This week we bring you a little something old along with a lot of something new to get your weekend viewing schedule in order with all your Apple TV options tightened up right.  Smack in the middle of May there are some real juicy springtime options so get clicking!

And let’s click it off with Netflix:

• The one you’ve been waiting for- Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 Crime/Drama “Pulp Fiction” is finally available for your viewing pleasure and, if you’ve watched it before, you know this one will be a pleasure!  We never get tired of enjoying this seminal explosion of creative genius that erupted across movie screens everywhere and took the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.  Certainly one of the best films of the 90’s, the sheer brilliance of its script, editing, performances and music went on to enormously influence modern American film language and its wicked sense of dark, ironic humor is still being referenced today.  You’ll laugh until the blood splatters and then you’ll laugh some more.  A work of true cinematic genius that changed the American film game forever.  Yes, this movie is one BAD MUTHA*****R!
• If you’re still in the mood to time travel to the past then zoom over to 2001’s “Tomb Raider” with a still single, pre-Brangelina Angelina Jolie as everybody’s favorite video game heroine come to Action/Adventure, globe-trotting life.  Sure, the story is cheesy (it is after all based on a video game lest we forget) and Angie’s Brit accent is a bit shaky but she looks gorgeous and kicks all kinds of ass and isn’t that all that matters anyway?
• Horror fans, we haven’t forgotten you. If you’re ready to turn off all the lights and tremble under the covers with the One you love then fire up the 2002 Original (let’s all just agree to forget that awful Hollywood remake) Japanese Screamer, “Ju-On, The Grudge”.  Haunted houses just don’t get any creepier as Director Takeshi Shimizu ramps up the gut-wrenching chills in this terrifically terrifying ghost story.  Don’t blame us if you have nightmares.
• TV Pick of the Week- Something for your Shorties this time around. Kids seem to love the 22 minute episodes of “Justin Time”, an animated adventure series where the title hero and his friends travel the world looking for fun adventures.  Dial this one up for your 5-10 year olds and you won’t have to pay for a babysitter because Netflix is currently offering 2 Seasons (26 episodes) worth of shows to keep the Little Ones occupied!  You’re welcome.

Now let’s take a peek at what’s on this week’s menu over at Hulu Plus:

• And we’re going Classic all the way with our movie choices this time around starting with 1967’s “Belle du Jour”.  This sexy/sly/subversive Luis Bunuel film was a 60’s sensation and with Catherine Denueve as the title Good-Girl-gone-Bad this mature examination of love, sex and marriage still has the power to amuse, arouse and set fire to your…conversation.  Adults only please!
• One of our All Time Favorite films and always a mysterious joy to behold, why not enter the dream world of Wim Wenders 1987 “Wings of Desire”.  Bruno Ganz is a lonely angel overlooking Berlin, mesmerized by human frailties, hopes, wishes, wonders, emotions and pining to join the mad, sad parade of humanity.  An evocative masterpiece that always makes us happy to be alive and happier to know love.  And it’s got Peter Falk in the cameo of a career as just exactly who we thought Peter Falk always was…
• OK, if that’s just too much melancholy for your weekend viewing party then maybe it’s time to laugh and we can’t think of a better film to bring the funny then Director David O. Russell’s overlooked 1996 gem of a comic farce, “Flirting with Disaster”.  Ben Stiller is a nebbishy New Yorker with father issues who abandons routine to take off on a nationwide road trip/quest to find his long gone, “real” father along with some much needed closure.  With a luscious Patricia Arquette as his put-upon wife-in-tow, a super-sexy Tia Leone as a neurotic shrink along for the ride and featuring Alan Alda, Lily Tomlin, Mary Tyler Moore, George Segal with a young Josh Brolin in the mix let’s just say things go very, very sideways.
• TV Picks of the Week- If you’re already Huluing then why not try the hot new superhero crime thriller “Arrow”.  This series has been getting great word-of-mouth and already has a huge stateside following.  And we have a feeling that the Ladies may enjoy this one too if you know what we mean.  And while you’re here why not check out the Final Episodes of “The Office”.  The American version of Ricky Gervais’ Brit TV hit has went through some bad years but the final weeks have really been some of the best ever and we highly recommend tuning in for the finale if you’re a fan of the show or even if you’re not…yet.

