Unlikely rumor claims fifth-gen Apple TV will go into mass production in early 2016
A dubious rumor on Friday from the Far East claims that a fifth-generation Apple TV is starting trial production this month, and will go into mass production as early as the first quarter of 2016, just a few months after the fourth-generation model arrived in consumers' living rooms.
The source of the questionable report is the usual Taiwanese supply chain sources who speak with DigiTimes, a Taiwanese industry publication with an unreliable track record. While the site does occasionally provide accurate information on Apple's future product plans, it is frequently the source of inaccurate rumors, particularly with respect to the timing of product launches.
Friday's report alleges that the upgraded Apple TV will have a new CPU demanding a "heat-dissipation solution" to keep it cool. An updated processor will "add new functions to help it [the Apple TV] no longer serve only as a set-top box," the publication suggested.
Production will allegedly be handled by Quanta Computer, instead of Foxconn.
However, a new Apple TV is extremely unlikely so quickly after the release of a fourth-gen model in late October. Apple almost always holds to annual release schedules, and the Apple TV in particular has actually been slow to update -- the third-gen model was introduced in 2012.
One possibility is that the company is planning a minor revision. In January 2013 Apple issued a "Rev. A" update of the third-gen device, making no major improvements but swapping in some new components.
DigiTimes's sources claimed that a fifth-gen model will add new functions, however, which suggests more than a revision. The people didn't say what kind of functions Apple might add.
The source of the questionable report is the usual Taiwanese supply chain sources who speak with DigiTimes, a Taiwanese industry publication with an unreliable track record. While the site does occasionally provide accurate information on Apple's future product plans, it is frequently the source of inaccurate rumors, particularly with respect to the timing of product launches.
Friday's report alleges that the upgraded Apple TV will have a new CPU demanding a "heat-dissipation solution" to keep it cool. An updated processor will "add new functions to help it [the Apple TV] no longer serve only as a set-top box," the publication suggested.
Production will allegedly be handled by Quanta Computer, instead of Foxconn.
However, a new Apple TV is extremely unlikely so quickly after the release of a fourth-gen model in late October. Apple almost always holds to annual release schedules, and the Apple TV in particular has actually been slow to update -- the third-gen model was introduced in 2012.
One possibility is that the company is planning a minor revision. In January 2013 Apple issued a "Rev. A" update of the third-gen device, making no major improvements but swapping in some new components.
DigiTimes's sources claimed that a fifth-gen model will add new functions, however, which suggests more than a revision. The people didn't say what kind of functions Apple might add.
Comments
Anyway as far as this rumor goes consider the source. DigiTimes has a horrible track record and hardly ever gets rumors right.
Apple has a partnership with Cisco for video conferencing that may need and AppleTV Pro with advanced FaceTime conferencing features.
Time will tell.
Honestly, it must be a success since competitors are probably spreading false rumors to slow Apple TV sales.
Not seeing it in the mobile site. The "null" (above) is what you get when you try to quote.
Every upgrade that could take place in 2016 (e.g. support for Bluetooth keyboards, etc.) should require at most a firmware upgrade. I would not be surprised to see a minor revision in 2016, but I would be surprised to see a fifth generation Apple TV before H2 2017.
But - it sadly and suddenly died 2 days ago. It became unresponsive, flashing the light in the front, and cycling the HDMI display to the apple logo for a few seconds, then blank and repeat. Likely it could have been restored by connecting to iTunes, but of course I have no USB-C cable. First time I ever needed to hard connect a ATV.
But here's the better news: I took it to the local apple store in the original packaging. Walked in door, guy in blue shirt greeted me. I said "no workee." He asked when I bought (and launch day was less than 90 days ago, so that was probably a conditioned response.) Gave him my receipt, and 5 seconds later he walked off to hand me a brand new unit. Whole thing took 2 minutes.
What a great customer experience. Yes, it sucks it died, but man, that's how you get loyal customers. Told the guy "thank you from a shareholder."
Off topic: these new AI forums are not wonderful. Looks like AI is overhauling the whole site. Yuck.