The reviews for the new version are going to all sound pretty much like Engadet’s here. They’re going to love the device, love the interface, and hate the fact that there is not enough content in the iTunes store.
The part I find odd is that other than the $99 price tag and the inclusion of Netflix, there’s nothing the new Apple TV can do that the old one couldn’t; in fact, the old one was actually a MORE capable device. Yet everyone slammed that one for years as a poor effort. Apple literally took features away, did the bare minimum to get a cheaper version out, and the press rewarded them for it. Buyers will as well, I suspect.
It’s mostly about that $99 of course. The “what the hell” price, as my friend Webomatica likes to put it. And that’s okay with me. I just wish people would admit that they’re cheapskates.
So Apple TV remains a hobby, albeit a hobby that is more likely now to generate some revenue for Apple. Perhaps they’ll finally start giving us sales stats. That’s when you’ll know whether or not this cheap price scheme was a success.
Maybe a larger installed base will give Apple a better bargaining position with the content owners, too. But I’m not holding my breath.
