Video: Apple TV Take 2 menu hands-on

We got a quick runthrough of the Apple TV's new menus, and we liked what we saw. Everything seems crisp and intuitive, and Transformers looks oh-so Transformer-ey. Unfortunately we couldn't see an actual rental transaction take place, but we'll take Apple's word for it on this one. Video is after the break.

[Ian @ Jan 15th 2008 6:16PM]

Finally!

enough about MacBook Anoreixa that only airheads want.

[Zoinks @ Jan 15th 2008 6:23PM]

I can dig it if you've got a criticism about a product, but deriding those who are interested in it simply because you don't like it is a little juvenile.

[Ryan @ Jan 15th 2008 6:19PM]

So you rent a movie, wait while it downloads, and by the time it has finally downloaded your rental expires?

Sounds like profit to me!

[John @ Jan 15th 2008 6:29PM]

Ummm yeah because movie downloads take 30 days to complete...... lol

I think AppleTV Take 2 showed much more promise to me as a buyer than the MacBookAir.

But how bout the quality of these vids? I'm hearing mixed reactions.

[Zoinks @ Jan 15th 2008 6:25PM]

Interesting observation considering the Engadget liveblog said that it was downloading at roughly 1% per second. Even if your connection is half that speed you'll still be able to start the movie within a relatively short period of time and it'll finish long before the end.

Hyperbole in criticism is downright silly. Pick on a product for its flaws, not for flaws you've created in your mind.

[Ryan @ Jan 15th 2008 6:28PM]

Ouch! Big words that average Engadget comment poster cannot comprehend!

[Steve Dood @ Jan 15th 2008 6:29PM]

I dont think this is designed for people on dial-up. If its going to take you thirty days to download then best leave it for now ey

[John @ Jan 15th 2008 6:31PM]

Actually i just realised you download while you watch, so I guess Ryan has a point then for slow users lol

[Blaktornado @ Jan 15th 2008 7:33PM]

this isn't some dodgy torrent you're downloading... :P

[Steve Dood @ Jan 15th 2008 6:25PM]

Can anyone tell me if its now possible to select a song and start playing it, and then go off browsing photos/movies while the music continues? You know, like you can on any other device except the current AppleTV...

[DeDub @ Jan 15th 2008 6:27PM]

Anyone know if ATV2 will play VOB files without a hack?

[david279 @ Jan 15th 2008 6:28PM]

Xbox 360 movie rental is the same way. Isnt.

[Sean O @ Jan 16th 2008 4:33AM]

Why isn't anyone comparing this to the Xbox 360? They cost about the same, and they literally both do the same exact things (except the @TV can't play video games). And I think the Xbox can do 1080p while the @TV is only 720.

I'm just surprised there's been no discussions about it. Everyone seems to wanna compare it to Netflix, which is a completely different service and hardly worth comparing.

[Jason Pitsch @ Jan 15th 2008 6:46PM]

I wish they would have introduced the new MacBook Pro or upgraded the Mac Mini. I guess I will be getting a current Mac Mini for now.

http://professionalwatches.com

[cenetti @ Jan 15th 2008 7:14PM]

why buy this again?

to rent movies?
I have my cable box/on demand+PPV and my xbox rentals...

what a waste of money....

and I love the way they talk about streaming movie while downloading in the background...like apple invented this today....xbox has been doing this for like ummm forever?

[Didou @ Jan 16th 2008 6:20AM]

Because if it hadn't that feature (playing before download ends) everyone would be up in arms shouting that it's a disgrace that the Xbox does it & the AppleTV can't ?

Remember the lack of background downloading when the PS3 had just been released ?

[spencer @ Jan 15th 2008 7:20PM]

Anyone who thinks this is a good deal is nuts...come on! Wow 3.99 for one watch what a deal. Ok they are HD but come on you can only watch it once and you only have 24hrs to finish it once you start it. Apple considers it a new movie when it has been out on DVD for 30 days...I like most others will stick to PirateBay.org or get Netflix/Blockbuster subscriptions. Sorry apple...focus your creative time on flying cars or power laces. this is 2008 d@mn it

This is Apples' rules:

Over 1000 movies - available 30 days after the DVD release of the film.
Watch anywhere - Macs, PCs, all current iPods and iPhone.
Watch instantly - 30 second delay with modern broadband
Rules - 30 days to start watching, 24 hours to complete once started
Pricing - $2.99, new releases $3.99

[Anthony @ Jan 15th 2008 7:48PM]

That 24 hrs part is a sticking point for me. I don't want to admit how many times I've started watching a movie & it's taken me 30 minute per day for 4 days to finish. Life w/ an 18 month old means no Apple TV rentals, I guess.

[Modano @ Jan 15th 2008 7:55PM]

Dude, how many days does it take you to watch a freakin' movie?

