The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gif The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com en-us Copyright 2008 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Buy movies with your Apple TVhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/buy-movies-with-your-apple-tv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/buy-movies-with-your-apple-tv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/buy-movies-with-your-apple-tv/#commentsFiled under:

As we posted earlier today, Apple announced that several movie studios will now be releasing digital versions of their movies for sale on the same day as the DVD. Even Apple TV users can get in on the fun. You now have the option of buying movies directly on your Apple TV, whereas before today you could only rent movies from Apple TV. Sure, it's not groundbreaking considering you could buy the movie on your Mac and transfer it to your Apple TV, but it's nice to see the added layer of convenience.

Apple TV owners will also note a new "Top Sellers" category in the "Top Movies" page, an additional option for those times when you want to crowdsource your movie selection.

Thanks, Kevin!

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]]>apple tvAppleTvitunesBrett Terpstra2008-05-01T15:00:00+00:00Apple TV linux bootloaderhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/30/apple-tv-linux-bootloader/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/30/apple-tv-linux-bootloader/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/30/apple-tv-linux-bootloader/#commentsFiled under: ,

If the native hackability of the version of OS X on the Apple TV isn't enough for you, there's now a convenient boot loader that allows you to install linux. This also opens up the possibility of running linux based video software, particularly MPlayer, Myth TV, and XMBC. Further, since there are linux drivers for the NVIDIA hardware decoder in the Apple TV there's also the possibility of higher resolution 1080i output as opposed to the 720p it's normally limited to.

Unfortunately, this is project is still in the early stages and none of this is working perfectly yet. Nonetheless, it's a interesting development on the Apple TV hacking front.

[via Apple TV Hacks]
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]]>Apple tvAppleTvlinuxMplayerMyth TVMythTvXBMCMat Lu2008-04-30T11:00:00+00:00Apple TV offers limited internet radio supporthttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/30/apple-tv-offers-limited-internet-radio-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/30/apple-tv-offers-limited-internet-radio-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/30/apple-tv-offers-limited-internet-radio-support/#commentsFiled under: ,



Apple TV Source notes that the latest 2.0.2 update makes internet radio work a little better with the Apple TV. Basically you can play internet radio streams on the Apple TV if you have it synced to an iTunes computer with a playlist containing the streams. Before the update the source computer had to be on for this to work. Now, however, the Apple TV will retain the playlist even without the iTunes computer until it is restarted (it will retain the playlists even if put to sleep). The original post has complete instructions.
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]]>Apple TVAppleTvinternet radioInternetRadioMat Lu2008-04-30T09:00:00+00:00AppleTV update 2.0.2http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/14/appletv-update-2-0-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/14/appletv-update-2-0-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/14/appletv-update-2-0-2/#commentsFiled under: ,

TUAW reader Charles Kirschner writes in with the heads up that Apple TV software just updated to version 2.0.2. No word yet as to what this new release brings with it but my guesses are bug fixes. If you're near your unit, do us a favor and upgrade and let us know what (if anything) you notice that has changed. Thanks!
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]]>UpdateErica Sadun2008-04-14T17:42:00+00:00Apple TV on Machttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/31/apple-tv-on-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/31/apple-tv-on-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/31/apple-tv-on-mac/#commentsFiled under:

Ever wanted to run Apple TV on your Macintosh? ATV4mac 1.4.3 lets you do just that--with a few limitations. It's a Tiger-only, Intel-only release. You'll need OS X 10.4.8 and higher and Leopard is a no-go at this time.

With it, you can run Apple TV take 2 as a Front-Row style Macintosh application, which can be a very nice thing if you plan on using a spare mac mini as an Apple TV replacement. Your mileage, as they say, will vary.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>MacErica Sadun2008-03-31T13:00:00+00:00Apple TV update 2.0.1http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/28/apple-tv-update-2-0-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/28/apple-tv-update-2-0-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/28/apple-tv-update-2-0-1/#commentsFiled under: ,


Apple has updated the Apple TV software to version 2.0.1. This is the first update to the Apple TV since the game-changing Take 2 software was released. Generally, with these "point releases," Apple doesn't change many things (mostly bug fixes and such).

The only significant difference in the update is the implementation of Genres in the "My Movies" list. Have you noticed any new features that we haven't covered? Be sure to tell us in the comments.