Finally, let’s take a look at what’s in store over at iTunes:

• With the Summer Blockbuster Season in full swing we thought you might want to check back on some of the earlier versions of recent theatrical releases just to get your movie watching engines revved up.  So let’s start with J.J. Abrams well received 2009 reboot of “Star Trek”.  The new cast/crew is introduced, Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Simon Pegg as Scotty and Zoe Saldana as Uhuru and the USS Enterprise is taken out for a spin in this origin story reboot of the beloved TV Classic. A must-see for you Trekkies out there!
• And while we’re here…Why not try Director Jon Favreau’s original “Iron Man”.  This was the superhero movie that saved us all from superhero franchise overdose and the 2008 action/thriller/comedy is still a rock solid kick-in-the-pants with Robert Downey Jr. absolutely knocking it out of the park as the wise-cracking, playboy/genius, “shellhead”.  Fantastic job all around and a real romp of an Action/Adventure.
• If you’re still looking for more laughs then try the Judd Apatow produced sleeper comedy hit, 2011’s “Bridesmaids”.  Kristen Wiig penned and stars as the loopy loser chick who wants desperately to make everything work out right for her BFF Maya Rudolph on her Big Day.  Needless to say things go hilariously wrong then spin weirdly, wildly and hilariously out of control.  With Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper and a classic cameo by Jon Hamm, this movie will have you spitting out your drinks and choking on your sandwich as you laugh with, at and for the Girls to get it right.  Who said chicks can’t be funny?
• This Week’s Free App- “Face Swap” by Iddiction.  Yea, this one is kind of a goofy time sink but the kids will love it and you’ll be digging it too so if you have an hour or 3 to kill…it’s FREE!

That’s all for this week.  We’ll be back next week with more great Apple TV stuff!

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MacRumors reports that the CW network has struck a deal with Apple to bring its TV Now application to the Apple TV. Speaking from New York at the company’s annual Upfront Presentation yesterday, CW president Mark Pedowitz said the network’s content, which is currently accessible on Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Xbox 360, will also become available on Apple TV.

According to the CW, the app will function the same way the company’s mobile and Xbox apps function. The Xbox app offers free full streaming of episodes on the CW network but with limited advertising. It also comes with extra content like cast extras and previews. The company confirmed to MacRumors that Apple TV’s app will certainly be located on the home screen of Apple TV and offer full episodes of primetime shows like “The Vampire Diaries”, “Arrow”, and “The Carrie Diaries”.

“It’s a dedicated CW app that will work like our Xbox and mobile and tablet apps – no cable authentication required, full episodes of our shows available next day after air, ad-supported.”

This deal seals the first of Apple’s app partnerships with television networks. Apple TV has been offering apps and digital content from Hulu and Netflix, but not from television networks. Even before this, though, CW content has been available for sale at the iTunes store.

The CW network is a joint venture between Warner Brothers Entertainment and CBS, one of the largest broadcast networks in the U.S. The partnership does not shed light on Apple’s intentions, though there are speculations it could be part of a larger initiative to have more apps on Apple TV.

The exact date for the release was not given but according to the CW, it will be launched in the coming weeks.

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The weekend is fast approaching and if Spring is not your thing or you just plan on flexing only your Apple TV muscles this Sat/Sun then here are our best ideas for keeping your screen hot, your eyes peeled and your time well spent. Let’s get right to this Week’s Top Choices for the movie services available on the Apple TV.

NETFLIX

As always let’s start with the biggest gorilla in the online TV/Movie jungle, Netflix.

And this week Netflix once again has a shopping cart full of interesting choices starting with-

