Just in case you were blinded by the new iPad announcement, Apple also gave home theater enthusiasts a little love and something to get excited about. Starting next week, there will be a new Apple TV.
The biggest, most obvious change is that the new and improved Apple TV will support 1080p output. In case you're wondering what to watch first, there are about 15,000 movies and 90,000 TV shows to choose from, just through iTunes. Apple also plans to keep supporting everything else Apple TV users have become dependent on, including Netflix, Vimeo and YouTube, as well as Flickr.
Besides the output bump, Apple says that users will soon experience a better iCloud interface, making it easier to access purchased movies, TV shows and music using iTunes Match. Apple TV also has AirPlay, so users can stream content from an iPad or iPhone 4S right to that set-top, and of course, to the box's connected home theater theater setup.
"People are going to love streaming movies and TV shows in 1080p with the new Apple TV, and photos look beautiful displayed at the maximum resolution of your TV," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing. "Apple TV is easier than ever to use with its new icon-based interface and the ability to access your purchased movies, TV shows and music right from iCloud."
The new Apple TV will also be compatible with the Remote app, which is available as a free download through the App Store.
Apple TV requires iTunes 10.5 or later, as well as an 802.11g/n Wi-Fi network or Ethernet network, a broadband Internet connection, an HDTV, and an HDMI cable.
The new Apple TV interface is available now for second-gen Apple TV users, via a free software upgrade. The new Apple TV will be available starting Friday, March 16, 2012. Apple is planning to keep the MSRP at the very affordable price of $99.
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