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ITV Player apps launch, bring streaming TV shows to Brits on iOS and Android
UK broadcaster ITV is following the lead of competitors like the BBC and Channel 4 by releasing mobile viewing apps for iOS and Android over the last few days, bringing catch-up service to WiFi-connected mobiles. So far the release includes a version optimized for the iPad, but no native Honeycomb app just yet. Other restrictions include requiring Adobe AIR on Android (just like ESPN's app) and geographic restrictions on some of the content. Still, the apps are free so to our friends across the pond, we can't share our barbecues and fireworks today, but there are Market and iTunes links below so you can catch up on some Coronation Street.
Apple TV prototype sold on eBay
A prototype of the original Apple TV, or "iTV" as it was known when Jobs first unveiled it in 2006, has been sold on eBay for a Buy It Now price of US$350. As you can see from the image above, the prototype unit has an Apple Development Team barcode and a sticker that marks the unit as a "DVT" prototype. Another difference between the prototype unit and the final shipping unit is the logo on the top of the device. The iTV only had the Apple logo on top, while the final Apple TV had the Apple logo plus the letters "TV" marked on its top. The listing first gained traction earlier today when MacRumors posted about it. As could be expected, the prototype sold fast. The $350 asking price is relatively low for an Apple prototype, and there's a big collectible market for such devices. Apple is usually quick to put a stop to eBay auctions that sell Apple prototypes, as it did with this iPhone prototype, but sometimes sales are completed before the company can end them. Other prototype/odd Apple items that have appeared on eBay include a prototype MacBook Air, a prototype Macintosh Portable computer and... a glass stair.
i.TV extends to the iPad, adds Hulu integration
The free i.TV app for iPhone has been providing program guide and show information for TV addicts since October of 2008, and it's been improving steadily since then. With version 3, now available on the App Store, the app has gone universal and provides a full-screen iPad experience for browsing schedules, shows and TV-related news. The main i.TV interface has been overhauled (clearing up some of the issues we noted previously), and now defaults to Shows mode; you can select from top programs, search and sift through a comprehensive list, or assign favorites for quick access. Tapping on a show gives you a rundown of the most recent episodes, details about upcoming airings, links to news and IMDb/Wikipedia entries on the show -- in other words, more info than you could possibly need. You can also set your TiVo DVR to record the show right from your iPhone or iPad. All the same features are available from the program grid if you want to see what's on now or at a future time. There's more action in the 'Where to Watch' section; if you want to buy episodes from iTunes, watch them on TV or add DVDs to your Netflix queue, all are a tap away. Version 3 adds Hulu to the watching options, so if you're a Hulu Plus subscriber you can launch the Hulu iPad app directly from i.TV and start watching many shows in moments. In the v3 rebuild, some features of previous versions have dropped out. The app's Facebook and Twitter integration is being redesigned; although you can use your Facebook credentials to authenticate, you can't share show info on the social networks at the moment. The ability in earlier versions to control a Roku remote is also gone in v3, and that apparently will not be coming back. If you're looking for an attractive and capable iPhone or iPad program guide, give i.TV a spin; if you're a TiVo owner, you definitely want to have it on your device.
ITV and Channel 4 on demand coming to PS3s in the UK this week
After long last, British television services ITV and Channel 4 are coming to PlayStation 3 in the UK this week. The BBC's iPlayer service launched on the console a little while back (first unofficially and then officially), but this new development brings some of Britain's most popular on-demand content, including shows Coronation Street and The Inbetweeners (both of which many US readers have probably never heard of), to Sony's console. Channel 4 tells the Guardian that it is "not saying no" to a similar deal with Microsoft for the Xbox 360, but that the other console company isn't seeking out a deal either. And the Wii is a no-go, apparently, because the platform can't offer advertising options. Both services should, however, launch on the PS3 for free to UK users sometime this week. If you're jealous of the UK's extra video content, US viewers, just head on over to Hulu and imagine what life would be like if every video you hit play on just told you it was "not available in your region." Yeah. Let them have their fun. Update: A previous version of this post stated that the BBC owned ITV and Channel 4, but they are actually competing public television services in Britain. Sorry for the confusion.
PS3 to start streaming ITV and Channel 4 content in the UK this week
Our British mates aboard the VOD ship may look a little cheerier today as The Guardian reports both ITV and Channel 4 -- two of the nation's foremost commercial channels -- are bringing their video catchup services to the PlayStation 3. The ITV Player and 4OD have been available as web-based services for a while, but they've both now agreed deals with Sony, who projects their overall traffic will improve by around 10 percent as a result. ITV's leaving the door wide open for adding its content to "other consoles," web-connected TVs, and tablets like the iPad, whereas Channel 4 has found Microsoft unforthcoming about Xbox 360 deals and the Wii inhospitable because it doesn't support advertising. For its part, Sony's clearly making a big content push, having recently welcomed Lovefilm into the fold and completed the rollout of its Qriocity on-demand facility across Europe. Does anyone even play games on these things anymore?
