Sam Oliver
Along with releasing iOS 7 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, Apple next week will update its set-top box, the Apple TV, with new software that will offer enhanced AirPlay capabilities.
Details on the incoming update were revealed on Wednesday by AllThingsD, citing people familiar with Apple's plans. The software update is reportedly set to arrive on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
While Apple apparently isn't planning on updating the Apple TV hardware, the company is set to launch an "internal overhaul" that will "tweak" the current AirPlay feature, which allows users to stream content from their iOS device or Mac to the set-top box.
After the update, users will reportedly be able to stream purchased content from the iTunes Store to another person's Apple TV, even if it isn't set up with their Apple ID and password. That media will reportedly be streamed directly from the cloud, rather than requiring a local device.
The tweak gives the Apple TV an ability offered by Google's new Chromecast, a $35 media streaming dongle the search giant launched this summer.
Details on Apple's alleged software updates headed for the Apple TV were first revealed last week, suggesting that the latest version will gain additional channels, content and functionality. Apple has been gradually adding new channels to the device in recent months, with the latest push supplying content from Vevo, Disney, the Weather Channel, and the Smithsonian Channel. Prior to that, in June, Apple added HBO Go, WatchESPN, Sky News, CrunchyRoll, and Qello.
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
Sponsored Content
Amber Neely
75 Comments
Ios7 is a continuous surprise... So many new features that weren't mentioned in that hasty keynote.... ???
Ios7 is a continuous surprise... So many new features that weren't mentioned in that hasty keynote.... ???
It was already fully demo'ed 3 months back at WWDC. Did you missed that?
This feature is nice of course. Why is it taking them so long to put the apps on this device? It would be great to buy 1 game 1 time and play it across all devices. Even though they do not do this with the Mac yet for the most part it would be great to buy a game and play it anywhere without having to think about it.
If they're serious about getting iPads in the classroom, they need to enable a web based logon screen for wifi hotspots, and support enterprise security.
[quote name="TechProd1gy" url="/t/159475/overhauled-apple-tv-software-with-enhanced-airplay-coming-sept-18#post_2394250"]This feature is nice of course. Why is it taking them so long to put the apps on this device? It would be great to buy 1 game 1 time and play it across all devices. Even though they do not do this with the Mac yet for the most part it would be great to buy a game and play it anywhere without having to think about it.[/quote] The difference in user isn't face comes to mind. If devs can create it 'once' for all iOS devices, this would require way more work to have the same application work on the AppleTV or OSX, no?