Prediction Roundup: New iPods, Apple TV Expected This Week
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, iPhone, iPod Nano, ipod touch, itunes, Phones, rumors, Today's Chili
Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone 4's videoconferencing feature FaceTime at WWDC 2010. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
Apple will hold a press conference Wednesday, where Steve Jobs is expected to announce the birth of new stars in his product galaxy, including (probably) new iPods and (possibly) a successor to Apple TV.
As is always the case, Apple has been careful to guard its announcements. The result has been the usual widespread guessing game among Apple worshippers and members of the press. But given the timing of the event, we can make some easy guesses: Apple’s annual September event has always revolved around iTunes and iPods.
Based on a handful of credible reports and some evidence, this time around we expect some interesting upgrades. A touchscreen iPod Nano and an iPod Touch with dual cameras are almost to be expected. It’s also possible that Apple will introduce a complete do-over of the Apple TV.
Wired.com will be attending the Apple event Wednesday, which begins 10 a.m. PT, so check back at Gadget Lab for live blog coverage. To stay plugged in 140 characters at a time, follow @bxchen or @gadgetlab on Twitter.
Meanwhile, if you’re eager to know what’s coming, here are our predictions for what’s likely (and unlikely) to debut at this week’s Apple presser.
New iPods
Let’s start with the obvious. Apple’s popular iPod Touch is due for its annual upgrade, and rumors suggest the next upgrade will gain most of the features of the iPhone 4 (minus the phone, of course): a high-resolution “retina” display, dual cameras and a faster A4 processor. Because it lacks phone hardware, we can expect it to be a wee bit smaller than the iPhone 4.
Additionally, the website iLounge, which has been spectacularly accurate with Apple rumors in the past, claims that the shape of the iPod Touch is changing: “Think of the top of a MacBook Pro, only smaller, which is to say flat rather than curved at the center—closer to the look of the first-generation iPod touch’s back, only with modifications.” In other words, it’ll be flat like an iPhone 4 instead of rounded like an earlier-generation iPhone.
And let’s not forget Apple sells other iPods, too. There’s been a flurry of rumors claiming the iPod Nano will gain a square-shaped body and a touch display to eliminate the traditional click wheel. Corroborating these rumors, a few photos of third-party cases designed for a square-shaped Nano have have been popping up on the web, and test files hidden in the latest iOS beta allude to an “unknown” device.
To us, a puny touchscreen is an odd design choice, and it’s difficult to imagine how it would make sense — or be very usable, given that the entire screen of a Nano is only a few times larger than the surface area of a typical fingerprint. But the iPod Nano has had somewhat of an identity crisis, as it’s gone through a myriad of major design changes in years past (with the latest model including a camera), so a major makeover is plausible. In light of the multiple reports and leaked case designs, we’ll file this under “probable.”
Oh, and remember the iPod Classic? Each year we wonder when Apple will discontinue this device, but because the current iPhone 4 maxes out at 32-GB of capacity, and the next iPod Nano will likely be sold in 32-GB and 64-GB models, there still seems to be a “need” for a massively capacious 160-GB iPod Classic. Apple still has to serve iTunes-addicted audiophiles, after all. We’re guessing the Classic is still sticking around , and if it gets an upgrade at all, it should only be a minor boost in hard-drive capacity.
Apple to hold ‘special event’ September 1st… we’ll be there live!
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, breaking news, BreakingNews, ipod, ipod touch, IpodTouch, Today's Chili
C’mon, you saw this one coming, right? Just like they always do come fall time, Apple will be holding a “special event” on September 1st out in San Francisco, and we’ll be on the ground reporting live. Think we’ll see that new Apple TV we’ve been hearing about? Some iPods? A ‘one more thing’? Yes, probably. Tune in here at 10AM PT / 1PM ET on the 1st to catch the best liveblog in the business!
