The Apple TV is one of the best streaming boxes on the market and it just got a little better.
As of this morning, Hulu Plus is now available on the Apple TV. The app showed up without fanfare, with its icon popping up next to Netflix without an announcement from Apple or a required firmware update.
Hulu Plus was one of the major missing streaming-video services on the Apple TV, which has been available on competing devices like the Roku HD, PS3, and Xbox 360 for quite some time. As is often the case on the Apple TV, the user interface eschews the standard look available on other devices, instead featuring an Apple-customized look similar to the Netflix app. The Hulu Plus app also allows you to purchase a Hulu Plus subscription ($8 a month) right on the box using your iTunes account.
The new app comes on the heels of the new AirPlay Mirroring functionality, which enables users to watch Hulu (free) — or any Flash video — on their Apple TV, as long as they have a compatible Mac running the latest Mountain Lion software.