Apple Confirms No Software Update for Original Apple TV
Included in a nice overview of Apple's new iPods and Apple TV from Ars Technica is confirmation that users of Apple's earlier Apple TV models will not be receiving a software upgrade to enable Netflix streaming and other software features of the revamped model. Users of the older models will, however, continue to be able to purchase content, as opposed to the rental-only model for the new version, which lacks significant onboard storage.
Additionally, there will be no software update to bring the new features to older Apple TVs. Older Apple TVs will continue to work as they have been working up to this point, and they will continue to be able to purchase movies and TV shows even though the new Apple TV is rental-only.
Apple first offered a sneak peak of the Apple TV, then known by its code-name of "iTV", in September 2006. The device was officially announced at Macworld San Francisco in January 2007, and began shipping as a 40 GB model in March 2007 with a 160 GB model following just two months later. The hardware had remained unchanged since that time aside from the discontinuation of the 40 GB model in September 2009, although Apple has offered several software updates over the years to increase the functionality of the device.Top Rated Comments
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19 months ago
This gives new meaning to the word "brick." Seriously, why couldn't Apple allowed an update to this?
19 months ago
This gives new meaning to the word "brick."
Wrong.The device still functions as it did last week/month/year. It would be a brick if it lost all functionality, which it has not.
19 months ago
Well it sort of makes sense. The original Apple TV is outdated hardware wise.
Mine keeps freezing all the time. And for $99 the new one is MUCH better.
Mine keeps freezing all the time. And for $99 the new one is MUCH better.
19 months ago
Different hardware/architecture. They're not holding anything back, they just aren't porting the stuff back.
19 months ago
I'll miss the ability to be able to buy directly from AppleTV--I liked browsing movies, music etc. that way.
Seems weird that they wouldn't have set it up with the ability to do that. I know that there's no longer any onboard storage, but if you've got it synced with your computer seems like you should be able to buy through the Apple TV interface and have the purchase downloaded to the synced computer.
Seems weird that they wouldn't have set it up with the ability to do that. I know that there's no longer any onboard storage, but if you've got it synced with your computer seems like you should be able to buy through the Apple TV interface and have the purchase downloaded to the synced computer.
19 months ago
Oh darn. I won't be able to blow money on renting tv shows. I'll just have to keep streaming free content from the web with my hacked 1st gen Apple TV. Poor me.
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