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Apple TV returns to Amazon after a 2-year exile (updated)
Amazon drew no small amount of flak when it pulled the Apple TV from its online store 2 years ago. Was it really so determined to push Prime Video that it would limit your device options? Well, yes, but it's thankfully having a change of heart. The internet retailer has quietly re-listed the Apple TV (specifically, the Apple TV 4K) now that the set-top's Prime Video app is on the horizon. While it's listed as out of stock, that's likely to change before long.
Apple extends iTunes movie rentals to 48 hours
It used to be that when you rented a movie from Apple's iTunes service, you'd have 24 hours to finish watching it. You could start streaming the rental within 30 days of purchase, of course. Just a couple of weeks after Apple made 4K an affordable option, the company has doubled the rental time to 48 hours. This is perfect for those of us with young kids who want to watch a movie over (and over and over) or busy schedules that don't let us get to our movies right away. The timer starts even if you're watching the film offline, too.
Apple TV 4K hands-on: Finally, no compromises
Apple's long-awaited fourth-generation Apple TV was almost a slam dunk. The only problem? It didn't have 4K. That was a notable omission since both Amazon and Roku released streaming players supporting the new format in 2015. Now, Apple is finally ready to enter the ultra-high-definition fray with the Apple TV 4K. But, as usual with 4K hardware, the real star of the show isn't the resolution bump over 1080p -- it's support for high-dynamic range (HDR) video. And in typical Apple fashion, they've also figured out a few ways to make all of this new technology more accessible than the competition.
Apple slowly lets its 'TV' streaming app expand beyond the US
Apple's 'TV' app has begun showing up outside the US, signaling the start of the rollout it promised during its latest iPhone event. According to MacRumors and 9to5Mac, the app has already appeared for some users in Australia and Canada ahead of tvOS 11's official release later today, September 19th. Apple launched the TV app in 2016 to serve as a browsable hub for all the shows from your other apps, such as Hulu and HBO Now. It was designed to give you a way to easily find movies and series to watch without having to switch streaming services.
Apple readies its 4K movie catalog for Apple TV pre-orders
If you're sweet on the latest Apple TV, you're probably also planning on stocking up on 4K downloads. After all, the bump in pixels is its biggest draw. And, if you head to iTunes right now, you'll see that a bunch of content is available in 4K HDR. The same goes for the TV app for iOS, Macs, and tvOS. For now, the selection seems to be limited to movies, but you can expect the line-up to expand before the Apple TV's September 22nd release date. The upgraded flicks carry both the "4K" and "Dolby Vision" tags, as spotted by MacRumors.
Watch the iPhone 8 event in 13 minutes
As expected, today's event at Apple's new Steve Jobs Theater was jam-packed. Three brand-new iPhone models, a new Apple Watch and a 4K Apple TV were the news of the day, and the whole event was nearly two hours long. Don't have that much time to watch the entire keynote? We've got you covered with this supercut, showing all the highlights of the day. Don't worry: We skipped over that semi-painful chat about Apple's retail stores -- sorry, I mean Town Squares.
Apple iPhone 8 event by the numbers
It was a momentous day at Apple's new campus, where the company revealed its fall product lineup on the tenth anniversary of the first iPhone's release. Apple showed off its cellular-enabled Watch Series 3, a 4K Apple TV, a pair of flashy new iPhone 8s, and the ridiculously decadent iPhone X. Numbers -- because what's an extra $300? Follow all the latest news from Apple's iPhone event here!
‘Journey’ studio brings a dreamy fantasy game to iOS and Apple TV
At Apple's iPhone 8 announcement event today, founder of Thatgamecompany Jenova Chen went onstage to introduce a new title coming exclusively to Apple TV: Sky. Calling it a "romantic social adventure game," players will use the set top box's remote to control a character careening peacefully through the air.
Apple TV 4K starts at £179 in the UK
The makers of most popular streaming pucks made the jump to Ultra HD some time ago, and today Apple has finally caught up. As expected, Apple announced the new Apple TV 4K, which plays nice with both high-resolution content and the high dynamic range standards HDR10 and Dolby Vision. It'll be available to buy in the UK for £179 for the 32GB model and £199 for the 64GB version on September 15th, with shipping starting a week later on September 22nd. The fourth-gen Apple TV (32GB) will continue to be sold for £149.
Apple won't charge extra for 4K movies, upgrades 1080p flicks for free
Now that there's a 4K, HDR-ready Apple TV, the company is pushing content that takes advantage of those capabilities (remember the updates to 720p or 1080p?). Eddy Cue just announced on stage that not only will 4K movies cost the same amount as 1080p flicks on iTunes, the company is also upgrading existing HD purchases to 4K for free (Update: Unless they're from Disney, as it's the only major studio the company doesn't have a deal with yet). So far, buying 4K movies on disc or digital service like Vudu has included a price premium of $10 or more but it appears Apple won that battle, and anyone tapped out after buying a new TV and $179 box will appreciate it.
