New anonymous information has come in claiming that Apple is hosting a “webcast kick off” on Tuesday September 30th, which might possibly relate to the Apple TV. Rumors that the Apple TV will be discontinued or “merged” with the Mac Mini have been around for a while. Many Apple TV owners and Mac Mini users have both asked for features the other device has, leaving many wondering what Apple is waiting for.
TUAW recently received an email from an anonymous Apple reseller, explaining that he had received an email from Apple instructing him to burn all of his Apple TV literature. No, he just has to throw away the marketing material and send back the actual Apple TV’s. The email continues to say there will be a “webcast kick off” on September 30th, which coincidentally is a Tuesday, and officially the last day of the September quarter.
We just got an e-mail from an anonymous Apple reseller, stating that they received an e-mail from Apple with instructions to remove all Apple TV displays and literature and to destroy them (which I assume means throw away the literature, send back the Apple TVs) by September 30, 2008 at 5 PM.
Additionally, on September 15th MacBlogz learned that Apple was indeed working on a software upgrade that would enable direct HD TV show downloads to the device. Currently, the only way to get HD TV shows onto the device is to transfer them from your computer via iTunes.
MacBlogz has learned from the same person people that told us about the new Macbook Pro keyboard, that Apple is indeed working on an update that will deliver HD TV Show downloads, directly to the device. In other words, Apple will be releasing a juicy update that will let you download HD TV Shows straight to your Apple TV. We figure Apple has been working on this functionality specifically for the Apple TV, but it’s either late, or Apple chose to wait with its launch. Users have begun grumbling about a possible software update, and they are right. It is indeed coming. Understandably users were shocked when Apple unveiled HD TV Shows, and then left out the ability to download them straight to the Apple TV.
The idea that Apple would discontinue or replace the Apple TV is also plausible, however support would need to remain around for existing owners. We still believe that Apple is working on an update that would enable HD TV show downloads to the Apple TV, and users can expect an update bringing this functionality.
Apple’s initial email to the reseller could simply be a request to remove old “Digital Content” literature, such as various TV show marketing, which may have expired. Apple is classically known for releasing new products on Tuesdays, which September 30th is. Other rumors regarding Apple’s upcoming notebook line point to October 14th as the next Apple release date, or quite possibly an announced special event.
13 Comments to “Apple Hosting “Webcast Kick Off”, New Product Launch on September 30th?”
Um,
Apple TV falls under the “music and entertainment umbrella” does it not?. And did we not just have a big expensive music and entertainment Apple event 3 weeks ago where they announced new iPods and HD TV show downloads? I’m no marketing expert but that would seem the appropriate moment would it not to parade out your flashy new device for playing HD TV shows and movies.
This rumor seems half-baked.
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I was just as shocked as most when Apple announced HD TV shows and neglected to include direct downloads to the Apple TV. It’s entirely possible that this “rumor” more so addresses functionality, then it does a new launch.
But the “webcast kick off” — happening on a Tuesday — last day of the quarter… Pretty interesting if u ask me.
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Well I am also being a bit selfish as well in hoping they aren’t replacing the Apple TV because I just bought one 3 weeks ago. A firmware upgrade makes perfect sense though. If Apple expects people to actually BUY the HD TV shows they are offering they need to make it easy to purchase. Downloading to iTunes and then synching wirelessly over to the Apple TV is a clunky painful process (and it makes you Apple TV basically unusable during the sync).
Of course I have a bad track record with this kind of stuff having bought the “brand new” iSight G5 iMacs 2 months before the first Intel iMac replaced it.
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Syncing really is the Achilles Heel of the ATV isn’t it? It’s excruciatingly painful to to try to do anything on the ATV or the computer it is syncing with during the duration of that sync.
Not only does Apple need to bring HD TV downloads directly the the ATV they also need to improve the syncing options on the iTunes side (i.e. let me turn it off completely and just sync manually when necessary) or let me choose convenient times (like in the middle of the night).
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Can’t help but wonder what is slowing your machines down. Admittedly I have a fairly powerful thunder lizard running Tunes (four dual core MacPro 3GHZ 16 gig ram) but even my MacBook Pro doesn’t seem to have much of a prob when syncing. Perhaps your wireless LAN is the bottleneck? Running the radio mode at 2.4 or 5 MHTZ? Whichever, try switching to the other mode (highest speed) and see if it helps. More RAM is usually the best fix, though.
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Hmm. Interesting. I never thought about changing the settings on my router.
I’m using an airport extreme and my master copy of iTunes is running on an 2.1 GHz iMac G5 (iSight) with 2.5 MB of RAM.
The only thing I see in the Airport Utility that resembles the settings you suggested changing is something called “Multicast Rate” (which can be set to 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbs and which is by default set to 2).
Any ideas?
@ minimalist: Try switching it to 5.5 or 11, also try updating your Airport Extreme. If none of this works, then you should probably directly connect the Apple TV to the router and see if the problem persists.
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Thanks. I’ll up the multicast rate (I also turned on network robustness as my audio streams to the ATV tend to drop inand out randomly even though the signal is 4 out of 5 bars strong).
In all honesty, this is not surprising. It doesn’t seem much different than how an iPod actively synching with iTunes makes iTunes sluggish and unresponsive.
I just wish Apple would let me control the sync process better. It reminds me of the dumbed-down syncing you get with an iPod Shuffle (why is this different than any other iPod?). They need a totally manual option so the Apple TV doesn’t start a sync when you don’t want it to.
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I like the middle of the night idea (in theory).
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EASY TO PURCHASE is the key phrase here. I am simply BAFFLED by the fact that Apple left this feature out.
I want new HD TV Shows but I only have one computer that my girlfriend and I share. And One Apple TV. It’s just NOT WORKING OUT when we have to hold up everything on the computer because we want new tv shows on the apple tv. I know it may sound like small pittens to have to share the devices, but we’re both students and between homework and freetime, it’s just really annoying and extremely frustrating to deal with.
I really, really, really, really hope this firmware update come soon.
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I LOOOOOOOOVE!!!!! My AppleTV… and honestly don’t see it going anywhere or being replaced… The AppleTV IS the future… Computers and TVs will eventually merge into a single device… so I see this as possibly a more significant software update.
Here is what I would LOVE to see added to the AppleTV:
- The ability to subscribe to live TV channels (Say I really only watch a couple channels on my Satellite TV. I could subscribe to JUST those 2 channels on Apple TV and they would be delivered through the internet. Then I have the ability already to purchase any TV shows that I may want to watch. That would completely eliminate the need for Satellite or Cable.)
- Add Safari to AppleTV!!! I would LOVE to surf the internet from my couch on the AppleTV.
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Two additional features I’d like:
1) ability to stream video to my multiple ATVs simultaneously in different zones of the house from the master library (like I can with Airtunes). The signal’s going right past the receivers, why can’t they receive it?
2) inclusion of iTunes visualizers on ATV when I use them to play music
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Well, looks like TUAW’s anonymous tipsters weren’t too helpful. It seems as though they rumored an event and then rumored that it was canceled.
It’s safe to say that an Apple TV update is still coming, only we don’t exactly know when.
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