AppleInsider Staff
Recent bill of lading information from the U.S. Department of Homeland security shows Apple recently took three shipments of a "Set Top Boxes" from a known partner supplier in China, suggesting the company may be planning to unveil a new Apple TV at a special event on Sept. 10.
The logs, discovered by global trade research firm Panjiva (via GigaOm), show Apple took delivery of three shipments from mid to late August from BYD Precision Manufacture in Shenzhen, China. Each bill of lading refer to the contents as some form of "Set Top Boxes."
In chronological order, Apple received shipments described as “Set Top Box with Communication Function" on Aug. 11, “Set Top Boxes†on Aug. 18, and “Set Top Box with Communication Function†on Aug. 25. Shipments were large, the first being 7.04 metric tons, followed by two identical batches weighing in at 16.63 metric tons.
According to the Pajiva Shipment Search tool, BYD has only supplied Apple with one shipment prior to those in August, being a "PC Portable" on Aug. 18. The most recent record of similarly named "Set Top Boxes" shipments was from Hon Hai in December 2012 and contained units bearing the A1427 model number found on the current-generation Apple TVs.
There have been no rumors regarding a new Apple TV product, though Apple's upcoming iPhone products have captured the spotlight in recent weeks. The company has been aggressively pushing out updates for the existing set-top streamer, however, adding channels like Vevo, Disney, Weather and Smithsonian in late August, while a beta of the next Apple TV software released in July was found to have reinstated iTunes purchasing.
Apple last refreshed its Apple TV product in March 2012, adding 1080p output to the unit while retaining the prior model's design.
Earlier on Tuesday, Apple sent out invitations to a special event scheduled for Sept. 10, at which the company is expected to unveil a next-generation iPhone and possibly a low-cost handset.
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44 Comments
I would really like to see something different in AppleTV. I'm selling my AppleTV 2 right now so it would be awesome to pick something up to replace it fairly soon. I was expecting some type of actual TV though. Maybe we'll see both?
Would love to see 802.11ac support in the new Apple TV.
What it should have: A USB port that can be used for an external drive. The ability to run iOS apps. The ability to support PLEX. If it has those three things, I'm all in even if it cost more than $99. AppleTV is a nice product but I don't think it's a good as the Roku 3 due to Apple's control over third-party channels.
I have trouble believing there is *any* variation of "set top box" that is actually a good strategy for the "future of TV." It's probably just more USA-only crap anyway. Some kind of way of integrating USA-only cable companies into USA- only TV sets that will be hailed by the US press as some kind of miracle. Meanwhile the world yawns.
I have trouble believing there is *any* variation of "set top box" that is actually a good strategy for the "future of TV."
It's probably just more USA-only crap anyway. Some kind of way of integrating USA-only cable companies into USA- only TV sets that will be hailed by the US press as some kind of miracle.
Meanwhile the world yawns.
i don't think they can launch a subscription service where you can subscribe any channel you want in the world. obviously this has nothing to do with apple and its all american media entertainment laws made by american government if i'm not wrong. i would love that as i'm an indian and staying in china but love to watch american tv shows.
you are right about one thing though.
yawn.