Apple redefines its television service by focusing on streaming services

Apple has redefined Apple TV practically from scratch by housing its solution in a device that is a quarter smaller than the original. In addition, it shows a simpler interface with the possibility of configuring content and programs as the user desires in a 'favorites' tab. But the key to the new Apple TV is that it is based on streaming content in HD. From now on everything will be rented and viewed online, not downloaded.

Apple has redefined Apple TV practically from scratch by housing its solution in a device that is a quarter smaller than the original. In addition, it shows a simpler interface with the possibility of configuring content and programs as the user desires in a 'favorites' tab. But the key to the new Apple TV is that it is based on streaming content in HD. From now on everything will be rented and viewed online, not downloaded.

As Steve Jobs admitted yesterday at Apple's Fall 2010 Apple TV Experience Conference, "we've learned that audiences want Hollywood movies and shows. It's that simple." Another conclusion that the apple company has reached is that the public is only willing to accept mini-payments and predominantly for high definition content (the new Apple TV offers HD at 720p). “Users simply want to watch movies and shows, they don't want to synchronize and in many cases they don't even know what it is and they also want the hardware to be silent, cool and small,” commented the Apple CEO.

The new device has three connections (power, HDMI output and Ethernet) and can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. It will also allow synchronization with a Mac to be able to play multimedia content on the television or wirelessly display content such as photographs from the iPhone and even videos in the case of the iPad.

Además, muestra una interfaz más sencilla con la posibilidad de configurar los contenidos y los programas al antojo del usuario en una pestaña de ‘favoritos’. Pero la clave del nuevo Apple TV es que se basa en la reproducción de contenidos por ‘streaming’ en HD. A partir de ahora todo se alquilará y verá online en streaming, no se descargará. El precio variará entre los 4,99 dólares de las películas y los 99 céntimos de los programas televisivos.

Por otro lado, si Apple ha reducido el tamaño de este dispositivo, también ha reducido considerablemente su precio, pasando de los 299 dólares qiue costaba originalmente a solo 99.

De momento se comercializará en algunos países como Estados Unidos, Canadá, Alemania, Francia o Reino Unido.

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En cuanto a contenidos, ABC-Disney y Fox son algunas de las majors que ya han firmado la inclusión de contenidos en streaming. El nuevo dispositivo permitirá ver además Youtube y los servicios de Netflix (la empresa de alquiler de películas de EE UU).

Por su parte, Amazon está dispuesta a plantarle cara a Apple y se encuentra ya negociando con majors como GE, NBC y News Corp para lanzar un servicio de pago de contenidos. Sony tampoco quiere quedarse atrás y ya cuenta con su servicio Qriocity que permite el acceso de películas a la carta… La guerra está servida.