• 2011’s “Cabin in the Woods”,  director Drew Godard’s super fun thrill ride of subversive horror hi-jinx that will have you laughing your adult asses off as you watch all the absolutely standard Teen/Horror/Killer/Thriller clichés get twisted until they scream in this post-modern wink at the genre.  Please expect the unexpected.  And, for the Ladies, you get to see a pre-Thor, Chris Hemsworth do his best All-American, casual jock/stud imitation.  Just enjoy him while you can…
• Not for everyone but if you’re in the mood for a Southern-Gothic, murder/mystery/sex/scandal mash-up that’s heavy on the steamy southern heat then check out director Lee Daniel’s 2012 “The Paperboy”.  It stars Mathew McConaughey, John Cusack, teen heartthrob Zac Efron and Oscar Winner Nicole Kidman and they are all going for broke in this lurid fever dream of a melodrama.
• For you avid Gamers out there, you may want to take a peek at this week’s hot release of 2012’s “Halo 4- Forward Unto Dawn”.  We haven’t screened this one yet but it’s got some great customer reviews and may be worth a look even for you non-gamers.  And for you fanboys out there…hey, there’s no pleasing you guys anyway.
• Alt Pick of the Week- 2002’s “Igby goes Down”.  For some reason director Burt Steers adult drama is listed in the “comedy” section and while you will find some dark laughs in this somewhat bleak tale of young adult disillusionment it is definitely not a “feel-good” film.  Kieran Culkin (yes, Macaulay’s bro) plays the disaffected title character as he attempts to navigate his post-adolescent way through the social minefield that is adult NYC along with Claire Danes, Amanda Peet, Jeff Goldblum and Ryan Phillipe.  Deep, dark and just a little heart breaking.

HULU PLUS

Now over to Hulu Plus where this week we’ve decided to get a little Old School with our choices and take you back in time to some of our fave raves from the slightly dusty past.  So let’s kick off with-

• A perfect gem of a film, 2010’s “The Trip”.  This wry, incisive character study features two of Britain’s most brilliant wits bantering, bickering and verbally sparring (complete with dueling, hilarious Michal Caine imitations) as they ramble through the English countryside on a restaurant tour that neither seems particularly keen on.  With Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon essentially playing insider versions of themselves it is very fair to say that adult comedy ensues.  With an accent on the adult.  You’ll be glad to play fly-on-the-wall for this trip.
• One of our favorite overlooked films, director Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 “Jackie Brown”.  A funky crime thriller with an airtight plot that takes its time developing, this masterpiece is full of brilliant, understated performances from Pam Greer as the put-upon title character who’s struggling to retain her cool, Robert Forster as the world-weary, anti-hero who looks things square in the eye, Bridget Fonda as a not-so-harmless party girl and Samuel Jackson as one of his snakiest bad men ever.  Smart, sexy and filled with great music.
• If you’ve got time for a sobering history lesson – A frighteningly prescient study of insurrection, Director Gillo Pontecorvo’s 1966 “The Battle of Algiers” is practically an instructional, cinematic guidebook on the escalation of a very real world, native insurrection.  This blazing documentary-style film features every excruciating step of brutal urban combat, terrorism and the counter-terrorist tactics that result amid the mayhem.  Harsh, compelling, furious, fair and far, far ahead of its time.
• And on a much lighter note- Hulu Plus is always a great choice for the latest in TV so this week’s pick is the brand new NBC comedy series “The Mindy Project”.  Its first season is available to stream and we think that this one will definitely be a winner.  Creator/Writer Mindy Kaling plays the wacky heroine of this off-kilter 30 minute comedy that is only beginning to hit its stride.  Tune in for the next Big Comedy Thing!

iTUNES

Now let’s move over to our iTunes selections and this week, movies are the pick-

• Available to buy this week for the first time- 2012’s “Skyfall”. Director Sam Mendes’ 23^rd installment of the Bond franchise was widely acclaimed as one of the best ever (we didn’t say that, we heard it) and with Javier Bardem as the Big Baddie facing off against Daniel Craig’s 007 and Naomie Harris in the mix, all we can say is that we are ALL IN!  And it introduces a new “Q” too!
• 2010’s Sundance Grand Prize Winner “Winter’s Bone”.  This is the film that made Jennifer Laurence a star and this critically acclaimed crime thriller features a razor sharp script with incendiary performances all around.  The American countryside never looked more threatening as J-Lau weaves her way through a rural snake pit trying her best to save her home.
• Also available is Academy Award winning Director Ang Lee’s 2012 “The Life of Pi”.  Based on the celebrated novel, this feast for the eyes was widely regarded as a favorite to win all the prizes when it opened.  A visually spectacular retelling of this epic tale of survival, humanity and hope.
• This Week’s Music Pick- “El Camino”, the 2011 release from Grammy Award Winners The Black Keys.  If this wild, rave-up of a rockin’good time doesn’t get your hips moving then you should check your pulse because you may be dead!
• Finally, this Week’s Free App- Yes, this is iTunes so we thought we might bring your attention to some of the niftiest apps we could find for free and this week’s pick is the Iron Man 3 app.  We haven’t downloaded it yet but what the hell…it’s free and it’s IM3!

