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Mysterious Apple device surfaces in FCC filing

Roughly Apple TV-sized, it has Bluetooth and NFC onboard.

Reuters/Jonathan Alcorn

What is the A1844? We don't know, but an FCC filing for the Apple-built hardware popped up, revealing a few interesting details that raise more questions than answers. Revealed by the French website Consomac, the device is similar in size to an Apple TV 4th-gen box (the new one with the Siri voice remote), but there are no full pictures or other details to explain exactly what it does. AppleInsider points out that tests reveal Bluetooth and NFC (which is not currently included in the Apple TV) capabilities, but didn't note WiFi, which could be a result of re-used hardware or that it's not present. The diagram included in the filing shows a shape and screws that appear to be similar to the current Apple TV.

A1844 FCC diagram

Speculating based mostly on what I'd like to see from Apple next, the release of the iPhone 7 makes this the perfect time to drop a refreshed Apple TV with 4K and HDR capabilities that can display those wider color gamut photos. Also, hardware revisions could happen that don't include much change at all, but the power specifications of this device are different from the current model. Other, possibly more realistic options, could include a device meant for retail use in Apple Stores or elsewhere that's compatible with Apple Pay, or even some kind of home automation hub. Your guess is as good as ours, feel free to dig through the currently available documents here.