Apple News, Analysis and Podcasts

If recent reports are to be believed, a new Apple TV will arrive this fall. Information coming from many of these reports cites TV Execs, which have proven to be anything but reliable in the past. The fall timeframe makes little sense for Apple to deliver an all-new Apple TV and Apple HDTV lineup when considering iOS 5, iCloud, iPhones and perhaps new iPads will arrive during a jam-packed season of fall releases. But where there is smoke there is often fire, and while fall makes little sense, our information points to a January Special Event from Apple.

The current $99 Apple TV has no variants, outputs 720p video, and supports Dolby's 5.1 audio. The latest information points to 1080p capability, and an A5 processor, while keeping the same memory configuration (8GB). Perhaps more important than any physical or specification change will be Apple TV's ability to run iOS-based applications. 

We are still unclear about the process, as our current understanding points to applications streaming from iOS devices through Apple TV, and/or Apple's HDTV sets. But what changes to Apple's SDK must take place, and how these apps will be bundled or sold separately within the app store is still unclear. Latency also seems another issue that hasn't proven easy to overcome. Other capabilities, such as the rumored Apple Replay are still possibilities, but the technology hinges on content deals, and to-date networks have not felt enough pressure to hand over the keys to Apple.

Apple appears to planning a two pronged A/B approach to the launch. Promote Replay and al-a-carte networks for purchase through Apple's new devices, or promote only experiences it can control, stressing the new hardware and application capabilities. Launching an updated Apple TV that can deliver applications and 1080p video, coupled with a completely vertical Apple HDTV solution (with Apple TV built-in) may begin to move Apples current offering out of hobby status, while put pressure on networks to play nice.

Our current information points to Apple targeting CES for their Special Event, but as we hear more we'll be sure to provide frequent updates.

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