Thanks to everyone that sent in a tip!
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]]>2.0.1Apple TVAppleTvsoftware updateSoftwareUpdateCory Bohon2008-03-28T23:30:00+00:00Patent filing shows DVR for Apple TVhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/15/patent-filing-shows-dvr-for-apple-tv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/15/patent-filing-shows-dvr-for-apple-tv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/15/patent-filing-shows-dvr-for-apple-tv/#commentsFiled under:

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Earlier this week, AppleInsider reported on an Apple TV patent filed in 2006 and just published; it shows DVR features, and the patent also includes a feature where the iPod could be docked with the Apple TV to sync content for on-the-go viewing.

"For example, program data for upcoming programs, e.g., for the next month, can be downloaded and stored on the remote control device," Apple said in the patent. "Thereafter, a user of the remote control device can search programs that are to be broadcast and determine which programs to record. The recording settings can be programmed onto the remote control device, and then be provided to the video device when a data communication is established between the remote control device and the video device."

If Apple manages to implement DVR functionality for the Apple TV, it could definitely bring a game-changing device to the TV industry. Who knows, it could become a direct competitor to the TiVo. Be sure to look through our gallery of patent filing pictures.

[via AppleInsider]
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]]>Apple TVAppleTvDVRpatentCory Bohon2008-03-15T23:00:00+00:00Resolved: Arguments for additional rental time aren't realistichttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/04/resolved-arguments-for-additional-rental-time-arent-realistic/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/04/resolved-arguments-for-additional-rental-time-arent-realistic/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/04/resolved-arguments-for-additional-rental-time-arent-realistic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In the second half of our iTunes movie rental debate, Christina takes the "Con" position on extended-duration rentals, and in the process will probably draw ire from all the parents out there.

Let me start by saying that I'm not opposed to a rental extension period. As a single, non-breeder with no plans to join the Momfia (as coined by Michael Rose), I'm not immune to things happening that interrupt my 24-hour viewing window for a movie; that's life. Let me also say that I completely sympathize with the struggle that juggling kids and a job must entail and I appreciate that finding uninterrupted time to enjoy a movie can be difficult.

But while I would gladly welcome the opportunity to add a few hours onto the rental time (or another day), I have a small problem with the basic argument that it is impossible for parents (or anyone for that matter) to find the time to watch a movie within a limited time frame. These arguments strike me as pretty unrealistic for what will happen 95% of the time and while I have no problem criticizing Apple's rental model on a number of levels, the rental duration is not one of them. In fact, I would argue that the options we have now are significantly better than they have ever been in the past.

More than twenty years ago, my parents were able to rent videos and watch them in the 24 hour window (and this was when video rentals were, with inflation, probably $10 a night and the late fees were insane -- often far more than just renting a title for another day) without a problem. In the early 1990s, when Pay-Per-View was all the rage, people were able to adjust to sitting down and watching a movie, despite the fact that flexible start times didn't exist until the late 1990s (meaning that if you ordered the movie at two minutes past the start time, the movie started two minutes in, and in the OLD school days, you couldn't even order from the cable box, you had to call an automated number, which could delay the time it took for the film to arrive on your box). Plus, there was no option to pause or rewind a movie on the fly. If Little Johnny needed a drink of water, your recourse was to either record the movie on your VCR (but you would still have to wait for the entire movie to finish recording before you could rewind) or you would wind up renting "Cliffhanger" four times in one month at $5.99 a pop (which my own family did do, not because of bedtime hijinx but because we were really bad about telling one another when we were renting something).

Again, I appreciate that finding time to watch something can be difficult for parents, but I find it hard to believe that the behavior of even young children has devolved the level that stealing some time to watch a movie is impossible. And really, if you can't find 24 hours to rent a movie, either consider buying it for $10 or rent the DVD from Netflix. If an emergency does come up, well, spending another $3 or $4 isn't the end of the world. It's less than half the price of one movie ticket.

