Apple TV
Apple TV’s streaming service is a new feature for the device, but, streaming TV devices such as Roku XR and Pop Box have been around for some time now. Anything ‘Apple’ does generate tremendous amount of interest, awe and curiosity.
Let’s compare and see If it does justice to the hype.
| Device: | AppleTV | Roku XR | Pop Box | LG BD550 |
 |  |  |  | |
| Price: | $99 | $99 | $129 | $130 – $150 |
| Form Factor/Size: | 3.9 x 0.9 x 3.9 | 5 x 5 x 1.75 | 8 x 1.4 x 6 inches | 16.9 x 1.8 x 7.9 |
| Available Content: | HD TV shows from ABC & Fox ($0.99), HD Movie rentals ($4.99/$3.99), Netflix, iTunes, YouTube | Netflix, Amazon VOD (now with $0.99 HD TV show purchases from Fox & ABC), MLB.tv, UFC, NBA GameTime, YouTube, Pandora | YouTube, Revision3, Blip.tv, h.264 / XviD / MPEG-4, MKV / AVI / WMV | Blu-ray discs, VUDU, Netflix, CinemaNow, YouTube, Pandora, Napster |
| Apps / SDK: | N/A | Roku Channel / SDK available | Popapps Store / SDK available | NetCast widgets |
| Connectivity: | WiFi N, Ethernet | WiFi N, Ethernet | Ethernet, optional WiFi adapter | Ethernet, Disc |
| Video Quality: | 720p, 5.1 audio | 720p (1080p upgrade coming soon), 5.1 audio | 1080p, 5.1 audio | 1080p, 7.1 audio, DTS-HD MA / Dolby TrueHD audio |
| Device: | AppleTV | Sony PS3 Slim 250GB | Xbox 360 S 250GB | WDTV Live Plus |
|  |  |  | |
| Price: | $99 | $349 | $299 | $149 |
| Form Factor/Size: | 3.9 x 0.9 x 3.9 | 11.42 x 2.56 x 11.4 | 12 x 3 x 10 | 4.9 x 1.5 x 3.9 |
| Available Content: | HD TV shows from ABC & Fox ($0.99), HD Movie rentals ($4.99/$3.99), Netflix, iTunes, YouTube | Blu-ray, PlayStation Network, Netflix, Qriocity, DLNA, DivX Certified | HD DVD (lolz), Zune Marketplace, DLNA/PC streaming, XviD/DivX, Netflix, ESPN3 coming soon | Netflix, DLNA streaming, AVI / MPG / MKV, YouTube, Pandora |
| Apps / SDK: | PlayStation Network | Xbox Live, Community Games | N/A | |
| Connectivity: | WiFi N, Ethernet | WiFi b/g, Ethernet | WiFi N (no 5 Ghz), Ethernet | Ethernet, USB, optional WiFi or Powerline networking |
| Video Quality: | 720p, 5.1 audio | 1080p, 7.1 audio, DTS-HD MA / Dolby TrueHD | 1080p, 5.1 audio | 1080p, 5.1 audio |
(Data Source : Engadget)
