Apple TV
I’ll be the first to admit, that I’m not a huge fan of Al Gore. But in a recent address to the Web 2.0 Summit, he brought up an interesting point of how the TV media, and internet/computer media are fusing together. This idea is more readily present in Apple TV than any other device, or service I’ve seen.
Before I get too heavily into the review let me preface by saying that Apple TV isn’t for everyone. It’s a niche device that provides very ample entertainment possibilities, if you’re the right user.
If you don’t own a widescreen TV, then your options for using Apple TV are severely limited. So, if you’re wanting to get the full Apple TV experience, you’ll need a new TV. No better time to make that decision to upgrade to HD.. 
Apple TV has had two different life spans - before the software upgrade, and the after. Before its massive software upgrade, Apple TV was nothing more than a means of having iTunes available on your TV. There were cheaper options available to allow music to play from your entertainment system speakers, so Apple TV didn’t have much to offer people. Later, they would allow the ability to play YouTube videos, so that sparked some interest, but very little.
Now, through its growing pains, AppleTV has become something that resembles a useful product. Unlike before, Apple TV has direct access to the iTunes store, which improves its convenience alot. The iTunes Store itself has improved by leaps and bounds. There’s now movies available with alot being offered in 720p HD. Flickr and photos from .Mac accounts are now available to be viewed.
The bottom line with Apple TV, is that it’s a very niche device. The casual computer user isn’t going to find a whole lot to like with Apple TV. If you’re into digital rentals, streaming, and having iTunes available through your entertainment system, then Apple TV is definitely something I could recommend.
Tags: Apple TV, iTunes, iTunes Store, review, Software, TV, upgrade Posted in