Melvyn Chen, Apple's product marketing manager, said the Apple TV was designed to allow iPod users to play their favourite iTunes content from their Macintosh or desktop PC on high definition wide-screen screens.

Users can enjoy movies, television shows, music, photos and podcasts using Apple TV as the interface that allows users to view their entire collection of digital media using Apple Remote.

"Apple TV plays the same content that users enjoy on their computers and iPods. It makes it easy for users to explore their entire media collection with an

 easy-to-use and intuitive new interface," said Chen. He said Apple TV comes with a 40GB hard drive to store up to 50 hours of video, 9,000 songs and 25,000 photos. It is easy to connect to a broad range of

   wide-screen televisions and home theatre systems and comes with component video, analogue and optical audio ports.

The device also uses the high-speed Air-Port 802.11 wireless network so Apple TV is able to auto-sync content from one computer or stream content from up to five additional computers right to the television without any wires.

Users can download iTunes free and shop for movies and free podcasts.

Apple TV also supports Thai characters so Thai subtitles for local content can be read.

Apple TV is available for Bt15,301.

Apple announced its launch in August last year.

The firm officially released its new device in March.

Jirapan Boonnoon

The Nation