Until next week, that’s all Folks!

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Welcome fellow online viewers & Apple TV fans to the inaugural run of your Weekend Flix Picks with some TV for Free thrown in the cyber-bargain! If you happen to find yourself hunkered down for this coming Fri-Sunday cycle with down time on your hands then you might as well check out the best of what our wide world of Internetainment has to offer while you turn on your Apple TV, turn off your brain, recharge your batteries and give the couch a solid workout.

In like Flynn? Then let’s get right to this Week’s Top Choices for the movie services available on the Apple TV. It breaks down like this:

NETFLIX

First up for our cyber-savvy amigos is the current most popular streaming service in the States, Netflix.  Now the only complaint you’re going to have with Netflix is that you’ve just got too many choices but never fear…we are here.  And this week we say lock in on these selections and you won’t go wrong-

• Must-see movies are unfortunately a step slow on Netflix this week so we suggest starting with some Original Netflix TV programming- “Top of the Lake”.  One season (7 episodes, 50 mins each) of a new Drama/Thriller from New Zealand’s Oscar winning director Jane Campion.  This one is very heavy on the drama but blends a distinct Kiwi flavor to the typical western TV police procedural stew.  TOTL also contains some truly wicked twists and turns with a rhythm all its own.  The violence and blood is minimal but this is cop drama is most definitely not for kids!
• Netflix is also launching “Hemlock Grove” this week, another Original TV series from Eli Roth, the director of “Hostel” and other hyper-violent, Hollywood horror/torture films.  We haven’t sampled it yet but it looks like the suspense/mystery series is going to get all werewolfey with no shortage of gore and undoubtedly plenty of Rothian splatter.  We’re not big Roth fans but the series has femme fatale Famke Jansen in the middle of the action…so we’re in!
• One intriguing pick in the movie section might be 2011’s “The Awakening” starring Rebecca Hall as a turn-of-the-century physic phenomenon debunker tackling a mystery at an English boarding school.  This horror/mystery sort of slid past the mainstream in ’11 but might be worth a watch if you’re in the mood for classy chills, subtle thrills or a little bit of beautiful ‘Becca in the bathtub.
• Want to go Old School?  Why not try one of Harrison Ford’s best, 1985’s “Witness”.  Tough guy, Philly detective Ford goes to Amish Land to straighten shit out and meets Kelly McGillis and Alexander Gudonov on his way to finding the Bad Guys.  A real 80’s gem back from when Ford was almost young.
• Got a stay-at-home date with a pretty girl?  Then how about going even Old Schooler with the iconic beauty Audrey Hepburn being romanced by All-American Gregory Peck in 1953’s classic romance “Roman Holiday”.  Audrey’s stunning, Peck is solid, love is in the air and Rome looks grand.  We’re in the mood for love.
• And this week’s Alternative Pick- Korean Director Joon-ho Bong’s 2006 mad, monster mash-up, “The Host”.  This one has it all.  An out-of-control chemical waste monster against an equally out-of-control and hilariously touching S. Korean family who aren’t about to go down without a fight.  Bong pulls out all the stops with a rollicking roller-caster ride that may not win any awards but Man…this is one hell of an entertaining ride!

HULU PLUS

Now what’s happening over at everyone’s second choice for freebies?  Yes, Hulu may not have the market muscle of Netflix but we’re locked in and we got you covered anyway. Hulu’s new releases are also on the vanilla side this week so here’s our recommendations for movies that will satisfy-

