One step closer: iOS apps find new home on AppleTV.

Looks like Apple’s “hobby” is starting to gain quite a following not because of it’s simple, one-sided function. Instead, it’s the potential this little baby holds. At $99, the AppleTV is a cheap iOS device. We’ve already seen that it can be jailbroken. Even more hopeful, however, is that according to developer Steve Troughton-Smith, iOS apps can be installed on it. That right there has huge potential. I say potential because while iOS apps can be installed, they can’t actually be launched…yet. Small challenge.

Just think: soon enough you’ll be able to get a $99 movie/tv rental box that also allows you to interact with potentially thousands of iOS apps — the best web TV the market has seen yet! I mean, that’s what TV manufacturers are trying to do right now — build apps directly into their TV’s. If Apple won’t move the AppleTV out of the “hobby” stage, the developer scene will. It looks like the next few weeks will be pretty interesting, no?

And Hollywood wonders why they can’t make money: Digital only rental to come months before DVD release, cost $30.

I’ve been accused of being too cynical at times. “I don’t give a particular person, company, or business model a chance” — They say. But what else can you call Hollywood’s latest attempt to “save themselves” from the evils of the internet and constantly declining DVD sales. Specifically, the new business model is at first seemingly noble — they want to release digital downloads of movies months in advance of hard copy DVDs. Sounds harmless. It even sounds, dare I say game changing. And then they blow it all to hell by stating that these early releases will cost the end user $30…per viewing…for a rental…

Update: AppleTV not delayed afterall. Pre-orders “preparing for shipment”. You’re turn mail carrier of choice…

A few days back, we reported that the new AppleTV pre-orders were possibly pushed back from late September into early October based on emails several people were receiving. But 9to5 has posted their own AppleTV order confirmation email that shows the package as “preparing for shipment”. As they note in their article, “preparing for shipment” means its the shipping carrier of choices’ turn to pick up your package and actually get it moving. So no, the AppleTV isn’t being delayed. But Apple sure waited ’till the very end of September, didn’t they?

Update

No it’s not…

New AppleTV release pushed back into October?

Some potentially unsettling news for Apple fans that pre-ordered the new AppleTV tonight — Apple has begun issuing refunds for those who pre-ordered and chose rush shipping. To me that signals that delays are imminent. While it’s certainly sad that it’s delayed, being the gadget lover that I and surely all of you are, it’s at least comforting to see Apple being proactive and issuing refunds in advance. With that said, Apple hasn’t come forward (nor responded to emails) about whether or not the AppleTV is in fact delayed. Though let’s be real — If Apple is issuing refunds for orders with rush shipping at the end of September, it’s highly likely the release has already been pushed back.

We’ll keep checking our inbox and let you know once we find out something.

Shocker: Warner Bros. doesn’t like Apple’s new cheaper rental plans.

For those who prefer renting to purchasing movies or TV episodes, Apple’s announcement regarding the new AppleTV and rental-only business model likely made you jump for joy in the streets. Right from the start, a slew of big name companies were on board except one — Warner Bros. While they’re not the only kind on the block, they’re certainly a major player. So it’s with great disappointment that I ruin you, the rental-loving readers’ day. Warner Bros WILL NOT be renting out shows on the new AppleTV. Apparently, they hate money. Contrary to what they’ll claim of course.

You see, their greed is repulsive. They think the tens of millions hundreds of millions they would make with an iTunes $0.99 rental plan isn’t enough. That’s fine. Warner Bros. Execs and shareholders think they’re helping their bottom line when in fact they’re hurting it. Instead of people getting the content they want and how they want on their AppleTV, many will instead fire up their torrent app of choice and get the episode and possibly the entire season for free. You see Warner Bros. (and every other big media company who put greed over consumers), when you screw over consumers, they screw you back. Have fun with that…

Jailbreak your iOS-powered AppleTV

We can’t say for certain just quite yet whether or not Apple’s latest “hobby” (read: AppleTV) will run iOS, but glancing through the latest iOS 4.2 beta certainly seems to heavily hint that it will. With an iOS-powered AppleTV comes all kinds of possibilities. On the more “legitimate” front, there’s the possibility we could see AppleTV specific apps. With TV’s continually hyping apps on the sales floor, Apple could instantly smash through all previous attempts to woo customers with such things. Even more exciting, however, is the possibility of jailbroken AppleTV’s.

