AppleInsider Staff
Industry watchers expect Apple to release a next-generation Apple TV set-top streamer later this year with a slew of upgrades, but the device might not support 4K high-definition content as some anticipated, according to a report published on Sunday.
Citing sources familiar with Apple's plans, BuzzFeed News reports the fourth-generation Apple TV will not support 4K content streaming at launch.
"4K is great, but it's still in its infancy," said an unnamed source.
In November, a report claimed Apple's latest A8 system-on-chip as found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus was capable of outputting 4K video. If Apple sticks with convention the chip will likely power a next-generation Apple TV, leading some to believe the set-top box would also offer 4K support.
With 4K video still very much a niche product, however, Apple's supposed decision to not include the tech makes sense. As seen with fledgling services from Netflix, Amazon and Sony, the amount of 4K content available can be considered limited at best. Further, only a handful of expensive televisions are capable of displaying ultra high-definition.
Cost is an issue for both consumers and content providers. As with any cutting edge technology, 4K has yet to benefit from serious industry competition and, with low uptake relative to vanilla high-definition hardware, does not enjoy attractive prices afforded by economies of scale.
On Apple's side, bandwidth support for 4K streaming would put tremendous strain on its existing content delivery network. Apple began migrating downloads to in-house infrastructure last July in preparation of iOS 8, but it is unclear if the network would be able to serve up 4K content. Consumer-grade broadband is also a problem, as many U.S. household connections simply can't handle speeds required for 4K streaming, the report said.
Today's report did not say when the next Apple TV is expected to drop, but BuzzFeed previously pegged a debut at WWDC in June. Apple recently slashed current model pricing to $69, signaling a successor is in the offing.
Related to Apple TV hardware are rumors suggesting Apple looking to launch an online TV service that would serve broadcast television content to Apple TV, iOS and Mac devices for a monthly fee. The company is reportedly negotiating with content providers and may mete out backend streaming responsibilities to third parties, possibly in cooperation with ISPs.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
74 Comments
"BuzzFeed News"? That place is a cesspool. How is their drivel any more credible than "Investor Monkey" or Samsung's PR department, for that matter?
The story is not only credible but makes perfect sense. It would be pointless for Apple to support 4K at a time when there is so little content available and so few have the necessary bandwidth to support it. Even with affordable 4K TVs, the timing isn't right for 4K yet.
The story is not only credible but makes perfect sense. It would be pointless for Apple to support 4K at a time when there is so little content available and so few have the necessary bandwidth to support it. Even with affordable 4K TVs, the timing isn't right for 4K yet.
Yeah but the spec monkeys will freak out.
[B]LACK OF STORAGE: [/B]A single 2-hour 4K movie would need 300 GB of STORAGE. Obviously, it would be unrealistic to give each AppleTV a 500 GB Solid State Drive to house the operating system and ONE 4K movie since this would add $200 to the cost of the AppleTV. [B]LACK OF INTERNET CAPACITY: [/B]Streaming a single 2-hour 4K movie would also quickly bring consumers past their 250GB Monthly Cable Data Caps. This would add an additional $30 to $50 a month to their monthly internet bills for simply watching a single 4K movie. [I]Most consumers also don't even have the internet capacity to stream a single 250GB movie into their homes. [/I] [B]LACK OF COMPUTER STORAGE: [/B]And if Apple added the capacity to DOWNLOAD a 4K movie, consumers will quickly ran out of storage space. Three movies, and your 1 TB hard drive is FULL. Twelve movies and your 4 TB external hard drive is FULL. And what if consumers have to back up their hard drive? That would be at least another 4 TB external hard drive for their miserable 12-movie iTunes collection. Two 4-GB hard drives to house 12 4K movies in iTunes would cost the consumer another $300. [B]NEED 4K TV AND 4K COMPUTER: [/B]What about the 4K Television the consumer has to buy? 4K won't play on a standard 1080p computer screen, so a consumer will also have to spend another $1000 for a new computer monitor. Actually, they might as well spring for a whole new computer to handle the data. [B]COST: [/B]So the costs keeps going up for consumers wanting 4K video on AppleTV. It adds $200 to the cost of AppleTV. It would cost consumers at least $30-$50 a month more on their internet bill to watch 2 or more 4K videos a month. It would require them to spend another $300 for storage of only 12 4K movies. It would require them to purchase a new 4K TV and a 4K Computer - at least a $3000+ expenditure. Then how much would each 4K movie cost? $50 per movie is very realistic. [B]NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME: [/B]4K Video is NOT ready for prime time for the vast majority of consumers. So do not expect 4K Video on the AppleTV. Apple will let others lead the way and make fools of themselves first.
Not a whole lotta 4K to stream yet anyway.