Apple TV 3.0 software update is out, with iTunes Extras, LP & Genius in tow

Looks like Apple's "hobby" is finally getting the iTunes Extra & LP features it was initially denied, as the Apple TV 3.0 software has just released, featuring a brand new main menu (above) plus Genius Mixes and internet radio access. 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.

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Apple Introduces Apple TV 3.0 Software With Redesigned User Interface
Enjoy iTunes Extras, iTunes LP & Genius Mixes on Your HD TV

CUPERTINO, California-October 29, 2009-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.

Apple TV easily connects to a broad range of widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports. Using high-speed Wi-Fi, Apple TV automatically plays your iTunes content without setup or management.

*Movie rentals work on iPod classic®, iPod nano® with video, iPod touch, iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

[ajm Posted Oct 29th 2009 4:23PM]

I understand why people don't like Apple TV. Here's why: Because it isn't the end-all be-all everything device that people so desperately desire, so they can't wrap their head around it having any value.

[Independence76 Posted Oct 29th 2009 4:36PM]

Looks like the XMB.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 6:30PM]

Thats exactly what I thought when I saw it

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 4:47PM]

Seems internet radio isn't working!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 5:11PM]

Picture this, You pull up to your house, and step outside of your vehicle after unplugging your ipod touch/ iphone from your usb linked in dash stereo. Before you even walk into your front door you are already linked up with your itunes account via wi fi. You got an xbox 360 plugged directly into an airport express in the living room which is also hooked up to a polk audio sound system, and in your office you have a polk audio sound bar attached to your pc. Finally in your bedroom you have an apple tv hooked up to yet another polk audio set of speakers. All of which, the moment you flick your fingertips across your ipodtouch's screen, start to play your music of choice. Tired of the music you decided to relax in bed and you want to watch a movie. Flick your screen once more and wham! your watching a movie on your lusciously large hd tv. ( unfortunatly apple tv doesnt do it justice but its close enough you dont mind). Well your bored with the movie, and you want to play video games. Carefully gently set down your ipod touch and pick up your game paddle and play to your hearts content in some online epic battle. ( here is where it would be the best of both worlds), now you wanna watch something truly in hd, You pick back up your ipod touch and flip on an app to control your xbox 360. ( if only they had this). All of this and more was provided to you by your hp home media server which backs up both macs and pc's and it's connected to an wireless n router of your choice.
finally unity in your devices. Then you wake up and you realize your dropped your ever fragile ipod touch on the ground smashin the screen to pieces. after lamenting your dead device. you walk in to realize your apple tv has set your bed room on fire, which has caused an electrical short , which in turn fryed your hard pc and xbox 360, and those stupid polk audio speakers magnetic sheilding burned off and fryed your harddrives in you hp home media server, mad as hell you run into your bed room and livingroom and smash your hd tvs.............. Then you realize its ok you have renters insurance.

[Ryujin Posted Oct 29th 2009 5:25PM]

@andy

I don't think thats it. I use Win7 Media Center /w a cablecard, an extender for one t.v and 360 for the other and i'm set for 3 outlets from one device. I don't see why Apple can't provide the same service from an apple computer or laptop then use a media extender or create their own media extender. Win7/Apple computer should be the end all be all.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 5:52PM]

I can't get iTunes Extras to show up on my Apple TV.... any one had any luck with that?

[Shaun Ryan Posted Oct 29th 2009 7:32PM]

I'm hoping they fixed the Remote app. Not being able to browse shared libraries made an otherwise awesome app completely useless for me.

[colinfox Posted Oct 30th 2009 10:15AM]

Not seeing it discussed here, but ATV Flash is advertising on dealmac.com Has anyone bought/tried it?

[Miguelitosd Posted Oct 30th 2009 3:06PM]

Is it just me, or did they change the font as well? It seems to be slightly sharper and easier to read now.. or something.

Could just be my imagination.

[larryganz Posted Oct 31st 2009 11:46PM]

I am concerned about what I see in the new user interface for Movies - I have a large number of videos in my iTunes library that were not bought from the iTunes store, so they don't have an album cover to identify them. I have to scroll through the movie name list to pick the movie. The new screen shots show only the album covers of the contents of "My Movies", without names. This is a problem for me, and likely many others. Can anyone who has upgraded confirm more details about the new interface when scrolling though movies without album art?