DanLin.net

Just over a year ago the Apple TV was announced during Macworld SF 2007. I wrote a quick overview of the product and the accompanying service via iTunes back then.

Today Apple announced, among other things, a second try at the Apple TV. It is just a software upgrade but it has made the product significantly more attractive. Let me give you a quick rundown of this revision based on my initial review last year.

Last year I said:

Likes:
Small (Still the same size)
Relatively Inexpensive (Even cheaper now at $229!)
Has HDMI out (No change here)
Intuitive interface (Possible better with more feature integration)
Syncs to 40 GB local drive (Upgraded to bigger hard drives option at 160GB)
Portable (Still very portable at the same size)

Dislikes:
Needs new Airport or needs hardwire (Same)
No DVD playback (Same)
No DVR (Same, probably by design)
No native media acquisition (Much improved now without the need of a computer)
iTunes software is too bulky but required for use (No longer required)
Minor dislike, no 1080p support (Still likely no 1080p but apparently looks very good)

Overall, I think the Apple TV 2.0 is a great improvement over the first iteration. The price cut makes it even more attractive. But I think it is still too expensive for at the $229 price point. If and when it gets closer to the $99 range, I believe they will have mass adoption. For now, I am saving my money for a MacBook Air…

Watch the Bill Gates and Steve Jobs interview by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher in its entirety from the All Things Digital Conference. Videos below are in order top to bottom. Sorry about the Brightcove player and embedded ads. I guess they have bills to pay…

As if I haven’t talked about Apple enough lately here is another little cool little tid bit about the company. Many of you have seen the video on Youtube showing a satirical look at the etiquette of eating at a sushi-ya. If you have not, here it is. Very funny.

Apple recently launched international versions of their Mac and PC ads. Many of the ones floating online have specifically been the UK versions. I just found a version made for the Japanese audience that stars the very same comedic duo from the land of the rising sun…

Not rly. But I did download the iPhony launcher for the palm that has since been yanked from the web by Apple lawyers. When the Jobster claimed that they have filed over 200 patents and promised to protect them, he wasn’t kidding. Apple has filed a suit against the makers of the program. I guess the user interface is part of the 200+ patents they filed with the USPTO.

This move by Apple is not dissimilar to the action they took against the pPod awhile back that forced the company out of business and the software to go underground.

Engadget mobile and Slashgear have reported in the last few months about various products in the mobile phone industry from all over the world. Has Apple really created the innovation that is first in its class? Maybe, maybe not.

Looks like LG announced a phone almost identical to the iPhone nearly 1 month before the 2007 Steveworld Jobsnote.

Side-by-side comparison:

Also Slashgears reported back in November 7th that a Linux based phone was to be released with touchscreen with gesture control identical to the iPhone

No doubt Apple has put together a product that will work very nicely with all the aforementioned features. It is by any means a slick product and when it comes out in June we will see sales beyond everyone’s imagination. Innovative, yes. Original, not so much. Alright fanboys, Have at it.