Apple TV to launch in Netherlands, Belgium, 5 more countries next week
The iOS-powered Apple TV is set to launch next Tuesday in seven European countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
Availability will occur on the same day that Apple will hold a media event to show off its next-generation iPhone hardware. Word of the impending launch came from a note sent by Apple to resellers, obtained by MacRumors on Friday.
"We are delighted to announce the all-new Apple TV, with an enhanced user interface and a breakthrough price point, is now available to order in Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland," the note reads. The set-top box is reportedly set to sell for ?119 including VAT in Finland.
Global expansion of the hardware comes as Apple has launched its iTunes Store in 12 new European Union countries, ending an eight year wait. The expanded availability signals Apple's interest in selling more content throughout Europe through iTunes, which has become the largest music and movie store in the world.
The launch in seven new countries could be seen as a sign that Apple does not intend to refresh the Apple TV with a hardware upgrade this year. Some rumors earlier this year suggested the company was working on a new model powered by the A5 processor found in the iPad 2 and capable of displaying 1080p content, a higher resolution than the current maximum of 720p with the A4 CPU.
The redesigned Apple TV, which sells for $99 in the U.S., was launched in late 2010 and found success in the market, though Apple still famously refers to the device as a "hobby." Sales of the new Apple TV topped 2 million in April.
Availability will occur on the same day that Apple will hold a media event to show off its next-generation iPhone hardware. Word of the impending launch came from a note sent by Apple to resellers, obtained by MacRumors on Friday.
"We are delighted to announce the all-new Apple TV, with an enhanced user interface and a breakthrough price point, is now available to order in Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland," the note reads. The set-top box is reportedly set to sell for ?119 including VAT in Finland.
Global expansion of the hardware comes as Apple has launched its iTunes Store in 12 new European Union countries, ending an eight year wait. The expanded availability signals Apple's interest in selling more content throughout Europe through iTunes, which has become the largest music and movie store in the world.
The launch in seven new countries could be seen as a sign that Apple does not intend to refresh the Apple TV with a hardware upgrade this year. Some rumors earlier this year suggested the company was working on a new model powered by the A5 processor found in the iPad 2 and capable of displaying 1080p content, a higher resolution than the current maximum of 720p with the A4 CPU.
The redesigned Apple TV, which sells for $99 in the U.S., was launched in late 2010 and found success in the market, though Apple still famously refers to the device as a "hobby." Sales of the new Apple TV topped 2 million in April.
Comments
A friend of mine - a long-time American ex-pat in Belgium said that many of her friends don't watch much TV. I'm wondering how well something like Apple TV would do there?
I wouldn't think that she is representative of the majority
A friend of mine - a long-time American ex-pat in Belgium said that many of her friends don't watch much TV.
I found a page that ranks media in Europe. (http://www.nationmaster.com/country/...gium/med-media). Belgium has 98% penetration of TV's; pretty large penetration of Cable subscribers (2nd of 18 - 37%) and 2.75 hours a day. Hmm.
I found a page that ranks media in Europe. (http://www.nationmaster.com/country/...gium/med-media). Belgium has 98% penetration of TV's; pretty large penetration of Cable subscribers (2nd of 18 - 37%) and 2.75 hours a day. Hmm.
Nice find. Also note that the AppleTV far exceeds TV show watching to which your friend might be referring.
Can't wait for the day when it's actually bundled with a tv.
Post #7000.
(Sorry, couldn't resist!)
By far the best value-for-money product from Apple.
Can't wait for the day when it's actually bundled with a tv.
I don't want it to be bundled with the tv (I don't mind if it is...) but what I want is for my cable co to create an app for it so the Apple TV is my only box... with an Apple interface.
Oh, and congrats on 7000 posts. Time to get a life, perhaps?
This is like a bad news. If there will be a new model soon surely they will wait to launch a new one instead?
Agreed. I am really hoping that Apple opens it up to apps. Would be so nice to stream video other than Netflix and iTunes. Airplay is okay, but kind of ackward.
It's an exellent device and it's nice to see content for it in iTunes, finally.
It was a lot cheaper than 119€ though, about 69€ if I recall correctly.
J.
However the French (dubbed) and Dutch (subtitle) versions are mixed up on the same catalogue pages.
As always this is a complicated country.....
W00t!
Post #7000.
(Sorry, couldn't resist!)
Shouldn't that have been "700t!"
Using it for almost a year now to watch most of the movies I see.
It's an exellent device and it's nice to see content for it in iTunes, finally.
It was a lot cheaper than 119? though, about 69? if I recall correctly.
J.
I agree, we really like ours. We used to say we love ours - but in the last few weeks it seems like iTunes access has really slowed down. I'm talking "7 minutes until ready" (or whatever the message says exactly) to download an episode of Modern Family - and it's not our connection; I can start streaming a Netflix episode instantly. (Note, this was the extreme; but it's not uncommon for it to say "2 minutes until ready"; and we've had buffering issues more than once with iTunes, but almost never with Netflix.)
Has anyone else noticed this? D'you suppose it's related to Apple bringing the cloud online and finishing up iOS5?
This is like a bad news. If there will be a new model soon surely they will wait to launch a new one instead?
Agreed. I am really hoping that Apple opens it up to apps. Would be so nice to stream video other than Netflix and iTunes. Airplay is okay, but kind of ackward.
I agree with the basic logic - but look at the bright side, I don't think Apple would be rolling it out to 6 European markets if it was still just a "hobby". I have to think with this news that Apple's taking an ever-more-serious interest in the AppleTV.
I agree with the basic logic - but look at the bright side, I don't think Apple would be rolling it out to 6 European markets if it was still just a "hobby". I have to think with this news that Apple's taking an ever-more-serious interest in the AppleTV.
No necessarily, they sell it in other markets providing not much more than iTunes streaming
I just rented a movie on my AppleTV and I live in Brussels.
However the French (dubbed) and Dutch (subtitle) versions are mixed up on the same catalogue pages.
As always this is a complicated country.....
"Complicated" is not the word that came to mind.......
Shouldn't that have been "700t!"
Nice!
I agree, we really like ours. We used to say we love ours - but in the last few weeks it seems like iTunes access has really slowed down. I'm talking "7 minutes until ready" (or whatever the message says exactly) to download an episode of Modern Family - and it's not our connection; I can start streaming a Netflix episode instantly. (Note, this was the extreme; but it's not uncommon for it to say "2 minutes until ready"; and we've had buffering issues more than once with iTunes, but almost never with Netflix.)
Has anyone else noticed this? D'you suppose it's related to Apple bringing the cloud online and finishing up iOS5?
I have had the exact opposite issue: to the point where I have now suspended my Netflix account!