Apple Launches Apple TV 3.0 Software and iTunes 9.0.2

[clawanhex]

Apple releases Apple TV Software Update 3.0. Looks good. Press release from Apple:

Apple Introduces Apple TV 3.0 Software With Redesigned User Interface

Enjoy iTunes Extras, iTunes LP & Genius Mixes on Your HD TV

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today introduced new Apple TV® 3.0 software featuring a redesigned main menu that makes navigating your favorite content simpler and faster, and makes enjoying the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes® Store even better on your TV. You can now enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with your Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system. The new Apple TV software is available immediately free of charge to existing Apple TV owners, and Apple TV with 160GB capacity is available for just $229.

"The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of Internet Services. "HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio."

The redesigned main menu on Apple TV gives you instant access to your favorite content. Recently rented or purchased movies, as well as other content including TV shows, music, podcasts, photos and YouTube, are accessible directly from the new main menu. The new software also allows Apple TV users to enjoy stunning fullscreen iTunes Extras and iTunes LP, including great new movie titles such as "Star Trek" or classics like "The Wizard of Oz" and albums such as Taylor Swift's "Fearless (Platinum Edition)" and Jack Johnson's "En Concert." iTunes Extras gives movie fans great additional content such as deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries. iTunes LP is the next evolution of the music album, delivering a rich, immersive experience for select albums on the iTunes Store by combining beautiful design with expanded visual features like live performance videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits and more.

Now Apple TV users can enjoy Genius Mixes through their home theater system and listen to up to 12 endless mixes of songs that go great together, automatically generated from their iTunes library. Customers can also enjoy Internet radio, allowing them to browse and listen to thousands of Internet radio stations, as well as tag favorite stations to listen to later. Apple TV's support of HD photos is enhanced with iPhoto Events, which simplifies finding your favorite photos on Apple TV, as well as iPhoto® Faces, which gives access to photos organized by people identified in iPhoto.

Apple TV users have direct access to a catalog of over 8,000 Hollywood films on iTunes including over 2,000 in stunning HD video available for rent or purchase. Users can also choose from a selection of 11 million songs, 10,000 music videos and over 50,000 TV episodes to purchase directly from their Apple TV or browse and enjoy the iTunes Store podcast directory of over 175,000 free video and audio podcasts. Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user's computer for enjoyment on their Mac® or PC or all current generation iPods or iPhones.* iPod touch® or iPhone® users can download the free Remote app from the App Store to control their Apple TV with a simple tap or flick of the finger.

Pricing & Availability
The new Apple TV software is available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers. The 160GB Apple TV is available from the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $229 (US). Apple TV requires an 802.11b/g/n wireless network or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition widescreen TV. Video availability varies by country.

[dissdnt]

Not showing up for me yet boo.

Saw this image on Gizmodo.

[Kilamite]

This a joke? Not showing up for me.

[dissdnt]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

This a joke? Not showing up for me.

Hehe nah it's real.

Check it

http://www.apple.com/appletv/?cid=WW...AILERS-APPLETV

Ahhhh it's updating now.

[Kilamite]

I'm updating also!

New GUI looks much sleeker!

[glitch44]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

This a joke? Not showing up for me.

From engadget:

"It took a reboot and a few tries for units around here to start seeing the new software was available, so feel free to give that "check for updates" button a workout, 'til then the official PR is after the break describing what your box is missing."

[Cave Man]

Just checked my ATV and it was downloading the update (without my intervention). 12 minutes to go...

Edit: Well, my update failed. Trying again...

[dynaflash]

Both of my eSata modded atv's updated without a hitch first go around. Must have gotten lucky.

sidenote: love the new ui to be honest. much cleaner imo.

[Kilamite]

Cave Man - wish I had got my eSATA mod finished before this update... or is the Terminal commands going to be the same to image and partition the Apple TV? I was planning to use dynaflash's little app - if that'll work with 3.0. I know it is just software and it really won't have affected that, but just to make sure..

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced the launch of Apple TV 3.0 software, offering a redesigned user interface and compatibility with Apple's iTunes LPs and iTunes Extras, as well as Genius Mixes and Internet radio.

