Apple TV Software Updated to 3.0 — Adds New UI, Breaks Boxee

Leander Kahney ()

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As anticipated, Apple has updated the Apple TV software to 3.0, which brings a new interface and home screen with quick access to favorite content. Instead of drilling down to get to a recently-rented movie, it’s now accessible right off the home screen, as are favorite TV Shows, podcasts and YouTube movies.

The update also adds support for iTunes LPs and iTunes Extras, as well as Genius Mixes and internet radio.

The update likely breaks Boxee, the unsanctioned internet media player that actually makes the Apple TV useful, but internet radio is a welcome addition.

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To support the new Apple TV software, Apple has also updated iTunes to 9.0.2. As well as being compatible with the Apple TV 3.0 software, the update adds a new “dark” viewing option in Grid View. The iTunes update also once again breaks Palm Pre syncing.

11 comments »

About the author

Leander Kahney

is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

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Posted in Apple, AppleTV, News |

  • http://www.theeggeadventure.com Brian Egge

    “Not dead yet!”

    This should put off rumours of Apple killing the Apple TV at least for a little while. I love my Apple TV and would be quite sad if Apple stopped supporting it.

  • Kev

    Apple TV is bizzare as it is incredibly ugly, from a company whose products are usually the best looking available.

  • http://www.toxicspark.com Andrew Macdonald

    Quick question.

    I havent bought the Apple TV thing yet, but i do intend to soon. If i were to download movie’s from the internet, e.g outside iTunes, are you able to import them into Apple TV so you can view them via your television?

  • Brendan

    Andrew, yes you can put them on Apple Tv. If you import the video files into itunes, convert them if necessary (iTunes will do it), then set them to download to the Apple Tv in the movies section of the Apple Tv menu in iTunes.

  • Gene

    While I prefer Apple’s recent moves to Helvetica over Lucida Grande, I wish they hadn’t reduced the type SIZE in the menus. Maybe I’m just an old man who can’t see now, but the old type was FAR easier to read at a distance…

  • http://www.cellphones-reviews.com/ Cell phone reivew

    I mostly use Pandora, but there are times when I don’t have a data connection and listening to the small amount of synced music is convenient.

  • http://www.toxicspark.com Andrew Macdonald

    Thanks a lot for the info Brendan. Very much appreciated :-)

  • http://blog.iloveflycasual.com Jason

    I love my Apple TV, but I absolutely hate the new interface. The graphic design work from Apple has been really going downhill recently. I mean… c’mon… iTunes 9 is horrible. I don’t understand how their industrial design is getting so much better but their graphic design is getting so much worse.

  • http://blog.iloveflycasual.com Jason

    Side note: look at how sexy the design is on Apple.com and compare that to Apple TV/iTunes 9.

  • Jeremy

    I wish people would stop crying about what this thing or that thing will and won’t do. If you don’t like it…don’t buy it!…it’s that simple! If you don’t think the ATV meets your expectations, then get off your couch, put your clothes back on, and go mow the yard.

  • Lou

    The Headline states it ‘Breaks Boxee’, but the best the article says is that it is ‘likely broken’. Irresponsible journalism. You couldn’t find one person to tell you whether or not this is true?