Could this be the future of Apple TV? Apple has been granted a patent suggesting what an Apple television could look like on your screen.
Apple has been granted a patent, spotted by Patently Apple, relating to menus appearing on your screen on top of the film or TV show you're watching. The illustrations submitted by Apple as part of the patent hint at the interface for the Apple television, including an OS X-style dock and a large menu on one side of the screen.
One pic shows a menu of icons appearing at the bottom of the screen, like the dock that pops up from the bottom of an iMac or MacBook, or the fixed tray that sits at the bottom of an iPhone or iPad. The dock includes a record icon, suggesting Apple TV would include a digital video recorder that would tape your shows for you.
Another screenshot shows a list of channels appearing on the right, taking up the full height of the screen and listing the programmes that are on now, complete with little logos for each channel. These can be filtered by type of programming, with another illustration showing just the films that are on at the moment.
Meanwhile, the TV show that you're watching hinges elegantly out of the way at a slight angle. It's similar to the cover flow view in the current version of Apple TV, which scrolls cover pictures for films and TV shows at an angle on the left of the screen while you peruse the menu on the right.
I have no idea how any of this is so gobsmackingly original that it deserves the protection of the US Patent and Trademark Office, but if I did I'd be earning an awful lot more as a patent lawyer.
The Apple TV patent is one of 29 newly granted patents revealed by the USPTO. It dates from 2006, which highlights how long Apple have been kicking round the idea of getting into telly. In fact, Apple founder Steve Jobs is said to have rejected the latest version of Apple TV, so more work is obviously needed.
In his biography, Steve Jobs claimed to have come up with a new way of controlling the TV, but Apple's standalone set isn't expected until 2013.
What do you make of it? Are you happy with your current TV or PVR or do you want a bit of Apple razzamatazz on your idiot box? Interface with me directly in the comments, or over on our easily navigable Facebook page.
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Comments 8
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anonymous 14 August, 2012 18:54
I hope it doesn't have rounded corners! We wouldn't want Apple acussed of copying Samsung would we!!
shauney3 14 August, 2012 22:46
What seriously? I swear my old CRT tv did something very similar. Sure it didn't have names of the shows but apart from that it was exactly the same...
anonymous 15 August, 2012 08:23
I don't understand how Apple are going to make money out of this. They either have to charge immense fees or have their programming stuffed full of advertising. If it's the former, who's going to pay for it in a recession, if it's the latter, how does it become any different to regular tv?
I have regular HD on Sky, and that seems to include pretty much everything I need to watch with a very easy to use UI. I already have a big screen HDTV which will last for the foreseeable future so why would I want to increase my charges or buy a new television just to get Apple TV. Think Apple are going to have their work seriously cut out in order to gain any traction over Sky in the UK.
anonymous 15 August, 2012 14:36
TiVo
TiVo
TiVO
Its the best thing for TV. Move to a cabled area so you can get it.
anonymous 16 August, 2012 12:28
They should have buried Apple TV along with Jobs
Actually no, cremation - to prevent them resurrecting it
anonymous 9 September, 2012 01:08
Unlike Roku where you get too much choice ATV will provide a walled garden within which to watch what they give you to watch. No movies. Apple are not running around signing up film studios at the moment, just TV shows from whatever side of the Atlantic your sitting on.
No PVR, recording to the cloud at a subscription. Access using airplay to be able to stream your other apple products to and from your TV. Including your itunes library with film rentals from there. Its feasible that the new ipad mini may have a IR port that can be used as a remote for Apple TV .
And again unlike Roku its not a little box that sits beside the TV,its inside the TV.
Wouldn't it be ironic if Samsung made the TVs. :)
BIGPADDY 30 September, 2012 15:42
I'm going to keep with my SKY+HD with my SONY TV very nice combo :3
H3 Digital 12 October, 2012 14:04
When are they going to start building these things directly into the Tvs There's no reason for example why a Samsung TV can't have a media interface along the lines of boxee, plex or xbmc.