The face of television is changing. The audience can now pick and choose what they want to view and when they want to view it. For the cost of an average cable bill ($100) you can purchase the newly redesigned Apple TV and perhaps consider getting rid of the cable box altogether. The new business model may be pay for what you watch. Although I have over 200 channels now that I pay for, I only end up watching about 6 of them.
Apple TV allows you to rent HD movies and TV programs plus the ability to watch Netflix, YouTube, and other Internet content. In addition, Apple TV lets you stream videos, photos and music from your computer to your high-definition TV. All this from a device that is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
The sleek new black gadget is 1/4 the size of its predecessor making it unobtrusive and easy to place amongst your media components. The enclosure measures 3.9-inch-square inches and is less than an inch tall. The dramatic size reduction is due to the elimination of a hard drive. Apple figured out that most people do not care about storing their content and would prefer to have immediate access via rentals or streaming.
The Apple TV takes less than a minute to set up. It’s only two steps…plug the power cord into the wall and connect to your widescreen TV using an HDMI cable (sold separately).
The new interface is incredibly easy to navigate without the need of any prior instruction. You choose your options via the included aluminum remote.
If you decide to rent, you have 30 days to watch a movie or TV show from the time you initially rent it. Movies must be consumed within 24 hours of starting it, while TV shows have a 48-hour window. Rentals start at $2.99 for movies and .99 for TV shows. The selection is huge; it’s like having a Redbox in your home without the hassle of returns.
If you are a Netflix customer, you will love this feature. Apple TV smartly organizes the Netflix catalog of movies and TV shows so you can find exactly what you’re looking for in a matter of clicks. When you find something you like, watch it right away or add it to your instant-watch queue.
Apple TV easily allows you to share home content. You can stream the music from your iTunes library as well as the photos and videos from your computer to your TV. Just turn on Home Sharing in iTunes on your computer and you’ll be able to stream music, photos, and videos right to your TV.
If you are looking for an affordable and easy to use solution to access all of your iTunes movies, TV shows and stream Netflix on that new flat screen, then the Apple TV is the way to go!