"The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of Internet Services. "HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio."

The redesigned main menu offers direct access to recently rented and purchased movies, as well as a wide assortment of other content. iTunes LPs and iTunes Extras are available in full-screen, enhancing the viewer experience for audio and video titles.

The addition of Genius Mixes, a feature first introduced last month with iTunes 9, allows users to listen to automatically-selected playlists generated from their iTunes libraries, while the Apple TV 3.0 software also includes support for listening to thousands of Internet radio stations. Finally, the updated software includes additional enhancements for photo viewing, enabling the Apple TV to take advantage of the Faces and Events features found in Apple's iPhoto desktop application.

The impending release of the updated Apple TV software was suggested earlier today by an update to the iTunes Store Terms and Conditions mentioning the 3.0 software.

Article Link: Apple Launches Apple TV 3.0 Software

[Kilamite]

The new GUI is much sleeker!

Downloading now.. can't wait to have a full play and see if there's any hidden gems.

[SAMTATSICPRO]

awesome.. cant wait to get home and play around with it... I'm sure its gonna be alot better with a few glitches I didnt like.

[bytethese]

Great, now it's that much harder to resist buying one...

[drumcat]

Can anyone tell us if this gives us 1080i?

[Anaemik]

still no avi/mkv support? Booooooooooo!

[Chipskip]

Just a reminder to people, DO NOT update your aTv if it is hacked until you have checked the website of the hack you have installed. Most Apple updates will undo anything you have done in the past, plus it may take some time before updates for your hack are ready.

[RaceTripper]

Originally Posted by drumcat

Can anyone tell us if this gives us 1080i?

The video hardware doesn't support that resolution.

[pjonkheer]

Originally Posted by drumcat

Can anyone tell us if this gives us 1080i?

I'm pretty sure the 2.4 firmware already supported it as my ATV has supported 1080i since I bought it.

[Full of Win]

Originally Posted by drumcat

Can anyone tell us if this gives us 1080i?

Hi, I'm anyone. Since you asked for me, I'll help out. The answer is no.

[BuddyTronic]

Originally Posted by drumcat

Can anyone tell us if this gives us 1080i?

Yes, it has 1080i, but it had 1080i before dude!

So this update doesn't give it - It already had it!

[heisetax]

Originally Posted by drumcat

Can anyone tell us if this gives us 1080i?

How about 1080p which is almost standard on HDTV now with most Apple screens capable of at least 1920 X 1080. My only screen in my house that will not do at least 1920 X 1080p is my 10 or more year old 15" VGA only LCD screen that I used with my old Mac IIci.

If 1080i isn't there there is no reason to purchase something. 1080p is where they need to go. With the iMac going 16:9 ot seems as of Apple is going the HDTV route over the more useful computer 16:10 aspect ratio. The Apple TV seems to be greatly lacking if it as a pure entertainment device can not handle at least as good of entertainment resolutions as the iMac, a computer does.

I was one that waited for the Apple TV but has been so under satisfied by its capabilities that I have cancelled all plans to purchase one. It seems as if Apple wants to keep it that way.

[zedsdead]

Nice features and what looks like a better menu system, but WHY won't Apple create new hardware. It is driving me NUTS!

The most important issue to me is performance of the device, which is laggy and slow because of the VASTLY outdated hardware internally. Updating it would also allow 1080p.

It's pathetic than it cannot handle 720p at 30fps.

[intel]

Great, just great. THIS IS BS. When will apple stop trying to wreck my Boxee hack?

Can anyone confirm that we can still get ssh at least running on the 3.0 update. If they can, then there's still hope

Come on apple, enough software updates for this outdated baby, we need new hardware.

[SpaceKitty]

Originally Posted by bytethese

Great, now it's that much harder to resist buying one...

I'm gonna get one soon!

[BRLawyer]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

The new GUI is much sleeker!

Downloading now.. can't wait to have a full play and see if there's any hidden gems.

Me too! Simply excellent news for what is already the BEST and most well-designed home theater media center ever! Thanks, Apple!