One week after the MacWorld keynote unveiled a revamped Apple TV, digital media player Vudu decided to chop a hundred bucks from the price of their hardware. Probably just a coincidence.
On the other hand, even though Apple TV Mk 1 didn't do so well, Vudu should be worried. The new Apple TV is much closer in form and function to Vudu than previous, only with the added bonus of synching to your iPod, so you can take any Apple TV rental or purchase on the road with you. Vudu just doesn't have that architecture in place. Truth is, our sneaking suspicion is that Vudu's not worried enough... their new price is $295, and that's still $70 more than an Apple TV.
Whether you decide on Vudu or go with Apple TV, both boxes are eligible for a 3-Yar SquareTrade warranty... it's even ten bucks cheaper than Apple's 2-Year Apple Care plan, according to the quote widget in the sidebar.
Vudu's still a good device with an impressive catalogue, so we wouldn't count them out quite yet. That said, this is just the start of changes they'll have to make to stay competitive (same goes for Amazon's Unbox) against Apple's media smackdown. Our guess for what's going to go next: Vudu's pre-pay model, where they automatically charge your card $20-$100 (your choice) when your account reaches $0.
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