The new Apple TV for $99

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/apple-announcing-new-apple-tv/

Steve Jobs just pulled out the world famous "one more thing" for nothing other than... a new Apple TV. It's now a streaming-focused device (as we predicted months ago) in a small matte black enclosure we're calling "the hockey puck." It has HDMI, Ethernet, optical audio, and USB plugs around back, and of course 802.11n for the cable-averse. Inside there ain't much -- there's no local storage, which makes this thing an entirely different beast than old Apple TVs, relying entirely on the "cloud" for content. Those new streaming HD TV rentals from ABC and Fox will be a mere 99 cents, while first run HD movies will be a less thrilling $4.99. Other services include Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, and Mobile Me, along with Rotten Tomatoes integration in the movie catalog. You can also stream from your computer, if you miss those old hard drive-sourced days of yore, but iOS 4.2's AirPlay also enables streaming from an iPad straight to an Apple TV for something much more surreal. The best news? Apple will start shipping this sucker four weeks from now for $99.

Update: We just got confirmation from Apple that the new Apple TV will be streaming 720p video only (no big surprise there), and that existing Apple TVs won't be getting an upgrade to the new cloud-based software (again, not a shocker).

Gallery: Apple TV (2010) press images

Gallery: Apple announces new Apple TV - Hardware

Gallery: Apple announces new Apple TV - Interface

Continue reading The new Apple TV for $99

The new Apple TV for $99 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Reader Cuts the Clutter with Fullscreen Mode, New Shortcuts [Newsreaders]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5625876/google-reader-cuts-the-clutter-with-fullscreen-mode-new-shortcuts

Google quietly updated their popular web-based RSS app Reader with a new fullscreen mode that hides all the clutter and navigation so you can focus exclusively on what you're reading.

You can toggle fullscreen mode on and off by hitting 'f' (as in fullscreen). When you turn on fullscreen, all the navigation, the search box, the external links, and all the rest of the space that isn't about reading your feeds vanishes, and all you're left with is the main content. To pull up the navigation or other buttons (like the always handy "Mark all as read"), you can hover your mouse over the very top of the window. Alternately, keyboard junkies can hit Shift+u to toggle the sidebar navigation, switch sources (Shift+j/k will move you up and down in the navigation sidebar), and open a subscription (Shift+o).

It's not a huge change, but if you spend a lot of time in Reader, it's a welcome one that cuts down on a lot of the default Google Reader clutter.

Fullscreen and more! [Official Google Reader Blog]

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See How Magazines Rate Colleges in a Side-by-Side Comparison [Graphics]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5626292/see-how-magazines-rate-colleges-in-a-side+by+side-comparison

High school seniors and their parents can turn to a ton of special magazine editions and books ranking U.S. colleges. How do those rankings actually get made? The Chronicle of Higher Education shows you, and offers a mix-and-match graphic illustration.

It's tempting to simply declare that no board of publication editors can come up with an objective, mathematical means of deciding which college will be right for each person—it's a personal experience, and what you put into it, and so on. But it's helpful to see why one ranking list puts a college near the bottom, while another might find it a Top Value or something similar. And if you're feeling particularly ambitious, you can assemble your own criteria list to judge your undergraduate or graduate choices by examining what the big players use.

What guides, rankings, or other criteria helped you decide on the college you attended? Which are trustworthy, and which seem like so much empty hyperbole?

30 Ways to Rate a College - Measuring Stick [The Chronicle of Higher Education via GOOD]

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Plex/Nine Adds Hardware Acceleration, Better Metadata Handling, and iOS Streaming App [Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5626420/plexnine-released-with-hardware-acceleration-better-metadata-handling-and-ios-app

Mac only: Plex, the XBMC-based media center app for Macs with gorgeous looks, has updated in a big way, though with few new features. That's because Plex is rebuilding itself and making room for new uses, like its iOS streaming app.

That's not to say that there isn't some good stuff in Plex/Nine. For starters, the GPU-based hardware acceleration that Plex enthusiasts have been side-loading through add-ons is now officially in place, so your Mac's CPU can breathe a little easier. There's also been a total rewrite of how Plex handles your media library and imports metadata from internet sources, so cataloging of movies, TV, and music should go a bit smoother.

Newest of all, though, is the Plex iOS app, which streams media from your Mac Plex setup directly to your portable Apple device. It looks really slick and handy, and deserving of far more visual and in-depth coverage—which we aim to provide here very soon.

Plex/Nine is a free download for Mac systems only. The iOS app is $4.99 and available through the App Store.

Plex

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Transfer Big Files Circumvents iPhone Upload Limits [Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5626601/transfer-big-files-circumvents-iphone-upload-limits

iPhone: If you're enjoying the benefits of HD video on your iPhone but wish you could actually send that video to others at full 720p resolution, Transfer Big Files lets you do just that.

Like many file transfer sites, Transfer Big Files uploads the file to their site and emails a download link to you or to whomever you're sending the file.

The app is pretty straightforward. Once you've signed up for an account, you just select the videos and/or photos you want to send, specify a recipient (it defaults to your email address), and send away. While I wouldn't say speed is it's forte, it's an effective means of getting those HD videos off of your iPhone without plugging in.

Transfer Big Files [iTunes App Store via MacWorld]

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