APPLE NEWS: iOS 7 AND OTHER BIG THINGS TO COME

After a big tease at the latest All Things D conference, May 28, Apple revealed iOS 7 on June 10. The new OS won’t be available until the fall, but the announcement is big news. Not only is the OS getting a whole new look, plenty of user-friendly functionality has been added. Apple has posted numerous photos and videos of the new OS at apple.com/ios/ios7. But that wasn’t all that was discussed at All things D. Apple CEO Tim Cook dropped a bombshell: His company sold 13 million Apple TV units in 2012. He also admitted that the company didn’t expect the product to go over that well. After all,Engaget reports, only 2.7 million Apple TVs were sold the year before.

OTHER APPLE DEVELOPMENTS
Cook was very coy when it came to discussing what Apple has in the works. A question about whether iOS7 was a big update led only to the CEO saying he’d let the reporter “be the judge” of that, says Digital Trends. He did, however, mention that he believes that it is essential for the company to have a blend of software, hardware, and services – an answer that is very Apple-like in its vagueness. He also noted that vice president Jony Ive’s input was essential, but didn’t specify how.

APPLE'S GRAND VISION

Apple’s CEO isn’t saying much, but that hasn’t stopped tech lovers from speculating on what the company has in mind. USA Today, for example, believes that Apple may be planning to upgrade Apple TV to be able to compete with the Xbox One. The new Xbox is being touted as an all-in-one entertainment device capable of providing almost all of the capabilities needed to live up to that billing. The columnist notes that Apple’s device can’t yet match the Microsoft offering.
USA Today goes on to say that Apple’s current gesture-recognition technology could be added to its TV product to match the capabilities of the Kinect Xbox peripheral. Highly capable recognition would be another plus. These things, however, may require the Apple TV to be made too big to retain its cool size and shape.
One problem with the Apple TV is shared by Google’s similar offering: It only allows you to watch a stream live instead of being able to record new programming or access your DVD player. There is speculation that Apple will remove this limitation by integrating the TV product with the iOS, but as usual, Apple has not confirmed anything.

IS THE APPLE TV WORTH BUYING NOW ?

According to Directtvdeal.com, a provider of direct tv specials, streaming content providers like Hulu and Netflix have already changed the way people watch television. If Apple upgraded its device to provide all-in-one capabilities, it would be possible to hook into these services with Apple TV without needing another device. This feature would be a big hit with streaming TV lovers.
Another aspect of the Apple TV is its gaming capabilities. Currently, USA Today says that Apple’s iOS devices are the most popular handheld gaming consoles, and their capabilities are improving in relation to game-focused consoles like the xBox. This could mean that these abilities will someday be added to the Apple TV. That would do much to advance a goal of making the Apple device an all-in-one entertainment solution.
Currently, however, the Apple TV seems to be quite limited in comparison to the xBox and similar competitors. Even so, the sales of 13 million units prove that plenty of people think it is fine just as it is. Therefore, it’s likely a good bet for an immediate purchase. Buyers, however, should keep in mind that the current version will likely become obsolete very quickly. After all, while CEO Tim Cook refused to give details, he did admit that the company has plans in mind. When Apple has plans, it often comes out with some major changes before too long. Those looking to be on the cutting edge will probably be better off waiting until the newest version hits the market.