Next-gen Apple TV is said to be aimed at gamers

The next-gen Apple TV, which is expected to be unveiled on September 9 alongside the new iPhones, is aimed at the gaming market, according to a latest report from the New York Times.

As per the report, the device will come with more power for better graphics, a new remote that could also be used as a controller, and a dedicated app store to get games. As for the price, it is said to be $150.

With hard-core gaming fans already hooked up to Microsoft's Xbox One or Sony's PS4, Apple could target casual gamers - those who like to play games but find Xbox and Playstation require too much time and cash investment - with its new device, the report says.

Previous reports have revealed that the device will be powered by the company's A8 SoC, and come with increased storage and Siri on board.

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New Apple TV Is Coming This Summer: BuzzFeed

Apple TV, the set-top box that connects to your TV and allows you to stream Netflix and buy movies from iTunes, may finally be getting an upgrade.

BuzzFeed’s John Paczkowski reported on Friday morning that Apple will unveil the next-generation Apple TV at the company’s annual developers conference in June.

Citing sources familiar with Apple’s plan, Paczkowski reported that the new Apple TVwill be “a significant overhaul of the device” and include a faster processor, increased storage and support for Siri, Apple’s digital assistant found on newer iPhones and iPads. BuzzFeed also reported that the new device will go beyond just streaming video to your TV and could serve as a sort of hub for controlling smart home products such as power outlets, door locks and garage doors.

It’s unclear how much the new device will cost. Last week, Cook said Apple would drop the price of the current Apple TV from $99 to $69.

In an email to The Huffington Post, Apple declined to “comment on rumor and speculation.”

If Apple were to release a new Apple TV in June, it would be the first update to the device in more than three years.

BuzzFeed’s report about a new Apple TV comes at the end of a week of heavy speculation about Apple’s plans for the biggest screen in your home. Rumors that Apple is developing its own television set have been reported for years.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Apple plans to launch its own Internet TV service with around 25 channels, including CBS, ABC and Fox. But The Information’s Martin Peers wrote Friday that the company “is likely … still assessing which channels to include.”

And last week Apple said it would sell HBO’s standalone streaming service, HBO Now, when it debuts next month. Apple will be the only non-pay TV provider to offer the service at launch. Customers will be able to subscribe to HBO Now through Apple TV as well as their iPhones and iPads. (Cablevision subscribers will be able to buy HBO's new service through the cable provider.)

New Apple TV device to appear midyear, report says

Apple plans to unveil a new version of its set-top box -- with long-awaited features -- at its Worldwide Developers Conference, according to a report.

The Apple TV might look a little different (and have more features) this year.

The Apple TV set-top streaming box will reportedly get an update later this year that could finally bring some long-awaited features to the device.

Apple will unveil a new Apple TV box at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) later this year, Buzzfeed is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the company's plans. The Apple TV announcement will come in tandem with the unveiling of a software development kit that will allow developers to bring apps to the set-top box, according to the report. Apple TV currently has apps, but those are automatically added to the device. The update would deliver an App Store to the Apple TV, similar to the App Store on iOS devices like the iPhone and the iPad.

The Apple TV box has been on a strange odyssey since its debut in 2007. The original device was designed to bring iTunes content to a customer's television and was followed by subsequent versions that stripped away the need for onboard storage and focused solely on streaming content to the television. An updated Apple TV device hasn't appeared since 2012.

The Apple TV box currently offers access to iTunes content, as well as a host of apps, ranging from YouTube to HBO Go. Owners can also rent and buy movies and television shows from the device. The Apple TV device will also play host to HBO's upcoming streaming-only service, called HBO Now, starting next month. It'll initially be the only TV streaming device to support HBO Now, beating out competitors Roku and Google's Chromecast.

Years ago, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs famously called the Apple TV a "hobby" and gave little indication that the product would feature prominently in the company's product roadmap. Indeed, over the last several years, some analysts have said that Apple has treated Apple TV as little more than an afterthought.

The tide, though, appears to be turning. At its special event earlier this month announcing more details on Apple Watch, Apple said it has reduced the price on the Apple TV to $69 from its previous $99 price tag. Apple also touted that it has sold 25 million Apple TV units since the product's inception in 2007.

Just a week later, a report surfaced in The Wall Street Journal claiming Apple is working with television networks to launch a service later this year that would let users stream programming from a range of providers, including ABC, CBS and Fox. The service would be available on Apple's iOS devices and the Apple TV. (Disclosure: CBS is the parent company of CNET.)

The Buzzfeed report claims Apple is looking to sweeten the pot a bit. The new Apple TV box would come with a new design and more storage than the current device's 8GB to allow for the storage of apps. The Apple TV device could also include a Siri voice control feature and support for Apple's home automation platform HomeKit, the report says.

So far, pricing and other key details, like improvements to the device's operating system, are unknown. Apple has yet to announce an official date for WWDC 2015. It typically hosts the show, which caters to developers who create software for Apple's iOS mobile operating system and OS X operating system for laptop and desktop computers, in early June. Apple hosts a keynote address to kick off the event, which would likely be where the company announces an updated Apple TV.

Apple declined to comment.