The long overdue Apple TV update may come with a new touch-enabled remote control.
The new version of the Apple TV will be revealed next month at Apple's annual World Wide Developer Conference and will come with a redesigned remote that is equipped with a touch pad control, according to a new report.
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Citing "an employee briefed on the product," the New York Times reports the touch pad will be used for navigation to allow users to scroll around within apps. The remote will also be thicker -- closer to the size of the remote of the Amazon Echo -- and have two physical buttons.
If true, it would be the first time Apple has substantially changed the design of its Apple TV since the second generation of the device, which came out in 2010. The current hardware has not been updated since 2012.
Apple will reveal the new set-top box in June at its WWDC, according to multiple reports. Earlier reports have also suggested the new Apple TV will support Siri and act as a "hub" for HomeKit-compatible devices.
Cupertino has also been in talks with "a number of leading television groups," according to the New York Times, to offer an over the top (OTT) TV service that will bundle channels together for less than most cable subscriptions. The new service is set to also work on iPhones and iPads, the report says.
This wouldn't be the first time the company teamed up with networks to offer a TV service that doesn't rely on cable subscriptions. Apple was HBO's first partner for its new OTT streaming service, HBO Now, which was announced during Apple's March event.