• Let’s start with 2004’s Indie jewel, the little-seen, under-appreciated, low-budget, Sci-fi masterpiece “Primer”.  If you’re into time-travel flicks then tune in and set your head to spin because you’re going for whirl!  This intelligent tale adds a fresh take to the crusty time-travel genre with a serious, surprisingly intense and realistic drama that will satisfy the inner-science geek in all of you.
• If you’re still in serious mode then how about a real world documentary?  If you’re prepared to be shaken then sample 2012’s “The Land of Hope”, a movie following Japanese families after the 2011 triple catastrophe that slammed the NE coast near Tokyo.  Keep tissue paper handy and prepare to cry before you witness a true story of human resilience in the face of utter devastation.
• And on the lighter side…take a break and laugh your adult ass off with director Kevin Smith’s modern comedy classic, 1997’s “Chasing Amy”.  This one never gets old even if Smith’s movies sometimes do but you’ll love seeing a young Ben Affleck deal with some hilariously twisted and very adult relationship problems as he stumbles around true love.  And yes, Jay and Silent Bob are all over this one.
• Network TV’s smoking hot new show “Hannibal” is available for streaming this week and if you’re a major Mads Mickelson fan (like we are) then we seriously suggest you check out this stylish update to the tales of everybody’s favorite serial killing psychiatrist.  Creepy murders and cool characters are everywhere and the show’s stunning visuals are absolutely cinematic.
• If you prefer to laugh then scope out “The New Girl”.  An entertainingly light-hearted and fun half-hour ensemble comedy from NBC (the people who brought you the inexplicably popular “Friends”) with cutie-pie Zooey Deschanel as the lead sweetheart.
• “The Carrie Diaries” are also available this week for you girls who still haven’t satisfied your SATC addiction.  Carrie Bradshaw’s in High School now!
• Our Alternative Pick of the Week- Kaneto Shindo’s 1964, “Onibaba”.  Straight from the Criterion Collection this raw, pulse-pounding, supersexy tale of hard times in Feudal Japan is always listed in the Horror section but we think it’s more of a harsh, naturalistic fable of human survival and human hunger for all that is life.  Brilliant!
• Extra Added Bonus- Hulu has without a doubt got the best offering of upcoming Movie Trailers that we’ve seen anywhere so take a moment to check out everything that’s coming soon to a theater near you!  Be warned- this one is like time quicksand my cyber-friends…once you step in you just keep sinking deeper.

iTUNES

And last but certainly not least, iTunes.  Remember that everybody’s favorite choice for cheap and easy music downloads also offers a slew of movie choices for your viewing pleasure so let’s take a peek at this week.

Movies are a hot choice for your iTunes weekend and this week offers some of the hottest-

• 2012’s “Silver Linings Playbook” is currently available for download and if you’re in the mood for some Oscar-nominated Jennifer Laurence to go along with your Comedy/Drama then this is the pick.  Big stars, big laughs, big drama, Bradley Cooper and a feel-good ending should work for just about anyone in your vicinity.
• If you’ve got an itch for a little bit of the good, old ultra-violence with a thirst for revenge then we say shoot for Tarantino’s 2012 wild Western ride, “Django Unchained”, and scratch like a dog!  It’ll remind you of most every other Tarantino flick you’ve ever seen only more so.  And with the added spice of Academy Award Winner Christoph Waltz in the mix, you’ll be glad you did.
• Got a few extra hours to invest in some quality HBO original programming?  Sample some episodes of America’s top water-cooler show, “Mad Men”.  Please be advised- Once you start watching you just might get hooked on the grimy games of the NYC Boys from 60’s Madison Avenue and Jon Hamm/Don Draper as the heel we all hate to love.
• And now for some Music- This week iTunes has a brand new offering, “13” from Heavy Metal Masters Black Sabbath.  Believe it or not Tony Iommi and his crew are still bringing the hard, heavy, hammering noise just in time to kick off their latest (and no doubt last) World Tour.  And they still got Ozzie too!  Yes, Hip-Hop generation…there was a time long ago when real, actual human beings played real, actual musical instruments all by themselves.

That’s it for this weekend.  Now just keep the pizza guy’s number handy, make sure the refrigerator is well stocked and you’re all set to turn on, tune in and drop out.

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Have you ever wished you could stream The Big Bang Theory, Two and Half Men, or anything from HBO on your Apple TV, all without the bank-busting necessity of paying for it by the episode? Now you can… if you live in Germany. Last week Apple added Vivendi‘s new subscription video service Watchever in Germany. The service is best described as a German version of Netflix that holds both German and American content, including content from HBO, CBS, ABC and BBC. For a fixed price of 8.99 euros per month, users get unlimited access to thousands of films from US, European and German productions without additional costs or commercials.

Though many of you may think that there isn’t much to say here, we think it’s an interesting move from Apple, because this is the first time Apple adds region-specific, non-US video service on Apple TV. It could mean there is more to come soon: more services and more countries. It’s also interesting from the point of view of Apple’s strategy for the next Apple TV (set-top box or standalone TV set).

