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Whispers of a real Apple TV have been slowly climbing the rumour chart for years. It began when Steve Jobs first announced a small set-top box to stream your iTunes library to the living room, which grew into a solution for streaming movies online. Jobs said the pocket-sized TV box was merely a hobby for Apple, and it was easy to dismiss early rumours of a proper Apple flat-panel. Then the Steve Jobs biography was released. In it, Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson that Apple really had been working on a proper Apple TV with "the simplest user interface you could imagine". Isaacson later said that Jobs always planned to revolutionise TV in the same way he did with computers and phones, proving that his hobby claims were just smoke and mirrors after all. Since then, there has rarely been such loose speculation around a rumoured Apple product -- and that's really saying something after the hype surrounding the iPhone 4S. Let CNET UK be your guide through the pundit minefield and help explore what a real Apple TV could be like. What will the Apple TV do? For now, the Apple TV allows HD video rentals, iTunes streaming and AirPlay, which draws a feed straight from your iPhone or iPad. So what could a pro Whispers of a real Apple TV have been slowly climbing the rumour chart for years. It began when Steve Jobs first announced a small set-top box to stream your iTunes library to the living room, which grew into a solution for streaming movies online. Jobs said the pocket-sized online TV box was merely a hobby for Apple, and it was easy to dismiss early rumours of a proper Apple flat-panel. Then the Steve Jobs biography was released. In it, Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson that Apple really had been working on a proper Apple TV with "the simplest user interface you could imagine". Isaacson later said that Jobs always planned to revolutionise TV in the same way he did with computers and phones, proving that his hobby claims were just smoke and mirrors after all. Since then, there has rarely been such loose speculation around a rumoured Apple product -- and that's really saying something after the hype surrounding the iPhone 4S. Let CNET UK be your guide through the pundit minefield and help explore what a real Apple TV could be like. What will the Apple TV do?
For now, the Apple TV allows HD video rentals, iTunes streaming and AirPlay, which draws a feed straight from your iPhone or iPad. So what could a proper TV set bring besides a classic design and FaceTime camera? The most exciting prospect is if it delivers a dedicated TV app store. Living room apps aren't a new concept, but Apple's grip on the leading developers gives it the best shot of bringing TV apps to the mainstream. An obvious example would be apps for channels, but we like the idea of TV widgets too, like a news ticker to glance at while you eat breakfast. Could the Apple TV become a contender to the Xbox and PlayStation? The iPhone accidentally became the most popular handheld gaming device in the world, and Apple will presumably update its TV set more often than Sony or Microsoft would with their consoles. The next decade will certainly be an interesting chapter in the history of gaming. Ultimately, most people still want their live TV stream to play traditional programmes. One analyst thinks the TV will include a cable input since so many families are tied into contracts with existing suppliers like Sky or Virgin, but Apple might rather these companies simply bring out an app just as they might on the iPad. Online TV set bring besides a classic design and FaceTime camera? The most exciting prospect is if it delivers a dedicated TV app store. Living room apps aren't a new concept, but Apple's grip on the leading developers gives it the best shot of bringing TV apps to the mainstream. An obvious example would be apps for channels, but we like the idea of TV widgets too, like a news ticker to glance at while you eat breakfast. Could the Apple TV become a contender to the Xbox and PlayStation? The iPhone accidentally became the most popular handheld gaming device in the world, and Apple will presumably update its TV set more often than Sony or Microsoft would with their consoles. The next decade will certainly be an interesting chapter in the history of gaming. Ultimately, most people still want their TVs to play traditional programmes. One analyst thinks the TV will include a cable input since so many families are tied into contracts with existing suppliers like Sky or Virgin, but Apple might rather these companies simply bring out an app just as they might on the iPad. It finally looks like Apple is working on a proper TV. Remote controls could be ditched for some kind of Siri and gesture combo, and living room apps could become a reality with either a built-in app store or a focus on using AirPlay to pull a stream from your iPhone or iPad. While the blogosphere works itself into a fluster over the prospect of a 2012 release, we think Apple will test the waters with an update to the current Apple TV box or the release of TV software through your Mac. A positive side-effect of this speculation is how they have sent other live TV stream makers scrambling to build their own visions of the future. Apple's entry to other industries left many companies spinning, but the new level of competition has changed mobile and tablet tech for the better. As a result, the TV experience will soon be richer than ever, no matter who you buy from.
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