The last few Apple events have been characterised by their lack of surprise following a bunch of leaks and this time is no different, with strong rumours around iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, Apple TV and iPad pro rumours. According to a report from 9to5Mac, gaming will be a central focus.
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Unfortunately, the new Apple TV doesn’t support 4K. Others, like Xbox co-creator Nat Brown, have expressed similar sentiments. Apple’s three software platforms – iOS, OS X and watchOS – provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud.
Note: The third-gen Apple TV originally released in March 2012, with 1080p video support and redesigned software. Games represent a massive percentage of this revenue – estimates from Distimo have pegged the figure at over 70%.
Apple’s massive new stuff event is rolling away tonight, with the company moving on from enormous iPads to the much-rumoured refresh of Apple TV – and yes, it is going BIG on the gaming ideas.
And no shortage of players, either.
Hey, Siri, what does Apple have in store for us this week?
Apple on Wednesday launched an Internet TV system, a live streaming set-top box along with a new operating system called Apple tvOS and a Siri Remote.
As far as aesthetics of the hardware go though, the Apple TV largely looks the same.
Apple, in contrast, could use the same annual refresh cycle for the Apple TV as its other products, while maintaining a constant price point. The former is priced at $149 and the latter at $199. Its gaming library will consist at least at first primarily of the types of simplistic, repetitive games-think Angry Birds or Candy Crush-that are life-savers on boring commutes or long lines, but are not the kinds of games you’re going to fire up on a 60-inch HDTV in your living room.
Siri also does across multiple content apps, giving users all of their viewing options on a single screen. It might even launch apps for you, based on your past habits, when you attach headphones or connect to a Bluetooth speaker in a vehicle. Which, yeah, you have to buy separately.
Most importantly, the Apple TV remote wasn’t built for gaming. In fact, Apple derives two-thirds of its revenue from iPhone sales. Xbox Live and PlayStation 4 allow gamers to connect with their friends, interact, and play games together. Apple must have its reasons.
Then, there’s the question of controllers.
Siri will also be able to search for content across iTunes, HBO, Netflix, Showtime and Hulu on Apple TV. “The new remote offers limitless possibilities for brand-new gameplay and Beat Sports’ controls will have the whole family swinging, spiking, and scoring to the beat!”
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The Apple TV remote dramatically simplifies how you select, scroll and navigate through your favourite content while bringing unique interactivity to the new Apple TV by using a glass touch surface that handles both small, accurate movements as well as big, sweeping ones.
