Apple TV 3.0 is largely as rumored: Adding support for Internet radio, Genius Mixes, iTunes LP and iTunes Extras (bonus clips, interviews, etc.). But it boasts another new feature as well: A redesigned user interface.

Whether the debut of Apple TV 3.0 heralds a hardware refresh of the device itself is anyone’s guess. It is worth noting, though, that there’s been quite a bit of speculation recently that Cupertino is working on an overhauled device that will offer DVR capabilities and support iTunes TV show subscriptions.

As Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster wrote back in August: “Apple could leverage its deep library of content with many network and cable channel content owners to provide unlimited access to a sub-library of its TV shows for a standard monthly fee ($30 or $40 per month).”

According to Munster, “Such a product would effectively replace a consumer’s monthly cable bill (~$85/month) and offer access to current and older episodes of select shows on select channels. The selection would dictate the value, and several tiers could be offered, but we see this as one way for Apple to leverage its large iTunes content library as well as its unique Apple TV hardware in order to get digital video to the TV for a price significantly less than the average cable or satellite TV bill.”

Sounds sweet, right? And it would be sweeter still if it were to offer App Store support and allow users to control games and other apps via iPhone or iPod touch …

Below, the official Apple (AAPL) release:

Apple Introduces Apple TV 3.0 Software With Redesigned User Interface

Enjoy iTunes Extras, iTunes LP & Genius Mixes on Your HD TV

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 29 — Apple® today introduced new Apple TV® 3.0 software featuring a redesigned main menu that makes navigating your favorite content simpler and faster, and makes enjoying the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes® Store even better on your TV. You can now enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with your Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system. The new Apple TV software is available immediately free of charge to existing Apple TV owners, and Apple TV with 160GB capacity is available for just $229.

“The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio.”

The redesigned main menu on Apple TV gives you instant access to your favorite content. Recently rented or purchased movies, as well as other content including TV shows, music, podcasts, photos and YouTube, are accessible directly from the new main menu. The new software also allows Apple TV users to enjoy stunning fullscreen iTunes Extras and iTunes LP, including great new movie titles such as “Star Trek” or classics like “The Wizard of Oz” and albums such as Taylor Swift’s “Fearless (Platinum Edition)” and Jack Johnson’s “En Concert.” iTunes Extras gives movie fans great additional content such as deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries. iTunes LP is the next evolution of the music album, delivering a rich, immersive experience for select albums on the iTunes Store by combining beautiful design with expanded visual features like live performance videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits and more.

Now Apple TV users can enjoy Genius Mixes through their home theater system and listen to up to 12 endless mixes of songs that go great together, automatically generated from their iTunes library. Customers can also enjoy Internet radio, allowing them to browse and listen to thousands of Internet radio stations, as well as tag favorite stations to listen to later. Apple TV’s support of HD photos is enhanced with iPhoto Events, which simplifies finding your favorite photos on Apple TV, as well as iPhoto® Faces, which gives access to photos organized by people identified in iPhoto.

Apple TV users have direct access to a catalog of over 8,000 Hollywood films on iTunes including over 2,000 in stunning HD video available for rent or purchase. Users can also choose from a selection of 11 million songs, 10,000 music videos and over 50,000 TV episodes to purchase directly from their Apple TV or browse and enjoy the iTunes Store podcast directory of over 175,000 free video and audio podcasts. Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user’s computer for enjoyment on their Mac® or PC or all current generation iPods or iPhones.* iPod touch® or iPhone® users can download the free Remote app from the App Store to control their Apple TV with a simple tap or flick of the finger.

Nearly a third, 32 percent, said AT&T.

And another 23 percent said the quality, coverage and speed of AT&T’s network. (Click image below to enlarge.)

Now, that isn’t all that surprising given the swell of bad press that occurred when AT&T admitted at Macworld 2009 that unlike dozens of other carriers that it wasn’t ready to support iPhone tethering or MMS support. But it’s interesting that AT&T (T) is responsible for two of the top three complaints about an Apple (AAPL) product. I can’t imagine that’s going over too well in Cupertino.

Says ChangeWave: “There are no indications that Apple’s AT&T problem is going away. On the contrary, the better customers feel about their iPhones the worse they feel about AT&T–with nearly one-in-two 3GS owners citing AT&T-related issues as their biggest dislike. These survey results suggest Apple will be forced to deal with the issue sooner than many analysts expect.”

“There will be a day when we are not exclusive with the iPhone,” AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said recently. And apparently, iPhone users are hoping that day comes sooner rather than later.

Jeff Zwerner, who did stints at Apple as both senior art director and creative director for packaging, has signed on at Palm (PALM) as senior vice president of brand design.

Zwerner joins Palm Chairman and CEO Jon Rubinstein, formerly Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering; Senior VP of Product Development Mike Bell, former SVP of product development at Apple (AAPL); VP of Public Relations Lynn Fox, who once headed up Mac PR for the Cupertino, Calif., company; and board member Fred Anderson, who served as Apple’s CFO from 1996 to 2004.

