Apple TV: Spotlight at Center Field

In case you don't know, Apple TV is a new production of Apple Inc., which primarily allows you to watch Podcast videos, youtube clips, browse picture collections, and store mass amounts of shows, videos, and music all from your living room television set.

The Apple TV is affordably priced at $229, considering how many features it has, this is obviously a bargain, and soon will include movie rentals. It comes in two models, 40 GB and the 160 GB, and unfortunately does not include an actual TV with it. The actual device is similar to a Wii transmitter that sits near the television and the remote reminds me of an IPod Nano.

Podcasts

"Thanks to Apple TV, you can browse and watch free podcasts - including HD podcasts - right on your widescreen TV. You can even access podcasts you?ve already subscribed to on your computer. With so many podcasts to choose from, you're bound to find something to pique your interest."

This excerpt from the Apple Inc. website clearly identifies that Podcasts are accessible from this elegantly new device. Of course, setting aside the assumption that you actually have a widescreen TV, this is a pretty nifty feature that is usually included in Apple hardware. Podcasts are just media files that you can transfer from your computer or the Internet to another device. In this case, you can take files from your computer, IPod, or the Internet and send them to your TV. This would allow for a much bigger presentation and an easier view of your favourite media files.

YouTube Videos

Everyone knows about the recent social sensation of YouTube. YouTube is a collection of videos that anyone can submit, view, comment, or save in their own personal "favourites" collection. Now that Apple TV has hit the market, we can now access this entire array of videos directly from our television. Rainy day? Make an afternoon of lounging on the couch and watching nothing but wave after wave of your favourite YouTube videos. Pick a subject of any sort, such as BMX sports, exercise, or martial arts, and YouTube will find all videos concerning that topic.

Picto-e-Magical

Along with videos and music, you can browse large collections of online photos via the Apple TV. Using the patented remote control, you can skim through massive amounts of photo albums, zooming in, and even editing the pictures received by your television.

Storage

Apple TV allows you to store plenty of media files on your television much in the same way you store them on your computer. Now all those illegal files you downloaded so many months ago won?t go to waste as you can now watch them on your wonderfully equipped widescreen. (Not that any of our readers would ever participate in such illegal activities as that. *wink*) Of course, Apple TV has rigged it so that you can also download files from the Apple ILife Store directly from your Apple TV. Will they ever stop coming out with all of these mind boggling ideas?

Video Rental

Coming soon to Apple TV is a new system that would allow you to rent movie after movie (Like Netflix) directly from your television. Combined with the storage capacity of 40-160 GB, you should certainly have no problems renting as many videos as you see fit. For a simple fee of

Good or Bad?

With all of its many positive qualities, it's sometimes difficult to recognise the negative qualities that the Apple TV possesses. While sitting around all day watching videos sounds appealing and extremely attractive to many of us, the health issues surrounding this practice are horribly creative in a way that I can not begin to describe (....ah, what the hell. I have always been a sucker for a good debate). Studies show that we need 20-30 minutes of exercise every day to stay healthy and fit. If someone has the temptation of such a lazy device, they're more than likely not going to do anything all day. Especially when combined with the standard computer, as frequent computer users are probably the only people that will use this technology, you'd never leave the house!