In case you haven’t heard the rumors lately:
| Apple TV | iTunes |
| iPod | Everything else |
Apple to hold ‘special event’ September 1st… we’ll be there live! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Confirmed: Apple Event Scheduled for September (Updated)
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, ios, ipad, ipod touch, Media Players, rumors, steve jobs, Today's Chili
Apple invited members of the press Wednesday morning to a special event scheduled for Sept. 1. Rumor has it that Apple is preparing to announce a major revamp for the Apple TV and upgrades for the popular iPod Touch, according to multiple reports.
The event will kick off 10 a.m. at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts theater, where Apple has held its annual iPod event for several years.
Citing two anonymous sources, Bloomberg claims that Apple will introduce the new products along with a new iTunes rental service for TV programs, as Wired.com’s Epicenter reported Tuesday.
Repeating previous rumors about Apple TV, Bloomberg said a new version of the device would cost $100 and include a smaller hard drive, as it will be designed primarily for streaming content from iTunes. Other reports have claimed Apple would rebrand the device iTV and ship it with its mobile operating system iOS, which could potentially mean the television device will have an app store to enhance its functionality.
Bloomberg’s report also claims Apple will announce an upgraded iPod Touch, sporting a high-resolution display like the iPhone 4. Previous rumors suggested that, like the iPhone 4, the next iPod Touch will include dual cameras.
Apple’s annual September event has for several years been devoted to iTunes and iPods. It would make sense for Apple to unveil a new Apple TV at this year’s event, because a TV-streaming media service would likely be accompanied by a new version of iTunes capable of online storage.
It’s also likely that Apple will release a software update for iPad customers, iOS 4, which will bring multitasking capability and other features to the popular tablet.
Updated 11 a.m. PDT: The event has been confirmed for Sept. 1, not Sept. 7 as Bloomberg originally reported.
See Also:
- Apple May Be Internally Testing Next-Gen iPod Touch, iPad
- Ten Things Missing From the iPad
- Why iOS Could Make Apple TV Succeed
- Rumor: New $100 Apple TV Takes Aim at the Cloud
- Rumor Repeat: Apple TV to Gain iOS-Based Overhaul
Photo: Steve Jobs introduces iPhone 4 at WWDC 2010
Jon Snyder/Wired.com
Apple holding a media event September 7, says Bloomberg
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, ipod, ipod touch, IpodTouch, keynote, rumor, speculation, Today's Chili
Not sure how exactly this slipped our neural net, perhaps it was added in a later update, but yesterday’s Bloomberg revelation about a potential Apple TV show rental service now also includes the following tip: Steve Jobs et al plan on hosting an event in San Francisco on September 7. This just so happens to be on a Tuesday and meshes perfectly with Apple’s annual Mac plus iPod touch promotion (which ends on the same day). Of course, we could’ve told you Apple would be holding an early September iPod refresh event this time last year — the real question is what else might be revealed during the keynote?
Apple holding a media event September 7, says Bloomberg originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Apple reportedly in talks with networks for 99 cent TV show rentals
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, itunes, Today's Chili, TV
We’ve already heard rumors that Apple was working to convince networks to offer 99 cent TV show rentals on iTunes — and possibly on a forthcoming Apple TV / iTV as well — and it looks like things might now be starting to firm up a bit. According to Bloomberg, “three people familiar with the plan” say that Apple is now in “advanced talks” with News Corp about offering Fox TV show rentals for 99 cents apiece, and it’s reportedly talking with CBS and ABC-parent company Disney as well, although the state of those talks apparently aren’t as clear. No mention of streaming-only episodes this time around, but those same people familiar with the matter do say that the episodes would only be viewable for 48 hours.
Apple reportedly in talks with networks for 99 cent TV show rentals originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple May Be Internally Testing Next-Gen iPod Touch, iPad
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, ipad, ipod touch, Media Players, rumors, Today's Chili
Apple appears to be internally testing the next-gen iPod Touch and iPad, along with an unknown mystery device, according to configuration files buried deep inside the latest iOS beta.
