Gizmodo
Holy crap, Jobs admitted Apple TV failed at getting computer content to the square screen. Apple TV Take 2 requires no computer, you can rent from iTunes directly from the box—movies and music—and it's only $229.
Movies are available in HD Dolby 5.1 (finally!), and it does podcasts, audio and video, and photos from Flickr and .Mac direct to the box. HD movies are a buck more than standard ($4.99, so worth it). You can actually preview movies now. Startup even when streaming is fast, under 5 seconds. Yay for search. Photo browser is prettier, though functionally the same. And it's all a free software upgrade. No new hardware required! The cheaper price starts today, software update is available in 2 weeks.
Apple Introduces New Apple TV Software & Lowers Price to $229
Rent High Definition Movies Directly from Your Widescreen TV
MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today unveiled all new software for Apple TV(R) that allows movie fans to rent movies on the iTunes(R) Store directly from their widescreen TV, and lowered the price of Apple TV to just $229. With iTunes Movie Rentals and Apple TV, users can just click a button on their remote to effortlessly rent movies from a catalog of over 1,000 titles by the end of February, including over 100 titles in stunning high definition video with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound, with no computer required. DVD-quality iTunes Movie Rentals are $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases, and high definition versions are just one dollar more with library titles at $3.99 and new releases at $4.99. Apple will provide the new Apple TV software free of charge to existing Apple TV owners when it releases the new Apple TV priced at $229 in about two weeks."With the new Apple TV and iTunes Movie Rentals, movie lovers can rent DVD-quality or stunning HD movies from their couch with just a click of a button," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "No more driving to the video store or waiting for DVDs to arrive in the mail."
iTunes Movie Rentals feature iTunes' legendary ease of use, which makes discovering and enjoying movie rentals as simple and easy as buying music on iTunes. Once a movie is rented, it starts downloading from the iTunes Store directly to Apple TV, and users with a fast Internet connection can start viewing the movie in seconds. Customers have up to 30 days to start watching it, and once a movie has been started customers have 24 hours to finish it — or watch it multiple times.
With Apple TV, users can also view photos from their computers, Flickr and .Mac Web Galleries on their widescreen TV as slideshows or screen savers, and anytime photos are updated on Flickr or .Mac, they are automatically updated on Apple TV. Apple TV users can now browse and enjoy the iTunes Store podcast directory of over 125,000 video and audio podcasts, view over 50 million originally created videos from YouTube or choose from a selection of six million songs, over 600 TV shows and 10,000 music videos to purchase directly from their Apple TV. Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user's computer for enjoyment on their computer, all current generation iPods* or iPhone(TM).
Apple TV easily connects to a broad range of widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports. Using high-speed AirPort(R) 802.11 wireless networking, Apple TV now automatically plays all of your iTunes content without setup or management**.
Pricing & Availability
The new Apple TV software will be available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers later this month. Apple TV, which includes the Apple Remote, is available from the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $229 (US) for the 40GB model and $329 (US) for the 160GB model (US and Canada). Apple TV requires an 802.11g/n wireless network or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition widescreen TV. iPod(R) games will not play on Apple TV. iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only.
*Movie rentals work on iPod classic, iPod nano with video and iPod touch.
**Compatible with 802.11b/g/n. Based on an IEEE 802.11n draft
specification. Wireless video streaming requires an 802.11g/n network.
Comments
This is a definite step in the right direction for Apple TV. It was far too limited before.
Netflix is still a lot cheaper. I definitely wouldn't say there screwed.
1. I dont plan on dropping 300 on an AppleTV any time soon.
2. I don't plan on spending 5 bucks for every HD movie I want to watch.
But is it new hardware or a software upgrade?
Unless they have a rental plan ala Netflix then I dont see myself changing as $5 / movie can add up quickly.
Netflix screwed? I don't think so.
Let's see:
AppleTV: $3.99 per movie for standard def. If I watch one a week, that's about $18 a month (4.5 weeks per month * $4).
$18 a month with Netflix gets me about 3 movies a week (I know, because I have Netflix, and that's about what I get based on their turnaround time).