We are all still waiting on Apple to make its big announcement regarding television. The fact is, Apple is being down-right HUSH-HUSH about it all. One could argue, and it might as well be me, that Apple is sitting back placing content deals all over the world so that when there offering launches it is not a US-only-device. Everything Apple does is global. They do not sell a product unless they can get in every market possible. Well, a television service that is only based on content out of the United States would be lacking on the international stage. On the other hand, a television service with international content deals – that would be interesting.

Image: Christian Krämer

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It does not matter weather you have cut-the-cable entirely, are a part-time streamer, or hide in the back-bedroom during the holidays to get your Hulu fix, everyone wants to watch Christmas content during the holidays! Well, we wanted to take a look into the top 3 streaming options available right now, on your Apple TV, and find out what options exist amongst Hulu, Netflix and iTunes. For me, and my family, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a holiday must. So let’s start with that!

HULU

A Charlie Brown Christmas

In the digitally-remastered 1965 special, Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees everywhere during the Christmas Season.

Year’s End

Oliver discovers that after he and his father went missing, Moira and Thea stopped celebrating Christmas. Determined to make up for lost time and restore a sense of normalcy to the Queen household, Oliver decides to throw the family a Christmas party.

25 Most Hilarious Holiday TV Moments

Take a look back at the funniest holiday moments from Seinfeld, The Simpsons, A Christmas Story, Friends, The Golden Girls, and more with TV Guide.

Secret Santa

While Castle and Beckett celebrate their first Christmas together, the team investigates a case involving a dead Santa in Central Park.

The Kid

The silent film star’s first foray into filmmaking is a tale of a down-and-out Tramp (Chaplin) and his inseparable sidekick, a young ragamuffin taken under the Tramp’s wing.

Michael Buble: Home for the Holidays

It’s a Bublé Christmas, every body! Michael Bublé celebrates the holidays with special guests Rod Stewart, Blake Shelton, Elmo, and Carly Rae Jepsen.

Prep and Landing

An elite unit of elves ensures that homes around the world are properly prepared for a visit from Santa Claus each Christmas Eve.

In Search of Santa

Sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff lend their voices to this animated Christmas story. They play two princess penguins who unexpectedly encounter one of Santa’s sleigh bells.

iTUNES

Miracle On 34th Street (1947) $12.99

The holiday season is in full swing when a cultured gentlemen with twinkling eyes, and ample belly, and a snowy beard is hired as Macy’s department store Santa. He claims his name is Kris Kringle, and soon fills everyone with Christmas spirit – except for his boss, Doris Walker, who’s raising her daughter Susan to not believe in Santa but when Kris is declared insane and put on trail everyone’s faith is put to the test as old and young alike face the age old question: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

The Overbrook Brothers $14.99

Over the course of a ridiculously awkward Christmas reunion, two bitter, arch rival brothers discover they’re adopted, and the revelation sends the two adversaries on a hilarious, and sometimes bizarre, cross-country journey in search of their biological parents.

This Christmas $7.99

A Christmastime drama centered around the Whitfield family’s first holiday together in four years.

When Harry Met Sally $9.99

Rob Reiner’s romantic comedy documents a very unusual couple. There’s never been a friendship quite like Harry and Sally’s. From faking an orgasm at the corner deli, to debating the odds of having great sex with a guy named “Sheldon”, there’s nothing Harry and Sally don’t do together.

A Christmas Story $9.99

Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940s.

Christmas On Mars $9.99

As much about bleak isolation as it is about exaggerated colorful optimism, the long awaited feature film by The Flaming Lips is set in outer space on the surface of Mars. The double failures of a clunky old oxygen generator and an exotic, but finicky, gravity control pod have conspired to weaken the resolve and psychological judgment of the crew and the film’s protagonist, Major Syrtis.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation $9.99

The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.

The Nightmare Before Christmas $14.99

Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn’t quite understand the concept.

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie $9.99

On Christmas Eve, an angel petitions God to send help for Kermit the Frog who has lost all hope after losing the Muppet Theatre.

NETFLIX

Home Alone 1-3

In this smash trilogy classic, Kevin McCallister accidentally finds himself Home Alone while his family have travelled to a far off locations. Watch as the Kevin is forced to defend himself, his home, and his holidays!

Jingle All The Way

A desperate dad must match wits with a sleazy Santa, a stressed-out mailman and a horde of parents to procure a hot new toy on Christmas Eve. And since disappointing his son isn’t an option, he’s determined to get it by any means possible.