I hardly see why Apple (or any company) should have to answer for parents' inability to get their kids to stay in bed. Do things come up? Absolutely, but that goes for everyone -- not just parents -- but the idea that there is absolutely no way a movie can be viewed within 24 hours because your kids have such erratic bedtime issues seems to be a problem the family might want to address, not Apple.
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]]>24hrsappletvdebatemovie rentalsMovieRentalstuaw-vstweet-thisChristina Warren2008-03-04T11:30:00+00:00Resolved: iTunes movie rentals should offer an extended-time optionhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/04/resolved-itunes-movie-rentals-should-offer-an-extended-time-opt/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/04/resolved-itunes-movie-rentals-should-offer-an-extended-time-opt/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/04/resolved-itunes-movie-rentals-should-offer-an-extended-time-opt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In the first half of our iTunes movie rental debate, Mike stakes out the "Pro" position on extended-duration rentals with an appeal on behalf of tired, stressed parents everywhere.

Let me just say it: there is a perfect market for iTunes movie rentals. It's the same market that Netflix or VOD sales addresses, the same audience that prefers (or is limited to) staying at home rather than a night out at the movies. You know who we are -- the stroller patrol, the breeder bastion, the Momfia... the parents. We crave entertainment, and we're willing to pay for it, but our evenings are squeezed to the point of nonexistence. By the time the offspring are fed and watered, tucked away in their beds, we might only have an hour or two's worth of 'we' time to enjoy a feature film. If someone wakes up and needs 15 minutes of settling back to bed, well, forget it. With the 24-hour watch time limitation on iTunes movies, tomorrow night, when we might have another chance to view our movie, it's too late.

Thus, opinionated folk such as David Pogue, Rob Griffiths, Glenn Fleishman, and our reader Marshall (his open letter to Apple is reproduced at the end of this post) all concur that some form of extension past the 24-hour limit makes great sense to parents and great sense to Apple's rental market. I join my voice to theirs, and offer this modest proposal: Add a $0.50 surcharge for a 6-hour extension, or $1 for a 12-hour bump. Make the extra time optional -- you'd still have to decide and pay for it at rental time, not add it on after renting the movie, as the DRM challenges of a shifting finish line + multiple playback devices are probably too much to handle. I bet that parents of young kids, or families with variable evening schedules, would fork over the extra spare change to extend their rental times, and let's remember that those couple of quarters are pure profit (it costs the same in encoding and bandwidth for a 36-hour movie to download as for a 24-hour movie). I'd gladly take the extra time for free, but if you've got to add a modest surcharge I'll swallow my pride.

Give me a 36-hour rental and I promise this: I will buy an Apple TV and I will start renting movies on it. That's $225, cash on the barrel, plus what I'll spend on the flicks. Who's with me?

Continue reading Resolved: iTunes movie rentals should offer an extended-time option

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]]>24 hours24Hoursapple tvAppleTvdebateitunesmovie rentalsMovieRentalstuaw-vstweet-thisMichael Rose2008-03-04T10:30:00+00:00Submerge: subtitles for your Apple TV, iPod, iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/03/submerge-subtitles-for-your-apple-tv-ipod-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/03/submerge-subtitles-for-your-apple-tv-ipod-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/03/submerge-subtitles-for-your-apple-tv-ipod-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

I've been looking for a good way to get a subtitled movie - with a SubRip (srt) file - into iTunes, my Apple TV and my iPod. I hadn't found much joy before this morning. Then I stumbled upon Submerge. I need to do some tweaking in the detailed preferences yet, but it seems to do the trick quite well.

Submerge supports most video formats, including mov, avi, and mp4. In addition to SubRip, it also supports the SubViewer 1 & 2 (sub) and MicroDVD subtitle formats. By allowing the aspect ratio to be forced in the conversion, Suberge can make better use of screen real estate on various devices. And if you want to speed things up, there's also support for the Elgato Turbo.264. Overall, it seems to be a great solution. Of course, if there's a better program for doing this for under $10, I'm looking forward to hearing about it in the comments.

Submerge is $9 and has a free trial available for download.

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]]>Apple TVAppleTviphoneiPodlanguageSubmergesubtitlesBrett Terpstra2008-03-03T14:00:00+00:00iTunes Store adds 99 cent weekly movie rental specialshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/22/itunes-store-adds-99-cent-weekly-movie-rental-specials/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/22/itunes-store-adds-99-cent-weekly-movie-rental-specials/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/22/itunes-store-adds-99-cent-weekly-movie-rental-specials/#commentsFiled under: ,

Along with the iTunes update we noted earlier, Apple has introduced a new weekly special movie rental for 99 cents. Macrumors reports that each Thursday Apple will make available a new movie at the special price, good until the following Monday. You'll have the standard 30 days to watch it. The first special this week is The Hours (iTunes link).