[spencer @ Jan 15th 2008 8:06PM]

I just don't see any advantage to the rentals...If you wanna get bent over for a movie rental HD why not just get a pay-per-view on your cable box. Apple is supposed to be innovative. Seems like Apple is taking the Microsoft Zune approach coming into the game way to late and coping an out of date platform.

[crow610 @ Jan 15th 2008 8:48PM]

Hey! The Zune is very much innovative.
Before Zune, I was out of the social.
After Zune, I am now part of the social.

How many electronics can bring you into
"The Social?"

[David @ Jan 15th 2008 9:13PM]

Remove the 30-day wait between DVD release and availability for rental and I'll dump Netflix and purchase one of these.

[Kalus @ Jan 16th 2008 10:25AM]

I love how studios impose these "great" rules to improve sales, such as the 30 day delay, and then get angry when their product finally doesn't move any copies in the new form because everyone got sick of waiting.

[bdkennedy1 @ Jan 15th 2008 9:34PM]

What boggles me is why you can rent them, but not buy them. You've already downloaded the movie - you should be able to keep it if you want.

[glaci3r @ Jan 16th 2008 10:21AM]

i agree, is there an option like iTunes Plus to pay the difference ($6-7) after you rent it to purchase it. Or any word this may be available in the future when the movie is released on iTunes to purchase?

[huh @ Jan 15th 2008 10:02PM]

Funny, it reminds me of something.. hmm.. what could it be? Oh, a hotel entertainment system. How innovative!

[Jack Bauer @ Jan 16th 2008 12:20AM]

Is it technically possible to download a high definition movie file as quickly as Apple says this service will?

[Galley @ Jan 16th 2008 8:44AM]

If they're really only 4GB, then I imagine you could begin watching it within a minute or so. A 720p rental might look OK on my 32" HDTV, but I prefer the 50GB storage of Blu-ray Discs.

[HAL @ Jan 16th 2008 9:33AM]

I was planning to buy a new computer just to be able to play HD video. My current rig is to old and slow to handle it. Now I'm thinking Apple TV. I just wander if it can stream my content from my old ass computer to the shiny new Apple TV and actually work.

[Blu-Sam @ Jan 16th 2008 9:44AM]

Look like no closed caption or subtitle on setting. That's disappointment.

[Felix @ Jan 16th 2008 10:46AM]

Without divx / xvid support, this is little more than a VOD device with a media player. Thats a lot of money for the same functionality of my 360. Wait, I can play GAMES on my 360. And watch downloaded movies in xvid. AND VOD. So, I dont get it. How is this innovative?

[dragonopolis @ Jan 20th 2008 8:16PM]

You forgot to add the cost of the PC that's streaming those xvid/divx movies to your xbox 360. Apples little device doesn't require any PC and is stand alone. Divx/Xvid is o.k. but Apple's quicktime is superior in quality (although both Divx and open source Xvid are catching up very fast).

[AlexL @ Jan 16th 2008 11:32AM]

The interface is incredibly similar to Windows Media Center. The scrolling, fading in and out, and highlight animations are nearly identical. I don't think there's anything wrong with copying technology that works well. It's just something for Apple fans to keep in mind the next time they accuse others of copying Apple's technology: taking technology that works and making it your own benefits everyone.

[nitramwin @ Jan 16th 2008 4:02PM]

during the keynote i didnt hear anything about actually buying a movie for keepsake on the apple tv take 2

is it only renting or rent + buy?

[Jackie @ Jan 16th 2008 4:40PM]

Video playlists? Video playlists. Video playlists... video playlists...video playlists?

[JimG @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:54AM]

Indeed. I have been looking everywhere for a report from someone who had a chance to play with "Take 2" at Macworld who can state whether Apple has addressed the single most complained-about non-feature of the AppleTV among folks who have actually purchased one: no support for video playlists.

Anybody?

[Oaf Tobark @ Jan 17th 2008 1:08PM]

I would like to have seen the podcast feature. Can you subscribe to any iPod compatible podcast with Apple TV and if so, how easy is it? I'd love to get shows like Cranky Geeks and Ask the Techies on my TV.

[Cartoon Addict @ Feb 3rd 2008 3:32PM]

That's just wierd. I can make playlists of my TV shows in iTunes and watch a bunch of shows together on my Mac, but the playlists won't show up in Apple TV? What gives? You mean I'm supposed to sit there and navigate through the menus in between shows? That's worse than sitting through commercials!!!!

I tried to trick it by adding a song and a video to the same playlist. The playlist appeared under Music but the video was missing from the list. And, of course, the playlist itself did not appear at all under Movies or TV Shows. Darn!!! It's as if they went out of their way to prevent the use of playlists for video!!!