Elf

Buddy the Elf doesn’t feel like he fits in amongst the elves of the North Pole. But this Christmas, when he learns that he’s adopted, he journeys to New York to save his real father from the naughty list … and maybe spread a little Christmas cheer.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carey)

Dr. Seuss’s much-loved story about the real meaning of Christmas finally makes it to the big screen in live-action form, with Jim Carrey starring in the titular role of the green-faced villain who plots to rob Whoville of the holiday celebration.

The Polar Express

A young boy’s faith in the holiday spirit is revived after he makes his way by train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve in this warm-hearted computer-animated tale inspired by Chris Van Allsburg’s award-winning children’s book.

It is important to note that all of these sources have MUCH MORE Christmas content to offer you! Hulu for example has a unique webpage you can visit every day, located at www.hulu.com/holidays. If you are wanting television episodes that are soaking with Holiday Spirit, Hulu or Hulu Prime is where you want to be. For the cost of a few iTunes episodes, Hulu Prime offers you 90% of the content you could want/need from Fox, NBC, ABC, and many more.

We pray that you all have a Happy Holiday & from all of us at Apple TV Hacks – Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

For many of our reads, there is no question regarding what XBMC is or how to use it. That said, we never find a shortage of folks who don’t understand XBMC’s add-ons, plugins, tools, menus, skins, libraries, third party extras, etc. It was with this in mind that we have decided to dedicate a bit of time every month to breaking down ALL THINGS XBMC. Our goal is to give information that could greatly help new comers, and veterans, alike. I, personally, aim to bring tips and tricks to shed light on many items that have seemingly alluded many users of XBMC as a home multimedia solution. So, if you find yourself always helping fiends and family with their XBMC systems, bookmark this page, and stay tuned for the months to come! We are going to get the masses ready to use, and comfortable with, Xbox Media Center (XBMC).

Though this article may seem ‘to basic’ for the tech elite that frequent this pages, please note that this article is simply a launching point for our ALL THINGS XBMC series. We will not be breaking down any walls today, but rather shedding light on XBMC in general. We want to take a broad brush and give you all an idea of what XBMC is and does. We will then use this article as a guideline for the pieces to come.

What is XBMC?

XBMC is an award-winning FREE, open source (GPL), software media player and entertainment hub for digital media. XBMC is currently available for Linux, OSX, Windows, iOS, & even Android. XBMC has been designed to be the perfect companion for your Apple TV (1, 2, and someday your 3). Supporting an almost endless range of remote controls, and combined with its beautiful interface and powerful skinning engine, XBMC feels very natural to use from the couch and is the ideal solution for your home theater – multi media center.

Essentially, XBMC offers users the ability to watch personal content, as well as content found on the web, on their Television. It makes itself a central interface for thousands, if not millions, of playable content. It is built with the ability to install add-ons, skins, scripts, and more, all with the purpose of expanding its functionality. The software is, by far, the most feature rich solution on the market. XBMC is only limited by the lack of understanding of its users. This is a situation where the more you know, quickly equates to an unparallelled television experience!

Items We Intend To Cover:

- How to install on Apple TV
- How to navigate & understand XBMC’s menu options
- XBMC’s library: how to add, remove, & customize it’s content
- XBMC scripts? Yes, they are useful!
- How to stream content from the Web within XBMC
- How to install add-ons & repositories
- How to change & customize skins on XBMC
- Using AirPlay & mobile apps with XBMC
- Watching live television on XBMC
- Watching movies on XBMC
- Supercharging your current XBMC installation with XBMC Hub Wizard

Stay tuned for the next tutorial!  In the meantime, you can check out our list of Top 10 best XBMC addons for Apple TV 1 and Apple TV 2.

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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

FireCore released aTV Flash (black) 2.0 for the 2nd generation Apple TV. Version 2.0 adds a ton of new features “that make browsing and watching media on the Apple TV more enjoyable than ever.” aTV Flash (black) 2.0 adds new Library View, fully integrated search, trakt.tv syncing, Last.fm scrobbling and much more. Version 2.0 is a free update for all current aTV Flash (black) users.

Library View

The new Library View now indexes all your media (even if stored on multiple devices) and automatically organizes movies, TV shows and music into easy to use categories. TV shows will also be group by series/season automatically. The original file/folder based browsing will remain intact and working as an alternative option.