This looks like a clever move to jump start the movie rental business. We can only hope that they'll also consider adding HD versions through Apple TV as well.

[via Infinite Loop]
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]]>iTSiTunes StoreItunesStoremovie rentalMovieRentalMat Lu2008-02-22T08:00:00+00:00Airfoil 3.1 adds Apple TV supporthttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/21/airfoil-3-1-adds-apple-tv-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/21/airfoil-3-1-adds-apple-tv-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/21/airfoil-3-1-adds-apple-tv-support/#commentsFiled under: ,

Rogue Amoeba has announced an update for Airfoil to version 3.1, adding support for sending audio to the Apple TV. Unlike the built-in iTunes support, Airfoil allows you to stream any audio source from your Mac to your Apple TV, Airport Express, or other Macs running their Airfoil Speakers client application. This allows you to use your Apple TV to listen to web-based "radio" sources like Pandora (my favorite) or last.fm, as well as other media players like QuickTime Player, etc.

Airfoil 3.1 is a free update to registered users and $25 for new users. A demo is available for download.
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]]>AirfoilApple TVAppleTvMat Lu2008-02-21T08:00:00+00:00Apple TV 'T2' HD video is pretty good, says iLoungehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/13/apple-tv-t2-hd-video-is-pretty-good-says-ilounge/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/13/apple-tv-t2-hd-video-is-pretty-good-says-ilounge/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/13/apple-tv-t2-hd-video-is-pretty-good-says-ilounge/#commentsFiled under:

There's been some controversy about the HD video quality on the Apple TV, which we've covered before. Now that Take Two has dropped, iLounge has done the legwork to put together an excellent visual comparison. They compared four versions of Live Free and Die Hard: Blu-ray, Apple TV HD, Cable HD, and DVD.

The results were quite good for the Apple TV; while Blu-ray was the clear and expected winner, the Apple TV version outpaced the Cable HD version on several of the tests, particularly those testing compression artifacts. The upshot: "Because of its cleaner motion and audio, we felt that the Apple experience was better in both overall audio and video quality than the HD cable experience, and for most users, superior to renting a standard DVD as well." Check out their full article for many more comparison shots.
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]]>Apple TVAppleTvHDHDTVhigh-definitionMat Lu2008-02-13T18:00:00+00:00HackTV Take 2: The AppleTV Hack Upgrade Livebloghttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/13/hacktv-take-2-the-appletv-hack-upgrade-liveblog/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/13/hacktv-take-2-the-appletv-hack-upgrade-liveblog/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/13/hacktv-take-2-the-appletv-hack-upgrade-liveblog/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Go second. Or third. Or last. That's the lesson on performing hacking upgrades. Let someone else make all the mistakes first and then follow just those footsteps that didn't lead, say, down the giant crevasse with the big old hungry lions waiting below.

Today, I'm about to upgrade my hacked Apple TV first--so you can see where I go wrong and then don't, yourself.

Continue reading HackTV Take 2: The AppleTV Hack Upgrade Liveblog

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]]>liveblogErica Sadun2008-02-13T12:25:00+00:00Apple TV Take 2 video walkthroughhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-take-2-video-walkthrough/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-take-2-video-walkthrough/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-take-2-video-walkthrough/#commentsFiled under: ,


Here's a short video of the Apple TV Take 2 software update. It shows the new Apple TV boot video and a brief walk through of the Apple TV software.

You can download the video in m4v format here.
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]]>Apple TVTake 2 updateCory Bohon2008-02-12T22:00:00+00:00Apple TV 2: Walk-through what's newhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-2-walk-through-whats-new/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-2-walk-through-whats-new/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-2-walk-through-whats-new/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


So now that the long awaited Apple TV update is now available, let's take a look at some of the changes this new update brings to both the interface and the functionality of the product.

The interface has been slightly modified from the now familiar Front Row interface to something slightly different:


New Apple TV main screen

From here, the new options can be selected using the Apple Remote.

Read on to see more of the new Apple TV features in action.

