Starting this month, Apple TV will wirelessly stream videos directly from YouTube and play them on a user’s widescreen TV. Using Apple TV’s interface and Apple Remote, viewers can browse, find and watch free videos from YouTube in the comfort of their living room.
“This is the first time users can easily browse, find and watch YouTube videos right from their living room couch, and it’s really, really fun,” said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs.
“YouTube is a worldwide sensation, and Apple TV is bringing it directly from the Internet onto the widescreen TV in your living room,” Mr Jobs said.
Thousands of the current and popular YouTube videos would be available on Apple TV at launch, with YouTube adding thousands more each week until the full YouTube catalog is available.
Naturally, nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and pundits are already saying Apple may find itself in the middle of the copyright row between YouTube and a host of content providers.
In March, media giant Viacom (owners of MTV and a host of other media properties) sued YouTube for US$1 billion for alledged breaches of copyright.
Viacom’s suit complains bitterly that YouTube did not adequately police what its users uploaded to the site – and consequently it content frequently breached the copyright of others.
Apple also launched this week its iTunes Plus service, which allows music downloads that have no copy-protection that limits how consumers can use the songs. iTunes Plus features artists from EMI, which include Coldplay and The Rolling Stones.
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