Macworld 2008: AppleTV 2

[BobJones]

New AppleTV announced, available as a free software update (available in 2 weeks) allowing, iTunes (HD) movie rentals (also DVD quality and 5.1), buying music online, and stand alone operation of the AppleTV (no computer required). Where's the TV tuner?
HD rentals $4.99, new releases $3.99, library flicks $2.99, 30days to keep, 24 hrs to watch from first play.
Entry level AppleTV price now $229 down from $299

 

[bwana]

New AppleTV announced, available as a free software update (available in 2 weeks) allowing, iTunes (HD) movie rentals (also DVD quality and 5.1), buying music online, and stand alone operation of the AppleTV (no computer required). Where's the TV tuner?
HD rentals $4.99, new releases $3.99, library flicks $2.99, 30days to keep, 24 hrs to watch from first play.
Entry level AppleTV price now $229 down from $299

If I'm reading engadget correctly existing owner need only update the software.

 

[Skeptik]

We can't use iTunes in SA can we? So what's the point.

 

[adsl3g]

We can't use iTunes in SA can we? So what's the point.

The point is SA is probably the last thing on Apple's mind ATM.... - What with our bandwidth constraints even if iTunes was available locally it would not have been worth it.

 

[BobJones]

The Apple TV FAQ.

FAQ: How does the AppleTV work if you don't have a iTunes Account?

A: You can't buy music, tv shows or movies, or rent movies.

FAQ: Can I watch YouTube videos?

A: Yes.

FAQ: Can I preview iTunes movies?

A: Yes, but only the featured movies and the trailers, the same goes for TV shows.

FAQ: What about music previews?

A: Yeah you can get those too, but only for the featured and most popular tracks. BTW that goes for music videos too.

FAQ: So whats the use of this glorified HDD?

A: Well if you have your own music, say the CD's you own and happened to rip into your iTunes library, you can sync and listen to them on via the AppleTV.

FAQ: OK, but what about video, isn't the point to watch movies?

A: Yes. Maybe if you ripped your DVD's to iTunes using Handbrake, you could sync those to the AppleTV and watch them on your tv. You could also sync all the photos in your iPhoto library to the AppleTV and watch the slideshows you created on your tv.

FAQ: So there is life without a iTunes account?

A: Yes. Just think of the AppleTV as a rather large iPod that is attached to your tv and pretty much anything that is in iphoto library or in your iTunes library can be sync'd to the AppleTV same as you would to your iPod. (OK contacts and iCal excepted).

FAQ: Eish! but I've only got lots of mp3 on my shuffle with no track names or album art. What now?

A: Get a (i)Life! Go create an iTunes Store account. You can get one without a CC. Just search this forum or google it.