apple tv
boxee
Dec 06 2008 09:50 AM Filed in: Apple
I am part of alpha testing for a new service called
boxee. I became interested
in boxee when I saw that it added extra
functionality to my Apple TV. One of the reasons
I wasn’t a fan of sites such as Hulu or CBS.com
or other sites where networks allow you to watch
streaming TV episodes, is you were tethered to
your computer. I liked iTMS and Apple TV, so I
could subscribe to the show and watch it on my
television, commercial free. Boxee adds the
functionality to have these sites accessible
from your television through your Apple TV, and
lets you navigate the interface and watch the
television shows.
It was pretty painless to load boxee onto my Apple TV. I loaded some software onto a thumb drive and inserted the thumb drive into the back of the Apple TV. I rebooted the Apple TV, the software loaded, I rebooted again, and I had a couple new menu options on my Apple TV menu screen. The first thing I did was make sure the Apple TV still worked as it had before, which it did. Next I went to the update menu in the boxee section and updated the software. After this I gave it a try. Now, I have to remember this is alpha software, and they are hacking a closed, proprietary system, so it won’t be the most stable application. I have gotten it to run successfully a couple times, watched a couple episodes of Family Guy from Hulu; but it does freeze up with a blank screen a lot, and the only recourse is to reboot the Apple TV. I’ll be interested to see how this progresses.
It was pretty painless to load boxee onto my Apple TV. I loaded some software onto a thumb drive and inserted the thumb drive into the back of the Apple TV. I rebooted the Apple TV, the software loaded, I rebooted again, and I had a couple new menu options on my Apple TV menu screen. The first thing I did was make sure the Apple TV still worked as it had before, which it did. Next I went to the update menu in the boxee section and updated the software. After this I gave it a try. Now, I have to remember this is alpha software, and they are hacking a closed, proprietary system, so it won’t be the most stable application. I have gotten it to run successfully a couple times, watched a couple episodes of Family Guy from Hulu; but it does freeze up with a blank screen a lot, and the only recourse is to reboot the Apple TV. I’ll be interested to see how this progresses.
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Apple TV "Take Two"
Feb 12 2008 09:17 PM Filed in: Apple
Earlier this year, at the MacWorld conference, Steve
Jobs announced that the first go at Apple TV did not
produce what they wanted, so they were giving it
another go. Steve dubbed it Apple TV - Take Two. The
update for existing Apple TV owners was delivered
today. Here's what is new on the Apple TV
1. Movie Rentals
2. HD Movies
3. Improved User Interface
4. No need for a computer
5. Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound
Now, anyone who keeps up with this blog knows that I don't subscribe to cable, nor do I have a tuner of any sort hooked up to my TV to allow for me to pick up basic cable channels. I just don't watch enough TV to justify the cost. So, when Apple TV was first announced; a device that hooked up to your TV and allowed you to purchase just the shows you wanted and allow you to watch them when you want, I plopped down my money the first day. This is the al-a-cart solution I was looking for. The TV shows I was interested in were available on the iTunes Store, so I could subscribe, and let my computer and Apple TV take care of the rest. The iTunes store keeps track of when a new episode is available, the new episode is downloaded, and synced to the the Apple TV. It's waiting there for when I have the time to sit down and watch it.
The big change on the new update is Apple has removed the computer from the whole equation. All you need now to enjoy an Apple TV is the Apple TV device, an internet connection, and a Hi Definition television. If you do have a computer you can still download to your computer first and have it sync; but, you now have the option to peruse the movies/TV/music sections from the comfort of your living room on your big screen TV, find something you like, purchase it at that time, and start watching/listening to it. It will sync back over to your computer if you have one.
On the earlier version of Apple TV you had to purchase a movie to watch it, usually costing around $10 - $15, depending on if it was a newer movie. Now you have the option to rent the movie, for between $2.99 and $4.99, depending on if it's a newer film and also if you want the HD version. If you rent a movie you have 30 days to watch it. Once you start watching it you have 24 hours to watch the entire movie as many times as you like.
While I don't think Apple TV is for everyone, especially if you already have cable with on demand and a DVR; this is a nice update and it makes a great product for people like myself.
1. Movie Rentals
2. HD Movies
3. Improved User Interface
4. No need for a computer
5. Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound
Now, anyone who keeps up with this blog knows that I don't subscribe to cable, nor do I have a tuner of any sort hooked up to my TV to allow for me to pick up basic cable channels. I just don't watch enough TV to justify the cost. So, when Apple TV was first announced; a device that hooked up to your TV and allowed you to purchase just the shows you wanted and allow you to watch them when you want, I plopped down my money the first day. This is the al-a-cart solution I was looking for. The TV shows I was interested in were available on the iTunes Store, so I could subscribe, and let my computer and Apple TV take care of the rest. The iTunes store keeps track of when a new episode is available, the new episode is downloaded, and synced to the the Apple TV. It's waiting there for when I have the time to sit down and watch it.
The big change on the new update is Apple has removed the computer from the whole equation. All you need now to enjoy an Apple TV is the Apple TV device, an internet connection, and a Hi Definition television. If you do have a computer you can still download to your computer first and have it sync; but, you now have the option to peruse the movies/TV/music sections from the comfort of your living room on your big screen TV, find something you like, purchase it at that time, and start watching/listening to it. It will sync back over to your computer if you have one.
On the earlier version of Apple TV you had to purchase a movie to watch it, usually costing around $10 - $15, depending on if it was a newer movie. Now you have the option to rent the movie, for between $2.99 and $4.99, depending on if it's a newer film and also if you want the HD version. If you rent a movie you have 30 days to watch it. Once you start watching it you have 24 hours to watch the entire movie as many times as you like.
While I don't think Apple TV is for everyone, especially if you already have cable with on demand and a DVR; this is a nice update and it makes a great product for people like myself.