One of the highlights of the 2002 movie Minority Report movie starring Tom Cruise is the impressive 3D gesture-based computer interface the cops use to dig for clues that help them solve murders before they happen. For years, some people have been waiting for tech companies to be able to actually create such a method of interacting with computers, and various game console makers have are already selling hardware and software that can interpret your gestures in real-time.
But Apple may be looking to bring this particular UI to computers and TVs at some point in the future, according to a patent awarded on Tuesday to Apple, first seen by AppleInsider. More →
Clicking buttons on a remote is so 2013. In 2014 and beyond, gadget makers are turning their attention to voice commands and gesture controls as the preferred method of navigating on-screen interfaces and controlling the various devices in your home. But what about all of the devices you already own that don’t support gestures and voice commands?
Companies are hard at work on accessories that will drag your old devices kicking and screaming into the future, and one such offering has just been unveiled that will add Kinect-like gesture support to your Apple TV, Nest thermostat and more. More →
Well, this is interesting: Over the past couple of days both HBO and CBS have announced different standalone streaming services that won’t require a cable bundle… and this is all right before a big Apple event in which the company may or may not talk about the future of its Apple TV set-top box. What is clear, however, is that over-the-top content is the future while pricey cable bundles are the past, and Apple and other big tech companies are likely going to lead the way with their own streaming services, set-top boxes and perhaps even television sets that will let you watch your favorite shows online. More →
An app called Popcorn Time that has been dubbed the “Netflix for pirates” has been making waves recently because it makes finding and streaming pirated movies and TV shows easier than it has ever been before. The app is also quite sleek, with a nice user interface and, apparently, equally elegant code. The program’s code has been used in a number of similar apps, and now a new offering of particular interest has popped up: TorrenTV. More →
The market for web TV streaming devices is heating up and Roku and Google’s Chromecast look like the big winners so far. Per GigaOM, new data from researchers at Parks Associates estimates that both Chromecast and Roku each have sold around 3.8 million units in the United States over the past year while Apple TV has sold only 2 million units in the U.S. over the same period. This makes a lot of sense because Chromecast and Roku’s new USB dongle are both less expensive than Apple TV, which is supposedly due for a major refresh sometime this year. More →
Even though Apple CEO Tim Cook promised to release multiple products throughout 2014, so far it looks as though Apple is once again pushing all the exciting stuff into the fall. Unnamed sources tell Re/code that Apple won’t unveil either its first wearable computer or its refreshed version of Apple TV at WWDC 2014 this year. While we really weren’t expecting the iWatch to launch until the fall when Apple released the iPhone 6, there had been some hope that Apple would at least take the wraps off its new version of Apple TV before the fall after earlier reports indicated that Apple would unveil the new set-top box in the spring. More →
Amid Apple’s strong fiscal second-quarter results and continued promise of new products and services, was the burgeoning growth of Apple TV, Apple’s $99 set-top box that’s rapidly changing industries and causing competitors to pick their heads up and take notice. More →
Apple is always working on ways to make both Apple TV and Siri more useful and now it looks like the company is planning to bring them together at some point. 9to5Mac reports that new code found in the iOS 7.1 software development kit indicates that Siri is going to get integrated with Apple TV in a future release. More →
In the past few months, rumors have been heating up that Apple will begin taking TV more seriously with a refreshed Apple TV. Apple has been negotiating with Comcast about the next-generation Apple TV, and earlier this month, Comcast hinted in FCC filings that Apple is working on a set-top box. According to respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will release an updated Apple TV later this year. In advance of this rumored launch, 9to5Mac is reporting that Apple has added three new channels to its current Apple TV: A&E, The History Channel, and Lifetime. This brings popular shows such as Duck Dynasty and Pawn Stars to Apple TV customers. While a subscription is required, 9to5Mac notes that you can watch the most recent episodes of popular shows for free. Apple is smart to be making these partnerships new — if it wants to compete in the living room, customers will expect to be able to watch all the shows and channels they currently watch.
Rumors surrounding a refreshed Apple TV with enhanced capabilities and redesigned software have been swirling for months, but they kicked into high gear on Thursday morning when the most reliable Apple analyst on the planet issued a new report with plenty of details on Apple’s next set-top box. More →
If rumors and reports from Apple analysts are to be believed, Apple has been on the verge of launching an own-brand television for several years now. Of course, the company has yet to release anything or even hint that it might be working on an HDTV product. That didn’t stop analysts at IBK Securities from fanning the flames once again with a new claim on Sunday that Apple is currently testing a 65-inch OLED panel for possible inclusion in an “iTV.” More →
