Deadline is reporting that the CW network is bringing its content to Apple's favorite little hobby -- the Apple TV.

During CW's upfront presentation today, CW President Mark Pedowitz explained that the CW network is now reaching "more viewers on more platforms" while stressing that 20 percent of the network's viewership now stems from digital sources.

MacRumors reached out to CW and was told that its upcoming app will be featured on the Apple TV homescreen and will operate similarly to its current Xbox app.

It's a dedicated CW app that will work like our Xbox and mobile and tablet apps - no cable authentication required, full episodes of our shows available next day after air, ad-supported.

MacRumors points out that Apple's deal with CW marks the first time Apple has struck a deal with a single television network. While television shows are available via Apple TV, they must be accessed via conduits such as Netflix or iTunes.

CW says that its app will appear on the Apple TV in the next few weeks, though a precise launch window wasn't given.

It remains to be seen if other networks will eventually follow suit and make their way onto the Apple TV as well. One network that many viewers want to hit the Apple TV is HBO. During an All Things D talk this past February, HBO President Eric Kessler said that he anticipates HBO will eventually land on Apple TV though no specific time frame was given. In the meantime, the company this year added AirPlay support to its HBO Go app for iOS.

Meanwhile, Apple still likes to tout the Apple TV as nothing more than a hobby. While sales of the device have grown considerably over the past few years, it still doesn't rake in the kind of cash that Apple's other products do. Like clockwork, whenever Apple CEO Tim Cook is asked a question about Apple's ambitions with the Apple TV, he routinely answers that the company will "continue to pull the string and see where it leads us."

Dedicated CW app coming to Apple TV in coming weeks originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dedicated CW app coming to Apple TV in coming weeks originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you like TV, and you like the Internet, you've got some really good options for getting those two crazy kids to play nicely together. PLAiR, newly arrived on the market, adds a platform-independent and compact device to the menu of connected television solutions that stream web video to your living room.

To be clear, there's not a shortage of players here. Even without a Smart TV in your house, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your Mac or iPad directly to your big-screen HDTV (although that's a bit of a mobility buzzkill). It's easier to put something in the middle to handle that conversation, at least until Tim Cook and Jony Ive make all our big-screen dreams come true.

For most Apple-centric households, the natural middleman is the $99 Apple TV. Apple's "experiment" delivers 1080p content direct from iTunes, subscription goodies from Netflix or Hulu, sports from the NBA, MLB and NHL, free video from Vimeo and YouTube, and of course your photos, music and videos from household Macs. The relatively recent debut of AirPlay mirroring for Macs in OS X 10.8 means that your computer can screen-mirror to an Apple TV just as smoothly as your iPhone or iPad can. If you're inclined toward non-Apple boxes with more subscription and channel support, the Roku or Boxee hardware might be more up your alley.

One thing the Apple TV can't do easily -- at least not without the intervention of a mirrored AirPlay device or a jailbreak -- is stream web videos from sources outside the approved/supported list. Even if you do use a mirrored device, it's tied up for the duration of the stream; how are you supposed to chat with your vintage movie club while you're watching? And what if you have friends with non-Apple gear who'd like to stream some videos your way?

There ought to be another path to video Nirvana, and the folks behind the PLAiR HDMI dongle think they have it figured out. The new $99 wireless video-streaming gadget is arriving in some customers' hands today. I saw it demonstrated at the Engadget Expand conference, and while the company's description of it as "AirPlay for everybody" may be a bit off-target with no true mirroring support, it's still quite impressive.

The PLAiR device -- one assumes that the lowercase "i" is not coincidental -- is a smart adapter that connects to three things: power, your TV's HDMI port, and your home WiFi network. Once it's set up, PLAiR links to a Chrome plugin on your Mac or PC to let you hand off streaming video to it with a couple of clicks. iOS and Android devices can play too; both platforms have streamer apps available.

In the case of the desktop controls for PLAiR, you simply browse to the website for the video you want to see (scores of broadcast and Web video networks play nicely with the PLAiR, although big kahunas Hulu and Netflix sadly do not). A small overlay icon reminds you that you can stream to your TV; click it and the video hops over to the wider arena. Behind the scenes, the PLAiR unit is actually running its own streaming client via Flash or HTML5 and handling the video independently; your laptop is no longer needed, and in fact you can close the window and do something else -- even sleep it or shut it down.

