“This year we’re reaching more viewers on more platforms,” said Pedowitz. “We are reaching our audience everywhere they are, and we want you to be with us everywhere we go,” he went on to say at the event.

The CW’s TV Now app will be located on Apple TV’s home screen in the coming weeks. The app will allow Apple TV users to stream full episodes of CW shows like, America’s Next Top Model, Beauty and the Beast, The Vampire Diaries and more.

According to the CW, “The CW app will require no cable authentication required, full episodes of our shows available next day after air, ad-supported“.

The CW is a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS, one of the biggest U.S. broadcast networks. This could be the start of a bigger initiative to bring more apps to Apple TV.

We know Apple has bigger plans for Apple TV. Tim Cook told NBC’s Brian Williams back in December, “It’s an area of intense interest. I can’t say more than that”. Cook has also stated several times when asked about Apple TV, “we will continue to pull the strings and see where it takes us”.

And of course no one has forgot the quote from Walter Issacson’s biography of Steve Jobs regarding Apple TV: “It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.”

Other evidence that Apple is working on apps for Apple TV include patents for what could be a gaming controller for Apple TV and other iOS devices. Apple could be planning to roll out a new controller for Apple TV along with an SDK and perhaps this is why it’s taken longer than people have speculated.

Apple sometimes drops subtle hints in the logo for the upcoming event. The WWDC logo for 2013 looks like several multi-colored app icons stacked on top of each other with WWDC and 2013 in roman numerals inside the icon. The logo is also in the same shape as an Apple TV or Mac mini. Is it app icons, an Apple TV or apps on an Apple TV?

Due to the expectations on WallStreet, Apple has never needed a new game changing product, software or service more so than right now. Turning Apple TV from a hobby to a break through device will not only sell more Apple TV’s, but it will sell other iOS devices and keep existing users in the Apple ecosystem.

The WWDC will be held June 10-14 in San Francisco. We will keep you posted.

This hilarious video makes some good points while poking a little fun at the FoneBook, I mean FacePhone.

Will the FacePhone be better than the Myspace Pager? We’ll have to wait and see, but I’ll probably hold out for a Twitter Phone.

It would make sense to most for Apple to take advantage of the headway iOS has made with casual gaming and release an SDK for Apple TV. If this happens, a controller other than iPhones or iPads would be necessary for most games.

Since today is April 1st, we found a video of a new gaming console called the Apple iPlay. Happy April Fools Day!

iPad Tips

2012 & 2013 A5 chip size comparison

Is this new A5 a pipe-cleaner for TSMC in a lower volume (and risk) device? Is this new A5 a lower cost variant that we will see in new lower end phones from Apple? Is it a shrink from Samsung’s 32-nm process to their 28-nm? All were speculated upon, and this time around we can deny the first rumor by confirming that the chip has die markings consistent with the continued use of Samsung as the foundry partner. With respect to the second rumor, we can provide our $.02 that we do expect to see this chip in future Apple devices (such as a possible phone or iPod) because that behavior would be consistent with what they have done in the past. As for the die shrink, the math tells us that the size reduction is more than a simple shrink – some functionality has changed too. We’ll have to wait for the cross-section to see if it is fabbed on the smaller process.

The updated Apple TV remains the same size as the current model. The space saved by using the chip would not be a reason for Apple to switch to the new chip and the low volume of sales for Apple TV do not justify Apple making the new chip solely for Apple TV. Apple may have plans to use the smaller A5 chip in future products such as, a rumored low cost iPhone, a future iPad mini or iPod touch. Those devices would benefit for the space savings and Apple TV could be another way to test the chip before using it on a larger scale.

As much as we would love to see a Apple television, it’s more likely that an Apple smart watch will debut before an Apple television. Higher profit margins, less competition and the fact that watches take up much less retail space make it almost certain that a smart watch will arrive from Apple before a television.

This doesn’t mean Apple won’t continue to upgrade the current Apple TV and possibly launch an App Store for the set-top box in the near future, but I would expect to see an Apple television this year.

Analysts such as Peter Misek and Gene Munster have both made predictions that have routinely been wrong. So, I would put much faith in Apple unveiling the SDK in March, but it is likely Apple will release an SDK for Apple TV this year.

TechCrunch’s MG Siegler weighed in shortly after Misek made his prediction and indicated that Apple appears to be moving closer to making a major push into television. Although, Siegler expects Apple will unveil the SDK later in the year at the WWDC or later.