Apple blog AppleInsider received purported configuration files of the next iOS beta, iOS 4.1., due to ship in “the coming weeks,” showing strings of code referencing “iPod 4,1″ — an identifier that denotes a fourth-generation device. (A revision of the current third-gen iPod model would be labeled “iPod 3,2.”)
The configuration files also reveal an identifier for “iProd 2,1″ — most likely the second-generation iPad, since the records showed the current iPad was registered as “iPod 1,1.” Most interesting is an identifier for “unknownHardware.” Perhaps this could be the rumored Apple TV upgrade based on the iOS-operating system, as New York Times reported previously.
Apple is expected to hold its annual iPod event in the coming weeks, where we’d likely see the next-generation iPod Touch, which is rumored to sport the same specifications of the iPhone 4 (minus the phone, of course): two cameras, a high-resolution display, an A4 processor and so on. Stay tuned this September.
See Also:
- Apple’s New iTV Will Cost $100, Won’t Do 1080p
- Why iOS Could Make Apple TV Succeed
- Rumor: New $100 Apple TV Takes Aim at the Cloud
- Apple Launches iOS 4 for iPhone, iPod Touch
Photo: JoeBaynham/Flickr
An Apple Television Is a Very Stupid Idea [Apple]
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, rumors, Today's Chili, top, TV
After the latest Apple TV rumor, an analyst claims—once again—that Apple will make a 40-inch TV for $2,000, perhaps with integrated apps, gaming and iPhones/iPad connectivity. If true, that would be a very stupid idea. More »
Engadget Podcast 208 – 08.13.2010
Posted in: Android, Apple, apple tv, droid, engadget podcast, EngadgetPodcast, Google, HP, iPhone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, motorola, palm, playstation, podcast, pre, samsung, sony, Sony Ericsson, SonyEricsson, streak, Today's Chili, verizon, webos
It’s the Engadget Podcast….to go! Would you like a little Joanna Stern with that? Easy on the Ziegler, buddy – and 86 the Paul, please. All that plus a special toy for kids ten and under that manage to listen all the way to the end.
Update: If you’ve been unable to download the podcast in iTunes or Zune, it’s because we had a naming issue — it’s since been fixed and should download properly once the cache breaks. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel
Guests: Joanna Stern, Chris Ziegler
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: California Gurls
00:01:30 – The Engadget Show – 011: Peter Molyneux, Fable III, Milo, BlackBerry Torch, Windows Phone 7
00:01:40 – BlackBerry Torch review
00:12:48 – Exclusive: Sony Ericsson to introduce Android 3.0 gaming platform and PSP Go-like smartphone
00:18:38 – Microsoft to open mobile games studio, develop and incubate Windows Phone 7 titles
00:24:42 – Exclusive: Upcoming Apple TV loses 1080p playback, gains apps… and will be renamed iTV
00:36:10 – iPod touch coming in a ‘few weeks’ with dual cameras and Retina Display, suggests John Gruber
00:39:49 – CDMA iPhone in engineering tests, may arrive in January, says John Gruber
00:43:05 – Plastic Logic kills QUE, ‘shifts focus’ to second-generation ProReader
00:43:56 – Notion Ink Adam delayed, this time investors are to blame (updated!)
01:47:00 – Notion Ink Adam priced at $498, lives up to promise of being below $499
00:50:20 – Dell Streak on sale August 13 for $300 on AT&T contract, $550 without
00:51:14 – Off-contract Dell Streak is still SIM-locked to AT&T, wrongs still being done in the world
00:52:40 – Exclusive: Dell Thunder prototype rumbles into the wild (video)
00:57:05 – Motorola Droid 2 (and R2-D2 edition!) finally official: Android 2.2, Swype, $200 on contract
00:57:50 – Droid 2 R2-D2 edition spied in the wild, ready to repair your X-wing
00:58:30 – Motorola’s Droid 2 in the wild, looking as blue as ever
01:04:18 – Motorola’s Jha says MOTOBLUR brand will fade from view
01:05:22 – Epic 4G coming August 31st for $249.99 on contract (updated)
01:06:14 – HP CEO Mark Hurd resigns over sexual harassment investigation (updated with liveblog!)
