How much television do you watch? If you're anything like me, the amount of time spent watching television has probably drastically decreased over the past few years. Few shows are worth watching today (save a select few such as Lost). Taking time out of your schedule to make sure you catch the latest episode of a show is tiresome, as shown by the popularity of TiVo. Cable is expensive, should you want to take advantage of your new high definition TV. And there's always something interesting on YouTube. Unfortunately, there's no denying that sitting back to watch media on a large TV is preferable to sitting in front of a computer. There has to be a better solution, right?

Apple TV 2.0, the new, free software update for Apple TV owners released last week, is the final push for digital fence sitters. The upgrade provides a total re-haul of the software, allowing you to download podcasts, buy TV shows, and purchase or rent movies right from your TV. This is a major step on the road to entertainment bliss.

Before you go buy that Blu-ray player or subscribe to a movie channel, understand that you can rent movies in HD from Apple TV, for a dollar above regular price, which is $3 or $4 for a new release. Rentals can be watched almost instantly, depending on your internet connection. I can safely say that movie rentals on Apple TV destroys everything that currently exists - VUDU, Xbox Marketplace, Netflix, Blockbuster, etc. None are as cheap, convenient, or carry the selection that Apple has promised (all major film studios are on board).


Factor in independent digital media that is now directly available from the Apple TV. Video podcasts are becoming increasingly popular, and you can now download them directly. The Apple TV software also has YouTube built in, so you can discover interesting videos or watch all of your YouTube subscriptions easily. Breaking through to TV has been hard for indie content providers, but now its finally available. Perhaps with a little more fine tuning, it will become perfect.

For TV junkies, the battle may not be over yet. One concern is with how TV shows are priced: $2 per episode. This pricing is designed specifically for someone who wants to acquire a favorite episode, or catch up on one they've missed. It may be slightly beneficial for those who watch one or two shows regularly, but it does not reward those who purchase many shows and episodes. Unfortunately, I don't see the networks buying into this anytime soon, considering how NBC dramatically dropped out of the current iTunes model. We'll see how stubborn they get before piracy becomes even more common.

But more than anything else, Apple TV 2.0 really says something about the potential of great software. What was once a mildly interesting device has now been turned into a revolution in digital entertainment, simply thanks to great software (and the evolution of digital media). All of the above benefits do not even include Apple's trademarked ease of use and simplicity in design. The rest of the industry needs to take note, fast.