Today's High-Def Headlines

Apple Releases Apple TV Upgrade - Information Week
Apple has quietly released its awaited Apple TV software upgrade that allows people to rent movies from Apple's iTunes online music store directly from their TVs. For Apple TV owners, version 2.0 is installed automatically as the device, which streams video content from a Macintosh or PC to a digital television, periodically checks for upgrades. DVD-quality movies are available to rent on iTunes for $2.99 for older titles and $3.99 for new ones. High-definition versions cost a dollar more.

HD, DVRs Drive Strong Q4 For DirecTV - MCN
With its long-awaited merger with Liberty Media expected in a few weeks, DirecTV Group reported a surprisingly strong fourth quarter, with revenue and cash flow up by 14% each, driven by gains in HDTV and digital video recorder offerings. HD and DVR customers made up more than 50% of gross additions in the fourth quarter, up from 33% of gross additions in the same period in 2006.

Stores Misinform Shoppers About Digital TV Switch, Study Says - Raleigh News-Observer
Employees at the nation's top retail stores are giving out bad information about the country's upcoming switch to digital TV. But when the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group sent secret shoppers into the country's top five retail stores last fall, they found store employees were as confused as customers. According to the study, in North Carolina, employees at Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, Target and Radio Shack gave inaccurate information about the date of the switch 30 percent of the time. They gave inaccurate information about converter boxes 70 percent of the time.

iSuppli: Samsung Tops In Q4 LCD TV Share - TWICE
Samsung outpaced all brands in North American LCD TV market share during the fourth quarter of 2007, knocking Vizio, the leader for the prior two quarters back to third place, according to a flat-panel TV brand share report issued by market research firm iSuppli. Samsung’s fourth quarter unit-shipment market share rose to 14.2 percent, up from 12.8 percent in the third quarter, iSuppli said.

DIRECTV Accelerates Into 2008 With Upgrades to NASCAR HOTPASS Service
As NASCAR continues to push the envelope with new technologies and innovations in racing, DIRECTV continues to raise the bar as well by offering its 2008 NASCAR HOTPASS service for the first time in high-definition, delivering 13 additional live audio feeds of driver/pit crew communications and offering fans a chance to become a member of the NASCAR HOTPASS broadcast team. Fans subscribing to the service in 2008 will enjoy these new upgrades beginning with the Daytona 500 and throughout the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series season.