Hasta La Gadget!

Apple finally got things right with the latest version of Steve Jobs’s long time pet project. The new Apple TV is all about streaming, having stripped the away the hard drive. The palm-size device can stream content from Netflix, YouTube, iOS devices (the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad), and, of course iTunes.

The device is small–75 percent smaller than its predecessor and weighs less that 10 ounces. It has an HDMI output, a micro USB port, and an Ethernet port for streaming those $0.99 iTunes rentals. Best of all, it’s relatively inexpensively prices at $99. 

The device managed to snag our Editors’ Choice for media hubs, and should make a great little gift for the holidays.

Marketing research surveys have proven a good source for yet-to-be-announced information in the past and a recent one by DirecTV may be a good sign for those who prefer their NFL Sunday Ticket over the internet instead of satellite. According to a tipster, some of the questions asking about potential pricing setups indicated the digital version would be available via currently unsupported devices including internet connected Blu-ray players & TVs, “game machines,” Apple TV, Roku and Boxee. Another new wrinkle is a $19.99 per weekend pricing plan for streaming NFL Sunday Ticket access among other options. Currently, Sunday Ticket streams in HD to PCs and a bevy of mobile platforms (even without DirecTV’s TV service), but it’s possible we could see that list expand to several if not all connected TV platforms in the near future — assuming this isn’t just pie in the sky dreaming of course. The NBA, NHL and MLB already play ball with some but not all of the streaming set-top boxes, if the NFL follows them by adding alternate viewing options — assuming a new labor deal is reached and we actually see football played in late 2011 — would it make you more likely to subscribe?

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Continue reading DirecTV survey hints at NFL Sunday Ticket on Apple TV, Boxee and Roku players?

DirecTV survey hints at NFL Sunday Ticket on Apple TV, Boxee and Roku players? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No one said that hobbies were easy to throw away, and it’s pretty clear that the Apple TV still holds a dear piece of Cupertino’s heart. In fact, we’d argue that the box’s streaming abilities now tie into Apple’s overall mission more than ever before, and with iOS 4.2.1 for the iPad (and the accompanying introduction of AirPlay), it’s feeling less like an afterthought and more like a focal point. That said, we’re curious to know if early adopters feel satisfied by their $99 box. Have you found it to function as-advertised? Still fuming over those output and / or color issues? If you were given the keys to the design kingdom, how would you turn the Apple TV into your perfect media streamer? Ditch the iTunes integration? Offer access to more content portals? Paint it pink and line it with LEDs? It only costs $0.02 to play, and the deposit slot’s just below.

How would you change the second-generation Apple TV? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Steve Jobs introduced the latest iOS update (version 4.2), the biggest addition was AirPlay, a feature that wirelessly streams some audio and video from an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to the Apple TV. An e-mail from the CEO suggests this feature is poised to become more powerful next year.

The AirPlay feature shipped in the latest version of Apple’s mobile software, iOS 4.2.1, and it works the way Apple advertised: It streams video only played from the iPod app on the iPhone/iPod Touch or the Video app on the iPad. What you can’t do today with AirPlay is stream video that you shot with an iPhone, or video from third-party apps or even Safari, to the Apple TV.

A MacRumors reader e-mailed Jobs asking if AirPlay would eventually stream videos from Safari and third-party apps to the Apple TV. The reader claims Jobs replied with a nod: “Yep, hope to add these features to AirPlay in 2011.”

It certainly appears Apple is working on the feature, as currently you can stream audio from videos played in Safari and third-party apps to the Apple TV. We suggest keeping an eye on the developments of AirPlay, because we think when it matures, it could be a gamechanger that offers a compelling alternative to viewing television content through third-party apps and web videos.

See Also:

• How Apple Just Disrupted the Cable Guys
• Tweet of the Day: AirPlay Is Apple's Little Thing to Make a Big …
• AirPlay Can Stream to Apple TV From Any iOS App – Not Just iTunes …

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Macworld is reporting that Apple’s promising to roll out (at long last!) Apple TV 4.1 at the same time iOS 4.2 hits, at around 1PM Eastern today (roughly nowish). Sure, we could hit some last minute snags, but we want to believe. Especially after we reviewed the new versions of the softwares on our new-lease-on-life iPad, blasting AirPlay video all over the house like it was going out of style. In addition to being able to play video to your Apple TV from your iTunes-equipped PC or iOS-based device, the new Apple TV software adds VoiceOver support for spoken menus and meta data.

Update: It’s live, we’re downloading it now and basically just having the time of our lives!

Apple rolling out Apple TV 4.1 alongside iOS 4.2 today for perfect AirPlay harmony (update: it’s live) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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