Atten-shun! The new Apple TV 3.0 is out. As rumored, it includes iTunes Extras, iTunes LP, and Genius Mixes, but also a surprise: A new user interface. Question: Is Steve Jobs too busy overseeing the tablet development? This looks uggghsome
Conceptually, it reminds me of the PS3. More straightforward than the previous version. Graphically, it seems very unlike Apple. In fact, it looks like crap. I guess His Steveness is too busy doing the funky tablet shaking and whipping the iPhone OS people.
Update 1: We are downloading the update now and it's huge. Actually, our connection is just crappy. And then, the updater needs to update before updating the software. So not only the update brings all this new stuff, but it also opens worm holes in the spacetime fabric.
Update 2: It is taking ages.
Apple Introduces Apple TV 3.0 Software With Redesigned User Interface
Enjoy iTunes Extras, iTunes LP & Genius Mixes on Your HD TV
CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today introduced new Apple TV® 3.0 software featuring a redesigned main menu that makes navigating your favorite content simpler and faster, and makes enjoying the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes® Store even better on your TV. You can now enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with your Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system. The new Apple TV software is available immediately free of charge to existing Apple TV owners, and Apple TV with 160GB capacity is available for just $229.
"The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of Internet Services. "HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio."
The redesigned main menu on Apple TV gives you instant access to your favorite content. Recently rented or purchased movies, as well as other content including TV shows, music, podcasts, photos and YouTube, are accessible directly from the new main menu. The new software also allows Apple TV users to enjoy stunning fullscreen iTunes Extras and iTunes LP, including great new movie titles such as "Star Trek" or classics like "The Wizard of Oz" and albums such as Taylor Swift's "Fearless (Platinum Edition)" and Jack Johnson's "En Concert." iTunes Extras gives movie fans great additional content such as deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries. iTunes LP is the next evolution of the music album, delivering a rich, immersive experience for select albums on the iTunes Store by combining beautiful design with expanded visual features like live performance videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits and more.
Now Apple TV users can enjoy Genius Mixes through their home theater system and listen to up to 12 endless mixes of songs that go great together, automatically generated from their iTunes library. Customers can also enjoy Internet radio, allowing them to browse and listen to thousands of Internet radio stations, as well as tag favorite stations to listen to later. Apple TV's support of HD photos is enhanced with iPhoto Events, which simplifies finding your favorite photos on Apple TV, as well as iPhoto® Faces, which gives access to photos organized by people identified in iPhoto.
Apple TV users have direct access to a catalog of over 8,000 Hollywood films on iTunes including over 2,000 in stunning HD video available for rent or purchase. Users can also choose from a selection of 11 million songs, 10,000 music videos and over 50,000 TV episodes to purchase directly from their Apple TV or browse and enjoy the iTunes Store podcast directory of over 175,000 free video and audio podcasts. Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user's computer for enjoyment on their Mac® or PC or all current generation iPods or iPhones.* iPod touch® or iPhone® users can download the free Remote app from the App Store to control their Apple TV with a simple tap or flick of the finger.
Windows 7 is out today! Huzzah! But wait; if you're still rocking Windows XP, you might want to think twice before upgrading. Here are some reasons to stick with an old OS.
1. Updating will be a huge pain
You do realize that you can't just pop in the disc and install the OS, right? Coming from XP, you're going to need to backup all of your data, format your hard drive, install a clean version of Windows 7, and then start from scratch, reinstalling all of your old programs—and that's assuming Old Faithful even meets the system requirements. Sounds delightful!
2. Software investment
How many programs do you have installed? You're going to have to reinstall all of them. Do you have all of your install discs handy? And I hope you haven't lost any CD Keys! Do you still have all of your downloaded installer executables? Feel like finding them or redownloading them? Because that's what you're going to have to do. And as far as new programs go, you do realize that almost all new software is still compatible with XP, right?
3. Most of what you use your computer for doesn't need an upgrade
What do you do on your computer? Surf the internet, maybe use some office programs? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that Windows XP has been handling such duties just fine for you. So why upgrade? For shiny new aesthetics? For a fancier taskbar? For juggling 22 devices? You don't need that.
4. It's expensive
Do you have $120+ to burn? Because that's how much upgrading will cost you unless you use the $30 college-kid discount. Why not put that money in savings or use it to pay off a credit-card bill, like a grown up?
5. You can wait for SP1
Every OS has bugs when it's first released, and even if 7 isn't the shitshow that Vista was, it'll surely need some patching up once the masses get their hands on it. You won't get any bonus points for being an early-adopter. Why not play it safe and, if you do decide to upgrade, hold out for Service Pack 1?
6. Microsoft will keep supporting XP for a while
Tons of people (including you) still use XP, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Because of that, Microsoft has no choice but to continue supporting it, releasing security patches and the like. You don't need to upgrade in order to get such benefits.
