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Apple planning a low-cost TV dongle for new streaming service

According to media reports, Apple might soon launch a cheaper Apple TV dongle – something similar to Google’s Chromecast or Amazon’s Fire Stick.

The Cupertino-based firm has already discussed the matter with interested parties. If these plans come to fruition, the new device would be cheaper than the Apple TV, and one would simply plug it into the back of their existing TV set.

Apple is reportedly considering such a hardware product to promote a future streaming service that might soon be introduced. A more affordable Apple TV dongle would bring the service, which will only be accessible from Apple devices, within reach of more potential buyers.

At the moment, the company’s sole TV product is its Apple TV, which is priced at $149 for the standard version and $179 for the 4K version. TV dongles from Google and Amazon are much cheaper, selling for anything between $25 and $35.



Rumours are getting stronger that the company is planning to introduce a streaming service in 2019, possibly as early as March, and that it will launch this service in well over 100 countries before the end of next year.

Apple could offer this service as an individual product, or it might bundle it with an Apple News subscription and Apple Music, and possibly also its newly acquired magazine service Texture.

Original TV content produced by Apple could be available for free on the iPad, iPhone and Apple TV via such a TV app. Apple is reportedly also involved in discussions to offer access to subscription television channels such as STARZ and HBO.

As far as the new streaming service is concerned, Apple has around a dozen original TV shows in the pipeline, and it has already signed agreements with several production firms for movies.

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About the author

Chris

I've been a passionate evangelist for Apple and the Macintosh throughout my working life, my first love was a Quadra 605 working with a small creative agency in the south of Norfolk UK in the mid 1990's, I later progressed to other roles in other Macintosh dominated industries, first as a Senior graphic designer at a small printing company and then a production manager at Guardian Media Group. As the publishing and printing sector wained I moved into Internet Marketing and in 2006 co-founded blurtit.com which grew to become one the top 200 visited sites in the US (according to Quantcast), at its peak receiving over 15 million visits per month. For the last ten years I have worked as an Affiliate and Consultant to many different business and start ups, my key skill set being online marketing, on page monetisation, landing page optimisation and traffic generation, if you would like to hire me or discuss your current project please reach out to me here.

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