Apple is preparing to unleash its vision for the future of television at its retail stores across the US, and possibly other territories, on Friday.
The next-gen Apple TV set-top box went up for online pre-orders from Apple.com on Monday, while Best Buy began flogging it on Wednesday.
While orders aren’t expected to land on most doorsteps until after the weekend, brick and mortar shoppers may be able to beat click and pay customers to the punch.
According to Apple retail employees speaking to 9to5Mac, it will be available from Apple Store locations on Friday 30 October.
That would enable Apple to live up to its vow customers would be able to pick up the device during the month of October, but only just.
It went up for pre-order from £129 in the UK on Monday with shipping to commence on October 30, so it’s not like they haven’t reached foreign shores yet.
Related: Apple TV (2015): Everything you need to know
The new set-top box is arguably the most interesting new product in Apple’s fall line-up. It debuts a new tvOS operating system which offers natural Siri voice controls via a restyled remote control.
It also offers universal search, making it easy to find content across all apps, while the remote offers Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, meaning users won’t require a line of sight to connect to the box.
That powerful remote also has a touch sensitive panel and motion sensors for navigation and gaming, with the full power of the app store set to be unleashed on the tvOS platform.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