7. You'll buy a new computer eventually
You won't have your current computer forever, especially if you bought it long enough ago to come pre-loaded with XP. Since installing a new OS is one of the most risky and frustrating things you can do with your computer, you might as well just hold out until you buy a new one. It'll have Windows 7 pre-installed on a clean drive, allowing you to start from scratch.
By now, it's just silly to analyze Windows 7. All you really need to know is that it's better than Vista, and if you use a PC, it's probably your next OS. So let's give Win7 a 27-reviewer victory lap.
CNET
"Windows 7 presents a stable platform that can compete comfortably with OS X, while reassuring the world that Microsoft can still turn out a strong, useful operating system."
PCWorld
"...the final shipping version I test-drove appears to be the worthy successor to Windows XP that Vista never was."
NYTimes
"[Microsoft's] three-year Windows Vista nightmare is over."
IT Pro
"Windows 7...is competent and functional due to internal improvements and the user interface is attractive and good for productivity."
bit-tech
"For want of a better way of describing it, Microsoft has essentially fixed Vista and the result is arguably Microsoft's best operating system to date."
Guardian
"Windows 7 is simply the best version of Windows you can get."
Slate
"Indeed, the new Windows is not only the best operating system that Microsoft has ever produced. It is arguably the fastest, most intuitive, and most useful consumer desktop OS on the market today."
Maximum PC
"...Windows 7 is unquestionably the best version of Windows that Microsoft has ever released, and is the true successor to Windows XP."
Tech Radar
"No version of Windows is ever perfect, but Windows 7 really is the best release of Windows yet."
PC Mag
"It's far and away the best OS we've ever seen from Microsoft."
Wall Street Journal
"I believe it is the best version of Windows Microsoft has produced."
ElectricPig
"With Windows 7, Microsoft wants us to believe that it's got its OS back on track and for the most part we feel they have."
Engadget
"Where Vista felt like a sprawling mess, Windows 7 has patched up the holes and feels like a tight, unified mechanism."
Telegraph
"Windows 7 is the operating system Vista should have been..."
Hexus
"This is the operating system that Windows Vista should have been."
Digital Trends
"...Microsoft has returned for redemption with Windows 7, otherwise known as "what Vista should have been."
AP
"Windows 7 [is] a slick, much improved operating system that should go a long way toward erasing the bad impression left by its previous effort, Vista."
V3
"...Windows 7 is a worthy successor to Windows XP..."
Federal Computer Week
"There is nothing wrong with Windows 7 - and we've always thought Vista was a better operating system than its reputation suggested - so if a new system happens to come with it, then you'll get a fine operating system."
PC Pro UK
"We like Windows 7 a lot - so much so, that the disappointment that was Windows Vista has already become a distant memory..."
Technodorm
"If you have the money to spend, there is no reason why you shouldn't upgrade."
Laptop Mag
"If Vista left you somewhat disillusioned with Windows, we suggest you upgrade to Windows 7."
Cult of Mac
"I need to go wash my eyes out with bleach."
The Inquirer
"Windows 7 is as pretty as Apple stuff, just as easy to use, and does not treat you like a moron."
Computer World
"...it's finally time to upgrade."
TechWorld
"Windows 7 feels like an anti-Vista..."
Gizmodo
"...if you're coming from Windows XP, Windows 7 will totally feel like a revelation from the glossy future. If you're coming from Vista, you'll definitely go "Hey, this is much better!" the first time you touch Aero Peek. If you're coming from a Mac, you'll—hahahahaha. But seriously, even the Mactards will have to tone down their nasal David Spadian snide, at least a little bit."
The HP TouchSmart 600 is sort of like a girl I "dated" in fourth grade. I can't say I loved her, but I can say that I really, really liked her a lot. But the TouchSmart never wore braces.
Our Configuration
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.13GHz, 4GB DDR3 RAM, slot-load Blu-ray player/DVD burner, NVIDIA GeForce GT230M with 1GB dedicated RAM, 23-inch 1080P multitouch display, and a slew of inputs, including 6 USB, a card reader, coax, S-Video, HDMI, audio and composite.
What's New
This is the third generation TouchSmart. The two-point, IR-based multitouch PC remains thematically unchanged, but the combination of hardware and software is finally gelling. The new stuff includes:
• Windows 7
• HDMI-in
• Updated TouchSmart UI
• Custom Hulu, Netflix, Twitter and Absurdly Cool Recipe Book Apps
• HD Tuning (not CableCard)
• Fully customizable LED under-lighting
• Tilting webcam
You'll recognize the body design as almost unchanged from the last generation, but that's not necessarily a strike against the TouchSmart. While the body is mostly plastic, the high gloss black is unoffensive, and good for making screen colors pop like an HDTV. A majority of the TV-style input set is cleverly hidden behind a panel, should you prefer the seamless look.
