CrunchGear

Re-read those first two sentences of this article, it says “for Apple TV” and follows it up with “The Bluetooth keyboard”… The Apple TV doesn’t have bluetooth, and why the heck would you need a multi-touch trackpad for your Apple TV anyway? Unless of course you believe that Apple is also going to release an SDK for the Apple TV as well (which will never happen). I love my Apple TV and use it every single day but I would rather just use the little Apple Remote than sit on the couch with a big clunky keyboard (I know that in comparison to other keyboard this one isn’t clunky, but compared to the Apple Remote, it’s clunky).

I can see that type of keyboard being introduced for the mac product line but, i cannot see it being introduced for apple tv. Saying that, it would be good to see some extra features flung into apple tv.

I hope this keyboard is the real deal for the mac product line, if so i will be buying it on the day of release.

GREAT! I hate trying to enter alphabetical values with the remote.

I can’t imagine this being limited to Apple TV. If Apple’s gone through the effort of including multi touch support in OS X, this may just be the next Apple keyboard.

Having and AppleTv in my entertainment center is worth it for iPod function alone. The video features are just an added bonus. Most receiver manufacturers bone you the price of an AppleTv for an iPod dock connection.

The reason no one cares about AppleTv to this point is all of the negative press from bozos like u.

The keyboard sounds like a good idea as the remote is a bit klunky.

That would work great if the Multitouch surface was an OLED or e-paper display.

By default it could show the ‘number pad and arrow keys’,
start up iTunes and get the ‘click wheel’ dislpay,
watching a QuickTime video ? Get the QuickTime controls for fast forward, pause, random selection, and volume control.

Start up Safari and it lists your favorite bookmarks,
or login to your .Mac account, and a short hand menu display
for all your options.

I would buy an AppleTV and this keyboard to
setup Safari & iTunes on a second PC connected to a HDTV.

The apple tv itself is a very useless device..
if it were capable of playing videos that are stored on other devices
computing devices in your home, able to play all the standard and extended
media types like xvid, divx, wma, wmv, mov, avi… you get the idea, you know
the same features as xbmc http://xbmc.org/ and then had a keyboard like that… it would be cool and useful.
I have a apple tv… its’ sits in a box doing nothing.

From above…

COMMENT: if it were capable of playing videos that are stored on other computing devices in your home

RESPONSE: Really? I stream a library of seceral hundered movies form an external hard drive attached to my iMac.

COMMENT: able to play all the standard and extended media types like xvid, divx, wma, wmv, mov, avi… you get the idea,
RESPONSE: I used Handbreak to convert all types of video to the one most compatable with Apple TV and my specific TV. Program is free, can convert in batches overnight.

COMMENT: you know the same features as xbmc http://xbmc.org/ and then had a keyboard like that… it would be cool and useful.
RESPONSE: Troll, although I’m not sure about the keyboard. It would make entering search words in You Tube easier but it has not been a huge problem so far.

COMMENT: I have a apple tv… its’ sits in a box doing nothing
RESPONSE: Clearly not to bright or has way more money than I do to spend.

*** I used Handbreak to convert all types of video to the one most compatable with Apple TV and my specific TV. Program is free, can convert in batches overnight.
****

CONVERT ????? LOL! in what century are you living ?
Linux plays ANY FILE without conversion and when it doesnt have a codec, is able to download them from the repository on the fly! Try doing that with your shitty Quicktime player on Mac funboy! you people are funny. Apple serves you with overpriced concepts that exist for years and you are like woohooo. Linux is 10 years ahead of everything and runs EVERYWHERE allowing the users to do whatever they like. large corporations suck your $ offering you stuff that already exist for FREE. Thats why YOU are an idiot and those who use open solutions have the FREEDOM of choice. now go pay for your itunes junk while we watch free tv over P2P :P

well then you are a dumb ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Already pointed out. Apple TV does not have bluetooth. Next time put some more little effort (a simple search in Google will save yourself the embarrassment) on making up some “rumors”.
Funny to see the other 280 non owners of AppleTV digging this nonsense.

Dude, nobody responded because it was obvious. Bluetooth keyboard + USB bluetooth dongle + software update = bluetooth keyboard.

No Way its true !

With these features the battery will not gona hold for long time !

This would be a great addition to my Mac Mini media center setup. Being able to surf the web from my couch is nice, but would be better with a trackpad instead of having to weild a mouse and keyboard in my lap.

I have been thinking for a while that a refreshed MINI with Apple TV capability and a HD Tuner would be perfect for home entertainment. This keyboard would be a perfect peripheral for that setup….

It’s a great keyboard design but I doubt it would be for the current Apple TV as it doesn’t currently support Bluetooth (as mentioned above) and it doesn’t really need a full blown keyboard to use imo.

However, this would be great as a Mac keyboard but not multitouch on its own, because I need some kind of feedback on my fingers when I am typing.

They could include a blue tooth dongle to plug into the AppleTV USB port.

I’ll believe this when I see it.

Why are there two sets of arrow buttons on the third image?

Two thumbs down on the poor fake mockups.

Yes. No bluetooth on AppleTV makes any bluetooth keyboard design useless. Even these. That doesn’t mean that this couldn’t be a new design for the Mac though.

This isn’t totally unsurprising, seeing as Fingerworks, used to sell a product like this about 4 years ago. They were bought out by apple who have been working on the tech and increasingly using it for more and more applications.

Just what Tuff Guy said above. Me wants.

