Apple just launched a new TV commercial for the iPad 2. Nothing really original here as Apple is still trying to touch our emotions, and of course they succeed.
This ad is titled "We'll Always," and it shows that we'll never stop doing the things we love, but with the iPad we'll do them in amazing new ways...
This has been quite a year for the man The Financial Times named Person of the Year in 2010. Steve Jobs started out 2011 by taking a medical leave of absence due to health problems.
But the co-founder of Apple still managed several achievements, like unveiling the iPad 2 in March and receiving multiple awards. He's even set to be featured in his own comic book...
Though the Apple TV2 is doing much better than its predecessor, ATV2 sales are anything but spectacular compared to Apple's other products. The device has been labeled by Apple as "just a hobby," but there is new evidence suggesting that the Cupertino company may be starting to get serious about taking over our living rooms.
Daily Tech is reporting that they have heard on good authority that Apple is looking to replace the Apple TV line this fall with an entirely new product. Their source, a former Apple executive, is claiming that soon we will be able to walk into an Apple store, and walk out with a TV set...
A new iPad ad is currently hitting your TV set, showing how the iPad is changing the way we do just about everything, from watching a newspaper, to touching the stars.
As usual, you can't watch this commercial without thinking "I want one of those damn iPads." I know, because I own 2 iPads and every time I see one of these commercials, I feel the rush to drive to the nearby Apple Store and spend $500...
Forget about streaming services like Hulu Plus and Netflix, what about if you want live TV? Apps like SlingPlayer do a pretty good job of broadcasting your TV content, but it requires some sort of internet connection.
For folks who just have to catch the local news at 9 on the go, comes the Cydle i30. The slide-on accessory will enable users to receive local OTA (over the air) digital broadcasts, right on the iPhone...
Tech sites are buzzing today in response to an interesting tweet this morning by known tech guru Leo Laporte. The former spokesman for Tech T.V. told the Twitter world that he had heard on "good authority" that Apple has hired Tomlinson Holman to head up the company's audio projects.
For folks who aren't familiar with Holman's work, just check out any THX-certified movie or stereo system. The audio pioneer developed the technology back in the early 1980's while working at Lucasfilms. He also engineered the world's first 10.2 surround sound system.
What could Apple want with an audio specialist of this caliber? One theory is that Apple has brought Tomlinson on board to help work on their rumored TV device. Apple's motto has always been to make technology easier for the everyday person, what if they were looking to do that with home theatre?
Imagine a mid-sized T.V. set (24"-37") with new LED technology and state-of-the art sound. Combine this with current Apple TV amenities like AirPlay and you have a pretty interesting concept.
Although Apple hasn't commented on the hiring of the Lucasfilm expert, it wouldn't be the first time they hired a high profile employee. Apple recently hired PR executives from Activision and Nintendo, fueling speculation that they are looking to bump up their share of the gaming market. With all of these new talented editions added to their roster, it'll be interesting to see what the Cupertino company comes up with next.
What do you think?
It seems like every other day we are hearing rumors of the iPhone 5 and what it'll look like, but not a peep on an impending refresh of the ATV2.
I guess that's understandable considering the iPhone sold nearly 20 million units last quarter and the Apple TV is believed to have sold just under a million.
But with all the evidence mounting that Apple is looking to enter the television market, how can you not be curious as to what the folks in Cupertino are up to? They gave the mp3 player and mobile phone market a booster shot, why couldn't they do the same for T.V. sets?
The latest patent filing uncovered by Patently Apple seems to point to an innovation to improve picture quality in LED Displays. The document describes a method of reducing color shift, a problem plaguing current LED systems.
It does this by reducing chromacity variations that cause color shifting, making the LED display brighter and clearer than ever. The patent mentions that the technology could provide superior FaceTime conferencing experiences, as well as improve photo clarity on larger displays.
The filing also notes that the innovation could be used in television sets. While the mention of a T.V. set could just be to emphasize the many possible applications of the technology, it still makes one wonder. What are those Apple engineers cooking up?
Although patents are more likely to wind up in a court room these days than consumer's hands, it's not hard to gather that we are going to see Apple refresh its TV line at some point. The real question is, when?
We know we are going to hear some more things about iOS 5 in June, and possible get some information on the next iPhone. Will Apple unveil a new Apple TV then , or wait until the September iPod event?
What do you think?
Although in many cases they don't make it to consumer products, patents kind of give us an inside look at what a company is working on. Trust me, there's no better company to peek in on than Apple.
Their latest patent filing to make its way around the web, describes hybrid laser projection technology. Before you start thinking Star Wars, let me explain.
Apple describes the hybrid laser projection technology as a system that can be used to display images using coherent laser light as opposed to incoherent incandescent light of normal projectors.