As for that screen, it's as good as any low to mid-tier LCD HDTV, but its multitouch is not quite perfect. If you pace your movements, it's about 95% accurate at tracking your fingers. If you don't, that number drops to 85%. And should the system be strained with a lot of multimedia tasking, the touch only gets worse. But I make this all sound a lot worse than it is. No, the screen isn't as accurate/wonderful as capacitive tech, but it's a lot better than resistive.
The wireless low profile keyboard and mouse are both understated and completely functional. And a decent remote gives the whole package that home theater feel for when you need to do a little IR blasting.
Audio dribbles through a soundbar sits under the screen. The quality is passable for television, but there's potential here for improvement—the highs are tinny and there's not real bass. Music lovers will want standalone speakers (which is too bad, because everything else is great.)
But again, I almost hate saying bad things about the build because what the TouchSmart does right is sooo cool: the software.
you just want to multitouch your way through Windows 7, the TouchSmart allows that. But to really take advantage of the system, you'll want to use the TouchSmart interface and the wonderful, custom apps. Sure, you can mess with photos, take hand-drawn notes and watch video clips, but here's the more notable stuff. (Check out the video above to see some of these apps in motion.)
Netflix
I couldn't enjoy the Netflix interface more. Flick through your library, click a movie and just wait for the server to stream it. It's probably the slickest Netflix skin I've seen to date.
Ambient Lighting
It's technically a series of LEDs under the monitor, but Ambient Lighting makes its way into the apps section since you can choose from the entire spectrum of colors through a touch interface. The glowing effect, while a tad cheesy, is incredible customizable.
Twitter
Tweetie is my client of choice on Mac. Most all of the advanced functionality is duplicated here. And if you really want to, you can type on the onscreen keyboard. It works, but I'll take the real thing, thanks.
Live TV/DVR
It's easy to get mixed up in the submenus and the software is obviously resource intensive, but otherwise, you're working with a fully-functional HD DVR (sitting on top the core of WMC, as I understand it). Flicking through programming guides is surprisingly natural.
Hulu
Stuck in an update loop, I couldn't test Hulu. Given the quality of HP's other bundled apps, especially Netflix, I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.
Music
The music app is super smart because it incorporates MP3s, Pandora and Rhapsody into, well, not exactly one interface but at least one basic app. Browsing albums is smooth in a Cover-Flow-like spread. Pandora is a bit disappointing in that most of the UI is spent on the Pandora logo. But it works.
Recipe Box
Despite the failings during my tech demo above, this little app is embarrassingly fun. Through a built-in browser, you can rip any recipe containing "directions" and "ingredients" from almost any webpage. With one button, the recipe appears in your own book, formatted like everything else in your collection. Now, should you have your hands full, the system supports voice commands to read you the recipe. It didn't work in my demo video, but even when it did, the system fulfilled all the stereotypes of poor voice commands and text-to-speech. Still, Recipe Box is a clever way to bring an all-in-one into the kitchen.
The one downfall here is that HP has designed TouchSmart to run all of the bundled apps at once. You're truly multitasking, and that means stacking HDTV, Hulu, Netflix, photo editing, a browser, Twitter, and even more video playback. The system generally handles itself admirably, but the TV tuning definitely tips the scales on occasion (just watch the video for interface stutters). If I were to use the system as my DVR on a regular basis, I'd probably cut down the fat on HP's apps and buy myself some resources.
Another point to mention is that, while you can customize HP's dock with any apps you like, those not designed by HP (say, Microsoft Word) will merely link you to the full app in Windows. So you can't work on a term paper in the fancy media interface, but then again, you probably don't want to.
Oh, and for some reason, the back button within apps often brings you back to the same information in a different view than you started with. That's a perfect candidate for a patch if I've ever seen one.
Like, Not Love
I want to love the TouchSmart 600, but I just really, really like it a lot. The functionality is all there; no one can question the full media suite of apps, like Netflix, Hulu, and Twitter, let alone the full Windows 7 OS sitting right behind HP's optional software. It's the light performance hiccups coupled with a less than 100% touch interface that stop me from screaming at the top of my lungs, "YOU SHOULD BUY THIS RIGHT NOW OR GIVE UP ON LIFE COMPLETELY."
But maybe you should buy the TouchSmart 600 right now. Other than Sony's upcoming Vaio L, there's no all-in-one quite like this on the market. Coupled with a netbook, you'd have portability and an entire media center at your disposal. The combo, for something like a dorm room or small apartment, would be unquestionably wonderful.
Nintendo have just announced a price cut for the Wii in both the US and Japan, putting an end to weeks of speculation.
In the US, the cut will take effect on September 27, and as expected will see the console go from $250 to $200.
In Japan, the reduction will kick in on October 1, and see the console dropping from 25,000 (USD$273) to 20,000 (USD$218).
This marks the first time Nintendo have officially reduced the price of the console in any market since the console's launch in 2006. That's an impressive run.
