Apple TV

We've all been there: Game of Thrones season three leads to procrastination, procrastination leads to last-minute late-night cram sessions, which lead to frustration and anger, which leads to hate. But seriously, if you're in emergency finals study mode, we've got a pro tip to maximize your study time.

What you'll need:

• An iPad, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro (2011 or later), or iMac
• An Apple TV
• A big-screen TV
• An Internet connection

Use AirPlay Mirroring to display study guides with the group or put research and word documents side by side for a superproductive paper-writing session. Connect to AirPlay by turning on your Apple TV device and heading to System Preferences > Displays > Turn on mirroring. The Apple TV device will appear in the menu bar. Make sure your iOS device is running 4.3 or later and that both the laptop/iOS device and Apple TV are connected to the same WiFi network.

If you're reviewing material, then make sure that the audio is coming out of your HDTV by going to System Preferences > Sound > Output and selecting AirPlay.

Happy finals! Make sure you're eating right, getting plenty of sleep, and staying fit.

This week, Sony announced the launch of its new Google TV set-top box, the NSZ-GS7 Internet player, giving us one more option for watching TV and movies minus the cable box. If you'd like to shift content from your small-screen laptop to the giant flat-screen in your living room, then there are now plenty of options available. Check out these five popular picks to see which player suits your viewing habits best:

1. Sony NSZ-GS7 — Powered by Google TV, the Android-based device will hit retailers nationwide on July 22 for $199. The Internet player includes a two-sided remote — one side includes a touch pad and the other features a keyboard — and users can use their own voices to search for content.
2. Apple TV — Thanks to iCloud, Apple TV allows all your purchases (music, movies, TV shows, photos) to instantly stream on your big screen. The AirPlay feature also lets you stream movies and TV from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
3. Xbox Live — Take your Xbox 360 online via Xbox Live. The free membership allows you to rent or buy HD movies, while the paid Xbox Live Gold subscription offers access to Netflix, HBO Go, and Hulu Plus, plus special video chat options.
4. Roku — As the original streaming player, Roku is a basic, user-friendly way to access your existing media subscriptions. Even better? Starting at $49, it's a smart, affordable option.
5. PlayStation Network — The free PlayStation Network subscription serves as an all-access pass to several gaming and entertainment services, from Netflix to Hulu Plus to Amazon Instant Video. Bonus: the console doubles as a Blu-ray player.

Do you have a favorite way to watch TV? Share in the comments below!

Before Tim Cook revealed the new iPad at today's Apple event, the company showed off its newest addition to your living room: the revamped Apple TV. Available next week for $99 with preorders starting today, the new Apple TV improves on its predecessor with a 1080p streamlined user interface, compatible with other Apple products. iPhone photos will automatically upload for viewing on Apple TV.

Watch TV shows the day after they air on cable; no week of waiting for iTunes availability. Speaking of iTunes, Apple TV uses many of the same services iTunes users already know. Get program recommendations with Genius, iTunes Match support, and even access your iTunes playlists from the cloud. Of course, apps are at your disposal with Apple TV, including Netflix, Flickr, MLB.tv, and YouTube to name a few.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Apple TV.

Source: Gdgt

According to internal Best Buy documents, the Apple iTV could cost $1,499 when it hits stores. Alongside built-in iOS, iCloud, and iTunes support, the iTV could come with a 42-inch screen, 1080p playback, and stocked with an iSight camera for Skype calling. The documents also reveal that the so-called "Apple HDTV" can be controlled with an iPad or iPhone.

The iTV info comes from Best Buy customer surveys that are aimed at gauging interest on upcoming products and releases.

Rumors of Apple creating a full-fledged television set remind me of the days of the iPad before it was announced. In Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, the Apple cofounder says that he cracked the mystery of building a full-fledged television, which sent Apple fans into a frenzy. When will the Apple TV hit? What will it be like? According to a new report from the NYT, there's quite a bit to look forward to. Check out four details that we could see in the possible Apple television below.

• It will incorporate Siri — As an alternative to the remote, the Apple television would use Siri to change the channel, settings, and set recordings.
• It will be Internet-connected — Jumping off of the current Apple TV, the full-fledged television would be connected to the Internet and act as a hub for your cable, Internet, and iTunes rentals.
• It's been in the works for years — Word has it, the Apple television has been in the works since 2007!
• You could hear about it as soon as next year — Industry analysts say that the Apple television could be announced in late 2012, with a release date in early 2013.

While checking out the offerings at this year's Macworld, we came upon TV Plug, a new device that records, stores, and streams your TV content straight to an iOs device, and we were intrigued by its interesting twist on conventional streaming options like the Apple TV. Instead of transferring content from your computer to your TV, the Plug wirelessly receives and records broadcast HD content for viewing (now, or for watching later) on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad without needing your TV to be on. It also acts as a router for networking your devices.

Coming soon are Plugs compatible with Android and Windows Phone 7 devices. While I can't see a big market for terrestrial TV-only streaming to your phone or iPad, with more and more people jumping ship from cable and satellite and supplementing their Hulu Plus and Netflix with basic antenna TV, Plug could be just the device for those who don't want to miss a soap opera or daytime talk show again. Check out more pics of the product in the gallery below!

Apple introduced the second-generation Apple TV in September, and although this new device may not be a suitable replacement for your cable subscription, consumers are buying in droves — Apple announced this morning that Apple TV sales will top a million this week, likely being one of the hottest holiday gifts for movie and TV fans alike. I got some hands-on time with the set-top box back in September and came up with five solid reasons you'll want to get an Apple TV as a gift (or grab one for yourself), and three reasons you may want to skip it. Check out the pro and con list below!

Get It

• It's tiny — You can fit this new Apple TV anywhere! It's a quarter of the size of the last Apple TV and comes in a nice charcoal color.
• The price — It will only cost you $99 to bring this baby home, which is substantially less than the last Apple TV's price point of $229.
• Easy setup — Just plug in your Apple TV and go! You can then connect to iTunes via your television and start watching flicks right away.

See the rest of my reasons you need a new Apple TV, and the three reasons to skip it, after the jump.

If you're one of the many who bought a new Apple TV this year, then the latest iTunes 10.1 download is something you'll want to jump on right away. The download brings some stability and performance enhancements and syncs with your iOS devices (iOS 4.2 update said to be coming today as well), but most importantly it brings Airplay.

Steve Jobs talked about Airplay during the Apple TV announcement back in September, and it's one of the many reasons I'd recommend the Apple TV to the TV- and movie-watching masses, and now you can stream movies and TV shows right from your iTunes account. You should see the iTunes 10.1 update pop up on your Mac, but you can always head to Apple's iTunes page to download it from there as well.