What is Apple TV and Why Should I Care?

      Posted: 22 Nov 2010 10:56 AM PST

      Apple TV has been redesigned to be small in size but big on 
entertainment. Rent from the largest selection of HD movies, many available 
the same day they come out on DVD. Watch Netflix titles instantly. Rent TV 
shows, commercial free in HD. And stream photos and music from your computer

to your widescreen TV. Best of all, Apple TV is just $99.

      Instant movie and TV show rentals
      No more waiting for DVDs or watching stale blockbusters on cable. With

Apple TV, you get instant access to the hottest Hollywood titles and new 
releases, often the same day they come out on DVD. Popular movies are never 
out of stock and you can rent as many as you want. That's perfect for those 
spontaneous movie nights. Search by top movies, title, or genre. Even read a

quick movie review, watch the trailer, and check out the latest ratings from

Rotten Tomatoes. Once you find what you're looking for, simply press Play, 
and in seconds, you're watching the opening credits with theater-like Dolby 
Digital 5.1 surround sound. 2SD rentals start at just $2.99, and HD rentals 
start at $3.99. You have 30 days to start watching, and once you begin, you 
can watch as many times as you want in 24 hours.

      Tune in to Netflix, YouTube, and more
      Stream from the huge Netflix catalog of movies and TV shows, and watch

YouTube on the big screen.

      From classics to recent Hollywood favorites, Netflix on Apple TV puts 
even more movies and TV shows within reach of your remote. Apple TV smartly 
organizes the huge Netflix catalog of HD and SD titles so you can find 
exactly what you're looking for in a matter of clicks. When you find 
something you like, watch it right away or add it to your instant-watch 
queue. Since Apple TV lets you access your Netflix account directly from 
your HDTV, you can ditch all the computer-to-TV adapters and skip straight 
to the part where you press Play.

      Instant TV rentals
      With Apple TV, anytime is prime time. That's because you can rent your

favorite TV shows: sitcoms, dramas, and reality series - on the spot, 
completely commercial free and in HD for just 99¢ per episode. Watch a show 
the day after it airs, or camp out on your couch and catch up on past 
seasons with a marathon of back-to-back episodes. Once you rent an episode, 
you have 30 days to press Play. Then it's yours for the next 48 hours. Watch

it once, or replay it as many times as you want for some instant rerun 
gratification.

      Say it's midseason and you can't make it home in time to watch this 
week's episode of your favorite show. Apple TV keeps track of your favorite 
shows so the next time you turn on your TV, you can quickly see which season

you're watching and which episodes are new. Select shows with a few clicks 
of the included remote. And if your viewing list gets a bit long, Apple TV 
lets you rearrange it any way you want by clicking and reordering shows 
using the remote.

      Read episode summaries, watch previews, and check out viewer ratings 
before you rent.

      Music
      You've got tons of music on your computer. But the best speakers in 
the house are part of your home theater system. Apple TV connects them 
without missing a beat. Your iTunes music library streams directly to Apple 
TV. So you can sit back, choose a tune, and enjoy the music.

      Apple TV and iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
      Control Apple TV using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Download the 
Remote app for free from the App Store. And with a flick of your finger, you

can rent new movies and TV shows, scroll through the Netflix catalog, and 
browse your media collection. Remote uses the same easy-to-use interface you

already use to browse music and video on your Multi-Touch devices. So right 
away, you know how to navigate. If you want to find something specific, use 
your device's QWERTY keyboard to quickly tap out the title instead of 
clicking letters on the Apple TV screen. Then keep tapping to play, fast 
forward, rewind, and pause to your finger's content.

      Everything you want to watch, movies, TV shows, photos, and more, 
streams wirelessly to Apple TV. That way you don't have to worry about 
managing storage or syncing to your iTunes library. HD movie and TV show 
rentals play over the Internet to your widescreen TV, while music and photos

stream from your computer. Either way, all you have to do is click and play.

Since Apple TV features a powerful A4 chip, it streams everything 
effortlessly, without frozen screens or stutters. Video looks crisp and 
clear. And just like watching a DVD, you can fast-forward through opening 
credits, pause for a popcorn break, or replay a hilarious scene until you 
memorize every line.

      Setting up Apple TV is about as simple as it gets. Just plug the power

cord into the wall and connect Apple TV to your widescreen TV using an HDMI 
cable (sold separately). Since everything streams wirelessly to Apple TV, 
that's all you need. Well, that and a comfy couch.

      Why Should I Care?
      From our friends at BlindBargains.com:

      "We have just learned that Apple has added Voice-Over to it's Apple TV

Media Receiver. Voice-Over speaks menus and file information, similar to 
that found on the iPhone and iPod touch. Click on the first button for a 
video demonstrating Voice-Over.

      Click this link to purchase an Apple TV from Amazon.com.




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