as well.

    The fact that even Apple Stores are running out of the Apple TV all but confirms that an update is on the way. What we still don’t know is what the third-generation Apple TV will look like. Features like Siri and gesture controls have been, though that might be a bit far-fetched. There has also been speculation that the new Apple TV will finally have access to the App Store. If so, that will be a pretty significant update.

    Would you like to see a new Apple TV tomorrow, in addition to the new iPad? Tell us what you think in the comments.

  • Could Apple Stock Hit $1000 Per Share?

    Last quarter Apple reported earning over $13 billion. This puts their revenue at well over $46 billion and far beyond the what analysts expected (Reuters predicted $39 billion). Apple CEO, Tim Cook issued a press release exclaiming:

    “We’re thrilled with our outstanding results and record-breaking sales of iPhones, iPads and Macs,”

    “Apple’s momentum is incredibly strong, and we have some amazing new products in the pipeline.”

    Sales for Apple included over 15 million iPads, over 5 million Macs, and over 15 million iPods. All these products increased sales by at least 21% and iPad jumped an astounding 111%! These numbers are ridiculous, sales are climbing at an incredible rate.

    In fact, Apple sales climbed almost 35% since the beginning of last quarter and climber over 56% since last year! With current market prices at $500 per share and market cap at almost $400 billion, speculators are wondering how high the stock can climb.

    In an interview with CNBC, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniac commented on what he thinks about the future of Apple:

    “You know, people talk about $1,000 stock price … you know, at first you want to doubt it but I actually believe that and I don’t really follow stock markets,”

    “Apple is on such a winning course because it’s encapsulated all of its different big products that I mentioned, they all work together so well that you are in a course that if you buy a product from another company it doesn’t really do as much as one from Apple does. So Apple has a large room for growth,”

    He also talked a little about products like Apple TV and how they could impact the overall health of Apple:

    “Apple has that much growth left because we’re talking something like Apple TV that works with all these other great, great companies and products all in the same sphere,”

    “It’s not like a side project ‘we’re going to start a TV company’. No, we’re going to start TV within the whole Apple world. Assuming that we are going to, I don’t know,”

  • New Apple TV Launching Alongside iPad 3?

    New Apple TV Launching Alongside iPad 3?

    Early this afternoon we brought you news that Apple had begun sending out invitations to the launch event for the iPad 3. The event will take place on March 7th in San Francisco. Of course, scarcely is one rumor put to bed than another rears its head. Now it looks like Apple may actually be launching two new products next Wednesday: the iPad 3, and the third-generation Apple TV.

    Citing “reliable sources familiar with Apple’s upcoming product release,” 9to5Mac is reporting that Apple will be launching a new Apple TV at the iPad 3 event also. The current generation Apple TV was released in 2010, the same year as the original iPad, and rumors have been circulating lately that an update for the device Steve Jobs once described as Apple’s “hobby” would be coming soon. Those rumors got a big boost recently when the Apple TV started disappearing from retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.

    Details about the features of the Apple TV are few and far between. It is widely expected to have 1080p HD output, and will likely run on the dual-core A5X processor that has been getting so much attention in relation to the iPad 3. Other rumors include Siri functionality and Bluetooth capability. While the rumor mill has made little mention of the Apple TV finally getting access to the App Store, that seems like a pretty good possibility.

    If Apple does plan to unveil a new Apple TV next week, one wonders what that means for the recent spate of rumors concerning the iTV. Rumored release dates for Apple’s hypothetical HDTV have been all over the map, but it seems likely that a new Apple TV in March would push any iTV launch into the late third or fourth quarter of 2012, if not all the way to 2013.

    At any rate, with the big event just a week away, all (well, most) of our questions will be answered soon enough. In the meantime, check back for any new information about Apple’s upcoming products.

    Does the prospect of a new Apple TV excite you? Will you buy one? Let us know what you think in the comments.