Apple TV, Entertainment made Simple

After searching for a device that hooks up to your TV that streams movies along with other content towards the large screen, you'll find a lot of choices. These devices are referred to as set-top boxes, and you can find at least 10 well know and popular devices, with costs ranging from $55 to $299.

So if you happen to be seeking a very good set-top box, one that combines a relatively great price using a slick interface and excellent content selection, Apple thinks they've the device for you.

The Apple TV is really a $99 device that allows you to stream content directly within the Internet. Unlike some of the other options, the Apple TV has no manufactured in storage, so, though you possibly can connect through a network to iTunes on your personal computer and stream content from there, everything else is just streaming it directly from the "cloud".

The Apple TV can access and stream movies and TV shows in the iTunes store. However, there's no method to obtain movies, only to rent them. An update out today allows users to purchase TV shows directly, and stream them on demand from where they are. Users can also entry and listen to or watch free podcasts, in addition to access Apple's "Radio" feature.

Besides for Apple's unique iTunes content, users can entry content from Netflix, YouTube, and with this latest update, Vimeo. Netflix, which we have said within the past, allows instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows, to your cost that, at $7.99 a month, is most likely cheaper than consuming all of your content via iTunes. YouTube and Vimeo, however, are free to use, and deliver a seemingly never-ending flow of excellent (and not so great) content
And, if you aren't already watching way too much stuff, you can also watch every MLB or NBA game live with a subscription to MLB.tv or NBA.com League Pass Broadband. Both of these services are a little pricey, and you might run into blackout restrictions if the game you are trying to watch is available on "real TV" in your area.

Apple TV's Small Size

But of course, there's more. Connecting your Apple TV to your computer running iTunes over WiFi will allow you to stream your entire music collection through your home theater setup. Pictures from your computer can also be viewed on your big screen TV.

To top it all off, the Apple TV can stream content playing on any iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch). To stream this content on the big screen, all you have to do is tap the "AirPlay" button, and, after initial setup, the content will suddenly be playing on the big screen.

At $99, and a 3.9 inch square size, the Apple TV seems like a great buy, and the recent update that adds Vimeo and TV show purchasing definitely makes it even more compelling. If you're in the market for a set-top box, and you have 100 bucks to spare, the Apple TV is a great choice for you.