What to Expect From Apple’s Developer Conference
Steve Jobs, Apple’s late co-founder, long ago called the Apple TV, the video-streaming set-top box, a “hobby” because it was nowhere near a blockbuster hit like the iPhone. That label has stuck with Apple TV ever since.
As recently as a few weeks ago, the company had planned to announce today that it would get more serious about the entertainment box by introducing an upgraded version with a more powerful processor, along with a touchpad remote control and a toolkit for programmers to make apps and games for the device. But the company has postponed those plans partly because the product was not ready to be shown, according to people briefed on the device, who asked not to be named because the plans were confidential.
So when, if ever, will a new Apple TV arrive? Apple, which hasn’t refreshed the device in more than three years, is dealing with content hurdles. The company has been trying to work out partnerships with content providers to offer an Internet-based TV service that offers a slimmer bundle of channels than a traditional cable subscription. Apple has yet to reach agreements with those providers on issues like pricing, rights and the technology used to offer the service, according to people briefed on the talks. So the timing largely hinges on business-related matters as opposed to technology.
Still, the show must go on. At its annual conference for software developers, Apple plans to unleash new-and-improved versions of OS X and iOS, its desktop and mobile operating systems, which are no small potatoes. The iPhone continues to bring in the majority of the company’s profit, and the Mac sales continues to grow in the shrinking personal computer market.
Source: Free News Headlines Technology What to Expect From Apple’s Developer Conference