Steve Jobs email reveals plans for Apple TV with apps, browser and magic wand accessory

Along with internal presentations, the ongoing Apple-Samsung trial also made public internal email threads between top Apple execs. Once of these email threads reveals Steve Jobs’ vision of Apple TV’s future. The Apple TV, long labelled as a “hobby” by the company, is a streaming TV device that brings video content from a variety of sources, including iTunes, to your TV. Apple has introduced three-generations of the Apple TV, but we haven’t seen significant improvements or feature additions. But that doesn’t mean Apple doesn’t have big plans for the Apple TV. An internal email thread reveals that Steve Jobs wanted to open up the Apple TV platform to third-party app developers, in the hope that it spawns a vibrant app ecosystem, just like the iOS App Store. Currently, Apple works with select media companies like Bloomberg, Netflix etc. to let them make Apple TV apps for their content, but the SDK isn’t public yet. Jobs also wanted a web browser for the Apple TV, to bring the entire internet to the device without apps, but we wonder how would users interact with a TV web browser. Perhaps the answer lies in Jobs’ next suggestion for the Apple TV — a magic wand. Based on previous patent filings, the magic wand seems to be a wireless motion controller for the Apple TV, much like the Wii motion controller. Perhaps Jobs’ remark about cracking the TV UI refers to this motion controller. Rumors suggest that the fourth-generation iPhone, due to come out this year, will finally bring new features like third-party apps and games and wireless game controller support. In wake of the recent competition from Amazon with the Fire TV, and Google with the rumored Android TV, Apple can’t afford to ignore the Apple TV anymore. [via 9to5Mac] Continue reading →

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