Lately, most Apple rumors have been centered around the next iPhone, which is expected in June by many, yet the latest reports on the company show some other projects in the works as well. Apple is reportedly considering updates to both its Apple TV and its iTunes services with potentially big changes for each.
Apple Could be Taking Over Your TV
It was recently reported that Apple had started talks with Comcast about developing a new Apple-based TV service. Apple proposed a set-top box system with access to a could of streaming material could watch on demand, seemingly as well as that provided by Comcast. Also Apple would want some special treatment from Comcast, granting them uncluttered access into users homes for a better streaming experience, somewhat like the deal Comcast just struck with Netflix.
The talks are all preliminary, so if such a product and system comes into fruition is yet to be seen. Yet it certainly won’t be an easy deal, Apple is asking for lot from Comcast, yet in an economy where more and more people are stopping to pay for cable TV services, Comcast might find some new subscribers through an Apple deal.
Apple is also revamping the Apple TV interface, going for a much smoother intuitive look and experience, probably more in vein with the style they unveiled with iOS 7. Also the company has been reportedly working with iOS app developers, specifically gamemakers, on making their apps Apple TV compatible, so users could potentially game on their TV using their Apple mobile devices as controllers, another interesting idea indeed.
Reinventing iTunes?
iTunes has long been a major component of Apple, spurring the world of digital music sales into center stage, yet now fewer people are actually buying songs and albums at all, and opting instead for music streaming services like Spotify or Pandora. So Apple seems to have recently been working on ways to revamp and grow the service and potentially get into the paid streaming business itself.
One way Apple is considering expanding iTunes is to make it compatible with other devices, not just iOS devices. Expanding the iTunes store to Android could be a smart move, it’d bring together a very popular digital music and video download service as well as a majority of smartphone users. However, Apple’s foray into streaming music subscriptions could be even more interesting.
Apple already has iTunes Radio, a free streaming service, with ads of course, which is based on stations which a user creates much like Pandora. Yet they have apparently been talking with some record labels about expanding into a subscription based music service in-line with what Spotify currently offers. So in the near future one may have access to the entire iTunes music library for a monthly fee. People seem to like these streaming services, which is clear by Spotify’s continued growth, so an Apple streaming service could be a good venture for the store, and if they open that up to other platforms as well they could find a slew of new subscribers.
Only Time Will Tell
Apples next moves are always interesting, whether it be a new iPhone or the idea of an Apple car. Yet they are always growing, improving,and adapting. Apple’s next foray into television was long rumoured and while there isn’t an Apple television yet this new concept could be quite interesting if anything comes of it. For iTunes these steps seem natural but important in bolstering the markets they have created and turning around recent losses and finding some continued growth. What’s to come from these efforts, as well as whatever else Apple has cooking, will certainly be interesting.