The benefits include lower production costs and higher quality images. It also notes that combining an incoherent light source with a coherent one would consume less power and could reduce the size and complexity of light projecting systems.
How could they use this technology in their products? 9to5Mac seems to think they might be integrating it in an Apple-branded TV set. That's not a bad prediction considering all of the recent Apple TV rumors, but I've got another idea.
Remember the LG Expo? It was an LG smartphone with a built-in micro projector. You could project captured and downloaded content onto any flat service, with quite a sizable viewing area.
The phone was essentially a flop but the technology was still fascinating. Now there are dozens of pico projectors on the market, many of them even compatible with Apple products.
I could definitely see Apple doing something along similar lines. They have a history of bringing innovative technology to the average person by making it simple and sexy.
Imagine an Apple TV device, much like the ATV2, that has a built-in high definition laser projector. It has outstanding battery life and content can be projected clearly on almost any surface. Maybe it even supports iOS apps and obviously AirPlay.
My head spins with the possibilities, you could have TV anywhere. You could set up multiplayer games anywhere. This would be a revolution, especially if it were priced and marketed properly, which Apple also has a knack for.
While the idea is intriguing, known projected light-obstacles like daylight and lack of available projection surfaces certainly stand in the way of it making its way to shelves anytime soon. Maybe Apple is just going to project the laser images into thin air, Minority Report-style.
What do you think?
If you recall, we reported on a rumor last month that Apple was looking to turn their TV product into something more than just a hobby. Well it looks like the gossip mill is turning again as more analyst chime in on a possible TV set from the Cupertino company.
9to5Mac is reporting today that Gene Muster, of Piper Jaffray, has predicted we will indeed see a new Apple-branded television set by 2012 accompanied by a host of unique features.
Obviously Apple TV services would be built in, but he predicts it will also have DVR capibilities, live programming and television channels via iTunes, and 1080p gaming via the App Store.
The prophecies don't stop there. Analyst Peter Misek believes a Netflix-like $10 a month subscription could be in the works for future iTunes programming. He also believes that networks removing channels from iPad apps could be a clue that they are "negotiating some sort of deal with Apple."
A subscription service could be likely, considering all of the data storage Apple has acquired in the past year. They just ordered 12 Petabytes (12 million gigabytes) of storage from Isilon Systems, and let's not forget about that large data center they've been building in North Carolina.
While an Apple-branded TV doesn't seem feasible, they've certainly managed to surprise me before. I just don't see them taking a big risk with such an expensive product. Hopefully we'll get some more details at this year's WWDC.
You think we'll see an Apple TV set anytime soon?
We told you how to watch every game of March Madness on your iPhone, but what do you do now that the tournament is over? If you are still looking for a free way to get your sports fix on your iPhone, then pay attention.
Streaming content to mobile devices is a hot topic right now. Time Warner Cable has recently gotten into hot water over their iPad app that streams TV channels to subscribers' devices. While it looks like some networks are unhappy with the way the digital revolution is going, others are embracing it.
ESPN liked the idea of streaming content to user's devices so much that they made their own iOS app for it...
When questioned about the Apple TV's lackluster sales, Apple's Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said that Apple TV was "just a hobby." That might have been the case at last years annual Goldman Sachs' technology conference in San Francisco when delegates asked Apple's COO the question, but not anymore.
Apple's second release of the Apple TV came in the form of a trimmed down black case and a low price of $99. With NetFlix and MLB integration, Apple TV2 seemed much more appealing than the original.
With the introduction of AirPlay in iOS 4.3, Apple made your HDTV you already had start interacting with the iDevices you already carried.
Fast forward to yesterday, March 25 2011. AppleInsider is reporting that Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty sent a note to investors yesterday that read "checks in Asia suggest Apple is working on a Smart TV prototype." The news has been traveling through the tech blogs like wildfire as everyone is intrigued to see what Apple will come up with next.
Are the folks that brought us the mouse and the click wheel ready to invade our living rooms for real this time? It's possible. Huberty speculated that a Smart TV would be an opportunity for Apple to consolidate innovative hardware with their iTunes software and other technologies.
An Apple TV set would bring the iTunes Goliath media library into homes that weren't using it before on other products. It could also bring technologies like FaceTime into the homes of the not-so-tech-savvy. If given access to Apple's current App Store, an Apple HDTV would immediately turn into a gaming hub, compatible with all of your current iDevices.
Only time will tell what Apple has planned for the future. I think it's very likely we start seeing Apple branded products outside of their current scope. And if the previous success of Apple's previous products are any indication, whatever it is, they'll probably sell millions.
I love college basketball, particularly March Madness. Games go into overtime, double overtime, it's a fight to the finish. I also love my iPhone 4. It literally does everything.
So what happens when you combine my two favorite things? You get NCAA March Madness On Demand. The app that has been bringing every live March Madness game to your iDevice for the last two years is back and better than ever.