GeekSugar

Apple Unveils New Apple TV Today

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:39:44 PST

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

Rumor Mill: The Apple iTV Will Cost $1,499

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:36:52 PST

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.

4 Things to Know About the Apple TV

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:21:54 PDT

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.

Up Mama's Geek Ante With Gadget Finds For Mother's Day

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:31:56 PDT

Mama's already equipped with a smartphone and the hottest apps, so now's your chance to kick it up a notch. There's a whole world of gadgets that translate perfectly into the world of motherhood. Think of them as toy box finds for moms. Check out my picks for mom's special day.

Twist! Plug Lets You Stream TV to Your Mac, iPad, or iPhone

Leta Shy — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:00:53 PST

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!

View 4 Photos ›

5 Reasons to Get an Apple TV (and 3 Reasons to Skip It)

GeekSugar — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 12:30:51 PST

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.

Which Internet TV Box Is Right For You?

Leta Shy — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:47:46 PST

With Google entering the streaming TV genre, there are many options if you are looking for a simple way to get content from your small-screen laptop to the huge flat screen in your living room. But which one is right for you? If you are thinking of getting an Apple TV, Roku box, or Logitech Revue with Google TV, try this personality quiz to help you figure out which one to get!

What does your computer's media collection look like?

It's huge! I download music and video all the time.

I have some stuff, but I usually like to stream.

Pretty sparse. I barely have anything saved.

What's your "new gadget routine"?

I follow instructions carefully so everything works properly.

I don't mind an involved setup, but only if it's for customizations.

I'm definitely a plug-and-play type of person.

How often do you watch shows on Hulu?

All the time, it's how I catch up on my shows.

Sometimes, but I use iTunes for season passes.

I never watch shows on Hulu.

Which unique feature do you like best?

The ability to stream content from my phone to my TV.

The ability to browse the web on my TV.

The ability to find obscure free video content easily.

Which statement best describes you?

"I want the Internet experience on my TV."

"I'd like a cheap way to get my iTunes library onto my TV."

"Getting my iTunes library onto my TV is not as important as streaming."

iTunes 10.1 Download Brings Airplay Action

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:05:24 PST

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.

How Many Apple TVs Have Been Sold?

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:45:48 PDT

Just days before we head to Cupertino to see what's next for the Mac, Steve Jobs hosted a quarterly earnings call to discuss Apple's financials and also told reporters exactly how many Apple TVs have been sold so far. Can you guess the number?

Take the Quiz

Apple TV Is Selling Out - Are You Buying?

GeekSugar — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:45:12 PDT

We were pretty enthusiastic about the latest version of the Apple TV, and apparently, so were lots of you. Reports are surfacing that the Apple TV, which brings your iTunes movies and TV shows to your home theater, is selling out in stores like pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. Analysts even believe it is on track to move at least 1 million units this quarter.

Obviously, many consumers aren't waiting around for another month to see what Google TV can bring to their lives, instead deciding to plop down the $99 it takes to bring an Apple TV home today. So what about you - are you buying an Apple TV?