A rumor surfaced right before Apple’s iPhone 5c/5s keynote yesterday saying that secret shipments of Apple TVs were arriving in the U.S. AllThingsD quickly squashed the report saying that Apple was not planning on unveiling new Apple TV hardware this month, and based off yesterday’s event, that certainly looks to be the case.
A big software update for the Apple TV will reportedly arrive on September 18th alongside the release of iOS 7. But that’s the only Apple TV news that has been on the horizon, until now.
Well-known Google Ventures partner/TechCrunch columnist/Apple pundit MG Siegler just tweeted the following:
I guess those excited about a software refresh in a week are gonna be *really* excited when new Apple TV hardware is unveiled next month.
— MG Siegler (@parislemon) September 11, 2013
He then linked to a prediction from Gene Munster, an Apple anaylist from Piper Jaffray, who is saying that Apple is working on a television for 2014.
Well, except Gene Munster, who will likely be disappointed that he’s wrong again on two counts. https://t.co/xfhAX9YzDi — MG Siegler (@parislemon) September 11, 2013
Munster has been predicting an Apple television for the past several years to no avail.
9to5Mac adds some more details:
It is unclear what the form-factor of this new device is. We’ve independently heard of Apple working on both a full-fledged TV set and a revamped set-top-box that is similar in form-factor to the current model. But no matter the hardware design, we have been consistently hearing from our sources that Apple is thoroughly testing Xbox Kinect-like motion sensors for future TV-related products. When Apple plans to release motion-controlled TVs, however, is uncertain.
So no TV set, but new set-top box hardware next month? The Apple TV hasn’t been updated since January of last year, so it’s definitely due for a refresh. Word on the street is that the second Apple event in October will revolve around new iPads and updated Mac hardware.
apple’s touch ID will extend to tablets, laptops, apple tv remote, within the next 18 months. Purchasing all apps/media will be with touch.
— Kevin Rose (@kevinrose) September 11, 2013