I do not think apple is going to release this keyboard ! Just think about the size who needs such a keyboard ? - Nobody ! This is some nice manipulation but nothing more.
So let us think about how a remote control for your Apple TV may look like. mmh … It could be similar to the ipod touch, so you can watch the movie on your Tv screen and during the same time check some corresponding information on your remote control, and if you want to choose another film, you can navigate to the other movie on your remote and if you are sure, you found the movie you just click on it and it comes up right on your tv. This is how I imagine the Apple Tv remote. But this way it is too expensive, there why not combine both ? Maybe Apple release some small application, that allows you to control your Apple Tv with your iphone or ipod touch.
Reasons to do so ?
-no need for a new hardware design
-Apple Tv users think twice before buying a different phone (a non iphone).

But I do not have any Information from Apple, but this is what I think might happen. Regrades Snoop1990

my story, I originally, leaked it to macenstein.com. For the unbelievers:

http://0xfeedbeef.com/appletv/

http://www.pbase.com/jhapeman/appletv

and please note this company that was acquired by Apple:
http://www.fingerworks.com/

I have found conflicting reports about bluetooth. some have used a USB dongle. others seem to be clear it is IN the machine. a tear down might not reveal it, a bluetooth chip is no bigger than fingernail, and there are a dozen or so unidentified chips on the appletv mother board. also, intel makes cpus with bluetooth integrated, so there may not be a separate bluetooth chip at all. and, very oddly, the cpu in the appletv appears to be something apple wants kept secret, see this link:

http://anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=2951&p=7

but, it is very clear the system software shipping on the appletv contains bluetooth software and frameworks - since this operating system was custom-built for the appletv, its inclusion must be relevant. an update could easily activate it.

on a separate note: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/apple-tv-patent-filing-boasts-video-chat-widgets-broadcast-cap/

I’ll be extremely reluctant unless a left-handed version is made

AppleTV is great for iTunes functionality as is.

But if they were to, say, put Safari on AppleTV, it would need a keyboard. And it would be awesome to have a browser on the device (I know, one could use a mini, but so much more expensive…).

Rather than build a dedicated keyboard, why not write a multi-touch based wifi app for the iPhone allowing control of the iPhone? I think that’s much more obvious.

And this rumor is totally bogus.

Rather to allow iPhone to control AppleTV.

though i think there are users that would embrace the control this gives for apple tv, i doubt apple does anything that un-simple for a “non-computer”. optional? why not!

Why multitouch? Which parts of that need multitouch? Don’t get me wrong - multitouch is awesome. But, what exactly uses multitouch functionality right now that can’t be duped without? The pictures, and that can be duplicated without multitouch. We need more multitouch-only uses!

Wow, I would buy that in a second, I love the Bluetooth KB but I also love my numpad….I want it!!!!

Man, there are some just plain NOT smart people posting here.

Of course it can be used with any Bluetooth equipped Mac. But it is especially suited for the AppleTV. Why? Where in the hell do you put a mouse when you are sitting on the couch???

iPhone or iPod Touch as keyboard and touch pad?? Are you high?? Someone may do it and it would be cool as a novelty, but what about when a call comes in? What about when you are at work with your iPhone and the wife wants to iChat on the AppleTV? What if the kids want to use it, are you going to turn your expensive gizmo over to their greasy hands? And if Apple required you to purchase an iPhone or iPod Touch to access this functionality they would be roasted in effigy.

Duh.

umm, yeah, but this gripe applies to the iphone as a multimedia device, period. what if you’re listening to music when a call comes in? um, you pickup the phone?

it would be nice to have a fully dedicated keyboard for the appletv, but i can’t see quite see your exasperation at the notion the iphone/pod could be used to control it. if nothing else, you can already stream audio from itunes on a computer through appletv - why not from an ipod or phone?

appletv isn’t going to become a workstation. ichat aint gonna happen. but it could have a browser, and you could use any portable multitouch device to control it, and simple things like doing searches for videos, etc, would be so much easier.

Too large. You can’t keep it comfortably on the couch on a coffee table. Unless touchpad can be disconnected, it won’t fly.

as a couple of people mention:

what about lefties? i feel like apple usually take us into consideration and doesn’t release products only a righty could uses (see the usb on either side of keyboards, see trackpad in the center of laptops).

and why not just use existing devices to control apple tv… ipod touch or iphone controlling apple tv or a laptop — over wifi maybe? maybe that’s why apple no longer ships laptops with remotes… gearing up for when iphone can control it.

I believe this would be for gaming… rumors started a year ago about games on appletv… what do you think?

as someone who has primarily used apple portables since the first 12″ Powerbook through now, i’ve become VERY used to the apple trackpad, even through its evolution. And now, using a mouse on my aluminium iMac is sometimes a pain. I’ve tried many mice, but its the trackpad i love the most.

So slap a macbook air style button on the bottom of that pad and i’ll gladly pay $100-$150 for it so that i an enjoy my iMac more.

Jesus Lord in Heaven, why don’t people seem able to actually comprehend what is written?? I’m not exasperated by the idea of iPhone/iPod Touch as a remote/input device for AppleTV, I said it would be cool, but just not practical AT ALL.

And again, never did I say anything remotely approaching “AppleTV will become a workstation” - where did you get that from what I wrote??!! Please, put down the crack pipe.

But hear me now, believe me later, for I speak the truth - iChat and .Mac for the AppleTV is a DONE DEAL!!

it looks pretty cool all the same

Really fascinating multi touch video. Looks new and cool believe it or not! Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDyg_Hxbw0

Q: I’m thinking about getting Apple TV and have a Logitech diNovo Edge keyboard (has a USB bluetooth dongle). Will it work with Apple TV? Thanks.