DISCLAIMER: I thought the first Apple TV was relatively useless.

Today, Apple announced significant changes to Apple TV at the press event held in San Francisco (which, by the way, was streamed LIVE for the world to watch). The new Apple TV, available by the beginning of October, comes in at 1/4 the size of the original. It’s smaller than a sandwich. You can use a Tupperware container as your carrying case now – provided you’ve cleaned it first.

But there are tastier details to sink your teeth into!

There’s no media to keep track of anymore (through klutzy synching processes and whatnot) – everything will stream live into the tiny slice of digital heaven through either a network cable or WiFi (802.11n). As someone who hates storing media, this change is most welcomed. There’s a reason I use and love both Pandora and Rhapsody for my music, and why I’ve taken to Hulu for available TV show viewing. And on that note…

Once you’ve set up your new Apple TV, you’ll be able to “choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for just 99 cents.” That’s quite a competitive price for legally-attainable media in conjunction with a convenient interface and service. Not sure I’ll take advantage of this part of the Apple TV, though; I’m not into à la carte media consumption.

Netflix subscribers (like myself) have access to the entire streaming library of Netflix videos. If the video is in your instant queue, you’re just a few clicks away from watching it with Apple TV. You can also view streaming media from YouTube and Flickr – plus watch your favorite podcasts (like a certain someone’s) and access streaming media and images on the computers in your home.

Job(s) well done.

Oh, did I remember to tell you that the price of this sophomore effort has also been cut by 66%! That brings the Apple TV price point to US$99 – a great impulse buy for gadget geeks and mediaphiles. I’ll buy one, pick up a few extra HDMI and power cables, then tote a single unit around the house with me.

While I never considered purchasing the original Apple TV (not once), I can’t wait for this to ship (available in about four weeks to consumers in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany and Australia).

Am I alone with being impressed?

Apple TV Moves to Rental Model, Drops Price to $99

I’m a latecomer to LOST.

It’s always tricky when you start watching shows mid-season, but it’s even more difficult when you start watching shows long after the first episode. I might not have the full LOST backstory, but I don’t really feel the need to go back and watch the first couple of seasons (even though we have them on DVD already).

I started watching LOST at some point in the beginning of the previous season, and this new season began just a few weeks ago. So far, so good – at least, in my opinion.

I heard a few people complaining about how this season is going so far, and so I decided to ask my Twitter followers: are you digging it or ditching it?

kyleheine: way digging it!

about 5 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 07:01:33 +0000 2009

moderatelywell: love it nose bleeding time travelers whats better than that?

about 21 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:46:03 +0000 2009

bettybeth: Have not seen the most recent episode, but definitely enjoying this season of LOST and will stick with it until its over.

about 32 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:34:44 +0000 2009

JadeEJF: I’m enjoying Lost for now. At least it’s got a focus for both groups, unlike some other seasons I’ve seen.

about 35 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:31:23 +0000 2009

jthrasher: Loving LOST.

about 37 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:29:25 +0000 2009

beetleman08: So far I think this season of LOST is great!

about 38 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:28:25 +0000 2009

lemonkey: I never watched it before but I caught a few minutes of it tonight and thought the commentary notes at the bottom were neat.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:20:32 +0000 2009

fancyfembot: definitely digging Lost

about 47 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:19:35 +0000 2009

venson: digging LOST!

about 49 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:17:36 +0000 2009

JRegner: digging Lost!

about 52 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:14:56 +0000 2009

robertrosenfeld: I’ve loved LOST since the begging. Tonight’s episode rocked!

about 53 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:13:41 +0000 2009

onewiredguy: digging it! Except tonight… Wasn’t very exciting

about 57 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:09:51 +0000 2009

starlite528: Not even watching LOST, only saw the first couple of episodes from season 1. I don’t watch much TV.

about 59 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 06:07:59 +0000 2009

Outsanity: I gave up on LOST. Just let me know when they ALL leave the island

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 06:06:27 +0000 2009

MCKLEIN73: I have to say im digging LOST how can you ditch one of the greatest series of our times?

