Those of you annoyed with the last user interface update of Apple TV will be happy to hear a new UI is out. Apple released version 3.0 of their Apple TV software today featuring a completely redesigned user interface and adding new features such as iTunes Extras, iTunes LP, Genius Mixes, and Internet Radio support.

The new main menu gives you instant access to your favorite content and according to the Apple press release: “Recently rented or purchased movies, as well as other content including TV shows, music, podcasts, photos and YouTube, are accessible directly from the new main menu.”

Introduced back in September, iTunes Extras and iTunes LP make their appearance in this living-room oriented Apple TV appliance. iTunes Extras provides additional content associated to movies while iTunes LP providing additional information about select albums.

If you’re like me and have a large music collection, you’ll be thrilled to hear that the Apple Genius Mix is now available with this software update. Create up to 12 endless mixes of songs that “go great together”, all of which are automatically created from your own music library. Should you be sick of your music collection – never fear because Apple TV now has support for Internet radio streaming. Nice.

On the photo front, Apple adds iPhoto Events and iPhoto Faces to Apple TV – making it easier to locate the photo you’re searching for.

Apple TV 3.0 is a free software upgrade for current owners of Apple TV. The current 160GB Apple TV model is available now for $229.

Check out PC Magazine’s hands-on (with pictures) of the new Apple TV 3.0 software.

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Technorati Tags: Apple TV, Apple TV 3.0 software

Apple announced on Thursday that new movie titles released by major film studios would be available on iTunes on the same day that they would be available on DVD. Studios in on this deal include 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios. New releases would be priced at $14.99 while most catalog titles would cost $9.99. These movies would be playable on an iPod with video, an iPhone, a Mac or PC, or on an Apple TV. You’ll need iTunes 7.6.2 in order to purchase content on the Mac or Windows platform.

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Technorati Tags: Apple, iTunes, Movies

As mentioned earlier, Apple released version 2 of their Apple TV software today (or now yesterday). You can find information about the upgrade here at Apple’s website. Some of the new features of the version 2 upgrade include:

• Supports movie rentals direct from Apple TV
• Built-in music store (via iTunes)
• Access to Flickr photostreams and .Mac web galleries – all from Apple TV
• Automatically checks for new software every week
• Rent and download HD movies
• New user interface design

I checked out the update tonight and decided to take some snapshots of the overall update process as well as some of the new user interface elements and features of Apple TV. This is NOT a comprehensive overview of the new version – just a quick early primer.

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Technorati Tags: Apple TV, Take 2, Update, Preview

Engadget is reporting that the new update to Apple TV is now finally available. The update came out later than expected (I’m guessing Apple had a few more bugs to iron out than expected), but at least it’s finally out. I’ll have to try this update out tonight after work. If you’ve played with the new Apple TV update, let me know how it goes for you!

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Technorati Tags: Apple TV, Update, Take Two

Those of you waiting for the new Apple TV software update will need to wait just a little bit longer. Apple announced yesterday that the update wasn’t quite finished as of yet. The free update will be available to existing Apple TV customers in another “week or two.”

The new Apple TV software update will allow users of Apple TV to directly purchase or rent content from iTunes on their Apple TV instead of using a PC or Mac. Users will be able to rent movies from a catalog of over 1000 titles by the end of February including 100 titles in HD format. DVD quality titles will be available for rent at $2.99 a library title and $3.99 for each new release title. HD versions will go for $3.99 for library titles and $4.99 for newly released titles. Content purchased and downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user’s computer.

In the meantime, Apple did announce that the newly introduced MacBook Air has begun to ship to customers.

[Check it out via News.com]

Technorati Tags: Apple TV delay, MacBook Air,

Here is additional information on the new Apple TV announcements. I got it wrong initially when I said that a new model was coming out. A new OS update would be coming out in a few weeks (by the end of the month) which will feature a new user interface as well as the ability to purchase content from iTunes directly from Apple TV. That’s right – you don’t have to go to your PC anymore to do all of your purchases. All current Apple TV devices will have the update for free. The new software update does the following:

• Rent movies straight from your Apple TV device now
• Browse and purchase TV shows and music from Apple TV
• Updated user interface with cover flow like UI

Spec wise, Apple TV itself looks the same and comes with the same 40GB or 160GB option. The starting price for the 40GB model has been lowered to $229.

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Technorati Tags: Apple, Apple TV, iTunes, HD Movie Rentals

As the year quickly draws to a close and we prepare for 2008, it’s time again.. to contemplate Apple rumors. This time the rumors are being fueled by a Goldman Sachs report which points out that Apple will be releasing two new Apple iPhones next year as well as a new version of Apple TV.

On the iPhone front, Goldman expects two new versions of the iPhone next year. A larger capacity version of the iPhone is expected to make its debut during the first half of next year while a 3G version of the iPhone will make be unveiled during the second half. Nothing too new there since both Apple and AT&T CEO’s have labeled 2008 as the year of the 3G iPhone.

The Apple TV news note is a bit more interesting.. if not strange. The Goldman Sachs report claims that a new version of Apple TV will be unveiled during 2008. What’s interesting is how they’re saying that the new Apple TV will have an attached LCD screen.. eh? What’s this all about? It’s not entirely clear although if you’re a home theater PC enthusiast like myself, you can imagine a small secondary display being attached to the Apple TV. Yet.. something is amiss.. what exactly is this all about? Could it be a misunderstanding on the part of Goldman? Could there be an all-in-one entertainment LCD display system in the works (a la iMac)? Well it’s not clear.. so only time will tell.

A year ends, another begins and we can count on one thing – more Apple rumors.

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Technorati Tags: Apple rumors, Apple iPhone, Apple TV

Apple first introduced the Apple TV product last year when it was originally known under the project name “iTV”. Back then, we knew very little about the device except that it was Apple’s first foray into the home living room space. As the months went by, additional information was leaked and finally early this year, Apple announced that iTV was going to be formally branded as “Apple TV” and was nearly ready for launch. After weeks of delays, Apple TV finally began shipping during the last week of March. I actually purchased the Apple TV device back in late March at a local Apple store in Santa Monica, CA. I’ve spent several weeks with the device now and today, I’m finally ready to talk about the device that brings Apple into the living room environment.

Of course by now, I’m sure you’ve read many number of reviews regarding Apple TV so let’s get the obvious out of the way – Apple TV is best summarized as a glorified, networked Apple iPod for the home. That’s not a bad thing of course given the immense success that the iPod has has over the first five years of it’s existence. The challenge is – can Apple TV do to the home living room market what the Apple iPod did to the digital audio player market? Can it redefine what it means to be a networked media player? Let’s find out!

One more thing before we jump into the review. This is mainly a look at the Apple TV device – from features to the user interface to what it’s capable of doing. I’ve stayed away from mentioning the many hacks and mods that have appeared in the last few weeks. However, if you are interested in those hacks and mods, do a simple “Google” search for them and I’m sure you’ll find hundreds if not thousands of links available.

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