The Apple TV has been available for preorder since Monday morning, but the company did not inform fans when to expect the device to become available for purchase at Apple Stores. But a few employees at Apple retail informed 9to5 Mac that the much-awaited set-top box will reach stores on Oct. 30.
Stores to soon get stock
It is expected that by the end of this week, shipments will reach Apple retail locations, and the company will reconfigure stores overnight to bring their new product to the focus of promotions. Preorder customers who chose one-day shipping will reportedly start receiving their Apple TV beginning Friday.
Preorders for the new Apple TV can also be placed with Best Buy, but in-store pickups aren’t available until after Nov. 4. Apple’s new set-top box is available in two configurations – a 32GB model priced at $149 and a 64GB box priced at $199. This device is powered with an A8 processor and comes with a touch-based remote control that also works as a game controller. The product offers access to a full App Store, universal search capabilities and Siri integration.
Apple ready to deliver
On Apple’s site, preorder status for the new Apple TV has changed to “Preparing for Shipment” as the company readies the product for delivery to customers. When the company started accepting orders on Oct. 26, it quoted Oct. 30 as the earliest possible delivery date. Early reports from Australia on Oct. 29 claim that deliveries there are also scheduled for Friday. Customers in other countries will reportedly start receiving shipment notifications during business hours on Thursday.
Press reviews for the Apple TV started pouring in yesterday as reviewers praised the set-top box for its technological advances. For the past few years, many people have been expecting Apple to completely remake the television experience, which does not seem to happen with this version. The new Apple TV comes with a tvOS App store, which is one of its key features. It remains to be seen how successful will Apple be in impressing developers with its new platform that opens up apps to the living room.
On Wednesday, Apple shares closed up 4.12% at $119.27. Year to date, the stock is up 6% while in the last one month, shares are up by over 6%.
