The US Apple Store is back with their Black Friday savings.  They are consistent with past Black Friday sales and are offering some decent deals.  You can find some better deals at Best Buy or Mac Mall however.

The savings are:

iMac -$51.00 off

New MacBook – $101 off

iPod Classic – $21.00 off

iPod Touch – $21.00 off

iPod Nano – $21.00 off

Apple TV – $21.00 off

Not great deals, but they are deals. 

  Cnet is reporting that they had a chat with Jason Calacanis who informed them that Apple was working on their own HDTV.  We have heard this rumor years ago and it sort of trickled out of existence with the Apple TV. 

Now the new rumors say that Apple is creating its own fully networked HDTV with Apple TV built in features.  The new TV’s would feature an iTunes movie and TV show rental service and allow full integration with you Mac or any PC running iTunes.

This comes as no surprise , but it could be just something Apple is playing with in their labs that may never come to be.  There is no reason Apple could not make their own TV’s and maybe we will see them soon, but I certainly hope the price is nothing like their current displays if they do come to market.
 

[via cnet]

  Apple TV now has an update of its own today along with iTunes and MobileMe.  The 2.2 update adds Genius and some security features.  SO that’s about it, go get your update if you have an Apple TV.

[Update Info]

[via TUAW]

  There have been a few DVD’s released that have digital copies of the movie itself ready for use in iTunes. If you have not come across any, the reason is due to studios trying to maintain their hold on the content you already own.  Lately though the movie studios have realized we are going to rip the DVD’s if they don’t anyway.  The DVD’s now come with a digital copy, DRM protected that can be used in iTunes and moved to your iPod, iPhone or Apple TV.  While this is a step in the right direction, DRM is definitely not.  

20th Century Fox has just released 20 titles with digital copies.  These include Die Hard, Napoleon Dynamite and a others, though the titles are available in the US only right now.  "Our research shows that when given the option, consumers recognise the incredible value proposition that Digital Copy provides as a simple, fast way to move content to a portable device,” noted studio marketing EVP, Mary Daily."

This is a nice value add if you do not already have your entire collection digitized.  Let me know when DRM is no longer on my copies and then they have my attention.  Until then, Handbrake anyone?

[Read]

 Apple released a press release that it has brought movies from "major film studios including 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Sony Pictures Television International and Lionsgate"  which are now available on iTunes in AUstralia and New Zealand.  "iTunes movies in Australia start at A$9.99 for catalog title purchases, A$17.99 for recent releases and A$24.99 for new releases. iTunes Movie Rentals are A$3.99 for library title rentals and A$5.99 for new releases, and high definition versions are priced at just one dollar more. iTunes movies in New Zealand start at NZ$9.99 for catalog title purchases, NZ$17.99 for recent releases and NZ$24.99 for new releases. iTunes Movie Rentals are NZ$4.99 for library title rentals and NZ$6.99 for new releases, and high definition versions are priced at just one dollar more. Movie rentals can be previewed, purchased and watched on iPod® classic, iPod nano with video, iPod touch, iPhone™ and on a widescreen TV with Apple TV."  If you live in New Zealand or Australia, welcome!

[Read]