Apple Announces AppleTV Take 2 + Price Drop
Now there's no computer required - you can now rent movies directly on the Apple TV in your choice of DVD quality or HD + dolby 5.1 surround sound. Podcasts are available in audio and video format, as well as photos from Flikr and .Mac and sync with iTunes. AppleTV allows you to preview movies from the interface, and see what other users who have rented that movie have rented. Photo screensavers can be retrieved from .Mac web galleries. Music can be purchased from the iTunes Store from within the Apple TV.
The update is available as a free software update that should be available in two weeks for current AppleTV owners. Entry price for the AppleTV also drops from $299 to $229.
HD rentals are $4.99, with 100 titles available today.
The update is available as a free software update that should be available in two weeks for current AppleTV owners. Entry price for the AppleTV also drops from $299 to $229.
HD rentals are $4.99, with 100 titles available today.
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Top Rated Comments
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53 months ago
How are they doing the DD5.1 in the HD movies and will Handbrake be able to do the same thing? An AppleTV is going to be used for digitizing my DVD collection and DD5.1 capability is mandatory.
53 months ago
It still can't do 1080p or lossless surround sound, so my next disposable $250 is still earmarked for a Blu-Ray player. Maybe the next hardware update to the little box will be the one that gets me to splurge. Until then, I'd just as soon hook up the HDMI and optical cable to my MacBook. It does 1080p and Dolby Digital (thanks to Perian).
I hope Apple is planning on adding the iTunes store interface and on-screen movie rental functionality to FrontRow. That would be a big oversight if they don't.
I hope Apple is planning on adding the iTunes store interface and on-screen movie rental functionality to FrontRow. That would be a big oversight if they don't.
53 months ago
When they say HD, is it 1080 or 720? I wonder how good the compression will be. If it's good I may finally buy into this scheme.
Still think the 24 hour limit is terrible, 30 hours would be much more useful. It's fine for people who don't work, have no kids or other interruptions in their life. But it's not enough for a lot of people.
Still think the 24 hour limit is terrible, 30 hours would be much more useful. It's fine for people who don't work, have no kids or other interruptions in their life. But it's not enough for a lot of people.
53 months ago
How are they doing the DD5.1 in the HD movies and will Handbrake be able to do the same thing?
I am guessing it is just an update in the audio codec to enable it (assuming it was always there in the content).
And I fully expect Handbrake and VisualHub will update to support it, as well.
53 months ago
Price hasn't dropped in the Finnish store :(. I hope it will drop soon. It would be a travesty if they dropped the US price, while keeping the Euro-prices steady at 299e and 399e! With these exchange-rates, it should be about 199e and 299e in Europe!
53 months ago
This is great news. My biggest gripe with AppleTV has been lack of decent movie content (read: not enough studio support), lack of a rental option and the inability to buy/rent from the couch. Now that all of these have been addressed, I am going to buy one! HD content is just a big plus for me as I think the DVD quality looks fine on my HDTV.
IMO, this is a GREAT update and is exactly what this device needs. And it's good that this will apply to current AppleTV owners as well.
Now to wait for all the DVR wishers to complain!
IMO, this is a GREAT update and is exactly what this device needs. And it's good that this will apply to current AppleTV owners as well.
Now to wait for all the DVR wishers to complain!
53 months ago
I can't shake the feeling that Apple looses touch with their clients more and more...
Playing the same music in three rooms in synch is a great feature but why only in the AirPort Express? This so keeps me from buying an Apple TV...
And btw: What's going on with all that talk about digital downloads of Music and Movies recently? If you buy the CD you get the highest quality Audio and the long-life backup for free...
Don't even get me startet about HD Movie downloads.
Playing the same music in three rooms in synch is a great feature but why only in the AirPort Express? This so keeps me from buying an Apple TV...
And btw: What's going on with all that talk about digital downloads of Music and Movies recently? If you buy the CD you get the highest quality Audio and the long-life backup for free...
Don't even get me startet about HD Movie downloads.
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