Apple TV 4K lands on September 22nd for $179
The last Apple TV had everything we wanted from a set-top box -- except for 4K support. That's being fixed this year with the Apple TV 4K. It finally gives Apple fans a way to watch higher-resolution streaming video and, not surprisingly, it'll also accompany the debut of 4K video on iTunes. Naturally, you'll also be able to watch high-res content on Netflix and other services, as well as take advantage of high-dynamic range lighting with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The new set-top box puts Apple on a level playing field with competitors like Roku and Amazon, which have offered 4K and HDR support for a while.
Apple TV 4K will have as much power as the iPad Pro
Apple just can't seem to keep leaks from outing all of its new hardware. After a few new iPhone details dropped over the weekend, now we're hearing about the Apple TV 4K, the next version of its streaming video box. It'll be powered by the three-core A10X Fusion CPU -- the same chip at the heart of the most recent iPad Pros -- as well as 3GB of RAM, according to developer Steve Stroughton-Smith. The details come from a leaked version of the iOS 11 GM release, which makes it fairly trustworthy.
The best media streaming devices
By Chris Heinonen This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. The best media streaming device for most people is the updated Roku Streaming Stick. It's as fast to use as any streamer available and has a wider selection of apps than others offer. And unlike its main competitors, Roku doesn't try to sell content from its own store; rather than prioritizing one streaming service over another within its interface, it lets you customize what it displays to suit your preferences.
The CW's free Seed app is now streaming on Amazon Fire TV devices
The CW has just launched its CW Seed app for Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Edition television. The app doesn't require a subscription, there are no added fees and you don't need a cable service provider in order to access its shows. However, you will have to sit through ads and the app doesn't have any currently running series.
Apple will unveil the next iPhone on September 12th at its new campus
To the surprise of almost no one, Apple has announced it'll be holding its annual iPhone event on Tuesday, September 12th. It'll be the first event hosted at Apple's new "spaceship" campus in Cupertino, California. Sure, Apple didn't say exactly what to expect, but given that the company has introduced a new iPhone around this timeframe for the last six years, it's a pretty safe bet we'll be seeing new mobile phones. That includes the "iPhone 8," a device that's expected to be radically different from its predecessors. Improvements rumored include an edge-to-edge OLED screen, face detection, wireless charging, a virtual home button and an updated dual-camera system.
Apple TV 4K movies could cost $20, but studios want more
With a new 4K Apple TV on the horizon, Apple has to figure out how much it'll charge for ultra-high definition films. And, not surprisingly, it's butting heads with Hollywood. While the iPhone maker wants to charge $20 for 4K films, studios are pushing for it to charge $5 or $10 more, the Wall Street Journal reports. Most new HD films on iTunes sell for $15, but some high-profile titles already reach up to $20, which could be why studios are eager for more. A lower price could convince more consumers to actually buy 4K films, but Hollywood is likely worried about it instantly devaluing an important new revenue stream.
Apple might announce a 4K TV box at next month’s iPhone event
Apple is unveiling another new product with its latest iPhones and Apple Watches in September, according to Bloomberg. Cupertino is reportedly announcing its 4K- and HDR-capable Apple TV, as well. If you'll recall, the publication reported earlier this year that the tech titan has updated its TV streaming box with the capability to stream in 4K resolution and to play more color-rich HDR videos. Since the upgraded box is expected to stream bigger files with a higher resolution, it will come with a faster processor. Obviously, you'll need to pair it with a TV that's also capable of playing 4K HDR content to bring out its full potential.
AT&T offers new DirecTV Now customers a free Apple TV, again
AT&T's offered plenty of goodies to entice customers into subscribing to DirecTV Now in the past. But, if a year's worth of HBO or a free Roku box wasn't enough to lure you in, maybe you'll take a liking to the carrier's latest deal. As of Wednesday, new customers who purchase the streaming service will get an Apple TV set-top box, completely free of charge. Those of you with a good memory (and a fondness for freebies) will recall the offer, which came bundled with DirectTV Now upon its launch last year.
ESPN's Apple TV app streams four live feeds at once
Just in time for football season, ESPN updated its Apple TV app to include a handy new feature for sports fans. Thanks to tvOS MultiCast, you can now watch up to four live streams at once across all of the network's programming options. This means you can put shows and events from ESPN's broadcast channels beside the online-only streams at the same time. It sounds fairly straightforward, but it's sure to come in handy when you're trying to follow multiple things that overlap in your viewing schedule.
Vudu movie streaming comes to Apple TV on August 22nd
It's not just Amazon that's bringing an arguably overdue video service to the Apple TV in the near future. After a tease in June, Vudu has announced that its streaming movie service will come to Apple's media box on August 22nd, or weeks ahead of the originally announced fall release. You likely won't pay for movies directly on the device given Apple policies taking a cut of in-app media sales (we've asked Vudu for clarification). Still, this means you can watch your purchased or rented Vudu shows on the Apple TV without resorting to AirPlay on one of your iOS devices.
