The Apple iTV has been pre-announced for an early 2007 launch. Critics have mentioned the early 
announcement is to compete with holiday shoppers planning to buy Amazon’s Unbox, CinemaNow, or Movielink.
What is Apple iTV? It allows you to forgoe long lines at the movies and watch movies from your TV. Specifically, it allows you to take videos and movies from your computer or iPod and play them on your TV. The transfer is done wirelessly so messy wires will be avoided. Videos and movies may be downloaded via iTunes, YouTube, or any other software download. The device is Mac and PC compatible.
The iTV box looks like a flattened Mac mini and features a built-in power supply, USB 2.0, Ethernet, 802.11 “wireless component video”, optical audio and HDMI ports, plus regular RCA stereo audio ports. Controllable by the standard Apple remote, the iTV will come with an updated version of the Front Row interface that shares Front Row’s smooth 3D graphics, but differs in that it has a menu on the right side of the screen. It currently lists for $299.
This product will reach its peak success when movies are available for download at the same or recent time of theatre release. Currently, more movie production companies are offering video rentals during the movie premieres, as well as recent cable TV releases. The home entertainment industry is untapped, and iTV and other future products will surely take advantage of this by ensuring new movies may be downloaded for TV viewing.