Apple delivers Apple TV 3.0 software

The new Apple TV in action.

(Credit: Apple)

It might just be for the for the hobbyists, but Apple announced on Thursday that version 3.0 of its Apple TV software is now available for download.

According to Apple, the free software features a redesigned menu that the company hopes will make it easier to find the content users are looking for.

Perhaps the biggest news from the update is the addition of Apple's recently announced iTunes Extras and iTunes LP. The former gives users the opportunity to access special features like deleted scenes and cast interviews in various movies in the iTunes Store. iTunes LP allows users to view content related to specific songs, including interactive lyrics, performance videos, and other offerings.

Apple also announced that users can finally listen to Internet radio stations on the Apple TV. They can listen to several stations, including WCBS, K-Rock, and others. The company also added Genius Mixes, which lets users "listen to up to 12 endless mixes of songs that go great together, automatically generated from their iTunes library." iPhoto users will now have access to iPhoto Events. Apple also threw in its facial-recognition feature iPhoto Faces.

Overall, the update seems rather iterative. As an Apple TV owner, I was hoping for something ground-breaking. Instead, Apple has added a few extras and Internet radio. They're nice to have. But they certainly pale in comparison to my hopes for bigger and better things from this product. For now, it seems that the Apple TV is still just "a hobby."

Apple TV owners can download the free software now.

[McLederer]

Make it a cable set top box with DVR then it's worth something.

[catch23]

If you want that, the I would suggest using Windows Media Center, which does everything your asking and more.
And has for years.

[loopazilla]

This is like Sleeping Beauty. They've obviously got bigger plans for this product. I suspect that in the long term it's going to be far more than just a "hobby" though. I expect this product to get an entire 'make over', (as happened years ago with the iMac range), but not until Apple's marketing arm thinks the public (and the economy) is ready for such a change.

[heygeo]

uh uh... nope... this has all the markings of whats happening to the ipod classics... I own 2 of em and I'm just happy they gave me this update as I was resolved that they are done with AppleTVs... If anything they would look at a game/media console before revamping another HTC

[workiscool]

Nice upgrade though...the existing menu system is ng. If I could get the NFL ticket online I'd kill my cable all together and just use Apple TV.

Next up...let me use/play my apps and games with iphone/ipod touch as the remote. They already have the app. Safari would be nice too.

[ikramerica--2008]

Will this kill the hackability? I was just about to get a discounted 40GB model and hack it to mount shares and play video_ts folders, and enable the rudimentary netflix playback plugin.

[js.matrix]

@ikramerica.... mount shares, play video_ts folders, etc., simple. What I plan to do is, place a basic Macbook (or 13" Macbook Pro) in the living room as a multimedia server. Then, with a program like Plex (www.plexapp.com) which knocks the socks off Front Row, will let me add ANY resource on my home network, stream pictures, videos, movies, handles pretty much any codec as it's pumping through the Macbook to the flat panel TV and not an Apple TV. The icing on the cake is, being able to also access a plethora of internet resources (i.e., YouTube, TED, et al) and also stream those. When I need a road runner.... a computer to carry with me on the road suddenly, just disconnect the display port cable sound cable, and power cable. Take the 'heart-and-soul' (= Macbook) and off and running. For me, at this stage, I can not warrant nor justify the cost for an Apple TV as a standalone function item that I will use only when in front of the boob tube. Until there is truly a compelling reason to buy one of them doo-hickies, the Macbook solution does the job very well. I stream all my content in the home network to it wirelessly as well. It might be a bit more expensive, but provides greater versatility, and multi-tasking. Think about it.... :-)

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

interface is nice. looks pretty nice. good for people interested in just multimedia.

[celticbrewer]

yeah, looks just like windows media center that's been around for years...

Whoops. Looks like Vegaman pointed that out just below.

[Vegaman_Dan]

The interface is starting to look more and more like Windows Media Center. :/

I expect this will probably be in the 27" Apple TV rumored to be out this Christmas.

Unless it has DVR capabilities with cable card support, then it won't go beyond being a hobby niche product. Consumers are buying the Mac Mini instead for this purpose.

[kathyflowers]

I've always believed they will merge the iMac and Apple TV into a 42-inch monitor that hangs on the wall.

That said, you don't want cable card. It took a year for my cableco to get me two cablecards for my HD Tivo, then they stripped all of the functionality from them so I needed a tuning adapter (which looks just like a cable box) so that the cablecards would get more than just the top four networks in HD. As long as the FCC remains gutless, cablecos will continue to neuter cablecards.

[jscott418]

What would have been good for Apple to do with Apple TV is put the software on iMac's like the 27" and install a TV Tuner along with it. Apple used to be good on incorporating these things? They have kind of left Apple TV half baked for some time now.

[rationalreview]

Epic Fail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3.0

[rcrusoe]

I totally agree. The previous menu was just about perfect, IMO.