Oh, and when Netflix's streaming box comes out, I'll keep paying that $18 a month and be able to watch even more movies without a per-movie rental fee.
AppleTV screwed, again.
Riiightt!! Netflix is screwed how? Let's see you can keep the movie only for 30 days while with netflix you can keep it for as long as you have the service. Advantage netflix. With apple once you start watching the movie you have 24hrs to watch it and after 24hrs it's gone. With Netflix you can watch it as many times as you fucking want to. Advantage Netflix. With apple you can burn a copy for yourself to keep. With Netflix you stick in the DVD and burn it and keep it forever. Advantage fucking netflix!! So again tell me how neflix is screwed? I think the RDF has you!
Is this "new version" a hardware upgrade or a software upgrade?
Netflix is not screwed. It's still a better deal. I wouldn't even consider paying $5 per HD rental when I can get as many as I want, as fast as I can watch them through Netflix.
So is this 'real' HD? In other words, 45gb HD?
As a hearing-impaired movie enthusiast, does anyone know whether these AppleTV movies would be captioned? That's been my biggest beef with Amazon's Unbox or Netflix's Instant Watch.
@danielsmi: sorry it should say with apple you CAN"T burn a copy for yourself to keep.
I'll be unhappy if the ATV I got last month is now obsolete :(
Neuf Telecom and all the other triple play companies in France have been offering this service for quite some time now (1+ years), the ability to "rent" video-on-demand without the need of a pc/mac. The decoder is free and the movies cost about the same. They also have HD. So, I guess, there's nothing mind-blowing new under the sun, after all...
Looks good to me. Netflix is $16.99 for me for 3 SD DVD's at a time, which I'm notoriously slow to return. If I can just download SD or HD ala carte that would be pretty convenient. Plus the ability to easily watch or listen to content on my desktop without wires is pretty damn compelling. Gathering people around the tv to watch a Flickr slideshow sounds good to. Before someone says I could do all of this with other tech I know I could, but I doubt it will be as easy and painless to set up.
I think they finally delivered what I wanted Apple TV to be.
It should be 30 days from the time of theatrical release, not DVD release, and you should have 48 hours to watch it after starting it.
HD should cost the same as DVD quality, and that still should be a dollar cheaper.
Tuner support or IPTV should also have been there.
Sorry, NetFlix looks better than ever now:
1. I get HD movies in the mail as many as I want, 3 or more at a time for a flat fee per month.
2. I can keep them as long as I want and watch them as many times as I want.
3. I can login to NetFlix.com and watch them there as many as I want, when I want. No new fees.
4. When the NetFlix box comes out, soon, I can get fat on the couch watching as many movies as I want, again, for the same flat fee.
If I use this service, I would have to sell my car and house to watch the same amount of movies I watch.......for 18 bucks a month. Sorry Apple, Netflix p0wned you.
i still prefer netfix:
i can rip DVD's myself :D haha
Ha yeah right Netflix screwed over this? Not even close. I don't think people are that ready for downloading movies quite yet. Plus the price isn't that great.
Pretty neat. Although I don't think I could buy a new box just to do what my 360 can already do. Once storage devices catch up and I can have direct PURCHASES let me know.
So... when there's money to do with, it, we get a free software upgrade (apple tv) but when it's only added functionality, we get to pay $20 for the upgrade (iPod touch). Nice.
Sorry, I'm not about to ditch Netflix for that overpriced crap...
can I watch my videos on my shared drive from the apple tv?
@NNTPgrip:
If the studios allowed movies to be in the home within 30 days of theatrical releases, the theatre chains would have a fit! Remember when Canadian theaters threatened to bypass major blockbusters on the first week of release because the studios were pushing DVD release dates up? I think that was 2 years ago - not too far back.
As far as Netflix goes, I think they have a MUCH better deal and with over 90,000 titles, they also have a much larger collection. On the other hand, Comcast promises to have HD downloads directly to set-top boxes in under 4 minutes by the end of the year. That's the competition to both Apple TV and Netflix. (Comcast = Biggest cable provider in the US; and you only have to own one box)
;)
WARNING: you will not be able to pause, rewind, or skip chapters. In a month if you want those features hand over 20 bucks, unless you bought the more expensive elite unit.
