Update - Apparently the aTV is no longer available. If you head over to the Apple Core LLC website a message states that “Due to questions arising regarding the fair use of a particular file present on the aTV Flash, and conflicting opinions as to whether or not it falls under the fair use category, we have VOLUNTARILY discontinued offering the aTV Flash at this time.”

I happened to notice a posting on Twitter tonight by Leo Laporte, of TWIT fame, about a really easy hack he did to his Apple TV for $60. It’s called the aTV and it’s creators are Apple Core, LLC. According to the Apple Core website, aTV Flash is a USB flash drive that inserts into the AppleTV and will upgrade it to do all kinds of new things. Some features are the ability to play most video formats, play DVD without converting them, and browse the web with a Safari based web browser. All that and they claim that it will not void your warranty. So if your feeling brave, head on over to http://www.applecorellc.com and get your aTV flash drive.

I have to say there are a handful of movies which I can look back on that define my child hood and Krull and Clash of the Titans are two of them. Both are now available as HD rentals. Two more titles including Weird Science and The Final Season are also now available as HD rentals.

The Golden Compass is now available for rent in HD or purchase on the Apple TV.

According to the Times Online Apple is ready to announce the availability of movie rentals and for purchase. Only the iTunes Movie Store is mentioned and no word wether this service will extend to the Apple TV, but I would assume so. You can read the entire article here.

By way of Appleinsider, Apple announced Thursday that hit television programming is now available on the iTunes Store in France. Check out the entire post here.

By way of a post over at Gizmodo, by installing the latest software update for Vudu, you are given the option of being able to extend your rental for another 30 days or an extra 24-48 hours. Apparently Independent Titles on Vudu are rented for 48 hours. The extra cost is $2 off HD movies and $1 off SD movies. Is this a feature you would like to see implemented on Apple TV? Check out the entire post here.

27 Dresses became an HD rental tonight along with 7 more titles including Assassination Tango, Cobb, Curley Sue, Fright Night, Little Shop of Horrors, Scooby-Doo in Where’s My Mummy and Unearthed.