Now, the rumor-mill is abuzz over the possibility that the next Apple TV will launch with the ability to rent TV shows from iTunes.  Renting isn’t new to iTunes, but it’s only available for movies at the moment.  Movie rentals through the iTunes Store typically cost $3.99 for SD movies, and $4.99 for HD movies.  Some, however, go for $0.99 for SD (standard definition) and $1.99 for HD.  The rumors for the TV Rentals would place single episodes at $0.99, which would be $1 less than owning the SD version of most shows. {CrunchGear}

These TV shows would likely be streamed to Apple TVs rather than downloaded, which would mean no waiting for the episode, just buy and watch instantly.  As always, the rentals would be available for 30 days until you start watching them, and then another 24 hours after starting the show to watch as many times as you’d like.

This would be a big deal for the Apple TV, but also for other iOS devices, the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.  Being able to stream rented TV shows for $0.99 would be a great thing for those who travel a lot.  It would eat up a bit of the 2 GB data cap on AT&T’s network, but with WiFi it wouldn’t be a problem at all.  Now, if only Apple would bring out cheaper plans to rent full seasons as the shows release, that would be even greater.  A rent-as-shows-come TV service paired with Hulu Plus and Netflix could easily replace Cable (minus the sports, of course).

The idea behind Tunerfish is for users to share the content they are watching while playing a social game.  The game, as explained would give users points for influencing others to watch the same content they watch.

To add content, users simply search the site for their content – whether that be a TV show or online video, and click the big “I’m watching” button.  Users can then comment on the shows via Twitter or Facebook and link back to Tunerfish.

Like Twitter, Tunerfish will have an easy way to determine what’s popular at the moment by showing what shows are trending.  It looks to be a good way to see what shows others, including your friends or personal network, are watching. Depending on the extent to which it catches on, Tunerfish could also present a good challenge to Neilsen’s and other panel based ratings, which haven’t changed much in 50 years. It might also help extend the life of “cult” series that seem to have vocal fans who appear on the radar at the news of series cancellations, but not during all important programming meetings where the shows live and die by ratings, with little regard for the popularity of on-demand viewings or fan groups who come together online.

While Tunerfish is currently in private alpha, the public beta should be out within a few weeks.  Until then we’ll need to rely on Twitter, Facebook and actual conversations to find out what our friends are watching.

That’s right kiddies, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) officially kicks off tomorrow in Sin City, but the tech world is already buzzing about the many goodies they’re going to see – including an onslaught of new tablets and some seriously tricked out televisions.

So what does the future of TV hold?

How about 3D programming on the Discovery Channel and ESPN? How about Skype enabled HDTVs that let you chat to your loved ones from your living rooms? How about Apps (to sites like Facebook, Pandora, and Flickr) for your TV? What about an App that brings live TV to your iPhone?

Even before CES kicks off, it seems official to us. 2010 will be the year your TV gets a serious upgrade.

Read More {Engadget}

Read More {Gizmodo}

Read More {Mashable}

But don’t worry — we’re not media zombies in the Twilight Zone just yet.

Faithful TV viewers lately are taking their style cues from shows like Gossip Girl and Mad Men, which have helped to democratize fashion by showing how “real people” can wear clothes.  Viewers are certainly aware of the fact that these characters aren’t real, but by relating clothing to palpable personalities rather than abstract circumstances like runway shows, they are more likely to understand how certain styles can work in their own lives.

Of course we don’t think you should go out and try to dress 100% like Blair or Serena, because personal style should never be a carbon copy of someone else.  Instead, use TV fashion as a set of guidelines — and a source of inspiration — that helps you develop your own look.

Read the full story {Associated Press}