Apple Inc. (AAPL): These Features Are Revealed on New Apple TV

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has seen some modest success with its $99 Apple TV. In the couple of years since its initial launch, it has seen pockets of success in terms of the market, but overall it has not made much of a dent in the living room, where it was designed to be a central source of entertainment for the whole family. With a lot of rumbling about Apple coming out with an actual TV set – something that has been predicted by people like Gene Munster for a couple of years now – there has been some question as to whether this new TV would complement or cannibalize the little set-top box that is the current Apple TV experience. If what we are hearing from the grapevine has any legitimacy at all, it seems that Apple TV as we know it isn’t going to go away anytime soon – in fact, it may just be enhanced and now considered more attractive for consumers.

The newest additions to the little Apple TV set top box have been revealed as the latest model of the box is in beta testing now. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has first incorporated its brand-new iTunes Radio music-streaming service to the set-top box, which will allow users to browse stations, create a custom station and/or playlist and even buy music straight from the application. As Apple TV is intended to be an entertainment source, not just a source for television or streaming movies alone, so incorporating music into the system makes sense. And there is no confirmation of this, but it is believed that the iTunes Radio app on Apple TV will be compatible with that on iOS devices, which could mean that iunes Radio could be used across devices – like a user could buy music on an Iphone, then play the music directly through Apple TV.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could certainly use something new to jump-start Apple TV sales – especially if a TV set is in the works as is believed. But what of the other new feature? While not a game-changer, it can definitely add some convenience to the operation of Apple TV for those not familiar. The second new feature that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has put into Apple TV is something called Conference Room Display Mode.

This new feature is more informational, where once in this mode, custom messages will be displayed so everyone in the room can learn how to share Apple TV content with each other using AirPlay – as not many people even have an Apple TV, there may be even fewer who know how to use AirPlay, so this can be a handy-dandy feature in a small group of people.

What are your thoughts about the Apple TV and do you think one or both of these features will help enhance visibility and sales of the device for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)? Do you have another suggestion for a feature that you would like to see on Apple TV? Let us know in the comments section below.

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