Comments on: Apple TV 2.3 firmware update adds a handful of minor tweaks

The latest Apple TV software update adds better AirTunes and universal remote support--but not much else.

[craigfaircloth]

I will buy an apple tv the day that they offer a subscription service. I might even cancel my satellite service. And, I would gladly pay $80 a month $960 dollars a year to be able to watch the programming that I want, when I want. Why won't you give me this option apple? Until then I will continue to have tivo and blockbuster online.

[bryan.teague]

Its another step forward, at least we are not forgotten completely.

[jyoung320]

I Really Don't Care about this, I would rather read about The New Zune Pass, or something.

[Rick Cavaretti]

Then why are you HERE reading this and then commenting on it?

[markph0204]

Purchased the AppleTV about three months ago. It has replaced all but the basic Comcast channels (basic kept for local news) and discount since I kept Comcast internet.

For our entire family, the AppleTV serves us with the programming a family of four wishes. I have no issues paying for content and welcome non-linear television. This is where TV will be going in the future. DVR's are simply a recorder band-aid'ing a linear world.

The 2.3 updates? Nothing that I see makes me jump up and down for the update. I do hope that Apple would stop the "hobby" comment. For a hobby, it has worked well, but I can only imagine what else they could do (Boxee features).

As for hacking...Boxee Hulu content is terrible to look at.

[Daniel L Smith]

"Apple TV can now learn other remote controls and use them in addition to the Apple Remote" -- that's the coolest bit of software I've come across in awhile. It's not like Logitech: the remote doesn't learn the device -- the device learns the remote! Dig up an old remote control out of your drawer, step through the intuitive UI (nothing like trying to enter the right button pushes on a cheap learning remote), and you've got another Apple TV remote. Makes you wonder why every device doesn't work like this already. (Doesn't actually do *me* much good right now, put it still deserves serious props.)

A few other features I noticed, these ones uncredited:
- Streaming radio entries in my iTunes library now show up and will play. There's even a custom radio tower "album cover" logo.
- The popup menu during music browsing/playback has additional "Browse Artist" and "Browse Album" items.

[scrappy1chuck]

I absolutely love my AppleTV and I can't understand why more people don't have one. The HD movies are better than the HD programing offered by cable. I also find myself watching the shows I download from my computer more often on the AppleTV, rather than on the PC itself. As far as this update is concerned, I'll have to see what remotes it will allow, and how often I use the volume controls before I deem it a useful update. Still, as other commenters have suggested, I'm glad Apple hasn't forgotten about it.

[wvivz]

I <3 Apple tv i plan to buy one when the holdiays come around and its going to be such an awsome product!

[HaveSomeTea]

Um what can I say? B-O-R-I-N-G!!

AppleTV is great for watching video podcasts, especially after the 2.0 update that allowed us to stream directly from the Internet, without the need of iTunes. However for everything else, it is a miserable failure:

1) YouTube: List of videos doesn't get updated, always the same old thing

2) Watch Videos and Listen to Music on a NAS: Not possible, requires the dreadful iTunes. Also for videos, it doesn't support most codecs out there so it's pretty useless. The PopcornHour is a champ for video streaming.

3) Rental is WAY too EXPENSIVE! For the price of 2 rentals I can rent movies from Netflix for an entire month!

[pjmaley]

Apple TV is awesome. I killed Digital Cable and saved $80 month...now I have every kids DVD burned to it (Barney, Wiggles, Disney Movies - over 100) instead of searching through empty DVD holders and tossing the scratched ones, I purchased a library of their favorite shows (Blue's Clues, Hannah Montana, classic Bugs Bunny, SpongeBob), I rent beautiful HD movies for everyone in the family, I stream my 10,000 strong music library, I get to view my 7000 photos as the most beautiful screen saver you ever saw (which everyone who walks in my house loves!) and now I get to actually watch the 50 hours of home videos I have of the kids - all right from the same device. All for $350. Killer device.

[uhnoneemus]

I plan to skip this update... and any update in the future with features less impressive than Boxee. The latest install steps for Boxee are at least "power user" friendly (still a bit much for your non-nerd consumer) AND they seem to be pretty reversible. There is absolutely no incentive for me to exchange universal remote capability and in-home streaming audio for Hulu, streaming video from across the web, and did I mention "Hulu"? Those of us that are Apple TV early adopters are believers... our wallets and purses are literally itching to give Steve money. All he has to do is revamp the Apple TV strategy. Work out an annual subscription fee via Netflix set top boxes and find some way to convince the studios that the 30 day difference between the time videos hit rental stores and when they are available for rent on Apple TV just isn't right. Then we'll all be talking about how Apple reinvented the Apple TV and truly took over the world.

[jyoung320]

Rick, because I want the editors of CNET to see that this is pretty useless, considering they cover Apple way more than microsoft.

[miguelmo23]

Apple TV is soo cool, you have to get an itouch or iphone as a remote it is a perfect most advance thing out there 31/2 inch of album art,all the info you will ever need,works all over the house and the audio chip is high end,music sounds so good it is crazysick!!

[ChadGo]

Can someone tell me if this does everything airport express can do? I am itching to get the airport express, but if this does the same kind of music streaming, and works as a wireless base station, then I consider the upgrade to be reasonable.

[cracker9]

my biggest issue has been NO continues music video playback always making you manually select the next video after each one has played wondering if this update has corrected the issue when putting several music videos into an itunes playlist?