We’ve known the Apple TV has secrets since the first teardown back in September last year revealed its operating system was littered with references to other iOS devices. Now software sleuths have discovered code in iOS 5 that suggests the Apple TV’s Bluetooth abilities are about to be turned on.
While the most obvious consequence of adding Bluetooth support to Apple TV is the ability to use the Apple wireless keyboard to navigate menus and enter text, there’s more to it. The move would also make it possible to hook up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch as well as a host of other peripherals. It also adds new impetus to talk of Apple TV app support and its future as a console…
Mark Gurman and Sonny Dickinson at 9to5Mac uncovered the Apple TV Bluetooth code. Gurman speculates that the addition of Bluetooth support to Apple TV’s current WiFi connectivity means Apple has a version of the Safari web browser in the works for the box.
References in the iOS 4.3 Beta back in February pointed to Apple TV games with provision for controllers, scheduled games and leaderboards. Making it easy to hook up iOS devices, wireless keyboards and other controllers would make bringing games to Apple TV even simpler.
Better integration between Apple TV and the iPad could also open up the possibility for dual screen apps that take a similar approach to Nintendo’s Wii U with different additional information displayed on the tablet. Apple is also rumoured to be planning an Apple TV refresh for later in the year with a dual-core A5 processor onboard and 1080p video playback.