That's not the case if you choose to stream videos or photos stored on your computer or iOS device, of course. In that situation, you can create a playlist of clips that you want to see, and PLAiR will play them all in order, but your device needs to stay online and awake to push the video to PLAiR.

iPhone and iPad users can jump into the fun via the free PLAiR iOS app. With the app, the same channels and sources should be accessible, and you can kick off a stream in similar fashion. Local content will play as well, although anything purchased from the iTunes Store will not play (the PLAiR doesn't know how to deal with Apple's FairPlay encryption for video). You also cannot mirror iOS apps to the PLAiR, but at least one common-use case for that is handled by a second companion app aimed at business users: the $0.99 OmniPresent will load and display PowerPoint or PDF decks via your PLAiR stick onto a projector or TV.

If your video needs don't depend heavily on iTunes-purchased content or the premium offerings of Hulu or Netflix, you might get your money's worth out of the PLAiR. It's certainly a more graceful option for free-to-stream network content than rigging up an HDMI cable across the living room. Customers who pre-ordered the PLAiR hardware are getting theirs this week, but current orders are out of stock for the moment; if you order today you might see your unit by June.

Here's a brief video intro to PLAiR. I'm afraid I will have to deduct points for continuity, as the Acer laptop pictured in the video appears to be running the OS X version of Chrome.

'

And here's a video preview of PLAiR in action from Engadget Expand:

PLAiR streams web video to TV with your devices for 99 bucks originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PLAiR streams web video to TV with your devices for 99 bucks originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple has emailed a note to Apple Store and AppleCare employees as well as authorized resellers stating that a small number of third-generation Apple TVs have an issue with Wi-Fi and are eligible for replacement free of charge up to two years after the device was purchased.

Information supplied to the 9to5Mac website mentions that the affected Apple TV products "might experience one of these Wi-Fi related connectivity issues: Cannot locate network, Unable to join network, Dropped or intermittent connection." Serial numbers must be within a specified range in order for the device to be eligible for replacement:

• The last four letters of the serial number must be DRHN
• The third and fourth alphanumeric characters must contain one of these pairs: H9, HC, HD, HF, HG, HH, HJ, HK, HL, HM, HN, HP, HQ, HR, HT, HV, HW, HX, J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6, J7, J8, J9

Service providers are asked to make sure that the 3rd-generation Apple TV is running software version 5.2.1 or later, eliminate sources of potential Wi-Fi interference and isolate the issue to the Apple TV. If the symptoms still exist, then Apple will replace the unit.

A small number of Apple TVs eligible for replacement due to Wi-Fi issues originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A small number of Apple TVs eligible for replacement due to Wi-Fi issues originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple has released the Apple TV 5.2.1 software update. Hulu users will notice that the Hulu interface has been completely redesigned, including category enhancements and other UI tweaks.

The update also addresses a number of security issues on the Apple TV, including one in which a local user may be able to execute unsigned code. In a security document, Apple describes the issue: "A state management issue existed in the handling of Mach-O executable files with overlapping segments. This issue was addressed by refusing to load an executable with overlapping segments."

Other security fixes include changes to the kernel, including the ability for a local user to determine the address of structure in the kernel: "An information disclosure issue existed in the ARM prefetch abort handler. This issue was addressed by panicking if the prefetch abort handler is not being called from an abort context."

A third issue that allowed a user to execute arbitrary code in the kernel was also fixed: "The IOUSBDeviceFamily driver used pipe object pointers that came from userspace. This issue was addressed by performing additional validation of pipe object pointers."

Users can manually check for software updates on their Apple TV by selecting "Settings -> General -> Update Software."

Apple releases Apple TV software update 5.2.1 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple releases Apple TV software update 5.2.1 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been a year since Apple updated its "hobby" product, the Apple TV, but for fans in India the little black box has just appeared in the online store. The Apple TV sells for Rs. 7900, or about US$145.50, a premium of almost 50 percent over the pricing in the US.

