Those long-running new Apple TV rumours have kicked up a gear again with more details on the predicted iOS-powered overhaul. But one detail sticks out like a sore thumb for British Apple fans: Apple TV is reportedly due go back to its original name, iTV. We don’t think ITV will go for that or that you’ll be pleased with some of the rumoured specs for the new Apple TV…
A few months back, Engadget claimed to have hot news on the Apple TV from a well-placed insider. It painted a picture of an iOS-powered Apple TV using the same A4 processor as the iPhone 4, packing just 16GB of storage and relying on a new iTunes streaming service.
Well, it seems that Apple TV informant is back with some interesting new whispers. The new Apple TV will reportedly still have those iPhone 4-esque internals but the choice of the A4 chip comes with a downside. The new Apple TV won’t be able to handle 1080i or 1080p video and will be stuck with 720p.
That seems like a retrograde step from Apple. We’re not so sure that it would release a new Apple TV box that couldn’t play properly with the HD TVs that have colonised our living rooms. The talk of a new iOS Apple TV running apps makes a lot of sense but no full-HD videos? That seems mad.
The name change is the second kooky part of the new Apple TV rumours. While iTV might seem like a good move to US sites keen to see Apple’s set top box fall in line with the iPod, iPhone and iPad, the trademark isn’t up for grabs in the UK. We’re pretty sure the home of Ant & Dec and Simon Cowell won’t want to share the name with Apple.
Britain is one of Apple’s biggest markets: is it really likely that it’ll sling out a new Apple TV as the iTV and need to rename it for a UK audience? We just can’t see it. The new Apple TV is apparently due to break cover in the autumn so our questions will hopefully be answered then.
What do you think fellow Apple watchers? Could Apple really unleash a new Apple TV without full-HD video? And what should it call the British Apple TV if the US goes down the iTV route?
Out TBC | £TBC | Apple (via Engadget)
