Steve Jobs announced an update to the Apple TV at Macworld San Francisco this week as well as iTunes Movie Rentals, which were already rumored to be part of his Macworld keynote speech. The moves are designed to make the Apple TV easier to use.
The Failed Apple TV Video Strategy
Apple’s video strategy was a letdown, as Jobs himself admitted. The anticipated adoption of the Apple TV did not align with Jobs’ expectations. When Apple first announced the Apple TV last January, Apple’s initial video plan was too complicated for many people. Getting a video onto your Apple TV required customers to jump through a lot of hoops. To watch the video, they needed to purchase it from the iTunes Store, download it to their computer, and then sync or stream it via an Apple TV.
Just imagine a family sitting down to watch a movie in their living room. Once they decide on a movie, someone needs to buy the movie, download it, and then sync it to the Apple TV. Depending on your Internet connection, the entire process, start to finish, could take up to 30–45 mins.
Apple’s Shift To Rentals And Direct Streaming
Although Apple has already sold 7 million movies, Jobs said: “That’s more than everyone else put together, but it did not meet our expectations.”
Apple plans on overhauling their Apple TV strategy by making 2 major changes:
- Adding a new online movie rental service
- Updating the Apple TV’s software so that viewers can stream movies direct from the internet sans (that’s Middle English for without) computer.
Jobs thinks that viewers would prefer to rent movies, not buy them. The new Apple TV software will allow users to rent films from every major movie studio, including Fox, WB, Paramount, Universal and Sony. Jobs called it “A better way to provide movies to our customers.” Blockbuster and Netflix can’t be happy right now.
1000 films will be available for rental on iTunes starting in February 2008. Going forward, movies will be available to rent 30 days after they are released on DVD. Broadband users won’t have to wait for these giant movie files to download. Moments after you rent the film using your Apple TV, it will be watchable immediately via streaming. How much are iTunes movie rentals? $2.99 to rent older titles, $3.99 for new releases. Add one more $1 to those prices if you want to rent the movie in HD.
Thomas Lesinski, president of Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment, joined Jobs on stage at Macworld and called the rental service a “defining moment” for the distribution of digital video content. “This is really going to take things to the next level,” he said.
The new Apple TV software features will be included in a free Apple TV update scheduled to be released in February. You can update your Apple TV by selecting “Update Software” from the Settings menu.
30 Weird And Embarrassing David Hasselhoff Photos
David Hasselhoff was a 1980s legend. His role in the talking car NBC TV series Knight Rider instantly made him an international megastar. Then, shortly after Knight Rider was canceled, Hasselhoff used his international appeal for a Top 40 music career in Europe. But Hoff wouldn’t deprive his American fans for long. In the early 1990s, Hasselhoff came back to prime time with another TV show for NBC called Baywatch. NBC foolishly canceled Baywatch and Hasselhoff took the show to syndication where it exploded and became one of the most successful syndicated TV shows in history.
[Tweet “Over the years, David Hasselhoff has participated in several very unusual photoshoots. Here are some of the most embarrassing David Hasselhoff photos and video clips of all time.”]
Weird And Embarrassing David Hasselhoff Photos
Throughout Hasselhoff’s career, he participated in several very cheesy photoshoots. People have described these photos as questionable, disturbing, weird and, of course, hilarious. Here are some of the most embarrassing David Hasselhoff photos and video clips of all time.
Soap Pump
Who wouldn’t want to pump David Hasselhoff’s crotch every time you want to wash your hands? This soap dispenser was first seen in Germany. It features a “new hunky aroma”.
Drunk And Eating A Hamburger On The Floor
David Hasselhoff struggled with alcohol addiction during several parts of his career. In 2007, his daughter recorded a video of him eating a Wendy’s hamburger off of a hotel room floor and shared it online (with his permission).
Super Dog
Cuddling With Puppies
This is actually a nice photo of David Hasselhoff with two dogs.
Naked With Dogs
This is the opposite of the previous photo. Out of all the weird David Hasselhoff photos on the Internet, this is probably the most frightening.
Wearing Solar Shields Sunglasses
Is Hasselhoff wearing Terminator “Gargoyle Legend” sunglasses or Solar Shields, the oversized sunglasses popular with senior citizens? We can’t tell.
David Hasselhoff In Outerspace?
Naked With A Senior Couple
David Hasselhoff Wearing An Eye Patch
Dare For More Pepsi Ad
Is David Hasselhoff swinging on a tire swing really that daring? Not sure what Pepsi was going for with this “Dare For More” print ad.
Tire Swing
Apparently, The Hoff really likes tire swings.
Sweaty Armpits
Leather Jacket And Underwear
Does anyone else feel a draft?
Hairy Chest
Denim Vest & Hairy Chest
Just another day on the set of “The Young and the Restless.”
“Has Anyone Seen My Shirt?”
Hairy Chest And A Magazine
Jacket No Shirt
Standing In A Lake
The Falconer
I’m The Hoff
Pepsi Explosion
I’m Michael Knight And I Love My Car
Hanging Out With Gary Coleman
David Hasselhoff on the set of Knight Rider with actor Gary Coleman from Diff’rent Strokes.
Night Rocker
On The Phone
Hasselhoff In Drag
Hasselhoff had to dress up in drag for his role in the Las Vegas production of The Producers. In 2007, People magazine took photos of Hasselhoff’s drag transformation.
Hitler Sings
In David Hasselhoff’s 2012 stage show “An Evening With David Hasselhoff”, he played several roles, including Hitler. The Hitler role was an homage to Mel Brooks’ musical ‘To Be Or Not To Be’.
Air Surfing On Himself
Hooked On A Feeling Music Video
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Frank Wilson is a retired teacher with over 30 years of combined experience in the education, small business technology, and real estate business. He now blogs as a hobby and spends most days tinkering with old computers. Wilson is passionate about tech, enjoys fishing, and loves drinking beer.
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