Users in India can currently use the Apple TV to purchase content from the Indian iTunes store for viewing, but the streaming content available outside of the store -- such as Major League Baseball -- will have limited appeal to a subcontinent obsessed with cricket and football.

Blogger Nikhil Pradhan of ThinkDigit notes that an Apple India rep said that the company is looking to partner with Indian content providers to stream content to the devices in the way that Netflix and Hulu Plus are used in the US. At this time, there are no specifics on who those content providers may be or what content they may be interested in streaming.

Apple has been paying more attention to India lately, and the availability of the Apple TV is just one more foot in the door in this huge potential market.

Apple TV launches in India originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple TV launches in India originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new job posting on Apple's website shows that the company is seeking a software engineering manager to "help deliver the next-generation features for Apple TV." Alright, sure, they probably didn't need that article in there. But still -- Apple is clearly trying to put together a team to build up the software on the Apple TV, and it even asks applicants for the job to have experience managing several "high-priority projects." "High-priority" isn't how Apple has described its TV unit in the past, but if they're assembling a new team for a new era, we can probably expect to see some changes in the future around Apple's living room device.

A job listing is of course just a job listing -- this just means it's a position that Apple wants to fill at some point in the future, not that Apple's halfway done with all of the R&D it wants to do. But I think it is fair to say that the Apple TV has a long future in Cupertino, and that we'll definitely see it move up on the priority scale over there very soon.

[via 9to5Mac]

Apple seeking engineers for 'next generation' Apple TV development originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple seeking engineers for 'next generation' Apple TV development originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jailbreak provider FireCore announced yesterday that it has released an update to the Seas0nPass jailbreak tool and aTV Flash (black) Apple TV software. The update supports the 5.2 Apple TV software released by Apple on January 28, 2013, which is essentially iOS 6.1 for the little black box.

So what does FireCore's work do for Apple TV jailbreakers? Well, Apple added support for Bluetooth keyboards in Apple TV 5.2, so now aTV Flash (black) 2.2 works with a keyboard as well. FireCore also made "minor improvements" to backups and DVD playback, and also cleared up some earlier bugs.

FireCore warns that third-party plugins like Plex, Remote HD, Rowmote and XBMC still won't work with Apple TV software newer than version 5.1. To update your device, FireCore suggests that you back up settings through the Maintenance > Manage Backups menu, then run the latest version of Seas0nPass to update your Apple TV to 5.2. Next, download and install version 2.2 of aTV Flash (black), install desired items through Maintenance > Manage Extras, and then restore your saved settings from the Maintenance > Manage Backups menu.

Unfortunately, there's no jailbreak available for the third-generation Apple TV (2012, 1080p version), but if you have a second generation (2010, 720p version) box you can definitely jailbreak your device.

Once all that is accomplished, sit back with your favorite Bluetooth keyboard and enjoy some mind-numbing video entertainment.

[via iMore]

FireCore releases updated Apple TV jailbreak tool originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

FireCore releases updated Apple TV jailbreak tool originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The last Reality Absorption Field discussed how CES is relevant to Apple -- mostly through major standards milestones -- even though the company doesn't attend the annual confabulation. But CES can also be seen as a mirror that is held up to the world of device makers, even those that don't attend CES.

In that vein, there were a number of significant new computing form factors shown in the desert. And while their having any impact on the computing world outside of Apple is far from a sure bet, it's still worth considering their relevance to the company.

NVIDIA Project Shield gaming handheld

Perhaps the most significant surprise at CES, Project Shield represents the first end-user gaming hardware from chip-maker and Mac graphics supplier (but ARM architecture competitor) NVIDIA. It's an Xbox-like controller with a flip-up lid that includes a 5" "retina-quality" display. Like Kickstarter projects OUYA and GameStick, it runs Android and can connec to a big-screen TV, but Project Shield will be the first Android device to include a Tegra 4, the company's state of the art system-on-a-chip offering. If all that weren't enough, the handheld can reach across a home network to access and remotely play games on specially-equipped PCs running Valve's Steam service.

