Apple today officially announced a new Apple TV, capable of 1080P video playback. The user interface has been improved as well, and people will have the ability to stream movies they’ve already purchased on iTunes via iCloud. Previously, only TV shows could be streamed. Corresponding with the hardware upgrade, iTunes movies are now being offered in 1080p for the first time.
Other changes include Genius movie recommendations, and a more automated Photo Stream that displays new images without any user interaction. TV shows will be available the day after they air, and iTunes Match support has been implemented. A single-core A5 chip powers the new Apple TV, replacing the old A4 chip.
The updated Apple TV keeps the same $99 price tag as its predecessor, and can be pre-ordered now, with units due to ship on March 16.
