The first thing you’ll notice is that Apple completely redesigned the Apple TV UI in software update 3.0. So far there’s been mixed reviews on the Net about the new look. Personally, I don’t think it’s that bad — it’s just different than what we’ve seen the past. For a video walkthough of the interface, checkout the attached video below. New supported features include:  iTunes Extras, iTunes LP, HD Movies & TV, Genius Mixes, Internet Radio, and HD photos (including iPhoto Events and Faces). All in all, you can say it’s a pretty feature-rich update. MORE »

Canonical announced today the release of Ubuntu 9.10 Desktop Edition [Feature Tour], the latest version of the popular Linux desktop distribution. Ubuntu 9.10 brings changes small and large that all have a common purpose – to make Ubuntu the most user-friendly operating system available. Ubuntu 9.10 features a redesigned, faster boot and login experience, a revamped audio framework, and improved 3G broadband connectivity, all of which contribute to a first-class user experience. MORE »

The $299 Astak “Mole” Webcam is most likely the coolest IP camera made available to the public to date. The Mole is a standalone, self-configuring IP camera that can be networked via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and accessed from any web browser at home or remotely. What’s more, The Mole features motion detection, night vision, two-way audio, remote pan/tilt and can tweet/email updates, record video to an SD card, and upload video to YouTube. And the video quality isn’t bad either… it records 320×240 or 640×480 video in H.264. The Mole will be available next month at Fry’s, Costco, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Astak.com. MORE »

Taking a page from Western Digital, Roku has decided to release two additional Roku Player models along side the original $99.99 Roku HD Player. On the entry level side, the Roku SD Player will be priced at $79.99 and output 480i composite video (sans optical audio out or HDMI). The new higher-end model, Roku HD-XR Player, will sell for $129.99 and offer 802.11n Wi-Fi and a USB port “for future use” (still no 1080p video out, only 720p). Lastly, Roku states that the Roku Channel Store will launch later this Fall “enabling customers to add new content channels to their Roku experience.” Roku Players currently support content from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, and MLB.TV. MORE »

These days there’s an abundance of premium and user-generated content available online at no charge that you could feasibly stop paying for cable / satellite TV service all together. Being the case, Channel 9 has put together a resource guide for Windows Media Center PC owners that highlights some of the most popular plugins / hacks available on the platform — along with some basic setup instructions. The roundup consists of Hulu Desktop, PlayOn, Boxee, SecondRunTV, TunerFree MCE, HuluMCE, ZeeVee, TubeCore, Sky Player, Netflix, and others. [via] MORE »

Netflix members with Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles are going to be ecstatic to learn (it was previously thought that Netflix was exclusive to the Xbox 360 game console) that in the next month or so Netflix will begin shipping free, instant streaming Blu-ray discs to all members upon request. The disc, which leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live functionality and PS3’s XMB interface, allows members to access their Netflix Queue and select movies or TV shows for instant viewing. Users can also rate movies, read synopses, and manage the whole experience using PS3’s Wireless Controller. However, there’s a catch: PS3 owners must insert the Netflix Blu-ray disc each time they wish to use the service. MORE »

Attached above is a video of Microsoft’s Brad Brooks demonstrating Windows 7 Play To (earlier coverage) at a launch party in New York. What’s amazing is that a humble laptop (Dell XPS 16) is able to serve up photo, music, and video content to 15 DLNA certified devices with only a 54% CPU load. Brooks later goes on to show that the PC’s UI is still snappy even while juggling all the streams.

Chris Pirillo (Chris.Pirillo.com), Pete Cashmore (Mashable), and Brian Chen (Wired.com) share their thoughts on the launch of Windows 7 and the possibility of Hulu moving to a subscription model. All in all, it’s an interesting roundtable from three self avowed Mac guys with Windows experience. But I agree with Chris… the OS is becoming irrelevant in these days where everyone just logs in to their computer and fires up a web browser. I might also add that desktop replacement web apps and non-platform specific industry standards in regards to networking and media streaming help make the case as well.

Say ain’t so?! Broadcasting & Cable is reporting that Chase Carey, deputy chairman of News Corp., told the audience at B&C’s On-Screen Summit in New York this past Wednesday that Hulu will switch over to a subscription model as early as 2010, but will leave some content free to view. MORE »

Our buddy, Charbax, has posted a video demo of himself using the ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet in real world use cases. In the video below you’ll see Last.fm’s Android application running, Internet browsing, and 720p video playback (Xvid, MKV files) on the device, as well as on the ARCHOS media dock (aka DVR Station) connected to an HDTV controlled via a wireless mouse. All great stuff… and gets me thinking: this setup could replace a dedicated digital media adapter or even a budget HTPC, if ARCHOS threw in  UPnP support (or maybe there’s an app for that?). MORE »