Rumor: Blu-ray Apple TV at Macworld
Ok, let’s preface this (as always) by pointing to our less-than-stellar track record when it comes to uncovering any real dirt leading up to a Macworld… but on the odd chance lightning decides to strike once, we pass this little bit of info on to you, dear readers.
Remember the Apple TV? No? Well, it is a hobby of Steve Jobs, and he runs Apple. You can look it up here. Anyway, apparently, according to faithful Macenstein reader Anonymous, it will finally get an update at this year’s Macworld, and gain at least half of what it should have launched with. Here’s the quote:
“hey guys, love the site. not sure if you guys care about this (but i’m guessing you do!) but apparently the AppleTV will be getting a Blu-Ray optical drive at MacWorld. what is supposed to be happening is the ATV will get a blu-ray drive, a slightly taller enclosure, and drop the 40 GB version, leaving just a new 250 GB drive version. Unfortunately, it is not supposed to get DVR functionality because that will piss off the studios, but it is going to support native divx which is cool, and now up to 9Mbps h.264 files. it should drop at around $550. 12 more days!”
Well, there it is.
Honestly, at this point, we would not be at all surprised to see an Apple TV update, and adding a Blu-ray drive (if Apple could will itself to do so at that price point) would actually be a huge shot in the arm to the Blu-ray movement AND the AppleTV. One (of the many) thing(s) we feel has been holding back the Apple TV is that it is just one more device sitting on top of your TV. If Apple could combine it with even one other device that is already there, such a s a DVD player, a DVR, etc., then people would be that much more likely to buy it.
As to whether this tipster knows anything, well, unfortunately we’re guessing this “tip” is based on 4 things.
1) The Apple TV launched underpowered, and hasn’t been updated since (aside from a slight hard drive boost).
2) Rumor has it that iTunes will get video rentals at Macworld, so now would be a good time to update the Apple TV.
3) Apple is on the Blu-ray board, and if they DO decide to add an HD drive to any of their machines, it is going to be Blu-ray.
4) People like to dick us around, especially as we approach an Apple Event.
There is however, one thing that we know for sure is true about this guy’s tip, and that is that Macworld is only 12 days away, and we can’t wait either!
Actually, Blu-ray drives are not that expensive anymore, and if Apple were serious about getting into the living room, they could really price that Blu-ray AppleTv thing much more aggressively, like $399-$449.
See this?
http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News-96661.aspx
Maybe this applies to the Apple TV too, not just Macs.
(fingers crossed).
If this rumor is correct, Apple TV sales will dramatically increase. This news is just as hot as itunes rentals in my opinion.
I’m all in favor of an improved AppleTV. But it will have to be able to run a Web browser on the big screen and have to have DVR functionality before I trade in the old G3 hooked up to my home theater for an AppleTV. I’m completely underwhelmed by Blu-Ray.
Rumor or not, I would consider this an awesome development for the Apple TV. It’s clear that Apple wants to get more into the home entertainment market, and this would people a huge reason to pick up an AppleTV. From where I am sitting, this format war is going to go on for a long time, so we might as well embrace it — at least this way, you could have HD-DVD with your Xbox 360 and Blu-Ray with your AppleTV and you wouldn’t have to spend any $$ on a PS3, thank heaven.
As well, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple announces something Blu-ray related with future iMacs and Macbooks.
I’d be shocked if Apple included Blu-Ray drives in anything.
This is just speculation, but if we look at the way Apple does things, it’s clear that if they wanted to support Blu-Ray, they already WOULD.
Apple seems to me to be far more invested in the downloadable entertainment business than in providing frameworks for media-based entertainment.
CDs and DVDs are still necessary on computers to install software and whatnot, but believe you me if the Apple team could come up with a way to do away with drives altogether, they would, and probably will in the future.
People used to think floppy drives were indispensable.
I could be completely wrong, but I’d really be surprised to see a Blu-Ray drive on a Mac.
Hm….Apple TV is starting to sound a lot like a well endowed Mac mini. If Apple is really bringing Blu-Ray to the Mac platform then it’s not much of a stretch to do produce a machine that some of us have built out of Mac minis. My Mac mini is hooked up to my HDTV and already does all of what Apple TV offers. Toss in a Blu-Ray disc drive and a video capture card and… yeah!!!
Man, don’t you just LOVE the Mardi Gras that occurs before MacWorld!!
/
I would go for it even if it had the 250GB disk plus the DivX codec only on board, as this config would slowly start to make sense as a media center.
@Leif, I think Apple hasn’t introduced the Blue-ray Disk yet because prices where way to high but start to come down now.
Counting the days until MacWorld starts
Arrrggghhh, please watch your apostrophes.
I would definately buy one if it had all this plus web access!
What would be awsome is if they combined the Apple TV and some limited features of the Mac mini & iPhone like Safari and email capabilities!!!
It would be nice to have the ability to get an important email or look up something real quick online at the easy chair.
FYI, Warner Bros. just got on the Blu-ray bandwagon.
Warner Backs Blu-ray, Tipping DVD Scales
-The Doc
No Blue Ray just a HDMI input so you ma add what you want