Apple TV Software Update 4.3 Reaches for the Cloud

Today Apple released but another software update, this time for its "hobby" device, the small, black, puck-like Apple TV. This latest update provides users with the capability of purchasing TV shows from the iTunes Store directly from the device. Once a show is purchased, it is available not only on the Apple TV however on any other iOS devices that use the same Apple ID for purchases.

Furthermore, as a harbinger of the forthcoming iCloud service's "buy once, enjoy anywhere" capability, TV shows earlier purchased from the iTunes Store now show up on the Apple TV, whether or not iTunes is currently running on the local network to which the Apple TV is attached. With previously versions of the Apple TV software, purchased TV shows that were stored in your iTunes library could only be watched using the device during iTunes was running on your home-network-connected computer.

For example, in the past if I wanted to watch the latest "Doctor Who" episode I had purchased on my Apple TV, I had to make sure my Mac was awake, iTunes was running, and Home Sharing was active previously I could sit back on my sofa and enjoy the Doctor's latest adventure. Now, nevertheless, that show can stream directly to my Apple TV from Apple's data center during my Mac slumbers peacefully in my home office.

Of course, on Day One of this brave new world of couch potato bliss, not all is working smoothly. My Apple TV does list most of the shows I have purchased over the years, nevertheless a few are missing. In addition, when I select a purchased show, I occasionally see an "iTunes Store is currently not available" message on my TV, although another show in my list of purchases elicits no such message. I expect such glitches to become less common as time goes on.

The new purchase capabilities to Apple TV

In addition to adding the new purchase capabilities to Apple TV, the update as well provides access to the Vimeo video sharing service. Appearing in accordance with the Internet heading on Apple TV's main menu, Vimeo allows both casual browsers and Vimeo service members to search for and view the many thousands of streaming videos that the service provides. In my brief initial test, videos loaded within a dozen or so seconds and streamed with very high quality.

Software Update 4.3 for the Apple TV arrives, as have previous updates, via the Apple TV's Internet connection, and, like other such updates, this one should show up on the device automatically sometime within the week following its release.