01/15/2008, 1:25pm, EST
Tuesday, January 15thJobs reveals Apple TV update, HD rentals [U]
Apple chief Steve Jobs today revealed a reworked version of the Apple TV media hub's user interface that is said to be greatly improved from the original, allowing users to pull more content directly from the Internet. The device can now buy music, movies, and TV shows itself, which can sync back to a home computer. It also takes advantage of Apple's new iTunes movie rental service and has the option of receiving iTunes movies in a 720p HD resolution as well as standard definition, Apple says. Owners can now also browse .Mac and Flickr photo accounts directly from the device and create photo screensavers on the fly.
Prices for content are unchanged for the same version of a given video when buying from the hub, and downloads are quick; most videos, even HD, will begin playing in under 30 seconds, Jobs says. iTunes HD rentals cost $5 for new releases and $4 for back-catalog titles. The new feature will be available as a free software update for all Apple TVs. New 40GB models with the features built-in will start at $229 and ship within two weeks from the online Apple Store, as will 160GB models at $329.
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From how the announcement was structured, it sounds as if HD rentals will be restricted to the AppleTV???
I have a Mac mini in my home theater, thanks...
I'm not going to buy an additional $229 AppleTV for the "privilege" of renting HD content... I'm not *that* interested in rentals in the 1st place.. was hoping for an announcement that HD content would be made available for *purchase*...
Please tell me this is just a bad mis-structuring of the announcement... I really want to be wrong here....
jwd
Have a nice day.
jwd
Why not wait and see before complaining?
With your 360, you also get an ugly, big, noisy box with a bad remote control.
No thanks.
"Okay I can't stream pictures from Flickr, but apparently the ATV can't either"
Yes, it can--software update in 2 weeks.
Take a deep breath and re-read my post...
My post, was a post stating that I hoped I was reading things wrong. It was expressing concern.. It was questioning the structure of how these things were being announced/reported... How the hell is that a "rant"?
(throws hands up)
Have a nice day all.