14 DAY TRIAL // If you're the proud owner of an AppleTV (although I'm not sure "proud" is the appropriate term to describe your current state of mind), you should know that, instead of speeding up the release of your free update, Apple has posted a guided (video) tour of AppleTV software version 2.0. Cheer up now, it's better than nothing.
The guided tour, available in all shapes and sizes, streaming and download, walks viewers through some of the basic changes and additional features soon to become available with the new software update. Version 2.0, aka "Apple TV Take 2," will allow you to browse, purchase, and rent content via iTunes Store, while the much-rumored rental of HD movies (directly from the set-top box), is one of the included features.
The update was expected to hit AppleTVs this week, as a free download, but then a press release revealed it was "not quite finished," disappointing videophiles who now have to wait one to two weeks for it to become available.
Steve, an ilounge.com visitor, comments: "I feel that Apple knew they wouldn't get this out in time from the start. If they announced it would take a month for the update then the hype surrounding the aTV would've shrunk incredibly so they gave us a 'reasonable' ETA to maintain the hype. I own an AppleTV and was really hyped up but by now I'm thinking of unplugging and freeing up that HDMI port again. I know a few people who bought one purely out of impulse but by the time the software is released (after the return policy) their excitement to rent old movies will be gone."
How many of you feel the same...?
Since movie rentals is that extra elusive feature everyone's been dying to hear about in relation to the AppleTV, Apple has priced the service as follows:
- $2.99 for library titles ($3.99 in HD) - $3.99 for new releases - $4.99 (only a dollar more) for HD titles with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.1
Users will be able to choose the format they want to rent, while their desired content is just a click away. Movies start downloading instantly. If you're not an HD-freak (not that there's anything wrong with wanting to watch movies in HD), you should choose a standard-definition movie, and you'll be able to start watching it in seconds.