Apple TV to get automatic "touch to configure" setup via Bluetooth 4.0, iOS 7
Apple appears to be using a novel device setup method to ease initial configuration of Apple TV under iOS 7, using an NFC-like touch without NFC hardware.
Source: Benedict Evans
An Apple TV setup screen image tweeted by Benedict Evans depicts a welcome screen with the instructions:
"Use an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 7 to automatically set up your Apple TV. Unlock your device, enable Bluetooth, and touch this Apple TV with it."
The screen notes "not available on iPhone 4 and iPad 2," indicating that the feature makes use of Bluetooth 4.0, first introduced on the iPhone 4S. The technology also plays a central role in Apple's new iBeacons feature.
User Nat Brown replied:
The new configuration replaces Apple TV's existing setup procedure that requires navigation of onscreen menus via an IR remote, typically including the entry of the WIFi network password, and the network name if it's hidden. The device also needs to be added to iTunes Home Sharing.
Source: Apple
Once configured, iOS users can download Apple's free Remote app to turn their mobile device into a sophisticated, multitouch remote control (shown above), but this requires a configured Apple TV to use.
The new setup method also appears to explain why Apple hasn't bought into NFC, the technology Google introduced for Android 2.3 Gingerbread in late 2010 and at the core of Google Wallet (introduced mid 2011) and the Android Beam sharing feature introduced in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at the end of 2011.
While industry pundits have long questioned why Apple hasn't added NFC to its iOS devices and cited it as a competitive advantage of Android products, Google has dropped the technology from its own revamped Nexus 7 device, and HTC doesn't support it on its flagship One phone either.
Source: Benedict Evans
An Apple TV setup screen image tweeted by Benedict Evans depicts a welcome screen with the instructions:
"Use an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 7 to automatically set up your Apple TV. Unlock your device, enable Bluetooth, and touch this Apple TV with it."
The screen notes "not available on iPhone 4 and iPad 2," indicating that the feature makes use of Bluetooth 4.0, first introduced on the iPhone 4S. The technology also plays a central role in Apple's new iBeacons feature.
User Nat Brown replied:
@BenedictEvans seriously, cool - sends BT pulse to the AppleTV with accelerometer bump timestamp, iOS device and AppleTV match TS via cloud.
? Nat Brown (@natbro)
The new configuration replaces Apple TV's existing setup procedure that requires navigation of onscreen menus via an IR remote, typically including the entry of the WIFi network password, and the network name if it's hidden. The device also needs to be added to iTunes Home Sharing.
Source: Apple
Once configured, iOS users can download Apple's free Remote app to turn their mobile device into a sophisticated, multitouch remote control (shown above), but this requires a configured Apple TV to use.
The new setup method also appears to explain why Apple hasn't bought into NFC, the technology Google introduced for Android 2.3 Gingerbread in late 2010 and at the core of Google Wallet (introduced mid 2011) and the Android Beam sharing feature introduced in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at the end of 2011.
While industry pundits have long questioned why Apple hasn't added NFC to its iOS devices and cited it as a competitive advantage of Android products, Google has dropped the technology from its own revamped Nexus 7 device, and HTC doesn't support it on its flagship One phone either.
Comments
Are you talking about the first picture? That has nothing to do with Apple. it's just a picture that some dude snapped of their tv screen.
I have an Apple TV and the UI looks just fine.
Still, the UI gloss on buttons and highlights should pass away for something more like Illuminous (the old rumored new look for iTunes… what was it, 8?).
Since IOS 7 is coming out, maybe Apple TV will get an updated UI eventually too.
I've only had the Apple TV for a few weeks, but to be honest, I haven't paid much attention to the UI. I guess that I was too busy watching movies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland
It's getting really hard to read your posts Dan. Every sentence you write drips of so much fanboyism you make Gruber look like a Girl Scout.
You just now concluded that about DED articles?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogifan
Very cool. But that UI is seriously hurting my eyes. Lose the gloss Apple!
Are you referring to the glare on the television screen? Isn't that caused by the television itself and not the Apple TV? Or do you mean the colors displayed by the Apple TV interface?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Still, the UI gloss on buttons and highlights should pass away for something more like Illuminous (the old rumored new look for iTunes… what was it, 8?).
Still beats green felt, tan leather, and brown woodgrain!
Ah, I can see it now. Apple TV's OS hearkening back to the days when TVs were given faux wood paneling, had bulging glass screens, and were given built-in tabletops to move units. Oh, and you had to recharge the vacuum tubes (reinstall the OS) every few months.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkichline
NFC: The new Adobe Flash
exactly. damn, you beat me to it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland
It's getting really hard to read your posts Dan. Every sentence you write drips of so much fanboyism you make Gruber look like a Girl Scout.
I've read this article three times now; and maybe it's because it's late, but I'm just not seeing it.
OK, so there's a smattering of (deserved) schadenfreude in the last two paragraphs; but honestly, what else in this article screams "fanboyism" to you?
Why?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland
It's getting really hard to read your posts Dan. Every sentence you write drips of so much fanboyism you make Gruber look like a Girl Scout.
In case you hadn't noticed, DED doesn't write to please his critics.
I'm not seeing the comparison.
NFC is more like a DOA technology unlike flash which permeated the web Pre-iPad and is more akin to Microsoft, PCs and other dated dinosaur technology.
That being said if Apple were to use NFC for their payment solution no one would trash the technology anymore.
I do remember AuthenTec had quite a few NFC related patents that could be valuable to Apple combined with the patents they already have on the technology.
How about you participate in a grown up conversation instead of hurling nebulous insults?
What, you do you think NFC has been a successful initiative for Google? Your personal attacks are tiresome and childish. If you prefer to read a poorly informed sarcastic paragraph that only flatters Google's failures with praise and takes cliched potshots at Apple, you have lots of other options available to you.
I knew that YouTube App icon looked familiar