Apple TV 2.0 delayed a week or two

Updated at 1:55 p.m. PST to reflect the fact that I'm an idiot.

Apple TV 2.0 needs a little more time in the oven.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveils Apple TV 2.0 at Macworld earlier this month.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Apple put out a press release Wednesday noting that the MacBook Air is now shipping. Check out my colleague Dan Ackerman's review of the extremely slim laptop if you're thinking about making a purchase. But the company also tucked in a sentence about Apple TV in that release, saying "Apple also announced that the new Apple TV software update, which allows users to rent high-definition movies directly from their widescreen TVs, is not quite finished."

Current owners of Apple TV will be able to download the software update in a week or two, Apple said. It was supposed to be released within two weeks of its announcement at Macworld, or that was the plan unveiled during CEO Steve Jobs' keynote speech. New Apple TVs with the updated software ship within 24 hours from Apple's online store UPDATED 1:55pm - As pointed out in the comments below, that sentence was just flat-out wrong. Every Apple TV is still shipping with the old software.

The new software brings a whole new look-and-feel to Apple TV, Apple's bid to connect big-screen televisions to the Internet and computers. It will also allow Apple TV owners to rent movies through the new iTunes Rental Service.

This isn't the end of the world--after all, current Apple TV owners are getting all this for free--but it's not the best news, either. Apple has delayed a few software projects in the past 12 months, most notably the four-month slip in Leopard's ship time precipitated by the push to get the iPhone out on time.

At last year's shareholders meeting, a shareholder asked Jobs why Apple hasn't hired more engineers to keep up with the demand for its products. Jobs said the company considers software engineering a quality issue, not a quantity issue where problems can be solved by throwing bodies at a project. Still, you have to wonder if he'll get that question again this year, with so much now on Apple's plate between the Mac, iPod, iPhone, and now Apple TV businesses.

[suchinlee]

They should've done this last week

I think they should've announced this last week not on the day that marks the two-week point.

Anyway, I waited for months for an update, I guess a couple of weeks won't kill me.

Luck Kanthatham
Apple TV Source
(http://appletvsource.com)

[www.hdgreetings.com]

Nothing wrong with it.

The state of the art in software engineering is just not good enough to plan every project on time and under budget, thats why all companies struggle with it.

People asking companies "why is your software late" is kind of like asking a doctor "why didn't you cure my cancer".

The answer of course is sometimes the doctor didn't do all the right things, and sometimes nothing better could have been done.

[LouisDi]

Correct your article!

Your article is just plain wrong. New units from Apple ship with V1.1 just like all the ones out there now. I know because I got mine two days ago.

[Tom Krazit]

You're right, my apologies

I was under the impression that all Apple TVs that shipped after Macworld came with the new software, but Apple has confirmed that you're right, as you already knew.

We'll fix that. They say those units will automatically update to the new software when it becomes available, let me know if you have any problems.

[rcrusoe]

It's my fault

Sorry, I just received my new Apple TV a couple of days ago and
was hoping the update would be ready today.

I should have waited until the update was ready before placing
my order rather than make everyone else suffer the
delay/problems that is enviable whenever I buy new electronics.

To all the existing and potential Apple TV owners out there - I
apologize.

[Norseman]

There's a lot at stake here.

Think about it--Apple has a lot riding on this. Apple TV is potentially the "next iPod". How well this upgrade works will be a big factor on how the iTunes HD movie rental business is initially received and what kind of buzz it generates. IMHO, this update was THE big announcement at Macworld, and Steve Jobs is going to make damn sure it's as good as it can be before we see it!

[rdlink]

BINGO!!

You hit the nail right on the head, Norseman. This is the first big shot being fired in the war of convergence. Apple needs to get this right.

And there is already a competitor out there, in VUDU. Granted, the ATV will offer more on every front except being able to buy HD movies (vs. rent them). But it's important that this work well for Apple, because people are watching.

The Macbook Air is a niche product, at best, and really more of a first effort in a new breed of computing. But ATV is the slice to Blockbuster's neck.

[lantzn]

Agreed

I own an ATV and have been waiting for months for this upgrade.
Once this takes off I only hope the industry changes the release
time to the same as DVDs, instead of 30 day later, and lengthen the
24 hour watch limit to at least 72 hours. With those changes it will
be killer. Lets hope there's enough squeaky wheels to get this
accomplished.

[jscott418]

Too much pressure on a few

I think you will see more software problems from Apple in the
future. Their is too many kettles on the burner on not enough
cooks. Somethings going to boil over!