Apple updates Apple TV with ability to stream TV shows, purchase from iTunes Store

Apple has released a software update for Apple TV that adds the ability for users to purchase TV shows directly from iTunes StTore and stream purchased TV shows directly from Apple’s servers.

What’s New:
• iTunes TV Shows: Purchase your favorite TV shows directly from the iTunes Store, and watch the shows you already own, commercial-free in HD.
• Vimeo: Browse and play videos from Vimeo, access your video inbox, and mark videos you want to watch later.

“Adding on-demand streaming for video also suggests that the feature is on its way to other devices and software, including iTunes itself, which is expected to receive its annual update next month,” Josh Lowensohn reports for CNET. “When debuting iCloud back in June, notably missing was a video component, though this update would suggest it’s set to be added. Along with the TV show tweaks, today’s update brings Web videos from Vimeo.”

Read more in the full article here.

[Attribution: Daring Fireball. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Ellis D.” for the heads up.]

16 Comments

      1. Ross didn’t say it was the final nail, he said it was “a” (as in one) nail and he’s right. These are the first steps on the road to doing away with cable TV.

  1. I don’t understand. Apple TV already streams TV shows and movies. What’s the point of purchasing things on Apple TV (with 8GB of storage) unless you can transfer those purchases to iTunes on a computer? This sounds like an article from the past, in the days of the previous Apple TV.

    1. think cloud. you make the purchase through the Apple TV and just stream it, then later you can download to a computer, or just access the cloud when you want it.

  2. What this does is now give you access to all TV shows you have previously purchased via iTunes (even if you have deleted them from your Mac’s storage) and also allows you to purchase directly from the ATV (which also now means that you can download it on your Mac later).

    Welcome to iCloud. 🙂

  3. Still waiting for 1080p video support, call me when you get to 2008 on this thing you magical fruit company. Until then, my 60″ will remain unhappily connected to my satelite DVR. Oh, and I am not paying extra for this functionality either, HD indeed. I call bull$#!t. Get your “hobby” together Apple, you’re our only hope.

      1. Some DirecTV channels are 1080i (36% higher bit rate; some would argue better picture; I refuse to engage in that debate – please!).

        And I would have left it at that, but apparently DirecTV actually broadcasts some channels in 1080p — so say a couple of forums and this seemingly canonical channel listing: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=172899

        Now, who knows what kind of janky compression is used to shove that many bits down a pipe…

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