New Apple TV firmware: iOS-based and available now
Just slightly ahead of the new Apple TV's arrival at purchasers' doorsteps, Apple has posted the restore firmware for the new device (download link). The firmware's filename and .ipsw extension both confirm what practically everyone already knew: the new Apple TV runs on a flavor of iOS, the same operating system running on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. That, combined with the Micro-USB "service port" on the Apple TV's backside, means it's only a matter of time until it gets jailbroken.
Apple TV running iOS also means it would be relatively trivial for Apple to introduce an App Store for the device. In fact, with a more general-purpose version of something like Apple's Remote app, Apple could very easily allow existing iOS devices to act as a universal remote for virtually any existing app, thereby giving the Apple TV access to the more than 250,000 apps already available on the App Store. This would also be consistent with the "ship first, add features later" paradigm Apple's followed so far with devices running iOS; remember, the first iPhone and iPod touch both shipped before there was such a thing as an App Store, and look where we are now.
[via Mac Rumors]
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Just slightly ahead of the new Apple TV's arrival at purchasers' doorsteps, Apple has posted the restore firmware for the new device...
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I love reading old comments, Just read Hellowaffle berating a fellow poster for the preposterous idea that the new TV might have 8GB of flash memory inside. And low behold here we are a few weeks later with a confirmed amount of 8 GB of flash memory in each Apple TV.
October 12 2010 at 6:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyApple TV App Store!! Please?
September 28 2010 at 12:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDoes anyone have a guess or knowledge as to whether or not Apple TV will support Bluetooth? I can envision getting Angry Birds HD on my forthcoming Apple TV and controlling it with my Magic Trackpad. That would be sweet!!
September 28 2010 at 12:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDo we know if this will apply to the older models of AppleTV? Can we update the OS as well?
September 28 2010 at 10:59 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDoes this mean we could potentialy see apps that use the Apple TV as a screen, an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad as the controller, and basically have an Apple Game console
September 28 2010 at 9:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyUmm, you can alreday do that with Chopper 2 (iPhone controls iPad connected to TV) without Apple TV.
September 28 2010 at 11:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI am secretly hoping Apple has some flash in the ATV for future development, I'd almost put money on it, but I guess we'll have to wait for the ifixit teardown tomorrow.
September 28 2010 at 9:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhile the Apple TV could in theory run those apps, using an iPad / iPhone as a remote for those apps isn't as simple as it seems. Most apps are designed around the notion that you press something you can see - that breaks down when you're looking at a remote screen with your eyes and touching a tablet with your hands. It would only work for something that requires you to have your finger on the screen at all times, in a similar fashion to a stylus.
September 28 2010 at 4:54 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWell the unit must have some flash in thre to buffer movies in there - i reckon it has 8 or 16Gb flash squirreled away somewhere
The other thing i was thinking is doen't an iphone now basically have all the bits a Nintendo Wiimote does - i.e. it could be used as a remote to interact wth the screen
I'm probably going to end up buying one of these someday but not until Apple adds some killer features to entice me. like how about 1080p? The price is definitely right. I'm just not sure if I need it. If Apple had come out with this a year ago the answer would be a definite yes but now I already have another device to get my Netflix on my TV - my PS3. Not only that, but my Qwest DSL really sucks hard so streaming HD content is not gonna happen. I did a test with the speed test app and I get faster internet speeds with my iPhone 4 over the 3G network then I do with DSL.
September 28 2010 at 4:06 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWeird. U just said u wanted 1080p but u have really crappy Internet that won't even stream 720p now....so how good do you think it's gonna look when the resolution is that much higher? There is a reason apple has not implemented 1080
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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