Apple TV Adds AirPlay Feature Like Chromecast, iTunes Radio, Like Pandora

While the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c may be getting all of the attention today from Apple fans, another product just got a major update - Apple TV. With the new upgrade to Apple TV 6.0, several new features, including the new iTunes Radio, are now supported by the little set-top box.

Apple TV 6.0, software for the little black box, should be available for download whenever you turn it on. With the update, which has been in testing since earlier this summer, you'll get iTunes Radio, along with the ability to use AirPlay from iCloud accounts, and the ability to stream purchased video from the iTunes Store without having to download the content on your iPhone or iPad. There's also Photos and Video integrated into the iCloud support, which replaces the Photo Stream feature.

Perhaps the biggest addition, besides iTunes Radio, is the ability to stream video content from iCloud using AirPlay. It's essentially Apple's response to the Google Chromecast, which allowed all manner of content to be streamed through its TV dongle without having to download it onto a device, and without having to keep the screen of your device on the streaming content.

Just like the Chromecast, the Apple TV works as the conduit for the streaming content - with the iOS device just being a controller - meaning that you can reduce your bandwidth usage and free up your iOS device. The same is true with the Apple iTunes Store streaming, where you no longer need to download the content onto your iPhone or iPad before mirroring it up on the TV screen.

Take note though because, according to 9to5Mac, you need to enable this feature in Settings before it runs that way by default. Also, you can only use this feature if you have iOS 7. If you're one of only about 40 percent of Apple users that didn't immediately download the update in the first 32 hours, get on it.

Another great feature added to the Apple TV with this update is iTunes Radio support. While Pandora is still without a native Apple TV app (big surprise), Apple took no time at all to get their new music streaming service working on its own set-top boxes. Launched on iTunes 11.1 just before the iOS 7 operating system was released for download, iTunes Radio comes with pre-mixed featured stations, along with the ability to create and customize internet radio stations to your own preferences. Just like Pandora.

 Apple has been working with the top music companies, as well as indie producers, over the past year to make sure iTunes Radio has a broad and deep selection of music, and, at least with the first hands-on treatment from Latinos Post, the music selection indeed appears vast.

The software in beta was called Apple TV 5.4, but it has changed to Apple TV 6.0 and comes just two days after the iOS 7 operating system was released, and the same day as the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c gets their much-anticipated launch across the world.

Of course, now with this software update for the current crop of Apple TV devices, Apple is already rumored to be launching a new Apple TV device as early as next month. According to Apple Insider, Apple began taking shipments of unidentified "set top boxes" from a known supplier in China just a few weeks ago.