There has been a lot of talk about the Apple TV recently thanks to the addition of AirPlay Mirroring functionality to Mountain Lion. For those of us who do not have one of the computers that are compatible with this feature (see this issue of Tech Tails for more details) there is still something new: Apple has quietly added new functionality to the Apple TV itself by adding access to Hulu Plus. For those of you who don’t know what Hulu is, here is the description from their website:
“Hulu Plus is the only online premium video subscription that streams current and classic TV programming on demand from hundreds of content partners, including top broadcast networks ABC, NBC, FOX, The CW and Univision. Hulu Plus subscribers can watch on any enabled devices for $7.99/month with limited advertising. For many popular shows on our service, Hulu Plus offers every episode of the current season. Hulu Plus subscribers also have access to back seasons and full runs of some of TV’s greatest shows, including many that were not available online before, in HD whenever possible.”
You can sign in using your current Hulu Plus account or you can pay using your Apple ID right within the Hulu Plus app. Unfortunately, Hulu’s free service is not currently available, but I am hoping that this is added in the future. There are a fair amount of ads, so Hulu and Apple will still make money!