Apple TV 3.0 is Here!
As rumored, Apple just announced Apple TV 3.0, with an all new interface and support for iTunes LP and iTunes Extras.
“The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio.”
It also looks like Apple has (finally!) done right and — like every other product — moved user content above for-sale content. That’s right, it looks like our videos and music, and not iTunes Store stuff, is on top, baby!
I’m downloading it now and will be back later with my thoughts, but if you’re already rocking it, roll a comment our way and let us know what you think!
(And Apple, where’s our Front Row update?)
October 29th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
this will kill boxee hack.
does this site update us on boxee for apple tv?
October 29th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Thought this wasan iPhone blog… Getting more like an Apple blog every post
October 29th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Millions and millions of happy Apple TV owners today!
Not to mention seven non-Googley TiPb stories in a row. How long can it last?
October 29th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
my amazing itunes extras dont sync at all :/
October 29th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
@ Ryan
You voted for change and now that you’re getting change you’re complaining about it?
YES WE CAN
October 29th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
No point in this. Why don’t they stick to computer hardware?
October 29th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
@ Ryan you can control your AppleTV with your iPhone so technically it IS an iPhone story.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I was an early adopter of the appletv and have to see it is fantastic. I frequently “rent” movies from the Internet and have a digital library of about 700 – 800 movies. The fact that they intgrated the iPhone with the remote app is great. I use it all the time especially when there is company over. Glad apple keeps updating it’s hobby.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
@ Republicans Suck ****.
If apple stuck to computer hardware there would be no iPod or iPhone. What’s the difference between apple making an iPod, iPhone, or appletv ?
October 29th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
@Ryan and fastlane
I hear ya. Imagine how focused this blog would be if the editor owned no other Apple products except the iPhone.
Oh, wait… The it would be the Twitter-Blog. ;-p
October 29th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Excuse my ignorance, but what does Apple TV do? What is it? Thanks!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Funny how the naughty words are bleeped in the comments, but not in the names…
October 29th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
@Roger:
Sort of a suped up Digital Video Recorder for Music/Video/Images etc.
Sort of like MythTV only done in hardware.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Nice update, I like the new interface. I’m just bummed still no iTunes-style vizualizer during music playback. That would be really nice during parties.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Thanks, icebike!
October 29th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Oh…now I see what you are talking about. Poor Uncle ****. Guess I won’t be talking about him any more. ( Or Puss in Boots for that matter – let’s see if that makes it through! : )
October 29th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Wouldn’t it be logical to think that Apple is working on eventually connecting the iPhone and Apple TV, e. g. streaming video content stored on Apple TV to iPhone OTA? iPhone 4TV?
October 29th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
@icebike:
DVR? Really? I thought one of the major shortcomings of the Apple TV was that it doesn’t provide a recording function. Combined with the fact that there is no iTunes video media available where I live I have deemed it a pretty useless device.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
“Suddenly, if my HDTV is everything it should be”… where is my 1080p content on iTunes?
October 29th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
So, Im looking at replacing my Dell with an iMac, but the only reason im holding on to it is because i stream all kinds of Movies, TV and music (all downloaded) to my PS3… If I change to an imac, i dont think its compatible with the ps3. if i get an apple tv, can i stream downloaded movies and such to it? replacing the ps3 as my media center hub to the tv?
October 29th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Why in the rotten hell, where apple belongs, would I buy such thing? My Sony Bravia 52″ 220hz 1000000:1 contrast TV would get replaced by such a stupid stupid Crapple device??? Wow. Who buys this ****??? If I wanted streaming I have connected my mediacenter pc that I watch most movies on. Downloaded, rented all at eye candy 1080p on my 52″ TV. also I have my xbox 360 connected and I stream media from there. Why do u guys worship apple sooo much??? With apple u close urself to this little bubble and u don’t really know what’s good and what is not. There is so much u can do with pc hardware that I could not call any limit. There is noo limit!!!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
@iBamse:
Yeah, you are correct.
I was trying to give a gloss of what it does, because I assumed the OP would have gone to the apple site if they were actually seriously interested.
I’ve built MythTV from source. Now you can download Mythubuntu and have it up and running in an hour and it WAY exceeds the capability of Apple TV, (other then iTunes integration). But its a geek’s solution.
With Apple TV, since you need a computer anyway, you can presumably use your computer’s DVD drive.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
@CJ:
Don’t hold back, tell us how you REALLY feel…
October 29th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
@Brian An iMac can send media to your PS3 via MediaLink http://www.nullriver.com/products/medialink
(I don’t use it since I’m fine with the Apple TV, but you might want to check it out.
@CJ Xbox 360 is an awesome media extender, like Windows 7 Media Center it looks and works great, but it’s too noisy for me. Apple TV is whisper quiet (though you could bbq on the dang thing, hot as it gets).
@icebike I have a friend who runs Ubantu and keeps trying MythTV but reverts back to (now Win7) media center, I think due to issues with using IR controllers.
I used to use XBMC on an original Xbox and liked that as well.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Yah I agree. Me no gusto LOL and whatver to that.
Is anyone with me! Stop eating the apples they are rotten sometimes. Haha no me gusto!
who’s with me?!
October 30th, 2009 at 1:03 am
XBMC absolutely blows Apple TV away. I built an Intel Atom machine with an 8400GS (for CUDA/VDPAU) to run XBMCLive. I can play 1080p H.264 and have about 8 – 10% CPU usage. I used an old 2.5in SATA laptop drive and some DDR2 I had collecting dust so it only cost $201 after shipping. There is also an iPhone app to control it that works really well. XBMC can be installed on an Apple TV too but the Apple TV is to slow to run anything over 720p and is to slow to run some of the more advanced skins.
With XBMC you have to try vary hard to find some media it can’t play. No need to transcode **** to satisfy Apple TV.
http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=XBMCFeaturesandSupportedFormats/Codecs
October 30th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Oh also, XBMCLive uses Lirc so it is compatible with just about any IR receiver known to man. I soldered a standard USB cable onto an old Xbox DVD Kit remote dongle and use a high end universal remote to control it.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:13 am
Shabbis, Apple TV can’t decode 1080p. So if iTunes went to 1080p then you would be forced to transcode your downloads to 720p to be compatible with the Apple TV. Apple loves to build **** that is subpar so they can nickle and dime you for the latest and greatest subpar device year after year.
October 30th, 2009 at 11:32 am
@Rene media Center too noisy?? Let me guess u got apple speakers too??? I got Sony 7.1 sorround and trust me the sound quality is amazing. Trust me I’m one of those quality freaks. I know my stuff. There is nothing better than a media center pc or xbox 360 extender.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
SO, did they update the underlying OS from 10.4.7 yet?!?!?! Anyone?
October 30th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@CJ I think he was referring to the xbox360 being too noisy compared to the appleTV.
October 30th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Rene sucks! Fanboy!
October 30th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Ok, so if I were to build a media center from scratch, what’s the best way to go? I am not super technical but can learn to put most systems together with a free weekend. Only caveat is the system would need to be able to play closed captions as I am deaf. Thanks for your suggestions.