As expected, Steve Jobs took the wraps off the new $99 Apple TV today as his “one more thing.” Admitting that it’s “never been a huge hit,” Jobs announced that the new unit features TV show rentals from Fox and ABC for 99 cents each — a new development that local TV affiliates are watching carefully. Jobs said he hopes other networks will join, soon.
The rentals are good for 30 days, until you press play — then you have 48 hours to view. They’re commercial free and in HD.
The new Apple TV also features Netflix built right in — the “best implementation” of Netflix on TV, Jobs said. Plus, you can stream video from your Apple devices directly to your TV, from your iPad to your iPhone. But the announcement did not include apps for the Apple TV, as some had anticipated.
A groundbreaking device? Not really, but for $99 and seamless integration with all your Apple devices, not a bad addition to your living room. And for local stations, one more fragment in the fragmenting world of television.