Unlike the older generation AppleTV’s, the new models are molded around a rental-only approach. You can’t actually “purchase” and download TV shows and movies to your local drive anymore. But, with a jailbroken AppleTV, such things could be made possible. At that point, the AppleTV would be a whole helluva lot more interesting — in my eyes at least.

And yet, the AppleTV demo Steve showed off a few weeks back appeared to be running the same stock UI/OS the older AppleTVs did. With that said, I highly doubt Steve would demo one thing, neglect to say anything about iOS taking over navigational duties for AppleTV, and then release said product a couple of months later without any previous keynote/demo/limelight whatsoever.

So while we wait on the edge of our seats for anything more concrete, we’ll cling to the only clue we have: the “AppleTV2,1″ string found in the latest 4.2 iOS beta. Would anyone prefer an iOS-powered AppleTV over the old standard?

New Apple TV continues “rental-only” approach to digital media. Is it anti-consumer?

Apple is a funny company when it comes to updates. On one hand, they’ll keep supporting older hardware much longer than your typical consumer electronics manufacturer. The original iPhone was receiving updates up until the iPhone 4 dropped. Granted, a security/bug fix could still make it’s way back in time. But what end users really care about — New features!! — won’t be going backwards any longer. And then you have instances such as the Apple TV. The first couple of years for the Apple TV was rather uneventful. An added feature here, a slightly tweaked design there.

With the release of the new, drastically smaller Apple TV, two big changes will have far reaching consequences: (1) Older models will no longer receive updates of any kind, and (2) You cannot “buy” movies/tv shows anymore. It’s straight up rentals from here on out. Updates for older hardware isn’t something to be expected for any great length of time. But what about the most recent “older” Apple TV? Surely it’s not that old that it cannot partake of the new features, most notably Netflix, is it? The previous gen Apple TV doesn’t seem all that old. Kind of a pre-mature death, wouldn’t you say?

And then there’s the whole buying vs. renting arguement…

Redbox dipping their toes into streaming/digital rentals?

So far, Redbox has kept itself completely in the physical realm, giving customers a great and cheap way to rent DVD’s. But even they realize they can’t be as senseless as BlockBuster and pretend a digital future isn’t quickly approaching. At least thats the goal of Redbox president, Mitch Lowe. According to him, the expansion to online markets is a given and one that is being taken seriously.

Fans of the drive-by rental process shouldn’t worry though. The basic physical DVD rental model that’s catapulted Redbox into popularity will remain for some time. Besides DVD’s, Lowe cites the upcoming release of Blu-ray titles as an extended run for physical sales while they get the digital stuff all worked out.

Either way, it’ll be nice to see some more competition in the online rental space. Especially since Netflix recently bent over for hollywood and accepted one of the most asinine agreements yet — you know, the 30-day physical-only rental period.

Any Redbox fans looking forward to digital ventures?

Common sense does exist — Paramount to allow Redbox and friends new movie rentals same day as new movie purchases.

I’ve honestly lost count how many times I’ve written articles criticizing the MPAA and movie industry as a whole. Their entire thinking in general is bassakwards and completely anti-consumer. The only beneficiary is the rights owners’ pockets. Consumers on the other hand get shafted as old business models are desperately fought for in vain. But even after three separate movie studios have blacklisted Redbox and others such as Netflix with BS 28-day rental blackouts, common sense does reside in at least one — Paramount.

Paramount Home Entertainment is actually promising that they’re going to allow rental services to rent out new movie purchases the same day as they are available for actual purchase. +1 for the consumer…