While Apple does its best to conceal when new products will be released, there’s one pretty sure-fire way to know when an upgrade to an existing product is coming: Stock availability. In the case of the second-generation Apple TV, the little black box appears to be out of stock almost everywhere -- a fair indication that a new model is likely to be introduced on Wednesday.
MacRumors is reporting that Apple retail stores are running dry of the Apple TV, that diminutive second-generation black media box which has recently been rumored for a refresh along with the iPad 3/iPad HD on Wednesday. So exactly how many Apple Stores are showing the Apple TV out of stock?
“With Apple's iPad 3 media event now roughly 36 hours away and Apple also expected to unveil an updated Apple TV at the event, we've been watching as more and more Apple retail stores are running dry of the current model,” MacRumors notes. “By our most recent count, 98 percent of Apple's 246 U.S. stores are currently out of stock, leaving only four with the Apple TV available for immediate pickup during store hours.”
Since the initial report, two of the four stores are now showing as out of stock, with March 9 pegged as the earliest an online order placed on Monday could be available for pickup, although some stores were showing even later (March 15).
“Apple's U.S. online store does continue to show ‘in stock’ availability for the Apple TV,” the report explains. “Customers selecting free or two business day shipping are being quoted a delivery estimate of Thursday, March 8, while next-day shipping could see an arrival on Wednesday, March 7, the day of the event. It seems likely, however, that Apple would at this point also stall on shipping direct delivery orders until Wednesday's announcement.”
Okay, so a new Apple TV looks like a lock, but the real question is: What would it offer that the current model doesn’t? An A6 processor capable of 1080p video support seems likely, but otherwise the current black Apple TV hardware seems to be a pretty capable little fella. Guess we’ll know for sure on Wednesday, March 7 when Apple hits the stage at the Yerba Buena Center at 10am PST…
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
CrashN2Me
March 09, 2012 at 12:37pm
Why is it theses days Apple includes all things iOS and leaves us regular Mac users hung out to dry. Sure the new Apple TV will let you stream from an iPad, iPod touch or even your iPhone but not your MacBook Pro. Now whats up with that?
