Ok so is there going to be a new Apple TV announced in September or not? There has yet to be a date announced for a fall event at all but rumors are rampant that Apple will announce an Apple TV update at an event in September. While it is perfectly reasonable that a device could be announced it is just as possible that it will not even be mentioned again. If you have not picked up on how speculation turns into rumors that grow into published reports read on. There are good reasons why you should doubt Apple TV rumors. Read on to see why.

Why we think it will not be announced
There have yet to be credible sources on the matter. Just because a blog that specializes in rumors concerning Apple have said that “People familiar with Apple” said it was coming does not mean that the sources are authoritative. I would at least look to see if the source is referred to as “a source within Apple’s product development team” The use of the phrases “some people” or “people said to be familiar with” raises eyebrows for me.

People have claimed The Apple TV would debut before
Question. How many times does the same story have to be wrong before people stop believing it? Often the sources for these kinds of rumors are totally unsubstantiated.  There were often sources close to manufacturing, or people familiar with Apple’s plans. See the thing is that if you say that Apple may debut something and then you can always claim that the made up source who spilled the beans in the first place has told you that Apple changed its plans. As we said in the story how to spot a bad tech rumor anonymous sources are not all made equally.

The iTV
Since 2013 there have been numerous and totally erroneous reports on an Apple branded TV Set. The rumor basically caused each Apple event to be pushed as the “Possible” launch of the new set. Did we get it. No! But over time we did get a bunch of fake pictures of the the TV could look like check them out.

See tons of pictures showing off the “soon to come” iTV here

Remember the Apple TV shaped logo Theory?
The logo for the 2015 WWDC had an “Apple TV shaped Logo” Why because Apple reportedly planning on announcing the new Apple TV at the event. Only it didn’t. I guess sometimes a square is just a square.

Just Because you see it all over doesn’t mean anything
Have you ever picked up on the fact that many internet based sites just copy each other? Next time a major tech rumor emerges copy and paste some of the key phrases into google and see what comes back. Because people can spread a rumor does not mean it’s true. Or do you really believe the Richard Gere story?

iPhone details are even more shoddy
There is next to no buzz about an upcoming iPhone iPad launch. Probably because rumor mongering sites have yet to concentrate on the issue. If there were sources that could give every important detail about Apple TV as far as OS, Size, features, remote, games, app store etc shouldn’t there be a similar list of details for the new iPad and iPhone outside of force touch? Aside from talk of additional colors there are no exciting details. And any “information” comes from the typical echo chamber of information sources all using the same sort of erroneous attribution methods (no real insiders), (sources who “typically provide reliable info) (Other rumor Websites).

SOURCES MATTER
Just because a website built around dispensing Apple rumors says it has information from “People with knowledge” it does not mean that the information is at all credible. But the press bites on it every time. When a big publication wants to report a shaky story they will quote one of these Apple rumor mills saying that they have a reliable record. Take a look at the stories below and see what you think. Even Bloomberg which has a sparkling reputation has gotten the story dead wrong a few times. Check out just a small sampling of erroneous reports bellow.

Buzz Feed Incorrect Apple TV Predictions for summer 2015 here

Here is a fun group of totally false Apple TV and other product announcements from Mac Rumors saying a new Apple TV would come out in 2014 along with the watch. Click here

Bloomberg Flat out wrong on Apple TV Refresh in 2014 Click here

Here is a Cult of Mac rehashing the 2015 WWDC rumor Here

9-5 Mac Reporting new Apple TV for early 2014

http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/23/5338512/new-apple-tv-likely-coming-first-half-of-2014