Any possible connection between Apple and the TV seems to draw a lot of attention these days especially as Apple has enabled Bluetooth on Apple TV, but it's difficult to see an iOS version of something like Project Shield even without the far-out remote PC gaming features. Apple has built a strong case for buttonless games in iOS, and the iPhone or iPod touch serves the role of a controller in which the games resided and could be sent up to TV via AirPlay.

Lenovo Horizon Table PC

Remember Microsoft Surface? Not the iPad competitor Microsoft rolled out last year but the big honking table computer it rolled out around the same time as the iPhone? Well, it's still around -- sort of -- as the Samsung SUR40. And it's still pretty expensive. The Lenovo Horizon PC seeks to bring the Surface experience to a broader experience by embedding it within a 27" all-in-one PC that lays flat for table games. Alas, since its a Windows PC, Lenovo has had to create its own app store filled with apps that are optimized for such a form factor.

Now, if you scoff at the idea of a 13" Android tablet like the kind Toshiba tried, it's kind of crazy to consider a 27" iPad. And yet, the Horizon takes the kind of casual gaming people enjoy on the iPad and turns it into an engaging multiplayer experience by having people sit around it. Best of all, flip open the stand, and it turns into an all-in-one PC much like the iMac. This is a tough one to see Apple doing for a host of reasons, but it is an interesting extension of the iPad concept from a single user model to a multiple user model.

Pebble Smartwatch

The Pebble watch, which in part soared to record Kickstarter funding heights based on its compatibility with iOS, was well-known before CES, but the developers took advantage of the trade show to announce that the product would finally be shipping and it has. Like other entrants in the smartwatch space, such as the Cookoo and MetaWatch Strata, the Pebble gleans connected information and from your smartphone and offers basic controls for tasks such as playing music.

The chance of Apple coming out with a smartwatch are still probably pretty slim, but relatively high compared to a gaming controller or table computer. While Apple changed course from the wrist-friendly direction in which it was taking the iPod nano over the course of two generations of that product, that might have just been clearing the deck for what could be a bona fide wrist companion.

Such a device might even be capable of running true widgets that could be accessible via the iPhone, iPad or even Mac, imbuing new life into the Dashboard feature. We know that Apple remains focused on mobility, and the smartwatch space could certainly use the kind of design panache, focus on long battery life, and thinness for which the company is known.

Ross Rubin is principal analyst at Reticle Research, a research and advisory firm focusing on consumer technology adoption. He shares commentary at Techspressive and on Twitter at @rossrubin.

Reality Absorption Field: Forms without Apple function originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Reality Absorption Field: Forms without Apple function originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could it finally happen? Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is "in negotiations" with HBO to bring HBO Go to the Apple TV in app form during the first half of 2013. As our fearless leader Victor Agreda pointed out upon hearing the news, "Of course they're in negotiations -- they're in them all the time with everyone, and have been forever." (That's paraphrased, but you get the gist.)

Still, the prospect that another major streaming app may finally be on our Apple TVs sooner rather than later is enough to get us excited. Unfortunately, it sounds like the dream of getting HBO Go sans a cable and HBO subscription is still just that: a dream. According to Bloomberg's piece, you'll still need to have HBO as part of your cable package in order to use the app on Apple TV.

Apple TV may get HBO Go in first half of 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple TV may get HBO Go in first half of 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An Apple TV model spotted recently at the FCC won't bring our living rooms into the 21st century as hoped. According to a statement by Apple that was provided to The Verge, the unit spotted in FCC regulatory documents is only a refresh of the current version. It will include updated components and the same functionality as the third-generation Apple TV.

We sometimes make component changes which require an updated model number for regulatory approval. The component changes we made don't affect product features and Apple TV customers will continue to have the same great user experience.

Tim Cook has mentioned that the living room is an "area of intense interest" for Apple and notes that TV technology is 30 years behind other home technology. Hopefully, we will see the fruits of this interest in the near future.

Apple: Apple TV spotted at FCC to offer same great experience, updated components originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple: Apple TV spotted at FCC to offer same great experience, updated components originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An FCC filing released today shows that a slightly smaller Apple TV is in the pipeline.

