Apple has rolled out a new feature for Apple TV users. Owners of the media streaming device will now find a new option called Genius under Movies and TV Shows. The Mac version of the iTunes Store has had Genius recommendations for quite some time, but the feature has been absent from Apple TV until now. The Genius feature recommends iTunes content to watch based on your purchase history.

iTunes is up to version 8.0.1. The update addresses bug fixes, mainly focused on Genius and VoiceOver for the iPod nano. Apple provides all the details of what this update does right along with the package. iTunes 8.0.1 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including: Seamlessly plays the current more »

Music websites Pandora and Last.fm, both of which expose users to new artists and music based on their listening choices, have praised the new iTunes 8 Genius feature.

More after the break.

As expected, today Apple launched a new version of iTunes to go along with their revamped iPod line, and during the Apple Event, Steve Jobs simply could not shut up about the newest iTunes feature: “Genius.”

What Genius does is analyze the music and video in your iTunes library (provided that you opt-in to the service, that is), and recommend other music and shows you might like, based on other users with similar tastes. It’s similar to the recommendation feature used by movie rental site Netflix and online “radio station” Pandora to help users find new movies and music.

Some very interesting details (including an odd reaction to the Beatles) after the break.

Investors clearly had high hopes for Apple’s “Let’s Rock” event. The stock, which began the day at $156.99, spiked nearly two dollars to $158.83 a few minutes before the event began. During the event, however, the stock shed nearly five dollars, to end at $153.24. After the event closed, the stock began a slow, upward trend, but still has yet to reach its starting price or peak volume. So, what were investors looking for that has them so disappointed?

Thoughts after the break.

With recent news of Microsoft opening up retail stores, it got me thinking. Why? Microsoft already has its OS available in almost every technology retail store there is, and you can get a Xbox 360 or Zune in almost all of these places, too. Sure, it would be great to specifically promote your own brand more »