Apple TV review (2010)
You've been waiting, and it's finally here: the Apple TV review. Months before Steve Jobs announced the new set top box at Apple's annual fall event, we had been reporting on news that the company would strike out again into the TV market, offering a small, low-cost box that had more in common with the iPhone than the iMac. When those rumors came to fruition, we were presented with the completely revamped Apple TV -- a tiny black puck of a device priced at a staggering $99, and centered around a handful of completely new ideas (for the folks in Cupertino at least) about getting content onto your TV screen. The first is a new rental system which allows you to nab brand new TV shows at $0.99 a rental, and HD movies for $4.99 a go (or $3.99 for older titles). And that includes new releases the same day DVDs hit shelves (or Netflix distribution centers). Speaking of Netflix, the new Apple TV also features the rental service's "Watch Instantly" as a wholly integrated component of its offerings, alongside a new function the company calls AirPlay which will allow you to "push" video and audio content from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch with the tap of a button. On top of that, the new ATV streamlines sharing from your home computers or laptops, making getting content you own onto your TV dead simple. So, has Apple finally solved the "second box" problem, or are they still struggling to turn this hobby into a real business? Follow along after the break for those answers (and more) in our full review of the Apple TV! %Gallery-103617%
Apple TV (2010) first look / hands-on! (updated with video)
So we had a chance to spend a little time with the new and improved (and dirt cheap) Apple TV, and we like what we see. The streaming was speedy and extremely clear during our demo, and the overall speed of the interface seemed really solid. We also learned that the box is indeed 720p (just as we'd reported earlier). Apple told us that they felt that using 720p allowed them to strike a balance between quality and bandwidth. We're guessing most people won't complain if the service works as advertised. Take a look at a few of the pics below, and we're going to go back for a deeper look! %Gallery-100975%
New AppleTV delivers on $99 price point, streaming
It's billed as "One More Hobby." It hasn't been a big hit, but those who used the Apple TV have shown affection for the device and provided Apple with valued feedback. Apple took this feedback and retooled the Apple TV into a smaller form-factor that clocks in at 1/4th the size of its first-generation sibling. The power supply is built into the Apple TV along with HDMI and Ethernet connections, and onboard 802.11n WiFi support. It also includes an Apple remote. The biggest change is that it's an all-rental model, with purchases no longer available. The rentals will all be high definition when available. There is no storage management, and all the content is streamed rather than synced -- including items you have on a desktop computer. Netflix and YouTube streaming is available, along with photo streaming from Flickr and MobileMe. The new AppleTV will also be able to stream content from an iPad using the just-announced AirPlay in iOS 4.2 that's slated to come out in November. Content is currently available in 6 countries. Apple delivers on the $99 price point for the second-generation Apple TV. You can pre-order it today, and it will be available within the next four weeks. Edit: The just-released specs page puts the HDMI cap at 720p.
The new Apple TV for $99
Steve Jobs just pulled out the world famous "one more thing" for nothing other than... a new Apple TV. It's now a streaming-focused device (as we predicted months ago) in a small matte black enclosure we're calling "the hockey puck." It has HDMI, Ethernet, optical audio, and USB plugs around back, and of course 802.11n for the cable-averse. Inside there ain't much -- there's no local storage, which makes this thing an entirely different beast than old Apple TVs, relying entirely on the "cloud" for content. Those new streaming HD TV rentals from ABC and Fox will be a mere 99 cents, while first run HD movies will be a less thrilling $4.99. Other services include Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, and Mobile Me, along with Rotten Tomatoes integration in the movie catalog. You can also stream from your computer, if you miss those old hard drive-sourced days of yore, but iOS 4.2's AirPlay also enables streaming from an iPad straight to an Apple TV for something much more surreal. The best news? Apple will start shipping this sucker four weeks from now for $99. Update: We just got confirmation from Apple that the new Apple TV will be streaming 720p video only (no big surprise there), and that existing Apple TVs won't be getting an upgrade to the new cloud-based software (again, not a shocker). Update 2: Can't imagine life without a 160GB hard drive? The original Apple TV is still on sale at the Apple Store for $149. [Thanks, Josh] %Gallery-100969% %Gallery-100946% %Gallery-100953%
Live from Apple's fall 2010 event
We're inside the event and getting ready to get underway -- stay locked here for up the minute live coverage! Follow along after the break to see what's what, and make sure you're around at the times below for the start. 07:00AM - Hawaii 10:00AM - Pacific 11:00AM - Mountain 12:00PM - Central 01:00PM - Eastern 06:00PM - London 07:00PM - Paris 09:00PM - Moscow 02:00AM - Tokyo (September 2nd)
Apple's fall event happens today at 10AM PT / 1PM ET, and we'll be there live!
