Slew of new features en route to Apple TV

John P. Falcone | Jan 16, 2008

Update: Check out three related videos with more info on the forthcoming Apple TV upgrade: Steve Jobs comments during his keynote address; the video guided tour on Apple's Web site; and a summary from CNET's Donald Bell. This post has also been updated since its original publication with additional information.

The Apple TV just got a whole lot more useful.

Steve Jobs unveiled a major feature update to the Apple TV today during his Macworld keynote address in San Francisco that aims to transform the device from a TV-based iTunes media viewer to a more full-featured media-on-demand device. The hardware will remain the same, with the entry-level 40GB model costing S$497 (US$365.44), but a free software upgrade--available in two weeks--will add the following functionality:

Direct on-screen ordering: Previously, video content for Apple TV needed to be ordered on a computer (Windows/Mac) and then streamed from that PC's hard drive to the Apple TV. The updated Apple TV will allow direct access to the iTunes Store, so you can buy or rent movies and TV shows directly--no PC intermediary required. (Music can also be purchased as well.)

Instant streaming: Unlike the "queue and view" method listed above, the updated video functionality is said to allow videos to begin streaming within about 30 seconds.

Upgraded video and audio quality: We complained loudly about the substandard video quality of existing iTunes video downloads, which were optimized for the small screen of an iPod or iPhone. The new crop of videos are says to be two tiers: DVD and HD quality, with Dolby 5.1 surround sound (instead of the stereo-only soundtracks on earlier content).

Wider selection of videos from all major studios: Past selections were a scattershot grab bag, but Apple's lined up content from every major studio (Disney, Fox, Warner, Paramount, Universal, Sony, Miramax, and Lionsgate, and their respective subsidiaries). Apple is promising over 1,000 movies, available 30 days after the DVD release.

Movie rentals: In the past, movies could only be bought on iTunes, at prices around that of DVDs. As of today, iTunes is kicking off movie rentals: US$2.99 for catalog (older) movies, US$3.99 for new movies, and US$4.99 for HD movies. You have 30 days to start watching a movie, and 24 hours to finish it once you start. In addition to being available on Apple TV, rentals will work on Macs, PCs, and all current iPods and iPhones (though it's unclear if movies rented directly on the Apple TV will be transferrable to any of those other devices).

That's the quick and dirty download on the Apple TV update and the iTunes rental upgrade. We'll be back soon with more information and analysis.

In the meantime: What do you think? Is Apple TV back from the dead, or are you looking for even more?

Via CNET Crave

Filed under: PC & Peripherals
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