Sept 2, 2010 – I’m a big fan of the Apple TV. I’ve had the first generation model for years now and love it. I originally bought it to watch video podcasts on my big screen TV in the comfort of my family room. When producers starting delivering their content in HD the experience got even better. Since then I’ve used it to watch movies, listen to music and even surf the videos on YouTube. The $200 plus investment I made several years ago was well worth it.
Steve Jobs said in his announcement yesterday that the Apple TV has always been their hobby project. It’s never caught on with the mass market but said the people that purchased an Apple TV love it and use it often (I agree). Now Apple has taken their hobby project to a whole new level. The new Apple TV is 1/4th the size, runs very cool (you could cook an egg on mine), and gives you the ability to stream HD content from your computer or through the internet right to your HD TV. You can have all of this and more for only a $99 investment! 🙂
In addition to the new hardware, Apple has lowered the rental price of first run HD movies to $4.99 and HD TV shows from select networks to .99 cents. If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you now have access to their streaming catalog of movies and TV show that you can browse and search, rate content, add to or remove from your queue, or instantly stream straight to your HD TV.
The Apple TV is available for pre-order now for $99 at Apple’s online store and will begin shipping late September.
PRESS RELEASE
Apple Premieres New Apple TV for Breakthrough Price of $99
Rent Commercial Free HD TV Episodes for Just 99 Cents
September 1, 2010—Apple® today announced the new Apple TV® which offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99. Apple TV users can choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent* from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for just 99 cents.
Apple TV also streams content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe™, as well as music, photos and videos from PCs and Macs to your HD TV. Enjoy gorgeous slideshows of your photos on your HD TV using Apple TV’s selection of built-in slideshows. Apple TV has built-in HDMI, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and an internal power supply for easy set-up, and features silent, cool, very low power operation in an enclosure that’s less than four inches square—80 percent smaller than the previous generation.
“The new Apple TV, paired with the largest selection of online HD movie and TV show rentals, lets users watch Hollywood content on their HD TV whenever they want,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “This tiny, silent box costing just $99 lets users watch thousands of HD movies and TV shows, and makes all of their music, photos and videos effortlessly available on their home entertainment system.”
Apple TV users can now rent thousands of commercial free, HD TV episodes on iTunes® for just 99 cents, with up to 30 days to start watching and then 48 hours to finish—or watch multiple times. Users can also rent over 7,000 movies with over 3,400 available in HD, with most new releases available the same day they are released on DVD.
Apple TV also gives access to the Netflix streaming catalog for Netflix subscribers, and the ability to browse and search, rate content, add to or remove from your queue, or instantly stream straight to your HD TV. Apple TV users can also enjoy millions of YouTube videos, more than 200,000 podcasts, 4,000 Internet radio stations and personal photos from MobileMe and Flickr with several gorgeous new slideshow themes. Music, videos and photos can also be streamed from PCs and Macs, turning your HD TV into the hub of your home entertainment system.
Apple TV set-up is quick and easy with a single HDMI cable connection (HDMI cable sold separately). Just connect Apple TV to your HD TV, join a Wi-Fi network and with a few clicks on the seven-button aluminum Apple Remote, you have access to amazing content. Users can also control Apple TV with their iPhone®, iPad™ or iPod touch® using the Remote app, available as a free download on the App Store℠.
Pricing & Availability
Apple TV will be available late this month for a suggested retail price of $99 (US) and can be pre-ordered beginning today on Apple’s online store (www.apple.com). Apple TV, which comes standard with an aluminum Apple Remote, will be available through the Apple’s online store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple TV requires an 802.11b/g/n wireless network or Ethernet network, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition TV capable of 720p. iTunes TV show rentals and Netflix are only available in the US. Netflix features require account subscription. iTunes movies rentals are only available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
*99 cent HD TV rentals only available in the US.
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Founder of Current Photographer, co-host of The Digital Photography Cafe Show, Designer, Photographer, and overall tech geek.