Apple announced the new Apple TV (also known as iTV), a cheap small black box that stream content from Internet and your computer or iDevices. Is it worth to buy if you are outside U.S? Read on.
Hardware
Apple TV is powered by A4 chip, same as iPad, iPhone 4, and the new iPod touch. It supports WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n and 100Mbps Ethernet network.
Apple TV only has HDMI and optical audio output. Support HD video (720p) format. No built-in storage.
Price: USD$99
Getting content onto Apple TV
With new iTunes movies and TV shows rental, you can purchase and watch rentals on Apple TV. You have 30 days to start watching, and watch as many times as you want in 24 hours for movie rental ($3 or $4) and 48 hours for TV show rental ($3).
Beside iTunes store, Apple TV also support content on Netflix, YouTube, MobileMe, and Flickr. With new AirPlay, you can stream your digital video and music to Apple TV from your computer, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
Apple TV = Dummy box?
Apple TV is cheap, but its greatest feature — instant movie and TV show rentals only available in certain countries: United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom.
Here is the full list of countries with iTunes content available for purchased:
Last updated: April 30, 2010
If you are living outside the countries, all you can do with Apple TV is streaming your content to TV from your iDevices and computer using iTunes. That’s all.
$100 for a dummy box, worth it or not? You decide.
We should migrate to other countries if we want to utilize Apple TV fully.