There has already been a lot of speculation about the 2014 Apple TV set-top box. The expectation now is that Amazon’s Fire TV is likely to compel Apple to retaliate, and finally release a much needed revamped set-top box. We have already read a great deal about the features it may offer. A research note from one well known Apple analyst claims that the next set-top box will rely heavily on motion control technology, eliminating the need for the user to interact with the set-top box through a remote.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the upgraded Apple TV is going to play a “key role” in the company’s ecosystem. He expected the set-top box to debut in either the third or fourth quarter of 2014. Kuo isn’t sure if the upgraded model will include a standalone App Store, as has been rumored multiple times.
The most interesting bit is without a doubt the expected use of motion control technology. When Apple acquired Kinect inventor PrimeSense, it was heavily speculated that the acquisition would result in use of the technology in Apple’s TV offerings. Some even believed that the company might tap into PrimeSense’s technology and talent to add motion control to its full-fledged HDTV set.
No word as yet if these improvements and advancements might bump up the price. Existing Apple TV sells for $99 a pop.