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Apple TV suffers a setback
Widescreen renters will have to sit tight

By Tom Krazit

Published: Thursday 31 January 2008

Apple released a statement yesterday noting the MacBook Air is now shipping. But the statement also said the new Apple TV software update, which allows users to rent high-definition movies directly from their widescreen TVs "is not quite finished".

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Current owners of Apple TV will be able to download the software update in a week or two, Apple said. It was due to be released within two weeks of its announcement at Macworld.

The new software brings a whole new look-and-feel to Apple TV - Apple's bid to connect big-screen televisions to the internet and computers. It will also allow Apple TV owners to rent movies through the new iTunes Rental Service.

Apple has delayed a few software projects in the past 12 months, most notably the four-month slip in Leopard's ship time precipitated by the push to get the iPhone out on time.

At last year's shareholders meeting, a shareholder asked Jobs why Apple hasn't hired more engineers to keep up with the demand for its products. Jobs said the company considers software engineering a quality issue, not a quantity issue where problems can be solved by throwing bodies at a project.