Technomaly » Rumor

Will the Next Apple TV Cost $99 Bucks?

J. Matthew Zoss — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:00:58 +0000

Engadget is reporting a rumor about the next version of Apple TV this morning, and it’s a big one. The gadget site has received a tip that’s been “confirmed by a source very close to Apple” about the next version of Apple TV. The next version of the device will be a complete reinvention, but it’ll look pretty familiar to Apple fans – the next version of Apple TV is based on the iPhone 4 architecture.

Described as an “iPhone without a screen,” the new version of the Apple TV will have the same internals as the upcoming iPhone revision, including an A4 CPU and a 16GB of flash storage. That’s a sizable decrease in storage space from the last Apple TV model, but that’s because the device will focus on cloud-based storage of videos with instant-on 1080p HD streaming. But the kicker to it all is that the device will supposedly carry a mere $99 price tag.

A one-hundred dollar device that brings streaming HD video content to your TV, as well as iPhone-like app support? If true, this is going to be huge.

Netflix Streaming Coming to iPhone?

J. Matthew Zoss — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:00:18 +0000

Tech companies often use online surveys to gauge interest in new features or products, and oftentimes these surveys lead to leaks of the proposed features. The most recent Netflix survey has leaked online, thanks to a very interesting potential feature that was mentioned: a new app that would bring Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” feature to iPhones. That’s a picture of the question at the left, and the full text is below in case you don’t like squinting.

For those of you who can’t be bothered to read multiple paragraphs, it comes down to this: You’d be able to watch movies and shows on your iPhone for no extra cost, provided that you have a Netflix account. However, you would only have access to the feature while connected to a Wi-Fi network, rendering the app pretty useless on a car trip and in many other situations. But even many planes have Wi-Fi now, so if this feature does come to pass I’d expect it to become pretty popular pretty quickly.

“Imagine that Netflix offers its subscribers the ability to instantly watch movies & TV episodes on their iPhone. The selection availability to instantly watch includes some new releases, lots of classics and TV episodes. There are no advertisements or trailers, and movies start in as little as 30 seconds. You can fast-forward, rewind, and pause or watch again. The movies & TV episodes you instantly watch are included in your Netflix membership for no additional fee.

Whenever you want to instantly watch content on your iPhone, your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network (such as one you might have at home or at work, or in public places like coffee shops, book stores, hotels, airports, etc.)

If this functionality were available, how likely would you or someone in your household be to instantly watch movies & TV episodes on your iPhone via a Wi-Fi network?”

Image and story source: Hacking Netflix

Rumor: Playstation Phone Finally On The Way

Asterios Kokkinos — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:20:27 +0000

Today, the Wall Street Journal reported that “people familiar with the matter” said that we’re going to see a Sony smartphone this year that doubles as a PSP, or PlayStation Portable, later this year.

I know what you’re thinking – didn’t they just launch another PSP? Well, they did, the PSP Go, which was launched not-too-long ago and we all wondered why we needed. Turns out, we didn’t, as if this rumor is true, it’ll be immediately replaced!

The second half of the rumor? The Wall Street Journal follows up by saying they’re going to release a device that “blurs distinctions among a netbook, an e-reader and a PlayStation Portable, or PSP.” Sounds to me like Sony’s releasing some kind of tablet that’ll be immediately clobbered by the iPad! Great idea, Sony!

Why do other companies even bother? Remember all those supposed “iPod Killers” that were going to launch? Even when they were better, cheaper devices, people still chose the iPod for the street cred of it all. People are gonna wise up and stop caring about that now? Not likely.

Source: PCWorld

Photo Source: Slashgear

iTunes Update Rumored To Include Cloud MP3 Storage

Asterios Kokkinos — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:07:42 +0000

PC Mag is reporting that TechCrunch is reporting that the founder of MP3.com says that a soon to be released iTunes revision features cloud storage of MP3s. And now, we at Technomaly are reporting on PC Mag’s TechCrunch MP3.com scoop! This is how the internet works, folks – one big game of telephone, and at the end of that telephone is the movie Snakes On A Plane.

According to MP3.com’s Michael Robertson, Apple’s purchase of LaLa.com (a music service that stores your purchases in the cloud) means an iTunes integration – the ability to hear your entire iTunes library from any web browser in the world.

Too good to be true? We’ll find out soon enough – Apple’s rounding out January with a launch event, but this idea makes a lot of sense. How great would it be to watch your iTunes television library streamed through the web? Or listen to a podcast on your home computer from your work computer sans iTunes? File this one under “we’ll see,” and then put that file in a bigger file marked, “I sure as hell hope so.”

Source: PC Mag

Rumor That’s Probably True: Touchscreen iMacs Coming Soon

J. Matthew Zoss — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:30:46 +0000

Some rumors are just that. But on the other hand, there are Apple rumors, which are typically spot on. Maybe it’s because Apple devotees are as fanatical about the company’s products as Twilight fans are about sparkling homoerotic vampires. So the rumors circulating that Apple will be releasing a 22-inch Touchscreen version of the iMac sometime this year. According to a report in the Chinese paper Commercial Times, the new computer will feature a screen by Sintek Photronic and will be manufactured by Quanta, the Taiwanese company that already builds a good chunk of Apple’s hardware. Little else is known about the potential new version, except that it’s expect by the end of the year and it damn well better play Fieldrunners.

A major Apple product announcement is expected January 27.

Source: Engadget

Image Source: Tech Ticker Blog