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Continue reading Apple TV 2: Walk-through what's new

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]]>Christina Warren2008-02-12T15:15:00+00:00Apple TV Take 2 now availablehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-take-2-now-available/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-take-2-now-available/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/apple-tv-take-2-now-available/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We have received several reports from readers that the delayed update to Apple TV is now available. Apple TV Take 2, as Steve referred to it in his keynote, features an updated UI as well as:
  • HD/Standard Def movie rentals
  • the ability to purchase items from the iTunes Store directly from the Apple TV
  • Flickr/.Mac photo browsing
  • Browse the iTunes Podcast directory from the Apple TV
This update is free to all Apple TV owners. Let us know in the comments if you are able to get it yourself!

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
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]]>apple-tvupdateScott McNulty2008-02-12T13:13:00+00:00Tinfoil Hat Patrol: Why weren't the new iPhones announced at Macworldhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/05/tinfoil-hat-patrol-why-werent-the-new-iphones-announced-at-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/05/tinfoil-hat-patrol-why-werent-the-new-iphones-announced-at-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/05/tinfoil-hat-patrol-why-werent-the-new-iphones-announced-at-mac/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Let's face it. Macworld Expo 2008 didn't exactly blow people away with its product intros. There was the MacBook Air, Apple TV Take Two and...um...not much else. And there could have been. Think about it. The Mac Pro was quietly upgraded in the days that led up to the event (psst, hey you, interested in some raw computing power?), and now the iPhone and iPod touch have received some major memory upgrades in the February slump. Both upgrades, as we have now seen, were relegated to Tuesday-morning sticky notes.

It's not as if Apple couldn't have announced this morning's memory upgrades in January. I'm pretty sure these new iPods and iPhones didn't just magically spring into existence within the last 3 weeks. The product that was announced, the (*yawn*) major AppleTV upgrade with movie rentals. is already delayed, and no sign yet of the "late February" iPhone SDK.

So what's going on with Apple? Is there some sort of mojo shortage? Or maybe Steve just wanted some of us to do badly in our keynote predictions[1]. You tell us in the comments.

[1] See "tinfoil hat"

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]]>KeynotesMissed OpportunitiesMissedOpportunitiesProduct AnnouncementsProductAnnouncementsSteve JobsSteveJobsErica Sadun2008-02-05T13:00:00+00:00Put Skype on your Apple TVhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/02/put-skype-on-your-apple-tv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/02/put-skype-on-your-apple-tv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/02/put-skype-on-your-apple-tv/#commentsFiled under:

Making phone calls from your television set is a clear sign that you are Living in the Future (tm), right up there with the jet packs and the meals-in-a-pill that we're all enjoying so much. If your current TV/phone configuration isn't meeting your needs, developer Brandon Holland has your back; he's just released an extremely early version of his Skype for Apple TV plugin (noted last month & today at Engadget) that leverages the Skype API to allow calls via USB headsets, text messages and more.

I can't really picture how this module is going to work for actual calling (and I don't have an Apple TV to try it out on), but if it refines into a true Skype client, and the Take 2 update doesn't completely nuke the Apple TV development scene, and Skype gets past its current security worries, this could be a very interesting path towards our videophone-enabled, jet-pack-wearing future.

Update: Matt comments that Brandon has a demo video up on his site, which is both technically interesting and slightly hilarious (watch for the test call where he tries to put the moves on Echo123, that faceless e-babe).

Thanks CK!
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]]>apple tvAppleTvskypeMichael Rose2008-02-02T22:30:00+00:00Apple TV software update delayedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/30/apple-tv-software-update-delayed/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/30/apple-tv-software-update-delayed/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/30/apple-tv-software-update-delayed/#commentsFiled under: ,

Just a quick update on the status of the Apple TV software upgrade: according to Apple's web site, the software is not quite ready and will be available in one to two weeks.

As we covered during MWSF, the Apple TV Take 2 (or as I like to call it, Apple TV Redux) will feature support buying music/movies/rentals directly from Apple TV, HD rentals and the ability to view pictures from a Flickr or .Mac account.

The update is free to existing customers and will presumably be shipping standard on all new Apple TV's as soon as it is complete.

Thanks WSN!

Update: Here is Apple's press release detailing that the MacBook Air is now shipping, and that the Apple TV update will be available 'by the end of February.' Thanks to Ominx for the link.
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]]>apple tvapple tv take 2AppleTvAppleTvTake2Christina Warren2008-01-30T13:18:00+00:00