Tech News

Apple to allow YouTube on Apple TV

By Steve Ragan May 31, 2007, 15:34 GMT

On the same day that Apple launched DRM-free music, they made two other announcements regarding Apple TV. Apple said Wednesday, that they are bringing original content from the wildly popular and often sued YouTube, to the living room with Apple TV. Apple said to expect the feature by mid-June. Apple TV will wirelessly stream videos directly from YouTube and play them on a user’s widescreen television.

Using the artistic and easy on the eye interface on Apple TV, along with the Apple Remote, viewers can easily browse and watch free videos from YouTube in the comfort of their living room. “This is the first time users can easily browse, find and watch YouTube videos right from their living room couch, and it’s really, really fun,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “YouTube is a worldwide sensation, and Apple TV is bringing it directly from the Internet onto the widescreen TV in your living room.”

Thousands of the most current and popular YouTube videos will be available on Apple TV at launch in mid-June.  With YouTube adding thousands more each week until the full YouTube catalog is available this fall, Apple said. YouTube members can also login to their YouTube accounts on Apple TV to view and save their favorite videos. The launch of YouTube on Apple TV is also inline with another Apple announcement.

Apple said that it is offering a new Apple TV build-to-order option with a 160GB hard drive. The new drive offers four times the storage for up to two hundred hours of video, thirty-six thousand songs, twenty-five thousand photos, or a combination of each.

Apple TV is available through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), for a suggested retail price of $299. Apple TV with a 160GB hard drive will be available tomorrow for a suggested retail price of $399. The YouTube feature for Apple TV will be available as a free software update in mid-June.