The device, model no. A1469, is smaller than the current-generation Apple TV. It clocks in as a 93.78 mm square, and the current Apple TV is 98 mm. MacRumors noted yesterday that the latest Apple TV software update included code names, which are most likely associated with this new model. Apple filed the paperwork with the FCC in December 2012.

The third-generation Apple TV was released on March 7, 2012, so the time is right for it to be refreshed.

[via Engadget]

FCC filing reveals slightly smaller Apple TV on the horizon originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

FCC filing reveals slightly smaller Apple TV on the horizon originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As is becoming common practice, Apple today launched an update to the Apple TV software alongside its latest version of iOS for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This latest iteration of the media streamer's OS -- version 5.2 -- introduces a couple of really nice features in the form of Up Next, support for Bluetooth keyboards and enhanced iTunes in the Cloud functionality.

Up Next, introduced in iTunes 11, lets you queue up songs and see a list of what's going to be playing. Hopefully its introduction on Apple TV is a sign that it's not too far off on other iOS devices. With iTunes in the Cloud on Apple TV, you can now stream purchased music in addition to movies and TV shows. As for Bluetooth keyboard support, that's just a no-brainer, really, and something we've been looking forward to for quite a while.

Apple TV update includes Up Next, Bluetooth keyboard support and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple TV update includes Up Next, Bluetooth keyboard support and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Staples is not an authorized Apple reseller (although the company does sell Apple gear in Canada), but a new rumor suggests the office supply store could soon start selling Apple gear here in the states. According to a report by 9to5 Mac, Staples was listing an Apple TV for a low US$49.99 price tag. The page, which is no longer available on Staple's website, listed the Apple TV along with a $24.99 Lightning cable under the "customers who viewed this also viewed" heading. An Apple mock up section on the site also contained a variety of Apple-branded products.

MacRumors says it received word that Staples would begin selling Apple gear, but had no evidence of this claim until this recent leak.

Staples in the US to sell Apple gear? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Staples in the US to sell Apple gear? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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German Apple TV users have a new app and service on their devices. Matthew Panzarino at The Next Web reports that German subscription video on demand service Watchever has found a place on the home screen of the diminutive puck.

Watchever is similar to Hulu, offering German, European and international TV series and movies. For €8.99 a month, the service provides a choice of German-dubbed versions of international movies or the originals. Like Netflix, Watchever makes recommendations of TV shows and movies that may be interesting to you. The service is new; it was launched by Vivendi earlier this month.

Other subscription-based apps currently gracing the screens of Apple TV owners include the MLB, NBA and NHL apps in the US. Provided that Apple has worked up a deal with Vivendi to split revenues from Watchever on the Apple TV, similar on-demand subscriptions services could end up being a significant source of income for Apple.

German Apple TV users can reboot their Apple TVs to gain the Watchever icon.

Apple TVs in Germany gain movie and TV subscription service Watchever originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple TVs in Germany gain movie and TV subscription service Watchever originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 was a pretty good year for Apple. It released two versions of the iPad; a totally new iPad mini; a completely redesigned iPhone and iPod touch, as well as iPod nanos; super-thin MacBook Pros with Retina displays; and an incredibly designed new iMac. The company also had a few low-points, namely Maps and some major reshuffling of its executive leadership.

However, the end of the year is always a time to look forward, so here are five things I hope we see from Apple in 2013. Admittedly, most of these are relatively minor -- and all are software-based -- but Apple pretty much refreshed every major hardware product in 2012, so I don't expect to see many new designs next year.

1. A redesigned Apple TV interface inspired by iTunes 11



I'm kind of cheating on this one, because I've been told by a trusted source that Apple is already working on an iTunes 11-ish overhaul of the Apple TV interface. Nevertheless, this is something I had been hoping for since I saw the new iTunes 11 UI. Currently the Apple TV has an iOS Springboard homepage interface -- big buttons represent various channels on the Apple TV. While that works fine for the main menu, I'd like to see an improved graphical elements in the submenus.

