So, are you going to buy an Apple TV?
Steve Jobs, for a lot of us, is kind of like Chuck Norris, except all the things that Chuck can supposedly do… well, Steve can actually do them. This is a man who once beat Magnus ver Magnusson in an arm-wrestling match with his left hand while designing a new iPod Nano with his right. The man’s got game.
That being said, even he admitted yesterday during his Macworld keynote speech that the original Apple TV was kind of a flop. It was pricey and clumsy and not very popular at all. Yesterday’s announcement of Apple TV (take two) acknowledged the flaws of the first machine and promised to make things right for consumers.
Here’s the rundown of the new Apple TV (more detail on this is of course available at our sister sites, The Unofficial Apple Weblog and Engadget):
- Price: $229
- Computer: Unnecessary. You can link directly to the iTunes store through your Apple TV and download without the computer as a middleman. (Though, if you do have a computer, you can sync the content on your Apple TV to your computer and vice versa).
- Content
- 600 TV shows ($1.99 a piece)
- all of the podcasts available on iTunes
- anything already in your iTunes library
- over 50 million videos from YouTube
- your pictures — not only what’s on your computer, but there’s also now flikr.com support.
- and, finally, the big news: movie rentals! You can get DVD quality movie rentals ($2.99 for catalog titles, $3.99 for new releases) or HD quality (with 5.1 surround sound) for a dollar more. The movies are available for viewing up to 30 days after you rent them and you’ll have them for 24 hours once you actually start watching them.
People have been trying now for at least a decade to converge media into the living room. I can remember going to a Gateway store back in 1998 and seeing the display for its $4000 Destination system. I turned to my friend Chris and said, “Wow, man, it looks like the future is finally here.” Chris, quite rightly, slapped me as hard as he could. No one bought the machine and no one bought any of the other PC/entertainment hybrids that the various Dr. Moreaus of the world have tried to sell us.
The question on the table then is this: Will anyone buy the second revision of Apple TV? I love the idea of online movie rentals, but the $229 upfront for the box reminds me a bit too much of the old video store “clubs” where you had to buy a membership in order to rent videos. I don’t care all that much about watching YouTube on my TV (I can sing Chocolate Rain by myself if I need to) and I can already listen to my music and podcasts and look at my pictures on my TV thanks to TiVo.
So, for me, this is a pass. I’ll wait till Apple TV (Take Three) which will probably be the size of a nickel and let you watch any event in history. But I want to open the floor to you, our trusted readership. Are you going to buy an Apple TV? If so, why? If not, why not? Come on! Web 2.0 can’t exist without your valued comments…
Rihanna Spreads Some Love With BELIEVE
Rihanna Spreads Some Love With BELIEVE
Last night, R&B superstar Rihanna was spotted out and about with her “good friend” Chris Brown, following her Highline Ballroom gig in New York City.
The “Umbrella” singer looked sexy in a screen-printed shirt that read “Eye Need Flash Nerds” along with a pair of fluffy black shorts and a black blazer.
Meanwhile her “Kiss Kiss” pal looked a little more urban in a hooded zip-up brown patterned sweater with a pair of baggy jeans and some brown leather hiking boots.
The whole night was all about the BELIEVE Foundation, a children’s charity that Rihanna started. She told press, “When I was young and I would watch television and I would see all the children suffering, I always said when I grow up I want to help.”
The Game Plan Movie Poster
Last night we posted the movie trailer for The Rock’s new family sports comedy film The Game Plan (groan). Cinematical has released the theatrical poster, which looks even worse. As always, left click to see a larger version.
I think our friend Chris at Movie Marketing Madness said it best: “Note to all studio executives, Big, manly guys with a reputation for action movies all of a sudden being thrown into a domestic situation with a cute kid is a pitch that should be avoided.”
And yes, this does remind us of Vin Diesel’s The Pacifier all over again. The new poster also confirmes the Fall (aka Football Season) release date.
Rihanna’s Charity Gig: An Inside Look
Rihanna’s Charity Gig: An Inside Look
Making young people smile, Rihanna spent Wednesday evening performing at the Highline Ballroom to benefit her charity Believe and DKMS.
As previously reported by , the Umbrella hitmaker was joined for her evening of good deeds by her “close friend” Chris Brown.
The charity at work last night, Believe, has a goal “to assist and inspire children who suffer from life-threatening diseases including cancer, leukemia and AIDS.” Meanwhile, DKNS is the largest non-profit marrow donor center in the world.
Of lending her support to such good causes, Rihanna told press: “When I was young and I would watch television and I would see all the children suffering, I always said when I grow up I want to help.”