Even though the Apple TV is a Flash device, it has 8GB of flash memory, which is used for buffering content and saving user settings, etc. This was one of the many findings of iFixIt when they tore down the newly released Apple TV. It also has 256 MB of RAM, and pretty much every other electronic organ found in the iPad, minus the screen. The real interesting thing here is that all this is packed into a $99 device. It’s hard to imagine that Apple could be able to produce such a powerful device and still turn a profit selling these little guys at $99 without a service contract subsidy.
The hook for Apple must be the potential in iTunes revenue. However, paying for content seems like a tough sell in a world of pre-roll ads. But Steve Jobs knows best.
Hulu announced today the release of HuluPlus scheduled for launch in July. For $10 a month you will be able to stream in HD entire current and past seasons of your favorite TV series on your iPhone, iPad, and TV. HuluPlus will be available over Wi-Fi or 3G and will soon be supported on the PS3 and XBox 360. It will also be supported by Samsung, Vizio and Sony TVs and Blu-ray players.
While this is quite a breakthrough in streaming television one question remains, is it worth it? Not only will you have to pay the $10 dollars a month but you will be forced to sit through commercials every time you sit down watch a show. And of course if your favorite show happens to be The Daily Show or The Colbert Report you are already out of luck. Could this mean it’s finally time to throw your cable box out the window or is this only a slightly improved version of an once free product? You decide.
Elgato’s EyeTV HD is the new TV software for Mac that allows you to watch and record cable and satellite television in high-definition. Essentially it functions as a DVR for your Mac that has the ability to stream live and recorded TV content from your Mac to your iPad or iPhone. Now you can watch live TV on your iPad and iPhone using the EyeTV App.
EyeTV HD links your cable box to your computer via a USB connection and the Elgato’s EyeTV 3 software will handle the navigation, editing, export, and streaming of content.
EyeTV HD is priced at $199.95 with one free year of TV Guide service. The Eye TV App for the iPad or iPhone sells for $4.99. Yet another tool to add to the functionality of your Mac devices.
