New Apple TV: A more streamlined interface and 1080p video, but still $99

During its press conference this afternoon, Apple announced a new Apple TV set-top box that sports a new, streamlined user interface and the ability to transmit 1080p movies and TV shows from the Apples iTunes store. The new box will sell for $99—the same as the current version, which is limited to 720p video—and it will be available starting next week.

Here are some basic Apple TV details:

• The device will support iTunes Match, and you can get cloud-based iTunes playlists directly on the device.


• Apple says that TV shows will now be available the day after they initially air, and you'll be able to get movie recommendations based on what you've seen—basically, Genius for movies.


• There's also support for photo streaming, so that a photo taken on an iPhone will automatically appear on Apple TV.

We'll be providing more information on the new Apple TV once we get additional details, and of course we're looking forward to getting one in our test labs for a thorough evaluation. If you're looking for a new streaming media player, let us know if these Apple TV updates appeal to you.

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—James K. Willcox