Apple TV Refresh to Reportedly Feature Motion Controls; Pricing Tipped

Apple is expected to launch an overhauled version of the Apple TV alongside the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at its scheduled September 9 event. As we move closer to the mega event, more information about the company's upcoming media streaming device is trickling out. The latest reports suggest that the new Apple TV might cost close to $200 (roughly Rs. 13,200), and offer a remote with Nintendo Wii-like motion controls. The company is also said to be working on a TV subscription service which it plans to launch by next year.

The next-generation Apple TV will cost between $149 (roughly Rs. 9,800) and $199 (roughly Rs. 13,200), 9to5Mac reported. It's a substantial jump from company's current generation Apple TV, which is currently priced around $69 (the device received a price slash earlier this year in India, and now sells at around Rs. 5,000). The extra bucks gives you some interesting features, another report added.

The new Apple TV will come with an improved remote, which will offer support for motion sensors, similar to the Nintendo Wii nunchuk controller, TechCrunch reported. The remote is said to include a microphone as well, alongside the usual physical buttons, and a touchpad. The inclusion of a touchpad sensor in the new remote is in line with several previous reports.

The introduction of motion sensors in the remote, along with a touchpad, suggest the odds of Apple using the next-gen Apple TV to go big on gaming. If introduced, the media streaming box would allow users to enjoy the rich collection of titles available on iOS. This could allow Apple to get into gaming console business as well, and the relatively lower price of Apple TV (compared to Xbox One and PlayStation 4) could attract a huge number of customers as well.

The report further reveals that the new version of the Apple TV will come with Apple's A8 processor, which it has previously used in iPhone 6. Previous reports have suggested that the new Apple TV will also feature Siri, the company's digital voice assistant - giving credence to the inclusion of the microphone. It seems likely as Android TV box already offers such functionality with Google Now support.

The company is reportedly also working on a streaming cable TV service, which would compete with the likes of Netflix, Roku, and Amazon, among others. The company plans to release a subscription of multiple TV channels for as low as $40 (roughly Rs. 2,600). This, however, won't happen until next year, the report said. As a result of this, for first couple of months, the new Apple TV will require you to sign-in with respective cable networks to watch their content. This software feature will also be rolled out to the third-generation Apple TV, which according to the report will not be discontinued and kept in the product lineup as an entry-level offering.