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 06:04:29 +0000 2009

mtor82: I’m digging this season of lost.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 06:02:20 +0000 2009

findingnewo: AKA I’m digging it

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 06:01:28 +0000 2009

findingnewo: LOST is getting so good now. Besides season 1, this is the best season so far.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 06:01:09 +0000 2009

nicolosi: I’m liking it still. @mmatassa keeps asking me why I haven’t gotten sick of it yet. Then again, I liked twin peaks to the end

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 06:00:19 +0000 2009

shellyroche: definitely digging. especially hurley a) throwing hot pockets or b) in orange jumpsuit

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:56:19 +0000 2009

golddeath: i have to much time invested in LOST to just abandon it after 3 subpar episodes, have faith!

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:55:57 +0000 2009

adamwgodfrey: digging it

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:54:01 +0000 2009

infinitelypie: I’m still loving it. Particularly since they’re getting more into the time travel aspect.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:53:41 +0000 2009

scwilder: I ditched antenna, satellite, and cable all together. Just heard of the HDTV upgrade last week :) LOST — no clue, lost myself

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:52:52 +0000 2009

mayhemstudios: I’m loving #LOST so far. Taking it to another place, from where it first started.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:52:16 +0000 2009

Dave0: Two words: Freakin’ Awesome. #lost

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:52:12 +0000 2009

onespartan: Totally digging it.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:52:07 +0000 2009

icequeen057: Still trying to get caught up – but I’m into the end of season 4 and loving it. Friends have only said great things about 5.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:51:26 +0000 2009

joshua_w: totally digging it!

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:51:18 +0000 2009

sperling: I’m so far behind in “Lost”. I haven’t even watched last season’s finale! Should probably do that soon before TiVo erases ‘em.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:51:13 +0000 2009

mattsnod: Digging Lost. I’m understanding everything that’s happening this year. I’ve always been good with time travel in fiction.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:51:02 +0000 2009

tangomega: I have stayed away from “Lost” since the beginning. So, “Ditch”, I guess.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:50:51 +0000 2009

harrysaxon23: It’s fantastic and getting better, IMO. I think they’re proving how well-mapped the series arc was admirably.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:50:44 +0000 2009

javajive: No way I could ditch it after following it from the beginning. No matter what route it takes, I need to see it through.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:50:22 +0000 2009

jandrick: still digging

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:50:00 +0000 2009

Superbad24: DIGGING IT by A LOT!!!!

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:49:53 +0000 2009

smabjure: Digging it to the max.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:49:31 +0000 2009

drpants: Digging it, big time.

about an hour ago

Thu Feb 05 05:49:12 +0000 2009

Has LOST Jumped the Shark?

There’s no code to look at right now, but I’m surprised this news hasn’t been picked up anywhere (that I can see)? The author says that there’s currently no download available, but it’s still an amazing application to look forward to – especially if it beats Ted. Here’s some of the features the dev is planning, per the Aufero blog:

• Aufero uses about fifty sources for its information gathering, a lot of it is irrelevant but over time it gathers more relevant information about present and future. For instance it definitely is worth scheduling the download of “Magnum P.I. ‘trailer’” (scheduled for release sometime in ’07) already today.
• Notification of relevant events through mail when you are not in front of your TV.
• Automatic download of videos on your Wish List as Torrents becomes available (give it some hours to monitor activity after something is released)
• Aufero is written completely from scratch with the sole purpose of being a Vista Media Center application.
• Seemlessly play non-WMV (eg. XviD etc) on XBox360 using Aufero’s media library (requires TVersity)

Dude. This sounds awesome. Right now, my scheduled torrenting is somewhat of a kludge. I really should get my ol’ Media Center set up again, eh? Maybe I’ll try that beta of Windows Home Server and see if that works well enough…

BitTorrent for Windows Media Center is Coming!