Apple TV Take 2, Now with AirTunes, Soon with Airfoil

On Tuesday, Apple released version 2 of the Apple TV software, a free update dubbed "Take 2." You've likely heard about the major changes like buying from the iTunes store directly from the device, the more refined user interface, support for movie rentals and web-based photo slide shows.

What you might not have heard is that the new software also allows the Apple TV to act as an AirTunes device. This means you can stream audio from iTunes on your computer through your Apple TV to your sound system, just like you can with an AirPort Express. You can even control iTunes on your computer using the Apple TV remote control. Nice.

But what if you want to play audio from some other source on your computer? Or synchronize your audio stream to multiple AirTunes devices or even to other local Macs? Enter Airfoil, a $25 application from Rogue Amoeba that allows you to do just that. Except that it's not quite compatible with Apple TV just yet, but they're working furiously on an update that will deliver that capability. Double nice.

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Costco offers major Apple TV discounts

AppleInsider reports that Costco is offering a $50 rebate on the 160GB Apple TV that reduces the price at checkout from the usual $390 to $340. The rebate is effective until November 24th, but it's unclear whether the move to clear stock is from Apple or Costco.

If it's Cosco, it could mean the larger Apple TV isn't selling as well as expected. If it's Apple, it could mean they're clearing inventory to make room for a new version. I'm hoping for the latter, but I suspect, especially in the absence of other indicators, that it's the former.

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Ripping episodic DVDs

So you've got an Apple TV and some TV shows on DVD and you want to rip multiple episodes off the DVD so you can watch them with your Apple TV. How to go about it.... Well, it's not as easy as it could be (and likely will be eventually), but read on for the step-by-step.

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Converting movies for Apple TV using Roxio Crunch (an in-depth review)

Daniel Eran Dilger over at AppleInsider offers a very telling review of Roxio's forthcoming video conversion tool targeted at Apple TV owners. Sounds like "crapware" would be a more appropriate description. Save your money for something useful.

Unable to match the features of the free HandBrake, with an interface only slightly simpler than QuickTime Pro but offering with less consistent results, Crunch doesn't seem to be worth its $50 price.

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RSS: How Apple Will Change TV in 2007

Apple TV has a DVR -- it's called podcasting.

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Convert video for Apple TV

Get DVDs and other video on your hard drive to play through Apple's set-top box

But before you dive in, remember that this is a gray area, legally speaking. Because ripping commercial DVDs circumvents the copy-protection system employed on these discs, it’s questionable as to whether the use of this type of software is legal—even if you own the DVD and are ripping it only to watch it in another form. You’ll have to assess the risks yourself; if you decide to take the plunge, read on.

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