Hasta La Gadget!

For some, using an iOS device as a keyboard for Apple TV is good enough, but according to a new report from 9to5Mac, it won’t be long before Apple TV users have more options when it comes to keyboard input. Specifically, we’re talking about Bluetooth keyboard functionality, which is apparently a new feature that’s about to land in iOS 6.1. Spotted in the latest Apple TV beta, this new functionality will likely be a big hit with a lot of users.

That’s because the new Bluetooth menu allows you to completely control Apple TV with a wireless keyboard, no longer requiring that you use the remote or an iOS device for keyboard input. 9to5Mac claims that tracking down the content you want to watch “becomes a thousand times easier” when you’re using a physical keyboard, so there’s plenty of reason to be excited. Unfortunately, at this point in time it looks like Bluetooth pairing is rather limited.

For instance, it appears that only keyboards are supported here, as Bluetooth speakers and mice wouldn’t play nice with Apple TV. The same is true for connecting a Mac computer through Bluetooth – it’s a no go. Never fear though, because this functionality could be the first step in a larger Bluetooth roll out for Apple. Even better, it could potentially allow third parties to develop their own Bluetooth-based remotes for Apple TV, so this is definitely one feature to watch.

This functionality is available with second and third generation Apple TV boxes, so if you’re still rocking a first generation box, you’re unfortunately being left out in the cold. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Bluetooth keyboard support for Apple TV, remember, which means that the time may finally be here. Check out our story timeline below for more on Apple TV!

Apple TV getting Bluetooth keyboard functionality with iOS 6.1 is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 gaming console has given the company a good foothold in the living room, but the company apparently isn’t content with that and wants to increase traction with a new lower-cost device, the Verge reports. According to “multiple sources,” the blog says Microsoft will offer a streamlined media device that provides access to TV and entertainment services, as well as casual gaming software titles.

This device would be one-half of a strategy that also includes next-generation Xbox hardware, the report claims, to be launched in 2013. The set-top box will reportedly be based on a stripped-down version of Windows 8, and will likely offer the type of casual titles available on Mobile and Surface RT devices, as compared to the core gaming titles available through Xbox 360. Specific hardware details weren’t made available to the Verge, but reports claim it’ll be an instant-on gadget, which is in keeping with competitive devices from Apple, Roku, Boxee and others.

The gadget is also said to be part of a larger strategy that would see Microsoft unify core elements of the Xbox experience across platforms, ensuring it can run the same experience on phones, a modestly priced set-top box, full-fledged gaming consoles and also potentially licensed TVs from OEM partners. The company did not reveal timeline specifics beyond the general target of a 2013 release.

A streamlined version of Microsoft’s Xbox would bring it to audiences who aren’t interested in gaming, likely at a much lower price than the Xbox 360. That would help it build its overall device ecosystem, which the company is trying to unify with similar software experiences and cross-platform service integration with Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. It’s definitely in keeping with what Redmond seems to want to accomplish. We’ve heard whispers that the next-gen full Xbox console will be arriving sometime in 2013, so the timeline is right if this is indeed designed to be part of that launch as reported.

Welcome to Friday evening everyone – the weekend is here again, but before we dive in, we need to recap the day’s news. First and foremost, our review of the HTC DROID DNA went live just a little while ago, so if you’ve been thinking of picking that phone up, be sure to have a look at our review to see what we think of it! We found out today that Apple and Samsung have been permitted to add new devices to their lawsuit, so expect Samsung to go after the iPhone 5 while Apple tries to collect damages on a number of Samsung devices. Speaking of Samsung, the company is rumored to show off a new handset with a 5-inch 1080p display at CES, so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for that.

Not content with whispers of just one 1080p smartphone, the rumor mill churned out another concerning a 1080p device from LG, while today’s the day that the iPad mini LTE and 4th gen iPad went up for sale at AT&T and Verizon stores. We heard the good news that AT&T is hitting 4G LTE roll out milestones ahead of schedule, and Apple has been granted a rather controversial patent for page-tuning animation. The crew for the next Star Wars movie is beginning to assemble, while LucasFilm said that it will begin putting out 2-3 movies a year after the release of Episode VII.

We had a lot of video game news today, with Activision announcing that Black Ops II pulled in $500 million in sales on launch day, and Sony announcing that the PS3 has hit 70 million sales worldwide. Nintendo said it won’t have Nintendo TVii ready to go by the time the Wii U launches this weekend, and Hulu launched a brand new Games Hub which users can visit to check out new video game trailers. Nintendo launched a new Pokedex app on the Japanese iOS App Store today, while Microsoft and Sony both revealed the deals they have in store for Black Friday.

We found out that a poll which claimed lagging consumer interest in Windows 8 may not be entirely trustworthy, and a new Apple HDTV product was tipped for an incoming reveal. The Google Maps app for iOS is nearing the finishing touches stage of development according to a source close to the project, while Justin Timberlake showed off the new MySpace today. Apple is killing off the Messages beta for Lion users next month, and finally tonight, scientists have discovered that human ancestors were using spears as far back as 500,000 years ago. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the weekend folks!

SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: November 16, 2012 is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Hmmm, it does seem as though that the Apple TV launch remains on par with that of a unicorn or a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow where being real is concerned, but here is the latest rumor that is making its rounds throughout the Internet – a Jefferies & Co’s analyst known as James Kisner claims that “at least one” cable operator is currently testing out their network in order to find out if it is capable of handling the amount of bandwidth required in the event of a connected Apple HDTV is realized.

The thing is, we do not know exactly just the kind of tests that have been made where standard issue Internet-connected TVs or set-top boxes are concerned by cable operators in the past. Apart from that, we do recall other older reports of Apple’s plans for its TV set which was shelved, and perhaps this is a possible indication of its revival? Who knows? All we can do is sit tight, keep our fingers crossed and hope that more details (concrete ones, obviously) will be released in due time.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: No iTV or new Apple TV in 2012?, Apple TV jailbreak available from Seas0nPass, and it is untethered,

It’s been a long while since Apple live streamed its press events. In fact, some people may not even remember a live-streamed Apple event, instead hunting out the best possible live blog until we can check out the whole video post-excitement.

But the company’s website now has a dedicated channel for the event, and promises that we can “Watch a live video stream of the special event online or via Apple TV starting at 10:00 a.m. PDT.”

Plus, some folks over at MacRumors have noticed a new “Apple Events” icon on the Apple TV, which leads us to believe that Apple may live stream today’s iPad mini event.

According to MacRumors, a click on that particular channel offers up a few other Apple press event videos, dating back to June 2011.

It’s unclear whether or not Apple will be live streaming the event on other channels, such as its website. Apple has historically stopped doing live streams of their events due to bandwidth issues. But since there are far fewer people with Apple TVs than people with Internet access, an Apple Events channel via Apple TV makes much more sense.

Not to mention, Apple will be broadcasting to the ideal audience.

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