Quite a collection. And it doesn’t include rank-and-file employees who’ve train-hopped from Cupertino to Sunnyvale. Seems Palm’s makeover isn’t so much a reinvention as a reimagining of the company as a sort of paint-by-numbers version of Apple.

“AT&T does not manage or approve applications for the App Store,” the company said in a statement. “We have received the letter and will, of course, respond to it.”

A flat denial, and one that would seem to throw Apple (AAPL) under the bus for denying iPhone owners access to Google Voice. Though just why Cupertino would take issue with an an iPhone application that offers free text messaging and allows users to make calls, routed via the Internet, for free in the United States and for a small fee internationally is unclear. After all, it’s not Apple’s domestic and international calling business the app is potentially encroaching on.

And AT&T (T) is being somewhat disingenuous here since it acknowledged this past May that it had SlingPlayer for iPhone black-holed from the App Store because of concerns over bandwidth.

So while AT&T may not directly “manage or approve applications,” the carrier is clearly capable of influencing management and approval of them.

Could it be that Apple is contractually bound to reject apps that might compete with AT&T’s service? An agreement like that would certainly make it easy for AT&T to adopt the hey-don’t-look-at-me stance it has taken with the FCC.

That said, it’s entirely possible that the Apple’s rejection of Google Voice apps had nothing to do with AT&T and everything to do with its increasingly complicated relationship with Google (GOOG).

As Daring Fireball’s John Gruber notes, “Google Voice is a mobile phone service provided by the maker of one of the biggest competitors to the iPhone OS. What if Google Voice were instead Microsoft Voice? And what if Windows Mobile were as modern and competitive as Android? Would you be as surprised then that Apple is discouraging iPhone owners from using the service?”

“iTunes 8.2.1 disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”

– Apple, July 15, 2009

“Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That’s right–you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1).”

– Palm, July 23, 2009

Devices “falsely pretending to be iPods” can once again sync with iTunes, whether Apple (AAPL) likes it or not.

Palm (PALM) this evening released an update to the Pre’s webOS operating system that restores the iTunes syncing ability disabled by its Cupertino rival only last week.

“Palm has released webOS 1.1, which, along with offering more robust EAS support for business users, re-enables Palm media sync,” said company spokesperson Lynn Fox. “Palm believes that openness and interoperability offer better experiences for users by allowing them the freedom to use the content they own without interference across devices and services, so on behalf of consumers, we have notified the USB Implementers Forum of what we believe is improper use of the Vendor ID number by another member.”

The “oh, and one more thing” was a nice touch. But let’s face it, nothing can come of this but ugliness….

According to new stats from NPD Group, Apple now claims 91 percent of the U.S. retail market for personal computers costing more than $1,000. Nine out of 10 dollars spent on such machines in June went to Cupertino.

Now, granted, Cupertino only sells three Macs priced below $1,000 (the 13-inch MacBook and both versions of the Mac Mini), and Apple’s (AAPL) rivals’ offerings typically price out in the $690 -to-$703 range. Still, that 91 percent metric is impressive.

As Joe Wilcox over at Betanews puts it, “A (higher pricing) doesn’t necessarily lead to B (greater sales). All major Windows OEMs sell PCs in the premium category, too. Apple’s charging more isn’t necessarily recipe for people paying more for Macs, or their capturing big revenue share.”

That said, as NPD analyst Stephen Baker points out, Windows product average selling prices have been falling pretty rapidly over time, especially at retail, so it was inevitable that Apple’s share of the high-end market would rise, since the company hasn’t really altered its pricing philosophy.

And devices masquerading as them.

Like the Palm (PALM) Pre. Because among this release’s “fixes” is one that prevents the Palm Pre from syncing with iTunes. Seems Apple (AAPL) has made good on the threat it made last month when the company warned that it does not support iTunes integration with third-party digital media players.

“Apple designs the hardware and software to provide seamless integration of the iPhone and iPod with iTunes, the iTunes Store, and tens of thousands of apps on the App Store,” the company said at the time. “Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players.”

And that is clearly the case with iTunes 8.2.1 which, as Apple spokesperson Nat Kerris explained to me, “disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”

And what does Palm think of all this? Is the Pre maker gearing up for a cat-and-mouse game with Cupertino? Who knows? At this point, the company is recommending that Pre users who want to preserve the syncing feature stick with an earlier version of iTunes. “Palm’s media sync works with iTunes 8.2. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience,” said spokesperson Lynn Fox. “However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we can consider.”

Below: Video of Elevation Partners Managing Director Roger McNamee and Palm Chairman and CEO Jon Rubinstein showing off the Pre at our D7 conference in late May.

]]> http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090715/itunes-821-fixes-pres-syncing-ability/feed/ 0 http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090616/unsupported-third-party-digital-media-players-hmm-wonder-who-that-could-be/ http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090616/unsupported-third-party-digital-media-players-hmm-wonder-who-that-could-be/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:13:43 +0000 John Paczkowski http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/?p=19657 Palm’s Pre is the first non-Apple device to successfully link with iTunes in years. And it may be the last. On Tuesday, Apple issued an advisory warning that it does not support iTunes integration with third-party digital media players.

Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players.

Translation: The Pre won’t be syncing with iTunes for long.

Now, Palm isn’t explicitly named in the advisory, but it’s clear that this is a broad shot across its bow. And it’s not like we didn’t see it coming. Did anyone really think that Apple (AAPL) would permit the Pre to sync with iTunes by masquerading as an iPod?

Funny. Asked last month at D7 if Apple might take issue with the Pre’s iTunes integration, Palm investor Roger McNamee said, “I don’t think so. They are practically a monopolist and this is what consumers want. Consumers own all this media. I find it hard to believe that Apple will get bent out of shape.” (see video below)

Well, believe it. That said, Palm (PALM) seems unfazed by Apple’s implied threat. Reached for comment, the company said Cupertino will only harm consumers if it disables iTunes integration with the Pre. “Palm’s media sync works with the current version of iTunes,” Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox told me. “If Apple chooses to disable media sync in a future version of iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we could consider.”

]]> http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090616/unsupported-third-party-digital-media-players-hmm-wonder-who-that-could-be/feed/ 1 http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090403/ibm-sun-day-monday/ http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090403/ibm-sun-day-monday/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:00:08 +0000 John Paczkowski http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/?p=16035 ]]> http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090403/ibm-sun-day-monday/feed/ 0 http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090403/future-iphones-to-sport-less-crappy-cameras/ http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090403/future-iphones-to-sport-less-crappy-cameras/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:47:30 +0000 John Paczkowski http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/?p=15971 Market source reports from Taiwanese trade mags are best taken with a grain of salt, if not an entire salt flat–particularly if they concern Apple. That said, Digitimes’s claim today that Cupertino has ordered a bunch of 3.2-megapixel CMOS image sensors for its next-generation iPhone seem entirely reasonable, if only because the device’s current camera is so poor (remember, these days some Japanese cellphones are packing upward of eight-megapixel cameras). The report also lends a bit of heft to rumors that the forthcoming iPhone revision will support video recording. Interestingly, Apple (AAPL) is also said to have ordered a number of five-megapixel sensors. Just what it plans to do with them is unknown. Perhaps, slap them into that e-book tablet it’s developing?

]]> http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090403/future-iphones-to-sport-less-crappy-cameras/feed/ 0 http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090323/100-percent-obvious-next-gen-iphone-due-this-summer/ http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090323/100-percent-obvious-next-gen-iphone-due-this-summer/#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:11:45 +0000 John Paczkowski http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/?p=15253 Though it made no mention of a next-generation handset at its iPhone OS 3.0 preview last week, Apple is clearly hard at work on one. And if history is any guide, the company will bring it to market sometime in early summer just as it did the iPhone 3G last year. And if history is any guide, this new iPhone will be a great improvement over its predecessor. And if history is any guide, the device will arrive at market in a cloud of hyperbole. So “100 percent confirmed” reports leaking out of AT&T claiming Cupertino is doing exactly that–prepping a new iphone that will “be faster and have a more seamless experience unmatched by any device”–and encouraging us all to prepare “for an exciting time this summer”–aren’t all that interesting. It’s not like Apple (AAPL) was going to surprise us all by not releasing a revision to the handset that’s upending the cellphone industry.

What is interesting here, though, are 100 percent unconfirmed hints that the next-generation iPhone will support faster 3G speeds. If this is indeed the case, it suggests that the device may run Infineon’s new SGOLD3 chipset. And if it does, that means it will be capable of supporting not just download speeds twice that of current 3G networks–theoretically 7.2 Mbps–but a five-megapixel camera and real-time video encoding/decoding with a new on-board video camera. Now that would make for an exciting summer, indeed.

]]> http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090323/100-percent-obvious-next-gen-iphone-due-this-summer/feed/ 1 http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090312/incoming-iphone-os-30/ http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090312/incoming-iphone-os-30/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:34:46 +0000 John Paczkowski http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/?p=14815
[ See post to watch video ]

]]> http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090312/incoming-iphone-os-30/feed/ 0 http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090312/iphone-30-preview-next-week/ http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090312/iphone-30-preview-next-week/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:42:40 +0000 John Paczkowski http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/?p=14800 Looks like Apple will hold a special event in March, after all–but its focus won’t be on desktops. This morning the company distributed invitations for a March 17 gathering at its Cupertino Town Hall to discuss the iPhone OS 3.0 and an updated software development kit. The event, which comes a little more than a year after the company first showed off the iPhone SDK, will be hosted by iPhone software vice president Scott Forstall and iPhone product marketing chief Greg Joswiak. Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs, who is on medical leave from the company, is not expected to attend.

The announcement of an impending update to the iPhone OS will doubtless cause tremors of fear over at Palm (PALM), which now may end up launching its new Pre smartphone in the shadow of an even more formidable rival. Just breathe into the paper bag and count to ten, Ed …

]]> http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090312/iphone-30-preview-next-week/feed/ 1