Most submenus now look pretty much like the old Front Row interface: lines of text that lead to more lists. Apple really hit a strong navigation note with iTunes 11's expanded view album/TV series art interface. When/if this does come to the Apple TV it will make navigating your libraries much simpler -- plus it will bring unity between iTunes on your computer and iTunes on your Apple TV. That's all the Apple TV is, essentially -- just another version of iTunes, with a ten-foot UI.

A few bonus features for the Apple TV I would like to see: a BBC iPlayer channel and the ability to display the iTunes visualizer while playing music through your Apple TV. The flipping album art display is getting old. Unlike the iTunes 11-esque redesign, I don't have any info about whether or not these are in development.

As for why a real Apple television isn't on my list -- I don't think we'll be seeing one in 2013 at all. Maybe in 2014. Maybe.

2. A new iWork for OS X and iOS



The last major version of iWork for OS X came out on January 6, 2009. Yeah, in just about a week that will be four years ago. Sure, it's received some minor updates since then like iCloud support and Retina display support, but besides that Apple's office productivity suite has not been updated in four years. Most of us don't have computers that old.

iWork for OS X needs improvements. Pages alone has fallen well behind the capabilities of what the latest version of Microsoft Word can do. In the four years since its last release I get more and more errors when importing Word documents into Pages. Pages doesn't even offer Document Map support yet -- a basic feature for anyone who deals with large manuscripts. Numbers and Keynote have fallen behind as well.

The iOS version of iWork has received more love, but still its pretty useless if you use it with iCloud. Currently any time I open a more than basic Numbers, Pages, or Keynote document created in OS X on my iOS version of iWork the iOS version tells me it wants to remove any number of important elements. It then gives me a choice to remove these elements and open up the current document or remove the elements and open up a copy of the current document.

Choosing either option makes the iCloud sync support useless. I may end up with a crippled original document; otherwise I get multiple copies of that document, where some instances have the elements I want and some are scaled down and have new edits, but lack all the elements of the original. Neither is optimal, and that's why iWork for iOS is virtually useless in most cases.

Hopefully 2013 will see an updated iWork for OS X and a functioning version for iOS.

3. A new iLife for OS X

There was a time not five years ago when iLife was a major selling point of Apple's. Now, however, as iOS devices are the most important component of Apple's business, it's not as important for the company to keep adding features to its flagship media suite to lure more switchers to the Mac. After all, iPhone and iPads are now the primary driving force behind luring switchers.

The last version of iLife came out on October 20, 2010. That's more than two years ago. I'd love to see some of the advances from Final Cut Pro and Aperture (and other digital video and photo editing apps) make it into a new iLife.

4. The fall of skeuomophism in iOS 7 and OS X 10.9



After the Maps debacle, Tim Cook booted Scott Forstall, who was primarily responsible for leading the charge in Apple's mapping solution. With Forstall's exit the primary proponent of skeuomophism in iOS and OS X was gone. Now that Jony Ive is in charge of the look of both operating systems -- and it's rumored he hated the skeuomophic design of some of the apps -- here's hoping iOS 7 and OS X 10.9 see the skeuomophic design jettisoned from Calendar, Address Book, Reminders, Notes, and more.

Apple's devices are elegant, and the software on them should look elegant too.

5. The Movie Trailers app for the rest of the world

This isn't going to appeal to readers in the US, but for the rest of the world its baffling that Apple has yet to release the Movie Trailers iOS app outside of America. It's Apple's only app -- on any platform -- that is a US-only app. And there's no logic to this. Using Siri I can get movie showtimes on my iPhone and iPad in the UK, so I know Apple is capable of culling that information.

Apple also offers its movie trailers website in multiple countries. So why limit its awesome Movie Trailer app to only America? It makes absolutely no sense and here's hoping I can check UK show-times on my app soon (I have the app through my US iTunes account) and that my fellow Brits and Apple users in other countries can soon download the app.

Well, that's my hopes for what Apple brings in 2013. Let me know yours in the comments!

5 things I want to see from Apple in 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

5 things I want to see from Apple in 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Readers of the Monday Note, a blog and email newsletter by former Apple VP Jean-Louis Gassée and Frédéric Filloux, might have been surprised to see this week's edition. Contrary to all of the recent blog posts that indicate that an Apple-branded HDTV might be forthcoming from Cupertino in 2013, Gassée puts the rumors to rest with a carefully reasoned argument stating why most pundits -- and Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster -- are wrong.

