You can now preorder yourself a new Apple TV at Best Buy, but you won’t get it as soon as those who pre-ordered from Apple over the past few days, or those who dare storm Apple store locations this Friday.
Best Buy is currently offering the 32 GB version for $150 and the 64 GB version for $200, just like Apple, but in-store pickup and delivery options state November 4 as the shipping/pickup date. Those who opted to preorder the Apple TV from Apple directly have the option to select next-day shipping, which could deliver the device as early as October 30 and as late as November 3. Standard shipping of the device if preordered by Thursday will result in deliveries estimated between November 2 – 4.
It was also announced today that Apple Stores will begin selling the new Apple TV box beginning Friday, October 30. While the streaming set-top box may not pull as big a crowd as, say, an iPhone, it’s a good bet limited stock on-hand will create enough of a sense of urgency that Apple TV fans hungry for their upgrade will have to battle it out with others to get their hands on one.
Updated 10/28/2015 by Caleb Denison with news that Best Buy now offers new Apple TV preorders, and news that Apple stores will have the device on Friday, October 30.
Original story published 10/21/2015
The fourth generation Apple TV finally has an official release date. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal‘s Gerard Baker on Monday evening, Apple CEO Tim Cook shared that customers will be able to purchase the revamped Apple TV starting on Monday, Oct. 26, and that the device will begin shipping next week.
The new and improved Apple TV was introduced on Sept. 9 during the company’s event in San Francisco. There, Apple showcased the device’s much more advanced remote (including touch interface), faster hardware, enhanced interface, Apple TV app store, and integration with Siri. A late October release date was expected, so Cook’s recent announcement is right on track.
Music and gaming will also both be central to the fourth generation Apple TV, and the Siri remote will even be able to function as a controller. Through the app store, users will be able to find a variety of apps that developers create for the platform as well as purchase content, and Siri will making searching easier. There’s a lot to like, and we expect the set-top box to give its competitors a run for their money.
It’s been about 2.5 years since Apple has upgraded its hardware, with the last major revision taking place in 2012 when the device was upgraded to support 1080p content streaming. A new Apple TV was definitely in order, especially as Roku, Google, and Amazon have proven to be tempting alternatives. Now more enticing than ever, the Apple TV will be available in both a 32 GB model ($149) and 64 GB model ($199).
The upgraded Apple TV still doesn’t seem quite ready to turn TV on its head yet, but Cook assured Baker that “this is the foundation of the future of TV.” More changes are coming, but in the interim, Apple TV offers great ways to pass the time.