Still hunting for free stuff on iTunes? You used to have to rely on sites like TUAW or itsfreedownloads.com to get a list of free content on iTunes. Not anymore (well, at least for the most part). Now iTunes has its own page that lists all the free content all under one page.

However, the list found on iTunes is not as extensive as the lists found on TUAW or itsfreedownloads.com though. But at least, it can be conveniently accessed right inside iTunes.

Apple has finally updated the support web site to reflect new features of Apple TV 2.0 software update. Articles like "Upgrading Apple TV software to version 2.0", "Renting a movie from the iTunes Store" and "Apple TV software version 2.0 features" are now available for viewing.

By the way, the Apple TV User's Guide found on the support site has not yet been updated.  

Stop whatever you're doing, head over to your Apple TV and download the new update NOW! I'm downloading mine right now.

It is so fresh that Apple hasn't even updated their web site to reflect this yet. The support pages still have the same old information. I'm sure it will come in a few hours.

Woo hoo!

Anyhow, let me know what your experience is?  Leave me some comments. 

EngadgetHD has finally gotten around to review the VUDU's HD rentals feature. Though it took them a day or two to get the 1.2 update (because there is no way to force the update), they were generally pleased with what they saw.

To sum up the review, the video quality of VUDU's HD movies is "marginally" better than what's found on upconverted DVDs. However, it is no match to HD DVD or Blu-ray. They were thoroughly impressed with the audio quality of the movies though: no syncing issues, or lags.

Overall, the experience was "enjoyable". However, it is nowhere near ready to take on HD DVD or Blu-ray.

A few weeks back, I have written an article called "Repurposing the Apple TV ", which was about how the Apple TV could be used to do things other than just playing music and movies. In it, I listed features like webcam, calendar and even widgets.

Well, guess what? Apple might really be doing just that.

MacNN reported that Apple has just filed 47 patent applications involving a new Apple remote with widget keys and other interesting applications related to the Apple TV and Front Row.

The new Apple remote found with the patent applications features a new set of 5 buttons found at the bottom of the remote.  These buttons are used to interact the widget(s) presented on the screen.   These widgets can be downloaded live from the broadcast signal or via telephone line or even from a DVD media.

Though the applications proposed many different types of widgets for the Apple TV/Front Row, one in particular holds a lot of promise:  Video Conferencing widget. I have discussed this before about how nice it would be to finally use the webcam in the living room rather than the office.

It seems like Apple employees read this blog after all. 

Still browsing the web on your computer with that tiny 24" screen? How about kicking it up a notch and do it on your 52" LCD instead?

Brandon Holland has just informed me of his latest project, Safari HD. As you might have guessed from the name, he's working on getting Safari to work on the Apple TV.

Of course, getting Safari or Firefox running on the Apple TV is nothing new. You can run pretty much any application using the Applications Menu plugin. However, Safari HD is going to be native to the Backrow interface of the Apple TV. This way, you get the same consistent look with other Apple TV applications.

The target date is March 1st. Can't wait...

Been waiting to buy albums from rap moguls like Eminem and T-Pain?  Hold out no more.  iTunes Store is running a sale on hip-hop/rap albums.  As usual, these albums go for only $7.99.  With 38 albums to choose from, there bounds to be one that suits you.

Ever wished you could access media files from UPnP Media Servers from your Apple TV?  Now you can.  Thanks to Bruno Keymolen.

Bruno has created a UPnP client for the Apple TV for Home MediaCloud.  So now, not only can you access those media files from your computers, Xbox 360 and PS3, but also the Apple TV.

As with most hacks, it requires an ssh-enabled Apple TV.  You also need a few libraries to be copied over to the Apple TV in order to get it to work.  If you're an old pro at hacking, this should be pretty straight forward.  If you are not, then you might want to wait to get your hacking skills up there first. 

Finally a new movie to add to the list of closed-captioned movies on iTunes. After seeing no changes at all for a few weeks, Apple just added closed captioning to Winter Solstice, a 2004 drama about a widower trying to cope his wife's death and raising his two sons.

Hopefully, we'll see this list updated much more often. Again, I can't do this alone, so if you would like to add to the list, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

VUDU's marketing department is really working non-stop to lure people over to their camp. They just lowered the price for their set top box a few days ago. Now, they're offering 60 more HD titles via its version 1.2 software update.

Along with this update come other features like Instant HD, Change Speed Limit and Constant Audio Setting. If you have a VUDU, this is probably a worthy upgrade.

Hmm, what will those marketing guys think of next?