Apple needs more time to figure out how to build a user friendly set top box that provides users with access to the digital media on their desktop computers.

The Apple TV was promised to start shipping by February but will now be delayed by an estimated two weeks.

It is unlikely that few people outside of the army of Mac fans will notice. The Apple TV is a $299 media adapter that provides access to a user's digital photos, music and video as well as podcasts.

27 Feb 2007

Support for iTunes content, including DRM-ed video and music would be the main benefit. But its missing a digital video recorder that would allow users to record and play back television shows.

TiVo will sell you a box that will record your TV shows and that offers all of the Apple TV features except for iTunes DRM support. It will even offer a video download service together with Amazon that will launch in the future.

And if you prefer to avoid TiVo's monthly subscription fee, you can opt for one of the many media adapters. Starting at $60 for a model that supports music and photo streaming, you can go all the up to the $349 Netgear Digital Entertainer HD that will hook you up with Youtube shows on your TV, as well as digital movies, music and images.

Apple probably does have one thing going for its however. Setting up a third party media adapter can be a royal pain in the you-know-where. The Apple TV is sure to work brilliantly provided you don't venture outside of Apple's nicely decorated walled garden.