Macworld Update: Apple today premiered Apple TV, a media router that can wirelessly play iTunes content from a Mac or PC on your widescreen TV, including movies, TV shows, music, photos and podcasts. Users can quickly browse and view their entire collection of digital media from across the room using the simple and intuitive Apple Remote. Apple TV connects to most modern widescreen televisions, and will be shipping in February for $299.

“Apple TV is like a DVD player for the 21st century—you connect it to your entertainment system just like a DVD player, but it plays digital content you get from the Internet rather than DVDs you get from a physical store,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Apple TV plays the same iTunes content that users enjoy on their computers and iPods, so now they can even watch part of a movie in their living room, and watch the rest later on their iPod.”

Apple TV delivers Internet media to the home theater. This represents a milestone for podcasting, because it delivers video podcasts and other Internet media to peoples’ living rooms.

Apple TV has a 40GB hard drive to store up to 50 hours of video, 9,000 songs, 25,000 photos or a combination of each and is capable of delivering high-definition 720p output. It comes with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports. Using high-speed AirPort® 802.11 wireless networking, Apple TV can auto-sync content from one computer or stream content from up to five additional computers right to your TV.

Pricing & Availability

Apple TV, which includes the Apple Remote, will be shipping in February through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $299 (US).