Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has abandoned its plans to release a TV, at least for the time being. Apple will instead focus on a new version of the Apple TV. A separate report from 9to5mac claims that “TVKit” will be unveiled next month.
After a decade of research
WSJ says that Apple shelved plans to make a TV “more than a year ago” after nearly a decade of research. The company experimented with Ultra HD resolution, Facetime calling, and even transparent displays with laser projection, but ultimately none of the features were enough to compete, Apple felt.
Apple has not completely abandoned to project to make TVs but has disbanded the team and sent them off to work in other areas. It might be restarted at a later point. WSJ’s sources claim to know that Apple will instead focus on a new version of the Apple TV box and a TV service in the coming years. The box will debut in June and the TV service should be available this fall.
TVKit coming next month
A separate report from 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman who has leaked Apple’s software plans on numerous occasions, reports that Apple will unveil the new Apple TV box in June, with deep Siri integration and third-party apps.
His sources add that a new “TVKit” will be available for developers to build third-party apps for Apple TV. Apple plans to include a new remote, supposedly one with a touch pad, and market the Apple Watch as “a primary input device” for the TV user interface.
The project is internally called “MonarchTide”.
Apple’s annual developer conference, WWDC, kicks off on June 8th, 2015.
- Source: WSJ, 9to5Mac
