Is The Apple TV Ever Going To Get A Camera? The Rumour That Will Never Die
The rumour mill never stops churning, and one of the most enduring speculations surrounding Apple products is the inclusion of a camera in the Apple TV . Let's delve into this persistent rumour and explore what it might hold for the future of our living room entertainment.
The Apple TV Stands Alone (Camera-Wise)
Apple TV is unique because it doesn't have a built-in camera, unlike other Apple devices like Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watch. You can't use it for video calls or taking pictures like you can with those devices.However, that doesn't mean users are entirely shut out of video conferencing on the big screen. Apple introduced Continuity Camera with the release of tvOS 17, allowing second-generation Apple TVs to utilize the camera system of an iPhone or iPad for FaceTime calls.
This technology goes beyond simply mirroring the display of a connected device through AirPlay. Continuity Camera integrates the iPhone/iPad camera seamlessly into the Apple TV experience.
The Persistent Whispers of a Camera-Equipped Apple TV
If rumours are to be believed, Apple might be planning a future Apple TV with a built-in camera. Here's a timeline of what analysts and insiders have been saying:- Early 2021: Whispers swirled about a potential HomeHub, a device combining an iPad and a HomePod with a built-in display and camera. This concept resembled Facebook's Portal smart display system.
- April 2021: The rumours shifted gears, suggesting Apple might favour an Apple TV set-top box featuring a HomePod speaker for a more unified smart home experience.
- This theoretical device would offer functionalities of both a media streamer and a smart speaker, along with a camera for video calls and smart home management.
- This theoretical device would offer functionalities of both a media streamer and a smart speaker, along with a camera for video calls and smart home management.
A Brief Lull in the Camera Rumours
For a while, the chatter about a camera-equipped Apple TV died down. However, rumours about a standalone HomePod with Display persisted.- October 2023: Alleged code references surfaced in a tvOS 17.2 developer beta, hinting at unusual devices alongside the HomePod range. Notably, the code mentioned support for an iPad mini 6, potentially suggesting tvOS running on a specially configured iPad mini – reigniting the speculation about a display-equipped HomePod.
The Resurgence of the Camera-Equipped Apple TV Rumour
As we entered 2024, whispers about a HomePod with a display intensified.- February 2024: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a well-known Apple insider, mentioned the ongoing development of both the rumoured Apple TV with a camera and the display-equipped HomePod. However, Gurman also cautioned that a release in 2024 was unlikely.
- April 2024: Gurman, in a recent discussion about Apple's future smart home plans, briefly mentioned the possibility of "a revamped Apple TV set-top box with a built-in camera for FaceTime videoconferencing and gesture-based controls." While details remain scarce, this suggests that the camera-equipped Apple TV rumour might still have some life in it.