Steve Jobs & Co. may not see Apple TV as a high priority, but there's no doubt that Apple still isn't ready to get out of the home entertainment business just yet.
Engadget last week reported that a new Apple TV version will include 16GB of flash storage, be based on iPhone's OS4, and offer 1080p. It's being referred to as an iPhone without a screen, Engadget said, with just a power socket and a video out port. Sources told Engadget that the Apple TV revamp has been ongoing since well before Google TV was displayed last month and that--here's the scary part for its competition--Apple TV will retail for $99.
Like the iPad, Apple TV will be heavily reliant on cloud-based storage, but will also allow users to tie in Apple's Time Capsule for local storage.
Analyst Dan Rayburn, meanwhile, says that if the Engadget report is true, and if Apple comes up with a Netflix-like subscription plan, the new Apple TV could be a game changer for online video.
For more:
- see this Engadget report
- see this BusinessofVideo.com report
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