Fully integrated search

The new integrated search tool allows you to search by movie, TV series/episode, song, artist, album or filename. Just start typing and the results will start being displayed instantly.

Trakt.tv syncing

This is a great feature if you’re trying to keep multiple Apple TVs in sync, as if you watch a movie on the first device it will also appear as watched on the 2nd. Additionally, if you manually mark a movie or show as watched on trakt.tv, it will automatically get marked as watched on the Apple TV.

Last.fm scrobbling

Last.fm scrobbling allows you track music plays in your Last.fm profile.

Here is a full changelog for aTV Flash (black) 2.0:

• Added all-new Library View
• Added integrated media search
• Added trakt.tv 2-way syncing
• Added Last.fm scrobbling
• Added genre/artist based playlists
• Added Recently Added display option
• Improved handling of WTV files
• Improved handling of DVD audio tracks
• Improved AFP connections
• Improved filename recognition
• Improved subtitle handling
• Resolved various navigation issues
• Resolved rare DVD playback issues
• Resolved rare subtitles positioning issue
• Many other minor improvements and fixes

aTV Flash 2.0 doesn’t work on the 3rd gen Apple TV. According to FireCore and according to what we reported back in August, work is still ongoing on the Apple TV 3 jailbreak.

If you’re already running a version of aTV Flash (black), the new 2.0 version can be installed through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu. Links for the new version can also be found in your FireCore account under the Downloads tab.

If you’re not yet using aTV Flash (black) you can get started here.

Here is a tutorial on how to install aTV Flash (black) on your jailbroken Apple TV 2.

IMPORTANT: Once the Apple TV 3 jailbreak is available your aTV Flash (black) license will cover both Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3.

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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

Apple TV is continuing to push its way into more and more American households, and the content distributors are slowly but surely falling in line. CBS has been ridiculously slow to embrace streaming options, only recently agreeing to allow their content to be sold on Amazon and Netflix. And according to AllThingsD, CBS’ Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves has declared publicly that he’d be willing to place their programming on Apple TV as well.

He brought it up during the company’s quarterly earnings call in response to an analyst’s question. Moonves declared that Apple TV was a part of the company’s plans, and a partnership was certainly possible. Of course, he was quick to point out that the deal would have to make sense for CBS. And as with all things in big business, that comes down to the money.

When the analyst pushed Moonves for further detail, he mentioned a lot of the same issues that traditional networks have complained about for a while now, including how syndication is handled online, how the digital distribution affects advertising revenue, and what impact the added broadcasts would make on the earning power of rebroadcasting a current show.

Moonves went on to compare the potential of Apple TV to their deals with Amazon and Netflix, which were handled to his satisfaction. It appears that the issue may be how each company views the content. According to Moonves, he doesn’t want to give a potential competitor his own programming if it helps them get stronger. And he clearly hasn’t been satisfied with Apple’s answers yet.

The fact that CBS finally reached an agreement with Hulu this week is an encouraging sign. Even though CBS has turned down Apple several times already, Moonves may simply be coming to the inevitable conclusion: people don’t want to be told when they can watch their shows anymore. On demand is the future, and they’re going to have to get in line eventually or risk losing their audience to those that beat them there.

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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

Until now only available on jailbroken devices, Hulu Plus official app has finally arrived on Apple TV. Hulu icon now shows up on the Apple TV home screen (no update needed, just reboot your device) giving you instant access to all the shows, series and movies available on Hulu Plus. The monthly subscription is $7.99 and there is a one week free trial for new users. If you are new to the service you can sign-up through Apple TV using an Apple ID.

How to sign up

If you are a Hulu Plus subscriber, simply enter your username and password to start streaming last night’s episode of your favoirite show.

If you do not have a Hulu Plus account, you can easily sign-up two ways:

1. Go to www.huluplus.com/appletv and register online. Launch Hulu Plus on your Apple TV, log in with your new credentials and start streaming.

2. Create a Hulu Plus account directly through Apple TV by using your existing iTunes account and following the sign up instructions on the screen. If you sign up for Hulu Plus through Apple TV, you will be emailed instructions on how to complete your registration so you can use Hulu Plus on all other supported devices. After your free 1-week trial ends, your iTunes Account will be charged $7.99 per month as a recurring transaction.

Check out this video to find out how to set up Hulu Plus on your Apple TV:

Visit What's on iPhone for the best iPad and iPhone app reviews!
Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!