Dan Pražák Few people would have expected something similar until recently. However, the once unthinkable has become a reality. Samsung today he announced, that thanks to close cooperation with Apple, it will offer iTunes on its latest smart TVs. Apple's movie and TV series store is thus targeting a competing product for the first time, unless of course we count computers with Windows, for which Apple directly develops its iTunes.
While last year's models of smart TVs from Samsung will receive support for iTunes in the form of a software update, this year's will have it integrated in the base. The South Korean company should still specify the list of supported TVs, but it has already revealed that films and series from iTunes will be available on its platform in more than 100 countries.
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Amaya Toman Through the dedicated iTunes Movies application, users will be able to not only buy but also rent movies. The latest items will also be available, even in the highest 4K HDR quality. The support will be exactly the same as on Apple TV and other Apple products. In the case of Samsung TV, iTunes will also offer support for several other services, including Bixby, for example. In contrast, however, Apple won that the system will not be able to use the search and browsing history in the application to personalize ads.
According to Apple's head of internet software and services, Eddy Cue, the partnership with Samsung is beneficial in this area: “We're excited to bring iTunes and AirPlay 2 to even more customers around the world through Samsung TVs. By integrating our services, iPhone, iPad and Mac users have more ways to enjoy their favorite content on the biggest screen in their home.”
However, the arrival of iTunes on competitors' products says goodbye to one of the oldest speculations ever. It is thus more or less clear that Apple is not developing its own, revolutionary television, which was already speculated about as iTV during the time of Steve Jobs. A few years ago, it was rumored that the Californian giant was really toying with the idea of a TV from its own production, but could not come up with any area in which it could significantly innovate. The iTV project was thus temporarily shelved and now it seems that Apple has said goodbye to it for good.
The fact that Apple did not make the TV itself is the only good thing. The first version would cost a lot, just like all other first versions and the price tags would be completely unnecessary x2.
It can be great for people because they save 5k on Apple TV. However, unfortunately, Samsung is still weak in Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, which Apple TV supports (and there are already enough of them in the store). OLED TVs also have higher quality (but I don't have one anyway ;-), the prices are starting to get interesting though).
Samsung likes to make more money.