World of Apple

Apple has released a new version of software for the Apple TV which can be downloaded by users by using the “Update Software” menu item in the Apple TV Settings.

Apple has posted a support document which lists the feature changes in the update:

• Music can be streamed via AirTunes to Airport Express speakers or other Apple TVs in your house.
• Apple TV can now learn other remote controls and use them in addition to the Apple Remote.
• Playlists in iTunes that contain Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, and Music Videos can now be seen on Apple TV.
• Support for volume control in Music.

Apple has released the latest software update for the Apple TV. The update can be downloaded using the “Update Software” option on the Apple TV.

Apple has posted a list of what the update includes:

• HD TV shows
• Movie browsing by actor and director
• Chapter selection, alternate audio and subtitles
• Movie description
• Genius playlists
• On-The-Go playlists
• Music videos in playlists
• Apple TV standby mode

Apple has today released Apple TV software version 2.1. The update mainly adds support for MobileMe but also includes the ability to make use of Apple’s new Remote application for the iPhone and iPod touch.

The software update is available via the Apple TV update menu.

Following yesterdays announcement from Apple that iTunes Movie will go on sale the same day as the DVD release, the company has also quietly updated the Apple TV to allow purchasing of movies.

Image Courtesy of iLounge.com

Apple has also added a “Top Sellers” category, showing the current most popular movie purchases.

Apple has released version 2.0.2 of the Apple TV software, as with the 2.0.1 update released last month Apple offers no indication on what is included with the update.

It is expected that the update will fix issues some users have had with connecting to 5GHz 802.11n wireless networks.

Apple has quietly updated the Apple TV software to version 2.0.1.

Due to the update being a simple point release, it is widely expected that the only changes are bug fixes. Although one World of Apple reader noted that the “My Movies” now has a “Genres” option.

Apple has today quietly released the much anticipated update to Apple TV. The software update introduces a brand new on-screen interface and gives the user the ability to rent movies from the iTunes Store.

The update is available free for existing Apple TV owners by selecting the “Update Software” option under the “Settings” menu. The update takes around 10 minutes to download and another 10 minutes to install.

DVD quality movie rentals are available for $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases, high-definition versions come in at just $1 more for both library and new releases.

Movies can be kept for 30 days, but expire within 24 hours of playback beginning.

A guided tour of the new Apple TV is available on the Apple website.

The BBC has announced that it will make a download version of the iPlayer available to users of Macs by the end of 2008.

Currently Mac users can watch iPlayer content by streaming it over the internet but Windows users have the added ability to download content and store it locally for watching at the users convenience. This announcement will bring the download capabilities to Mac users.

“I hope this good news is evidence of the hard work that the BBC is committing to supporting other platforms,” wrote BBC director general Mark Thompson on his blog.

He continued “Were we to choose to not develop any systems or services until they could be received by every single individual licence-fee payer, our capacity for development and innovation - in the interest of serving those who fund our services - would be severely limited.”

On the same subject Ashley Highfield of the BBC writes in his blog that the Macworld 2008 announcement that movie rentals will be coming to Apple TV opens the device to iPlayer content.

This, coupled with Apple’s (long anticipated) move to a rental model, means that we can look to getting BBC iPlayer onto this platform too, as we should be able to use the rental functionality to allow our programmes to be downloaded, free, but retained for a time window, and then erased, as our rightsholders currently insist. write Highfield on the BBC website.

Apple has today announced that the MacBook Air is now shipping and most deliveries are expected to begin tomorrow.

In the press release Apple also wrote that the Apple TV update which was announced two weeks ago at Macworld has been delayed another two weeks.

Apple also announced that the new Apple TV® software update, which allows users to rent high definition movies directly from their widescreen TVs, is not quite finished. Apple now plans to make the free software download available to existing Apple TV customers in another week or two.

Apple today unveiled all new software for Apple TV that allows movie fans to rent movies on the iTunes Store directly from their widescreen TV, and lowered the price of Apple TV to just $229. With iTunes Movie Rentals and Apple TV, users can just click a button on their remote to effortlessly rent movies from a catalog of over 1,000 titles by the end of February, including over 100 titles in stunning high definition video with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound, with no computer required. DVD-quality iTunes Movie Rentals are $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases, and high definition versions are just one dollar more with library titles at $3.99 and new releases at $4.99. Apple will provide the new Apple TV software free of charge to existing Apple TV owners when it releases the new Apple TV priced at $229 in about two weeks.

“With the new Apple TV and iTunes Movie Rentals, movie lovers can rent DVD-quality or stunning HD movies from their couch with just a click of a button,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “No more driving to the video store or waiting for DVDs to arrive in the mail.”

iTunes Movie Rentals feature iTunes’ legendary ease of use, which makes discovering and enjoying movie rentals as simple and easy as buying music on iTunes. Once a movie is rented, it starts downloading from the iTunes Store directly to Apple TV, and users with a fast Internet connection can start viewing the movie in seconds. Customers have up to 30 days to start watching it, and once a movie has been started customers have 24 hours to finish it—or watch it multiple times.

With Apple TV, users can also view photos from their computers, Flickr and .Mac Web Galleries on their widescreen TV as slideshows or screen savers, and anytime photos are updated on Flickr or .Mac, they are automatically updated on Apple TV. Apple TV users can now browse and enjoy the iTunes Store podcast directory of over 125,000 video and audio podcasts, view over 50 million originally created videos from YouTube or choose from a selection of six million songs, over 600 TV shows and 10,000 music videos to purchase directly from their Apple TV. Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user’s computer for enjoyment on their computer, all current generation iPods or iPhone.

The new Apple TV software will be available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers later this month. Apple TV, which includes the Apple Remote, is available from the Apple Store for a price of $229 (US) for the 40GB model and $329 (US) for the 160GB model (US and Canada). Apple TV requires an 802.11g/n wireless network or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition widescreen TV. iPod games will not play on Apple TV. iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only.