So it's just around the corner. What are we going to see? Some new iPods? A revamped Apple TV? Updates to iTunes? iOS 4 for the iPad? A fix to your heartbreaking antenna problem? New, brightly colored iShoes? Or all of the above? It's hard to say, but luckily Engadget will be covering Apple's latest event live with up-to-the-minute coverage. As usual, we'll be providing the best liveblogging in the business, so you can just kick back with a cool drink and enjoy the show. Tune in at this URL at the times below today for all the action! 07:00AM - Hawaii 10:00AM - Pacific 11:00AM - Mountain 12:00PM - Central 01:00PM - Eastern 06:00PM - London 07:00PM - Paris 09:00PM - Moscow 02:00AM - Tokyo (September 2nd)
Businessweek says new Apple TV to include Netflix streaming, WSJ says 99-cent TV rentals from Fox and ABC
Well here's an interesting wrinkle to the next-gen iOS-based Apple TV rumors in the leadup to tomorrow's event: Bloomberg Businessweek says the new box will offer Netflix streaming, presumably in addition to whatever cheap TV content deals Apple's planning to offer through iTunes. That would be a first of sorts for Apple; although Netflix has apps for the iPhone and iPad, Steve Jobs isn't exactly in the habit of preloading services that compete with iTunes. That said, Netflix does have critical mass, and it makes a certain amount of sense for Apple to try and leverage that subscriber base to generate momentum for its own product -- a lot of people might buy a $99 Apple TV just for Netflix and wind up hooked on Apple's other offerings like apps, movie rentals, and purchased content. We'll see what happens tomorrow -- won't you join us? P.S.- Businessweek also says a new iPod Touch with a higher-resolution screen and a revamped version of iTunes are due tomorrow, but like, duh. Update: And just to add to tonight's rumorfest, the Wall Street Journal now says Apple will in fact announce 99-cent TV show rentals from Fox and ABC tomorrow as well. ABC seems like a obvious partner, since Jobs is on the board of corporate parent Disney, but the Fox angle is a little more interesting: the WSJ says not everyone at Fox is so happy about the deal, and the network's offerings will be limited to shows that it both produces and broadcasts. That means nothing from Fox's cable networks like FX, and no shows like American Idol to which Fox doesn't hold all the rights. So why the partnership at all? The WSJ says it's because News Corp wants Apple's help with the iPad version of the WSJ itself and other digital news projects. Clever, Rupert -- clever.
News Corp reportedly holding back iTunes rentals
With all of the speculation flying around about tomorrow, a few people are poopooing any idea that Apple will mention the iTV at all. The invitation doesn't say anything about it being "show time." Images like the guitar are usually reserved for iLife and the iPod, and it's unlikely that Apple will put a brand new iTV into that somewhat crowded mix. But there's something about the iTV that makes me think we'll see it after all, and it's the persistent rumor that Apple is chasing down TV deals for iTunes. News Corp is reportedly the latest holdout, but we've heard for a while now that Apple is running around trying to quickly hammer out deals for 99-cent TV rentals in iTunes (a system that will supposedly compete with the ever popular Netflix and Hulu services). None of this has been officially confirmed -- not by Apple or by any of the media companies that it's supposedly negotiating with. And of course, nothing is true until we see Steve talking about it on stage tomorrow. It's totally possible that he'll simply show off an updated iPod touch or a new version of iLife and then bid us good day. But I'm standing by my predictions! I think the time for a new iTV is now, and even if Apple goes on stage tomorrow and says that it's currently got deals with just a few companies, and there are more to come, a foot in consumers' doors is certainly better than nothing.
Roku cuts price of media players in possible anticipation of new Apple TV
Maybe it's coincidence, but probably not. On the eve of a rumored announcement of an updated US $99.00 Apple TV, Roku has cut the price of its media players. The standard definition model has been slashed $20 to $59.99, and the high definition model has been trimmed by $30 to $99.99. The Roku hardware supports 50 different channels, including Netflix and Vimeo, with no PC or Mac connection needed. Apple is expected to announce a revamped Apple TV, rumored to be called the iTV. It may be built on iOS 4, which would allow many of the iPad and iPhone apps to be run on it. Of course no one knows for sure what Apple will announce tomorrow, but it's not uncommon to see price cuts from competitors just before Apple makes its plans public. If you're set on buying an iTV, you'll obviously want to wait until Wednesday's show, but if you've had your eye on a Roku, saving a few extra bucks is never a bad thing.
Apple's fall event is tomorrow, and we'll be there live!