If I didn't already own an Apple TV, I'd definitely not buy one now.

Someone tell me if they dump the advertising in the next version. I doubt if I'll be using my Apple TV until they do.

[Markus2008]

I know! The advertising is so intrusive (sarcasm). How is it that you can navigate the website you posted this comment on with the ads all over it and not complain?

[SoCalHampshire]

Most notably, this update break Palm Pre syncing.


Thanks Apple, you're the best. zzz

[Perry_Clease]

Palm needs to do their own syncing software.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

ways to improve aTV
add tv tuner
1080p content
new aluminum remote
better cooling
more HD (Drive) space
PVR capabilities

all to start

[techguy51]

I agree about the cooling. I have six (you read it right) A-TVs in classrooms in my schools. They all run very hot, probably 115-120 F. I'll be checking out the update this weekend.

[jmpetersen]

yeah, the cooling!!! how about something almost every electronic product I've ever purcahsed:

AN OFF-ON POWER SWITCH!!!!

[tektaktyks]

another lame program from apple? is it 29.95 to update?

[techguy51]

Updates to A-TV have always been free, so no, it's not $29.95 despite your sarcasm. Do you have an AppleTV, or do you just troll these site so you can *****?

[ckh1272]

As "techguy51" said, they do not charges for Apple TV updates. However, maybe CNET should charge you $29.95 every time you make ignorant comments like that.

[airmandan]

The menu in 1.x was much better than that of 2.x. 3.0 is flashier than both and at least as functional than 2.x, but it'll take some using to see if it's truly better than the first iteration, which I still can't fathom why Apple changed in the first place.

[apcarandang]

Nice update... I had mine hacked and got a 320G HD installed on it. I had the original 40G version.

I appreciate being able to listen to Itunes radio when my Macbook Pro is not being used.

I wonder if they will still make refinements on this product. Seems like the AppleTv is lagging behind most of Apple's offerings.

APC
Houston

[andrewrm]

I use my AppleTV daily to stream my music and video podcasts. The screen saver of all my photos is a great background when entertaining. My non geek friends are impressed by it as they don't even have a concept of a media extender. It does exactly what I want it too. Okay so Hulu and Netflix would be nice. I use power line networking for it as my wifi in my building is janky with all the tenants having networks and microwaves etc. It does what I need it to do easily. That's what Apple does.

[Regulator7]

Internet radio is not a new feature for 3.0. Perhaps an on-ATV interface for *choosing* a stream is new, but the ability to play a stream is not. I've been doing internet radio streams on my AppleTV for many months.

All you have to do is make a playlist in iTunes of the station(s) that you want, then sync the playlist to the ATV. It'll then show in in your playlists, just like any other playlist. Click on the station you want just like any other song in any other playlist, and you're streaming internet radio. It works beautifully, and the interface even knows that it's streaming radio, as the image displayed is that of a radio broadcast tower (rather than album artwork).

[mjw149]

Wake me when there's an app store or Hulu-like functionality.

[st430]

if you already have media center..that is already all the media music you can have..
and then for those with ps3 or xbox..it has the same movie store plus neflix...
so what's left is the internet music which my receiver has...
so really there is no point in getting one...
apple tv have to have something that others don't...
it's so overlapping....

[mcenturio]

Let me tell you guys something... Not everyone owns a (PS3 or and Xbox) Not everyone wants to own one.

All I want is a little box (APPLE TV) which displays (streams, shows) my multimedia (Photos, music, Movies, Flickr, TV Shows, Podcasts) in a really nice stylish manner. Without the need of excessive cables.

I just want a simple experience with no clutter.

Thats why I like it.

[jmpetersen]

I'm in with the "meh" crowd on this one! Why not 2.5, as this really didn't seem to be a true step from a version 2 to a version 3. Yes, we can now be compelled to purchase more iTunes store content with the ability to access iTunes Extras and iTunes LP, but this is just to push more "come spend, come spend" at the iTunes store.

My point-maker is that you still can't connect directly to any iTunes U content, you have to download it to your library via computer to gain access to it from your AppleTV. I spend a lot of time at iTunes U, fabulous free content. Why make it easier to experience it from an iPhone or iPod Touch than the Apple TV?

[cfw123]

I've had my ATV for some time now, but haven't used it much -- maybe now with 3.0 I will. but I want to do two things -- one of which someone has reported to have done already -- that is to upgrade the HD -- I have a spare 500GB notebook style HD which I would like to install or have installed in it. But the processor doesn't support 1080p, and 720i doesn't hack it with me. Does anyone know if a hardware hacker service can upgrade the processor to add that support? Charles Wilkes, San Jose, Calif.

[frankwick]

Apple is so behind the curve on this and seem to be content with minor releases. The Windows Media player is all this plus more. I even notied in TV3 that they went to more of Media Center/Zune interface.