Being unable to rip and copy a rental is not a valid point of criticism. It is a rental, you didn't buy it to own, and just because it doesn't support your workaround to paying full price for a movie, it's not suddenly crap or overpriced.
NetFlix Screwed?
OMG you guys are so hyperbolic.
Lets see - NetFlix streaming movies FOR FREE vs Apple renting them for $4. Uh, dont see NetFlix getting screwed there.
Buying unpopular $229 set top box that does the same thing as TiVo (via Amazon unboxed) and XBox (Video Marketplace) - uh, no thank you.
Now, if the ALL the new releases are available on the DVD release date, then maybe they will have something interesting.
Funny how all the talk is of Apple vs. Netflix and not a PEEP about Blockbuster ;) I understand though, they completely suck and need to be run out of town.
Looks like they've finally given people a reason to get an apple tv. I won't be one of them... by the time summer rolls around I'll have 4 HD devices connected to my tv with no more inputs available.
@brundlefly76:
Last time I checked, Netflix asks for money, so nothing's "free."
Oh, and have fun watching that movie in the office.
Apple FTW
Alrighty...a total waste of money. Yeah, because it is Apple and they have all the Jesus devices.
I rent movie I can copy for my collection so that I can watch them again as I wish, when I wish.
Foolish people pay for movie they can't keep in their library.
Enough of the Jesus or God money hungry companies. Give me a break...Christ!
Apple this...Apple that, huh? Give your heart to Steve and you wallet to his stock holders...not mine.
How about an update to Front Row while you're at it? Some of us use mac Mini's as our media center.
How do we figure netflix is screwed? Honestly the price of the Apple hardware is a full year's worth of Netflix service; unlimited movies by mail or streaming for a year for $230, or just the ability to download movies for additional fees? I choose Netflix.
How is this guy still on staff?
@Blue_Mountain: "I rent movie I can copy for my collection so that I can watch them again as I wish, when I wish.
Foolish people pay for movie they can't keep in their library."
Foolish people announce their thievery on public forum.
@CruJones:
Hmm...you must be doing something right because Blu-ray new releases from Netflix almost always have a 4 month wait time for me - even after having been in my Saved queue forever and immediately moved to the top of my Rental queue the first day possible. What's your secret? You work for Netflix?
What does this do that my 360 doesn't already?
Comparing the two is comparing Apples and Oranges. Nobody went to the Apple Store to buy an Apple TV to watch movies online. Apple TV allows you to sync your iTunes library so you can view pictures, movies and play music from your TV, which is the primary reason for owning it. Netflix on the other hand is a movie rental company. One does not need necessarily 'screw' the other. From pricepoint alone Netflix is way ahead as a movie rental source not to mention they do not give you 24 hours to watch a movie. For Apple TV to even be a threat to Netflix, the following has to happen : All Netflix customers must get a reliable and steady broadband internet connection ; Apple must have an unlimited viewing plan with no restrictions on when you can watch the movie; To top it all off they must have as many titles as Netflix does. Let's do a little more research before jumping to conlusions. Please.
Netflix Screwed?
Wrong!
I am still going to use it and so will the others...this is expensive.
Did they upgrade the hardware to be able to play 1080p content? What codecs can it play and at what bitrates?
@UnnDunn:
I'm guessing it doesn't play xvid/divx ...
Too bad.
I think the real question is what it doesn't do that 360s are prone to doing: namely, sounding like a jet engine and showing 3 red lights.
(I keed, I keed. Because I love! And because I am bitter, bitter man.)
What happened to the firmware update to the Fall 2007 iPods so they can play back this new HD content? Perhaps it's still coming.
At least it's not totally useless now.
Dammit Netflix! You need to take action and get on that HD shit.
But seriously, Netflix's subscription model is way better than per movie fee. Apple's model is nowhere near Netflix's goodness.
How am I supposed to burn and return with Apple TV?... I think i'll hold my Netflix.
Whoever said Netflix is screw'd is a moron.