AppleInsider Staff
Amazon's online storefronts in France and Germany on Thursday showed sudden unavailability of the current generation Apple TV, instead noting the device will be "available from Oct. 23," hinting that a revamped version of the set-top streamer may soon be released.
Amazon's German Apple TV webpage. | Source: Amazon
While not hard evidence of an Apple TV revamp, Amazon's notice of availability (via iFun.de) is in line with recent rumors that claim a next-generation version of the device will be unveiled in the near future.
Instead of being marked as "no longer available" or "pre-order," as other out of stock or upcoming products sold directly by Amazon, the company's French and German sites show current third-generation Apple TV will be available from Oct. 23. Amazon's other European website, which serves the UK and Ireland, as well as its Japan and U.S. stores, still have units in stock. The Online Apple Store also has full availability in Europe, though it is unlikely that Apple would tip its hand ahead of a new product launch.
It should be noted, however, that Amazon is not "leaking" a new model Apple TV. The company's French website, for example, advertises the product with the model number "MD199FD/A," which is correct for the current European version of the device. While mere speculation, the Oct. 23 date could mean the online sales giant simply sold through existing stock and is awaiting a new shipment. Alternatively, the company could be putting a hold on Apple TV sales ahead of a special Apple event planned for Oct. 22.
Earlier this week, Apple sent out invitations to a media event scheduled to take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, where the company is widely expected to reveal a fifth-generation iPad and second-generation iPad mini.
Also anticipated is a release of the latest Mac operating system, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the final version of which was recently seeded to developers. Some speculate that Apple will take the opportunity to finally debut its newly redesigned Mac Pro, to be followed by a Nov. 15 ship-by date.
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53 Comments
That's Amazon. Apple sells and ships it in 24 hours in [URL=http://store.apple.com/fr/iphone/iphone-accessories/apple-tv]France[/URL] and [URL=http://store.apple.com/de/iphone/iphone-accessories/apple-tv]Germany[/URL]. All over Europe, for that matter.
[quote name="PhilBoogie" url="/t/160237/rumor-amazons-french-and-german-sites-suggest-new-apple-tv-coming-oct-23#post_2419209"]That's Amazon. Apple sells and ships it in 24 hours in [URL=http://store.apple.com/fr/iphone/iphone-accessories/apple-tv]France[/URL] and [URL=http://store.apple.com/de/iphone/iphone-accessories/apple-tv]Germany[/URL]. All over Europe, for that matter.[/quote] We haven't seen as much of this lately but Amazon used to be notorious for adding items and ship dates that didn't exist. We know they had no inside knowledge because the dates were often wrong and sometimes they would have the name of a rumored product that ended up never existing.
So this is news, or even a good guess?
Hope Amazon is wrong, or else this is going to be an expensive Christmas time for me. New iPad (still have generation 1), new iPhone 5S (well, with carrier subsidies at least), was thinking about a new TV set (advice is welcome, btw) and now this... I have an AppleTV gen2 (the first "puck" apple tv). If the newer version opens up the app store then i'll have to upgrade, otherwise i might skip it...
Luckily the fabled iWatch won't appear until at least next year... Might have been too much.
And, sometimes in the future a new MacBook Pro will have to be purchased. But until now, thanks to Apple, the one I have seems to get better with age. (17" MBP, latest model before discontinuation). Mavericks breathes new life in "older" machines in an incredible way. From battery life to speed. And I'm glad about that!
[quote name="akqies" url="/t/160237/rumor-amazons-french-and-german-sites-suggest-new-apple-tv-coming-oct-23#post_2419211"]We haven't seen as much but Amazon used to be notorious for adding items and ship dates that didn't exist. We know they had no inside knowledge because the dates were often wrong and sometimes they would have the name of a rumored product that ended up never existing.[/quote] That's right, I forgot about that. Besides, doesn't seem likely to have the shipping date of a new version be the day after the event anyway, on a 3rd party reseller. [quote name="pinolo" url="/t/160237/rumor-amazons-french-and-german-sites-suggest-new-apple-tv-coming-oct-23#post_2419213"]Hope Amazon is wrong, or else this is going to be an expensive Christmas time for me. New iPad (still have generation 1), new iPhone 5S (well, with carrier subsidies at least), was thinking about a new TV set (advice is welcome, btw) and now this... I have an AppleTV gen2 (the first "puck" apple tv). If the newer version opens up the app store then i'll have to upgrade, otherwise i might skip it...[/quote] 1) it'll be an expensive year, without any fables from Amazon 2) getting the phone through a carrier is [I]more[/I] expensive than buying it from Apple 3) That AppleTV gen2 is worth money, as its software has been hacked. Supposedly this isn't the case with gen3. So if they release a new version and if it's the same $99 you'll be better of selling yours.