While Apple CEO Tim Cook told NBC's Brian Williams last week that television is "an area of intense interest," Gassée points out that this statement is nothing new. Gassée notes that the solution to today's television/cable/set-top box mess is that "channels, shows and special events should all be presented as apps" and that "the technology isn't an issue." The problem is that the content providers don't want Apple to have control over their product.

Gassée doesn't "believe Apple will make, or even wants to make, a TV set." As he notes, an Apple TV module that can be added to an HDTV and replaced when a new one comes out makes a lot more sense than purchasing a new big-screen TV every few years.

Gassée believes that Cook is really trying to say that the company will continue investing in the future of television until the obstacles are eliminated. He thinks that the Apple TV will continue to evolve, and that "someday, Apple will reach a limited agreement with a carrier such as Comcast." Things will really begin to take off at that point. But that Apple-branded HDTV? It's not going to happen.

Former Apple VP: Apple television won't happen originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Former Apple VP: Apple television won't happen originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you're encountering problems -- namely an incomplete download or an inability to boot -- when trying to update your Apple TV to version 5.1.1, there's a solution in sight. It turns out that there's a bug with updating the device over Ethernet, so if you've been unable to get 5.1.1 downloaded on a wired connection, disconnect the cable and connect to a WiFi network, then try again. You should be golden.

In the event that an incomplete download of the firmware has left your Apple TV unable to boot, you can connect the device to your computer using a micro-USB cable and do a tethered restore. Just make sure you have iTunes running and you'll see the Apple TV pop up in the devices list. Select it and you'll see the option to restore. Once you've got it back up and running, connect to a WiFi network and perform the system update. You'll be back to streaming in no time.

[Via The Mac Observer]

Problems installing Apple TV 5.1.1 update? Here's a fix originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Problems installing Apple TV 5.1.1 update? Here's a fix originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At the Business Insider IGNITION conference yesterday, Bewkes commented that he thinks "Apple is a great device company." Bewkes believes that Apple can do with televisions what they've done with other device categories -- create differentiation.

He believes that Apple can solve one of the biggest issues with television right now, that of trying to navigate through hundreds of cable channels. Cable companies, and the current suppliers of set top boxes, still haven't found a consistently simple way for subscribers to make sense of the boggling choice of channels, shows and time-shifting through DVRs.

Bewkes is a realist, though -- he believes that other companies will enter the space along with Apple and that we'll see "as many interfaces as you can get."

Time Warner CEO hopes Apple builds a television originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Time Warner CEO hopes Apple builds a television originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In fact, this is build 5443 of the Apple TV's iOS flavor, which is still showing 5.1.1 for me. Nevertheless, there's an update waiting which no doubt will improve stability and quash other bugs, plus make it play nice with today's Remote and iTunes updates. Just go to Settings > General > About on your Apple TV to update and let us know if you find anything new.

Second- and third-generation Apple TV updated originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Second- and third-generation Apple TV updated originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to a report in GigaOM, Google is working on a wireless media streaming solution that'll rival Apple's AirPlay. Google recently launched the current iteration of the technology, which lets Android phone or tablet owners stream YouTube videos to their Google TV devices. It's in the early stages of development, but Google product manager Timbo Drayson told GigaOm that the company wants "to move the whole industry forward."

Google's been moving slowly into the consumer TV space with its acquisition of SageTV and its release of set-top boxes like the Google TV and Nexus Q. Its hardware and software efforts have not caught on, and the company has struggled to break into the field.

Though far from the market leader, Apple has done better than Google in the set-top box market. The company sold 5 million Apple TV devices in FY2012, which is good for a product that's considered a hobby. Rumors suggest Apple may roll out a bigger and better version of the AppleTV that will be embedded into a full-size TV set. In a research note released this week, analyst Gene Munster claims Apple will unveil this new Apple TV late next year.

Google working on AirPlay competitor originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google working on AirPlay competitor originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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