(Wired) -- Even six months ago, Apple TV was the big snoozer in Apple's consumer hardware line-up. The device is a simple set-top media puck — not much more than a passive conduit for piping iTunes, Netflix and iPad content to one's TV.

But, oh, how times have changed.

On the eve of WWDC 2012 -- Apple's annual developers' conference -- speculation swirls around Apple's positioning as a television manufacturer, and how Apple TV might play into a greater television hardware strategy. Indeed, an Apple TV reboot could be a game changer. And it would also be the WWDC highlight for users of the set-top puck, for app developers, and even for the TV entertainment industry at large.

Now, granted, Apple just revamped the Apple TV user interface with the launch of the third-generation iPad. So in some respects, it seems unlikely that Apple would feature the product in another media event just a few months later.

But the streaming TV companion still offers vast untapped potential. And with the attendance of thousands of devoted developers, WWDC is the perfect venue to announce a new Apple TV platform that exposes API support. And we can't forget how Tim Cook recently said the TV space is "an area of intense interest" for Apple.

Apple TV is one of the best set-top devices in a consumer electronics category that, quite frankly, doesn't enjoy mass consumer report. Think about it: How many of your non-techie friends own either a Roku, Boxee Box, Google TV or Apple TV? Nonetheless, Apple TV sales are picking up momentum: The device is on track to sell twice as many units as were sold in 2011.

An Apple TV reboot could be a game-changer - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/07/tech/gaming-gadgets/apple-tv-wwdc-2012/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3 A+Top+Stories%29)

Oh how I wish they would open up Apple TV to apps.
I want to buy an AppleTV 3, but it's current functionality is limited.

I hope the don't shut out the 2nd generation Apple TV's!

I hope the don't shut out the 2nd generation Apple TV's!

There will always be Firecore, So don't worry.

There will always be Firecore, So don't worry.
Does fire core work with the latest updates?

Does fire core work with the latest updates?

Firecore has just recently updated their latest release last week I believe.

Check their blog here (http://blog.firecore.com/)

I know nothing about Firecore. What I do know is that the only way I can get my ATV2 to recognize my iTunes library and function effectively is when I unplug and re-plug the thing from the socket. For some stupid reason, it says my library's nowhere to be found, don't have Home Sharing on (which is BS because I do), or something. Once I plug it back in, magically, it resets the time and date, and finds my computer. Sometimes, I even have to go the Mac and turn off Home Sharing and turn it on again, THEN unplug and re-plug. Big pain in the a$$. Tried everything. The latest update, use Evom for converting videos. Still, this nonsense.
/M.

I had similar problems but determined, after a few months of messing around, it was the ISP wifi router that was screwing up my atv connections (it seemed connected but did not function correctly)

Try rebooting your router next time to see of this helps. If so, maybe it is time to get a better router.

I'm with Dave, this sounds like a router problem. Try resetting it (or seeing if there is a firmware update) to see if that solves your problems.

For the record, I had an Apple TV 2 and have an Apple TV 3 and all I had to do to get them working was plug it it and turn on home sharing.

And yes, apps on AppleTV would be amazing. I'd love to have an MLS app so I could watch MLS Live without going through the iPad, and one for the Euro, olympics, etc.

There will always be Firecore, So don't worry.

Does fire core work with the latest updates?

Firecore has just recently updated their latest release last week I believe.

Check their blog here (http://blog.firecore.com/)

Doesn't work for 3rd .

Apps on Apple TV would be great I guess, but frankly what I (and other people) are waiting for is the new *interface* to the TV set that Steve promised us in his own bio :)

Because the MacMini attached to my TV does a lot more things for me than an Apple TV. Less simple to use, yes, but so much more useful.