Apple announced the second-generation Apple TV at its keynote today, featuring 99-cent TV rentals from ABC and Fox, Netflix streaming, and a much-smaller design. It will be available in four weeks for $99.
The new Apple TV is a quarter the size of the old model, which makes sense now that it lacks the internal hard drive. It also has a new black finish that will blend in better with a home theater.
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Dimensions
It's less than an inch thick and 3.9 inches wide and deep.
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Back panel ports
The Apple TV's connectivity has been stripped to just five ports: HDMI, optical digital audio output, USB, Ethernet, and power. There's also built-in Wi-Fi, so you won't need to drag an Ethernet cord into the living room.
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Netflix streaming
The addition of Netflix streaming is also a big change for Apple TV, which was previously limited to iTunes and YouTube streaming video content. Apple TV has lagged behind its competitors with Netflix streaming capabilities, as it's widely available on Blu-ray players, game consoles, HDTVs, and set-top boxes like the Roku Digital Video Player. Even other Apple products, including both the iPad and iPhone, have been capable of streaming Netflix before the Apple TV.
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iPhone-like favorites screen
The favorites screen includes iPhone-like numbers in the upper-right-hand corner, letting you know how many unwatched episodes are available on a given show.
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New remote
The new, aluminum remote included with the Apple TV looks to be the same remote offered as an add-on for the Mac Mini.
