Rumor: Is the Apple TV being replaced?
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, the e-mail says that there will be a webcast "kick off" on September 30.
Incidentally, September 30 IS a Tuesday (and the last day of the September quarter), making all of this information, very, very interesting.
So, what does this mean? Could this potentially be the introduction of the Mini/Apple TV hybrid we've all been begging for? Is this related to the rumors of "The Brick?"
I guess we'll have to wait until Tuesday to find out for sure. Hey, it's Saturday, so speculate away in the comments!
Addendum: In the comments and in some subsequent e-mails, we're receiving the impression that the licensing for the shows/images displayed in the literature has run out, and that the actual physical units may not be disappearing. Of course, that still leaves the issue of the webcast event on Tuesday...
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
db said 3:44PM on 9-27-2008
The mini has left the refurb section on the Apple Store as well. Interesting.
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CrazyPierrot said 3:52PM on 9-27-2008
I really think Apple should keep the AppleTV or a close product, but open the possibility to developers to add softwares on it, exactly the same way they did on the iPhone/iPod touch. Imagine what this box could become...
Another hope will be a more powerful hardware as sometimes this little box is dog slow.
May be this is what this rumored brick will be...
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Eddie.V said 4:30PM on 9-27-2008
I can say one thing is for sure, even if the Apple TV is going away, it's going to be replaced with something else that can play HD content. Why would Apple they keep dumping titles into the their catalog of HD rentals if the only product which can play this content was going away?? I should know, I keep track of them every day on my site, appletvjunkie.com
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Eric said 4:31PM on 9-27-2008
I hope that they continue making something very similar... I don't have an AppleTV, and it's not actually worth my money at the moment, but I've gotten a taste of it using my MacBook Pro and my HDTV...
When the day comes that I have a house, and multiple people living in it, I'd very much like to have an AppleTV rather than continue using a computer.
The only thing I'd miss about having an AppleTV rather than a computer (for the media aspect, obviously not for the computing aspect) is using it as a DVD player. An AppleTV upgrade with Blu-Ray would be welcome.
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Greg said 4:32PM on 9-27-2008
This would actually be a good move for Apple. They'd be able to market the OS to more people. If they put both the TV OS and Mac OS on it, they'd be able to sneak Leopard into people's homes.
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rjhbooklinux said 5:58PM on 9-27-2008
Apple gaming unit + apple tv aimed directly at xbox + media center? Would make sense seeing that the last keynote was obviously directed to the gaming community with "game on". They now have an ever growing library of games that people can buy from their sofa. Maybe use your iPhone as the controller via apple remote application?
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Kento Ito said 4:42PM on 9-27-2008
I have a feeling that Apple might be announcing the 2nd Gen Apple TV, not discontiuning.
Sure, it might not be possible, but come to think of it, the Apple TV as small as a brick will make it the smallest desktop box ever made.
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blizzardcanbiteme said 5:02PM on 9-27-2008
Here are three things Apple could do to make the AppleTV perfect!
How about they upgrade the HD to a 250-500GB range drive.
How about HDMI inputs/outputs and add internets streaming ie SlingBox style.
How about they add TV Scheduling/recording functionality ie TiVO style.
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Matt said 5:03PM on 9-27-2008
The local Target has them on clearance, not a steep discount, but it's something...
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Jeremy said 5:03PM on 9-27-2008
First, absolutely no chance at all that Apple would "give up" on AppleTV.
Second (@sjkhuth) the percentage of the HDTV market that has a flat screen TV that "hangs on a wall" is tiny, tiny, tiny.
Even if it isn't updated on the 30th, AppleTV will be updated and grow over time.
The most likely prediction (if this is indeed "the brick") is that they are adding an optical drive to AppleTV (because it makes all kinds of sense to do so), and that they are also positioning AppleTV as a sort of digital hub for the home so as to not make it seem like they just added DVD ripping capabilities to the AppleTV.
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Andy said 5:07PM on 9-27-2008
Apple will show a MacMini like thingy including AppleTV and the ability to connect game pads to play games and to surf the internet from your big screen. Rent or buy movies, tv-shows, music and games, check your emails, surf the web, listen to your music - all in one device - right from your seat in your lovely living room.
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Roosevelt Franklin said 5:07PM on 9-27-2008
Oh please oh please oh please!
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Ben said 5:12PM on 9-27-2008
NEW LITERATURE! YAY!
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theOz said 5:14PM on 9-27-2008
My guess would be another step towards a 'media hub' - big Bonjour-accessible NAS HD, fancy high-quality A/V-connections, wi-fi, Front Row and access to the iTunes store.
At least I hope so - I might consider buying something like that.
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Galley said 5:21PM on 9-27-2008
I broke down and bought a PS3 last week, so of course that means they will introduce an Apple TV with a BD drive.
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Rick Ewing said 5:25PM on 9-27-2008
It does sound like something is up. The current AppleTV hardware has been around for a while and could use a refresh regardless. Combine that rumor with the fact that iTunes 8 has been out there now for several days with no corresponding update to AppleTV (but Front Row did get an update).
An AppleTV with more memory, more horsepower, the ability too add storage and maybe Blu-Ray as an option might be an interesting product. Will we get it?
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rzashkin said 6:03PM on 9-30-2008
Now it's time for the Apple TiVo!
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Jesse said 6:00PM on 9-27-2008
An AppleTV that has PVR functionality would be the killer electronic device for Apple Fans for the holidays.
I think there is no doubt that people have been waiting for AppleTV to morph into Apple's version of the PVR.
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Shelley said 6:12PM on 9-27-2008
Interesting. I posted a note to the AppleTV discussion forum, linking this site and discussion. 15 minutes later the powers that be at Apple removed the post.
This seems to give credence to something significant happening.
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Shelley said 6:21PM on 9-27-2008
Yup, got an email:
"Thank you for your interest in Apple products. The Host Team members, like you, are excited to see what kinds of products Apple will release in the future; however speculation or rumors are not allowed under our terms of use (http://discussions.apple.com/help.jspa). Your recent post, titled "Big shake up regarding AppleTV? ", was speculative in nature and Apple therefore has removed it from Apple Discussions."
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