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Posted by number.61 at 1/15/08 12:23 p.m.

All I can say is FINALLY! An update to the Apple TV was needed so bad! The device is actually usable, and having HD content is a dream come true.

I was surprised they made it a free update. Figured they would make everybody buy a brand new Apple TV.

Posted by AReasonableMind at 1/15/08 12:54 p.m.

I'm a bit unclear: will this be any different than downloading movies from XBox Live, in terms of quality or anything else? I'm enticed by the idea of Apple TV, but if I can do the same thing using an XBox 360 - that is, download HD movies and have the added benefit of NOT having to delete them after 24 hours - then I don't see any purpose of this device.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/15/08 1:54 p.m.

I think TiVo and Amazon Unbox do the very well actually. How exactly did they "miss"?

Posted by unregistered user at 1/15/08 1:56 p.m.

Yeah apple TV take two...take the old apple TV, install linux... and boom bob's your uncle.

(there might have been moer to it than that, but the principle is sound)

Add mythTV and mythgame and a few emulators and you got yourself a home entertainment system.

Not just a movie box.

Posted by number.61 at 1/15/08 2:29 p.m.

This upgrade to the AppleTV is pretty for the people that bought the first AppleTV and got ripped off with what they got.

But this does what the Xbox 360 service doesn't. It gives you the ability to take your rental with you on your laptop, your iPod, or iPhone. The 360, and I believe Amazon and TiVo don't offer that much portability. That alone is fantastic.

Now if you have the ability to rent movies from your iPhone and iPod Touch, that would be fantastic.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/15/08 3:47 p.m.

"You know what, we all missed," Jobs said. Well, Steve - you missed again. Why not a new Apple TV that included a Blu-Ray player/Superdrive, along with a PVR like Tivo. Add CableCard support, and I'd gladly pay Apple $10 per month for up-to-date TV schedule, plus a few free movie downloads. Also, I could check out my Netflix Streaming, and Amazon Unbox if I wanted. Apple TV Take 2 is better, but it's still not anywhere good enough to get me to buy.

Posted by number.61 at 1/15/08 10:54 p.m.

Apple TV was never meant to be a DVR or PVR. The primary focus was to extend your iTunes experience off your computer and iPod and onto your HD television.

If you want a PVR, then get a TiVo or Windows Vista (aka Windows Media Center.)

Take 2 is a huge improvement then what we had before and I think Apple is finally going in the right direction. I want my iTunes on my television minus the constant needed of syncing with my computer. Having the stand alone iTunes experience is everything!

I personally think this new Take 2 service is one notch better than Netflix Streaming and Amazon. One, you can rent/stream your movies directly from your television - sure Netflix announced a set-top box, but its still far from it being a reality. Amazon Unbox is the same, all these services are stuck on your computer. This isn't how I enjoy movies. But Take 2 also gives you the option of taking you rentals with you, which Netflix and Amazon does not support.

Posted by number.61 at 1/16/08 8:25 p.m.

Here's an great side-by-side comparison between the new Apple TV and the Xbox 360's video market place:

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/charted-xbox-live-video-marketplace-vs-apple-tv/

Posted by unregistered user at 2/26/08 11:53 a.m.

The problem with content via Amazon Unbox and TiVo is that they offer no HD content. With the Take 2 software, Apple TV now delivers HD movies via streaming video. Don't underestimate the value of HD, it's a big deal and is going to get bigger.

Although I have a TiVo Series3, I have never bought anything from Amazon Unbox but have now ordered an Apple TV because of its newfound HD capability. I have never understood why Amazon and, apparently, TiVo made the decision not to offer HD movies but it was a big mistake, it seems to me.