Apple Developing 'New Technology' for Delivering Video Content

In an article on some of the challenges facing Tim Cook as he steps into his new role as CEO at Apple, The Wall Street Journal briefly notes that Apple is in the process of developing "new technology to deliver video to televisions". The article does not elaborate on what that technology might be, but revives rumors that Apple is seeking to launch a subscription package for television content.

An immediate challenge for Mr. Cook will be to advance Apple's plans in what is expected to be a key market for growth: digital video. Apple is working on new technology to deliver video to televisions, and has been discussing whether to try to launch a subscription TV service, according to people familiar with the matter. Unlike the iPod and music, where Apple has a commanding position, the battle to rule online video remains wide open and the company faces fierce competition.

Apple has of course been pushing its AirPlay technology for streaming video from iOS devices to its Apple TV set-top box, but the report's context suggests that the technology being referred to is separate from that effort.

apple tv glee
Apple has been rumored to be interested in launching an Apple-branded television set, although many of the rumors appear to fall into the category of speculation and wishful thinking. Apple has been very careful about entering the television market, limiting itself primarily to select content offered the iTunes Store and hardware such as the Apple TV for streaming within the Apple ecosystem. The company has expressed concern over the difficult go-to-market strategy for any television offerings, citing the competitive, low-margin market for television sets and the balkanized content arrangements among media and cable companies.

Rumors of a potential "best of television" subscription package surfaced in late 2009, with Disney and CBS said to have been interested in signing on to the service. By the time the iPad launched in early 2010, those plans had apparently been put on hold due to a lack of interest from media companies.

Popular Stories

Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Leak Reveals All-New Design

Friday January 17, 2025 2:42 pm PST by
iOS 19 is still around six months away from being announced, but a new leak has allegedly revealed a completely redesigned Camera app. Based on footage it obtained, YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to...
2024 App Store Awards

Apple Explains Why It Removed TikTok From the App Store in the U.S.

Sunday January 19, 2025 6:58 am PST by
Apple on late Saturday removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S., and it has now explained why it was required to take this action. Last year, the U.S. passed a law that required Chinese company ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok due to potential national security risks, or else the platform would be banned. That law went into effect today, and companies like Apple and Google...
iPhone 17 Air Size Feature

'iPhone 17 Air' With Rear Camera Bar Allegedly Shown in Leaked Photo

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:46 pm PST by
A leaker known as "Majin Bu" today shared an alleged image of a component for the rumored, ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air" model. The blurry, pixelated image shows a pair of rear iPhone shells with a pill-shaped, raised camera bar along the top. On the left side of the bar, there is a circular cutout that appears to be for a single rear camera. On the right side of the bar, there appears to be an ...
iPhone SE Dynamic Island Majin Bu

iPhone SE 4 Leak Shows Dynamic Island, Casts Doubt on Rumored 'iPhone 16E' Name

Monday January 20, 2025 9:01 am PST by
A new iPhone SE is widely rumored to launch this year, and the device has potentially been confirmed today by known leaker Evan Blass. In a private social media post, Blass shared an image of what appears to be source code mentioning an iPhone SE (4th Gen), which casts doubt on the alternative "iPhone 16E" name rumored for the device. However, the name in the source code could be a...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Rumored to Be Compatible With These iPhones

Saturday January 18, 2025 10:28 am PST by
iOS 19 will not drop support for any iPhone models, according to French website iPhoneSoft.fr. The report cited a source who said iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that can run iOS 18, which would mean the following models: iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhon...
airtag 4 pack blue

AirTag 2 Launching This Year With These 3 New Features

Sunday January 19, 2025 8:11 am PST by
After a four-year wait, a new AirTag is finally expected to launch in 2025. Below, we recap rumored upgrades for the accessory. A few months ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was aiming to release the AirTag 2 around the middle of 2025. While he did not offer a more specific timeframe, that means the AirTag 2 could be announced by the end of June. The original AirTag was announced...
apple power beats pro 2

Powerbeats Pro 2 Coming Soon: Apple to Announce Them 'Imminently'

Sunday January 19, 2025 8:25 am PST by
In September, Apple said that it would be launching Powerbeats Pro 2 in 2025, and it appears the wireless earbuds are coming very soon. Powerbeats Pro 2 images found in iOS 18 code In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the Powerbeats Pro 2 are "due imminently." In addition to Apple filing the Powerbeats Pro 2 in regulatory databases last month, Gurman said Apple is...
Generic iOS 18

Everything New in iOS 18.3 Beta 3

Thursday January 16, 2025 12:39 pm PST by
Apple provided the third beta of iOS 18.3 to developers today, and while the betas have so far been light on new features, the third beta makes some major changes to Notification Summaries and also tweaks a few other features. Notification Summary Changes Apple made multiple changes to Notification Summaries in response to complaints about inaccurate summaries of news headlines. For...

Top Rated Comments

Icaras Avatar
175 months ago
When i can use AirPlay to stream content from my Mac as well as my iOS stuff i'll be more interested.

Late to the party, eh?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
likemyorbs Avatar
175 months ago
When i can use AirPlay to stream content from my Mac as well as my iOS stuff i'll be more interested.
You can...
I do it daily. I wouldn't have even bought an apple tv if i couldn't do that.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
likemyorbs Avatar
175 months ago
Late to the party, eh?
I guess after reading our replies he'll be more interested.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacNewsFix Avatar
175 months ago
That's a big assumption: That iPad will continue to dominate.

Perhaps smarter consumers will start buying tablets that cost less, deliver all web content to their users, and come with a Blu-Ray drive. Survival of the smartest vs. survival of the prettiest.

:apple:
You forgot something, so I provided a suggested edit. Cheers.

:apple:



How is that possible when Flash sucks on Android?
Perhaps he's referring to the runaway success of the HP TouchPad.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
175 months ago
No Apple Television. No need.

Interesting. Because "wants" tend to drive the industry as much as "needs." And Apple really understands wants.

There was no need for an iPhone, either. Certainly no need for an iPad, right?

Now look where we are.

https://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/20/isuppli-boosts-ipad-sales-estimates-through-2012-to-nearly-100-million/

http://goodereader.com/blog/tablet-slates/acer-reports-first-ever-quarterly-loss-blames-ipad/

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/18/hp-to-spin-off-pc-business-as-sales-stagnate/

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/18/apple-tops-worldwide-mobile-pc-shipments-in-q2-2011-with-ipad-included/

If Apple plans to enter the TV/Video biz, count on a more than even chance of them redefining the entire market. It's what Apple does with their major projects.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xbjllb Avatar
175 months ago
There you go again...

Apple, the company that pretends Blu-ray doesn't exist, developing "new technology" for delivering video content?

Let me guess. Black and white, broadcast through the air, and you watch it on these new-fangled things called cathode ray tubes...

...attached to wristwatch bands. And sued by Dick Tracy.

:apple:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)