There's something mysterious about the new Apple TV - a black hockey puck-size box that connects to your hi-def set. It brings some entertaining stuff right now, and maybe a lot more comes down the line.Apple has been nibbling around the edges of the living room for years with Apple TV, originally a set-top box that stored and played purchased movies. The new Apple TV has been shrunk to a quarter of its former size, the price has been slashed from $229 to $99, and it no longer includes a hard disk to store video. Apple TV is now built around its ability to use your home Wi-Fi network to stream high-definition movies and shows, photos, and music - from online sources or your computer - to your television.
Operating the device is easy. Connect it to your set via an HDMI cable and plug in the power. Then just follow the on-screen instructions to introduce it to your Wi-Fi network and iTunes Music Store account. Instead of using Apple TV's included remote control to key in your password letter by letter on the big screen, download Apple's free Remote app for your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch, and enter your text from there.
With no way to store purchased content on the new Apple TV, you'll probably use it mostly to view movies and shows rented from the iTune Store. The movie selection has thousands of HD titles starting at $3.99. The TV selection, however, is limited: The only major U.S. networks signed on to Apple's 99 cents-an-episode menu are Fox and ABC. Once you rent something, you have 30 days to start watching it, then 24 hours for movies or 48 hours for TV shows to finish. There are a few other programming sources. Netflix customers can get access to its Watch Instantly movies and TV shows straight from the device; and Apple TV can also tap into YouTube videos, podcasts, and Internet radio. It even makes it easy to view movies and photos stored on your computer.
Apple TV's 720p-quality video provides a consistently crisp, smooth picture, with none of the stuttering that sometimes mars streamed content.
This being Apple, more slick functions are on the way. After a software update promised for next month, you'll be able to stream video to the Apple TV from an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. You can begin a movie on a mobile device, walk into your home, and have it appear on the big screen in your den.
Apple TV may turn out to be a Trojan Horse - a deceptively simple gadget that, once in the home, expands its functionality until it takes control of everything. Or it may prove to be the first step toward an Apple-branded television set.
The device allows users to stream movies, television shows, radio, music, and pictures over a Wi-Fi connection.
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