Apple TV has been around since about four years before Google dominated tech headlines last month with the Google TV demo at Google I/O. It was a wakeup call for an Apple TV update when there was such a huge response to the Google TV demo. Rumors about a new Apple TV were flying in Silicon Valley just a week after Google TV was announce. Apple's renewed initiative for Apple TV sets the scene for a battle between technological superpowers for the future control of a $ 150-billion dollar advertising market.
Article Resource: Apple TV rumors hit the grapevine the week after Google TV demo
The Apple TV update
The Apple TV update was in development long before Google TV made its splash. As outlined by the technology blog engadget.com, it received a tip confirmed by a "source very close to Apple" the Apple TV update will be based directly on the Apple iPhone 4 operating system and be capable of full 1080p HD. The Apple TV device is referred to as an ultra simplified, streamlined Apple iPhone without a screen and with just a power socket and video out. Probably one of the most compelling feature of the Apple TV may be that consumers won't need emergency loans to jump on the bandwagon: it’s rumored price tag is $ 99. Right now the Apple TV is based on the OS and costs around $ 230.
Google TV vs. Apple TV
Apple TV and Google are playing a high stakes game. The winner will take the lead in a historical transformation of technology reports the Los Angeles Times. Nearly 40 percent of consumers said they wanted to connect their computers to their televisions to look at online video, as outlined by a recent survey by Frank N. Magid Associates. The Times quotes Jim Lanzone, who is chief executive of Clicker.com, as saying:
"A generation from now, people simply won't believe how limited the world of linear programming was, the same way people under 30 today can't relate to 12 channels and a knob."
Apple TV is now going to the cloud
Apple TV's new set-top box may have much of the functionality found on the Apple iPhone. Inside, it's got the A4 processor that powers its computers, along with 16GB of flash storage. As outlined by Engadget, there could be a Time Capsule option for external storage, but the primary purpose of Apple TV is all about streaming. Apple is moving from local storage to focus the new Apple TV on cloud-based storage. It was reported by Engadget that there was no info on whether the new device would support Apple’s App Store and apps, but given the runaway success of both, that feature might be assumed.
Apple TV - high expectations
Apple TV today is just a little box that allows users to purchase or rent HD movies and stream iTunes content through their set top boxes. Most individuals don’t even know this exists. Crienglish.com reports that the integration of the Web and TV has eluded Apple and Microsoft for some time now, but Google TV and the overwhelming power of Google over the internet has gotten everyone's attention. Google TV will enable users to quickly pull up Web content on their TVs, including photos, video and music, using an on-screen search box like the one on Google's site. Now seems like that Apple has the ball in their court. The public is eager to see what Apple, a company that defines the state-of-the-art user experience, will come up with.
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Engadget.com
Los Angeles Times
Crienglish.com