01:07:35 – Former HP CEO Mark Hurd rewarded with a $40m severance after being forced to resign over fraudulent expense reports
01:09:42 – HP tells employees webOS tablet coming Q1 2011
01:11:20 – Pre designer Peter Skillman latest to leave Palm, entire senior staff now in exodus
01:14:56 – Google and Verizon announcing something policy-related at 1:30PM ET — we’re liveblogging right here
01:16:00 – Google and Verizon publish joint policy proposal for ‘an open internet’
01:17:00 – Google and Verizon’s net neutrality proposal explained
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Continue reading Engadget Podcast 208 – 08.13.2010
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Engadget Podcast 208 – 08.13.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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British network ITV responds to Apple iTV rumor, says it has ‘vigorously defended’ its IP before
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, hdtv, itunes, lawsuit, rumor, Today's Chili
This probably shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but British television network ITV has responded to the rumor that Apple plans to rename the Apple TV as… iTV. Now, Apple’s no stranger to using names which are already trademarked — if you’ll recall, Fujitsu used to own iPad and Cisco owned iPhone before Apple took care of all of that with its gigantic piles of money. Well, someone at ITV is apparently not pleased to hear that iTV is one of the next Apple products, with a report in The Mirror this morning citing unnamed sources which described its executives as “furious,” and hints that litigation is not out of the realm of possibility. Pocket Lint‘s contacted an ITV spokesperson for a more official take on the matter, and ITV’s director of Communications, Mike Large, says that ITV has a “strong brand” with a “highly valued IP,” that ITV is a household name in the UK, and that it has “vigorously defended” its IP in the past. Of course, assuming Apple does go ahead with the iTV name, it could always choose to call it something else in the UK, and it’s also worth noting that ITV has been fighting to gain the US mark for the name since at least 2006, and has so far failed to do so. While ITV seems to have done a pretty good job at dodging any direct questions about lawsuits, it’s pretty clear that the network wants to let everyone know from the outset that they’re not going to ignore this one.
British network ITV responds to Apple iTV rumor, says it has ‘vigorously defended’ its IP before originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Exclusive: Upcoming Apple TV loses 1080p playback, gains apps… and will be renamed iTV
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, exclusive, hdtv, itunes, rumor, set-top-box, streaming, Today's Chili
You might remember that we broke news of an updated Apple TV headed to market just a few months ago. If your brain isn’t working right, let us jog it: a trusted Engadget source asserted that the gang in Cupertino would be releasing a $99 version of the set top box, similarly sized and packed with internals akin to that of the iPhone 4 (A4 CPU, 16GB of flash storage), and will introduce new iTunes streaming services the box could take advantage of. Well we’ve gotten a little more info on the project, and it’s not all good. Apparently the box won’t be capable of handling (or enabled to handle) 1080i or 1080p video. Instead it will only push out 720p clips. The word — and cause for much internal debate, we’re told — is that this has something to do with the A4’s inability to crank on higher resolution content, but we don’t see how that’s possible considering the iPhone 3GS could play back full HD video. Furthermore, the device will be getting apps and presumably an App Store entry, though it’s unclear if there will be cross-pollination between iPad and iPhone / iPod touch offerings and new Apple TV applications.
Oh, and there’s one more thing — Apple will be officially changing the name of the device to iTV, abandoning the current moniker in favor of something a little more in line with its current iOfferings. Interestingly, that was the name of the Apple TV when it was originally announced by the company, so it appears Steve and friends aren’t so much moving forward as going back to their innocent, untainted roots. Regardless of which direction the company is heading in name-wise, we can likely expect a full reveal sometime in the Fall… so hang tight.
Update: To clear up any confusion, the loss of 1080p is in reference to the previous information we had (linked above, and here) about the new Apple TV — not in reference to the current Apple TV.
Exclusive: Upcoming Apple TV loses 1080p playback, gains apps… and will be renamed iTV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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