So it's just around the corner. What are we going to see? Some new iPods? A revamped Apple TV? Updates to iTunes? iOS 4 for the iPad? A fix to your heartbreaking antenna problem? New, brightly colored iShoes? Or all of the above? It's hard to say, but luckily Engadget will be covering Apple's latest event live with up-to-the-minute coverage. As usual, we'll be providing the best liveblogging in the business, so you can just kick back with a cool drink and enjoy the show. Tune in at this URL at the times below on Wednesday, September 1st for all the action! 07:00AM - Hawaii 10:00AM - Pacific 11:00AM - Mountain 12:00PM - Central 01:00PM - Eastern 06:00PM - London 07:00PM - Paris 09:00PM - Moscow 02:00AM - Tokyo (September 2nd)
TUAWxperts: September event predictions
With the September 2010 Apple media event just days away, here's a quick team round-up of our takes on the likely product introductions. Victor Agreda: I'm betting on an iPod nano with touchscreen (because flicking is the new scrolling), and an iPod touch with a camera and retina screen. As for the "One More Thing?" How about a digital shelf in iTunes for your music for MobileMe subscribers? I'm expecting a new iTunes supporting this feature (and more) later this year. Megan Lavey: I'm with the crowd on the iPod nano and iPod touch rumors, but I think if the smaller-form nano is true then the shuffle will be quietly retired. I will go out on a limb and say that if there is no iTV/Apple TV mention this time, it'll be there in January. I think "One More Thing" will be a cloud-based subscription to iTunes, of which the seeds are already there. Erica Sadun: My money rests on a 4th generation iPod touch and a new nano. I'm expecting the touch to introduce a camera (with FaceTime), retina display, and A4 chip. I'd also like to see iTunes get updated, possibly centered around features arising from the Lala streaming music acquisition. My outlier is an iPad refresh, shipping around November with device options that leverage a newly seeded 4.2 iOS beta.
Griffin confirms PartyDock iPad/iPhone peripheral is on the way
If you're familiar with the Scene It? franchise for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii, you've probably never thought of having a similar model work on an iPhone or an iPad. If you're like me, you may have an "of course" moment when you first see the Griffin PartyDock. Thanks to the FCC posting the PartyDock filing from Griffin earlier this week we're now getting our first look at a very cool new product. The PartyDock will let up to four people play a game together with four individual remotes on a single iPhone 4 or iPad connected to your TV. Griffin has confirmed that party, family and casual games will be available via the App Store, but they will need to be designed or adapted specifically to work with the PartyDock. Griffin will be shipping three mini-games and one full game along with the device. The photos on Griffin's product site show what appears to be a Battle of the Sexes port from Imagination Games, but it may or may not be one of the games included in the bundle.
In Brief: September 1 Apple event
As preparations begin in San Francisco (check out the Yerba Buena Center's new look) for the September 1 press event, here's a brief review of what's likely and unlikely to go down. iPods are a given, and likely to be the thrust of the event. Apple has refreshed the line every year in September since the iPod's introduction. We're guessing a more iPhone 4-like touch with a camera and possibly a retina display, perhaps on a higher-end model. Also expected is a new iTunes rental option for TV episodes. As of this writing, TV shows are available for purchase at US$1.99 each. Bloomberg has suggested that Apple will add a rental option for $0.99 a pop, with new episodes becoming available just 24 hours after their original air time. The wildcard is a new Apple TV (or iTV) running specialized apps on the iOS. It certainly doesn't fit the music theme implied by the invite, but who knows. Perhaps Steve has one more thing up his black sleeve. In any case, visit TUAW on the 1st for our complete coverage.
Dear Aunt TUAW: What's in Apple's guitar hole?
Dear Aunt TUAW, Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I eventually demystified the Apple 9/1/2010 Press Invitation. I had a look at the press release image I found on www.fscklog.com (it's a little bigger than yours) in Photoshop. Instinctively the soundhole was very interesting to me, especially the "barely lit" part underneath the strings, where you can see the inside of the guitar back. Classic guitars typically have a label of the guitar maker there and in the image you can barely see something that could be a label. I found it very interesting that the Apple creative crew was so picky in such a detail, so this again pulled my attraction. Of course, it would simply look odd, if you couldn't see anything of the guitar's inside from a front shot like this, so maybe there's nothing special about it. I then inverted the image in Photoshop and there was a "label" clearly visible.
Oh, Plex. You tease!
All sorts of buzz in the blogosphere this afternoon after Plex, makers of a respected Mac-based digital media center application updated their blog with a cryptic hint that seems to point to next Wednesday's Apple event. Plex provides a centralized way to access your media library from a simple TV interface -- think FrontRow on steroids. Many Mac mini-based media centers have been built around Plex. So does Plex's post add weight to "Apple TV" refresh rumors? It certainly tantalizes. Thanks, Robert Update: It's Plex Nine! Rewritten from the ground up, offering a better organized underlying architecture.