I haven’t heard anything specific about the SDK, but the chatter about Apple’s broader television plans has been picking up. And if that chatter is to believed, something is happening this fall — likely late fall. As always with Apple, those plans are subject to change (and, in fact, have changed a few times in the past — see: “Project Sphere”). As you might imagine, content deals remain a bitch, yet remain vital to such a project. But multiple sources suggest everything is finally lining up for this fall.

The best piece of evidence that Apple is ramping up it’s plans for Apple TV comes from Apple itself. The company posted a job listing for a software engineering manager to help deliver the next generation features for Apple TV. One of the job requirements is to have demonstrated success juggling multiple (simultaneous) high priority projects. The first sentence of the job description states lead a team of engineers working on exciting new features and functionality.

No where in the listing does it mention applications for Apple TV nor would I expect it to, but at the very least it looks like Apple’s hobby has become a higher priority.

How to Connect a Bluetooth Keyboard to Apple TV

1. Update your Apple TV software to 5.2 or later by going to Settings-> General-> Update Software.
2. Once your Apple TV is updated go to General-> Bluetooth.
3. Put the Bluetooth keyboard into pairing mode. Hold the Power button on Apple wireless keyboards for pairing mode. A blinking LED indicates that the Apple Wireless Keyboard is discoverable.
4. Select your keyboard from the list using your Apple remote when it appears in the device list.

5. Type the four-digit code on your keyboard and then press Enter or Return.

6. Once the keyboard is connected you should see a confirmation.

After you have paired a Bluetooth keyboard with Apple TV you can use it to:

• Enter text for email addresses, passwords, search, etc.
• Navigate the menus by using the arrow, Return, and Escape keys
• Use media controls to play, pause, select next or previous content.

Note: Bluetooth support is a only for keyboards. Headsets, speakers, and other Bluetooth devices are not supported.

• iTunes in the Cloud: Browse and play your purchased iTunes music directly from iCloud.
• Up Next: See upcoming songs when playing music, and easily choose what plays next.
• Bluetooth keyboard: Use your Apple Wireless Keyboard to control your Apple TV. See this article for more information.
• AirPlay audio for videos: Send stereo audio from movies, TV shows, and other videos on Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices (including AirPort Express and other Apple TVs).
• Stability and performance: Includes performance and stability improvements with the iTunes Store, AirPlay, Netflix, iTunes Match, and wired Ethernet connections.

The new Bluetooth keyboard support enables users to pair a wireless keyboard with the Apple TV, which simplifies the process of entering text. The keyboard can also be used to fully control your Apple TV by using the Arrow, Return, and Escape keys to navigate the onscreen menu.

Apple TV has long been able to receive AirPlay audio and video, but now it gains the ability to send AirPlay audio as well. You can now send audio from movies, TV shows, music, etc. to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices including the AirPort Express and other Apple TVs.

The new iTunes in the Cloud support lets users browse and stream music purchased in iTunes directly from iCloud. This means your Apple TV does not need to connect to a computer on your network to stream the music. The feature even works for customers without iTunes Match.

To update your Apple TV to the latest software go to Settings-> General-> Update Software on your Apple TV.

Currently, there is not a way to manage subscriptions from Apple TV. However, any of the subscriptions that you sign up for on Apple TV can be canceled or managed in iTunes on a computer or on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

How to Cancel MLB, NBA or NHL From a Computer

1. Open iTunes on your computer.

2. If you are not signed in to your iTunes account, go to Store -> Sign In from the iTunes menu.

3. Once you are signed in, go to Store-> View My Apple ID (yourappleid). You should be prompted to re-enter your password. Re-enter it and click View Account.

4. Scroll to the bottom of the screen to the Settings section.

5. Click on Manage next to Subscriptions.

6. You should see any subscriptions you signed up for using your Apple TV. Click on the service you want to cancel.

7. Set Auto-Renewal to OFF and click Continue in the pop-up box.

How to Cancel MLB, NBA or NHL from an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

1. Tap on the App Store icon from an iOS device.

2. Tap Featured at the bottom of the screen.

3. Tap on your Apple ID at the bottom of the page. (If you are not signed in, tap the Sign In button, and sign in with your Apple ID. Then, scroll back to the bottom of the page, and tap the Apple ID button.)

4. Tap on View Apple ID from the pop-up, then enter your password when prompted.

5. Tap Manage under Subscriptions.

6. Turn off Auto-Renewal for the service you wish to cancel.

7. You should get a pop-up to confirm you wish to Turn Off the subscription. Tap Turn Off in the pop-up box.