Apple's casual Xbox: Apple TV seeded for online gaming
iPhone as touchpad controller, anyone?
How about this for an online gaming set-up: an 1080p HD TV for display duties, an Apple TV as your console, and an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch as your controller?
Text strings spotted within Apple's iOS 4.3 beta release, all prefixed "ATVGames", suggest the company is planning to make this possible, according to a report by TUAW.
Apple updated the Apple TV in September 2010, ditching the original model's Mac OS X derivative operating system and Intel processor, and replacing them with its A4 ARM chip and iOS.
Since the iPhone and iPad offer iOS-based games through the iTunes App Store, why not the Apple TV 2 too?
Possible, yes, but so far there has been little sign that Apple might introduce apps to the Apple TV, let alone games. The strings embedded in iOS 4.3 suggest that might change.
Games designed for the iPad's 1024 x 768 display could easily scale to 720p or 1080p, with bit of topping or tailing, or letterbox bars, to deal with the different aspect ratio, but the Apple TV's UI isn't really designed for app usage, and its remote control is certainly no use for gaming.
But iOS devices can communicate wirelessly, and it's not a massive speculative leap to suggest that just as these gadgets can already be used as an Apple TV remote control, that taps and swipes on their touchscreens could be sent to the set-top box during gameplay.
Apple's gaming service, Game Center, could provide a focal point for Apple TV gaming, and anything that'll run smoothly on an iPad will run smoothly on the Apple TV since both share an almost identical internal design.
Apple will have to bring apps to the Apple TV - too many telly makers are bringing apps to their sets, and it won't want to be left behind. And the success of gaming on mobile iOS devices will certainly have made Apple realise how strong its brand is in casual gaming. ®
COMMENTS
TV
Apple has some glorious (though expensive) monitors and they have entered the consumer space with the iPhone.... why not an actual Apple TV running iOS 4.3 ?
Bang and Olufsen produce expensive, if stylish, TVs. There is an opportunity for another high-end player in this area.
iPad as a gaming controller?
No thank you. I could probably imagine something worse for controlling games with, but it would probably have to have the ergonomics of the original NES controller, weigh at least three kg, and give the holder mild electric shocks.
Not apps, but XBMC
XBMC is now running on the apple tv 2
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Install_XBMC_on_ATV2
Seriously considering getting one now - a small £100 box under the TV instead of a full HTPC? yes please.
Kinect
As a Kinect owner I have to ask, what's a controller?
Apps are what's stopping me
The lack of Apps for this device have been what stops me from getting it. I love Netflix and I love Pandora. I can do Pandora from my Tivo, Netflix and DLNA from my TV, and other apps from my PS3. If Apple moved to provide Apps for the device I would probably drop the "Benjamin" and get one.
I am finding more and more that my tv media mac is not really used. It is mostly a server of sorts in the living room and everything I am doing is over DLNA to the TV or other devices.
I love the app revolution to the tv but using a keyboard has become clunky and outdated. If Apple had a nice controller and a list of apps that worked, I would be there in a heart beat.
