| 20 September 2010
I realize that this is old news, but I can't help but be incredibly impressed with the newest iteration of Apple TV. It takes some of the best non-gaming aspects of current gaming consoles and puts them together into one nice package. Plus, it's a representation of a new direction from Apple; one that relies solely on streaming and not on storage. Here's what I like best about it:
1. It's 80% smaller than the previous version, and with a sleek black finish. It also has no fans so it'll be nice and quiet. Even the back of the device is elegant; all you need is an HDMI cable and you're set.
2. Aside from its looks, it packs a lot of web functionality. You can stream Netflix, Hulu and YouTube onto it, and hopefully they'll allow access to their movie trailer archives - I couldn't find anything about it on their site, although their Front Row desktop application supports it, so why shouldn't Apple TV?
3. Their rental system seems just right - $1 for TV episodes (which means you'd only pay $10-14 to watch most HBO/Showtime seasons), and $3-5 for movie rentals. This might be a little pricier than, say, having Netflix discs delivered, but the price for this instant convenience is fair. I like that the rental service includes trailers and Rotten Tomatoes reviews, allowing viewers to get a taste of what they're getting into. If renting isn't your thing, you can still buy and watch movies from the iTunes store (although you'll have to stream them from your computer to the Apple TV).
4. With more people buying nice home audio systems, I like the fact that you can easily stream and browse your iTunes library on your TV. I can see this working well in a party setting.
5. $99! This is the ultimate impulse buy price point. I already have an Xbox 360, PS3, and Mac Mini connected to my TV, yet I'm still tempted to drop a Benjamin (or 10 Hamiltons, it still works, trust me) for one anyway.
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