Apple TV Refresh Announced, Featuring iOS Interface

Apple has announced an update to the Apple TV set-top box, bringing full 1080p HD support, full interaction with iCloud and a new interface which looks similar to iOS.

Apple CEO Tim Cook took to the stage at a media event in San Francisco to announce the new model to a packed audience of journalists and Apple employees.

"People are going to love streaming movies and TV shows in 1080p with the new Apple TV, and photos look beautiful displayed at the maximum resolution of your TV," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Apple TV is easier than ever to use with its new icon-based interface and the ability to access your purchased movies, TV shows and music right from iCloud."

The new user interface for Apple TV is much more reminiscent of IOS than before, but optimised for television viewing. Cook also announced that iTunes in the cloud now works with movies as well.

The all-new interface borrows many features from iOS, including the same 'Music', 'TV Shows' and 'Movies' icons, as well as coverflow.

Cook announced that the new Apple TV will go on sale on 16 March and be priced at £99 and is available for pre-order in the UK right away.

A software update was also announced, in the form of iOS 5.1, which brings Japanese support to Siri on the iPhone 4S.

Read all the details of the new iPad here.