Apple TV has suffer from being Apple ’s “ other product , ” the Modern intersection that is n’t the iPhone . But make no error : Apple has put a lot of riot into this machine that bring spiritualist stored on your computer to your TV .
The first affair you ’ll notice is Apple TV ’s lowly size ; it ’s about 8 inches hearty by 1 in in high spirits . The second thing you ’ll detect is that it ’s easy to hook up and start using . Then , you ’ll notice the quality of the user port . Like an iPod , the Apple television interface is designed to settle almost all your content with just a few click . But the Apple TV port goes beyond simply being easy to sail , and that ’s where the wow divisor come in .
All in all , if you are a dedicated iTunes user , Apple TV is a simple , knock-down way of life to play medium stored on your background on your widescreen TV . Here ’s our hands - on experience .
Getting started
When power on the first time , a simple on - blind series of menus walk you through basic setup takings , such as pick out a language , naming the Apple TV unit and choosing a wireless internet . Apple TV supports 802.11b / g / n wireless meshwork , although it wo n’t swarm medium over slower 802.11b networks . It also supports Ethernet connections .
When setting up the web , you’re able to practice stock wireless security measures protocol such as WPA . When you connect to a secured web , a virtual keypad appear on - screen to type the internet ’s pass idiomatic expression using Apple TV ’s remote . If Apple TV is connected to a wired Ethernet web , it will mechanically detect and use that meshwork .
Apple TV sports both HDMI and digital component video output and is design for use with widescreen TVs meeting the EDTV and HDTV standards . It hold up a cooking stove of resolutions for telecasting output and will auto - pick out an appropriate resolution when tie in with HDMI .
However , when connect to a tv set using component inputs rather than HDMI , Apple TV defaults to its lowest resolve . That ’s because component connections can not allow for information to Apple boob tube about the declaration that the TV supports . you may , however , take a more appropriate resolve manually . For sound recording , Apple TV include both a digital Toslink port and analog RCA stereo ports . These can be used for connect to either a boob tube ’s audio recording input or to a home theater receiver .
TV is supported at the 320 - by-240 and 640 - by-480 resolutions originally used by Apple ’s video iPods , as well as the high definition 720p resolution . It does not , however , support 1080p , an omission that has drawn some criticism . Apple TV does a satisfying job of displaying telecasting at each closure , though 320 - by-240 video incline to exhibit at moderately lower quality .
Syncing up
During setup , Apple TV will ask if you want to synchronize content with a specific iTunes library or use streaming - only mode . synchronize to an iTunes program library signify that the content of that library are simulate to Apple TV ’s internal tough drive , which makes the content available at all time , even if the computer is turned off or remove from the web . you may sync Apple TV with only one iTunes program library , but you may stream content from up to five computers ( include the one that it is sync with ) .
One affair possible purchaser should keep in creative thinker is that Apple goggle box is design to play directly only with audio , video and podcasts cope in an iTunes depository library using iTunes software . In other words , despite its many moral excellence , iTunes is not for those who plan to produce television and sound recording from other stores . Put otherwise , Apple TV directly supports only the formats that iTunes supports , although there are a variety of tool , includingApple ’s QuickTime ProandTechspansion ’s VisualHub , that can be used to exchange video .
Associating Apple TV with an iTunes library is highly simple . After Apple tv set has been added to your net , just open iTunes on a Mac or PC , select Apple TV in the devices number and enter a bye codification that is displayed on CRT screen by Apple TV . If you are take to sync Apple TV with the associated iTunes subroutine library , you ’ll see a display alike to that of an iPod . As with an iPod , there are tab for each type of medium ( movies , TV shows , medicine , podcasts , and photos ) . you may use these tab to see whether all your iTunes content , or just specific item , get sync .
In its initial release , Apple TV only include a 40 GB surd drive , so you may call for to limit the content that is synced to it . To serve maximize the storage space , Apple includes filter that can , for instance , synchronise only the most recent media or unwatched film , TV show and podcasts . you’re able to also prefer to sync only specific euphony playlist and photo .
Indian file are synced in a specific order : movies , idiot box show , music , podcast and finally photos . Also , unlike other forms of culture medium , photos must be synchronize to Apple TV to be viewed , although Apple says it is considering options for streaming exposure in the future . Considering photos are the only subject that can not be streamed , it ’s a little queer that Apple would choose to give photo the lowest priority when it add up to synchronize content .
Apple TV is associated with libraries for cyclosis in for the most part the same way that it is for syncing — by displaying a pass code onscreen , which is then move into into iTunes . You range among the associated library by using the Source menu on the Apple TV . Streaming content is browsed and played in incisively the same way as synced content and works reliably from both 802.11 g and 802.11n source .
Whizzy but simple user interface
Apple TV is as easy to habituate as it is to typeset up . The included six - button remote control can be used to well navigate through the menus to take and work content . Navigation is completely visceral , and it ’s hard to find anything more to say about browse and playing content on the Apple boob tube — it simply works .
Apple deserve in high spirits praise for the look and tone of the Apple TV user interface , which is arresting while still pull off to be simple . Each interface element delivers a cohesive look while drawing from such divers sources as personal exposure , record album art and stills from television content . You really get the feeling as you navigate through the Apple TV that this is your personal digital media experience .
The fact that music and telecasting tags from iTunes are displayed to give you additional information about selected titles ( description , air or publication date , etc . ) is a courteous speck . However , depending on the size of your TV , some of this photographic print can be unmanageable to scan from across the room .
One of the most visually stunning and personalized feature of the Apple TV port is n’t even truly part of the interface . The include screen saver feature film will exhibit random picture synced to the Apple TV with beautiful 3 - 500 effects ( you may also choose to see CD album artistic creation instead of pic ) . In fact , this screensaver makes your telecasting into a corking digital word-painting frame when you ’re not determine other subject matter .
net impression
The Apple TV is focus on one goal : Bringing iTunes - establish digital media stored on your estimator to your TV . It achieves that goal quite well and simply with a equipment that is unproblematic to set up and a delight to use .
Apple TV , however , is n’t for everybody . For one thing , its $ 299 monetary value tatter is n’t exactly cheap . And you are largely circumscribed to using the iTunes store , which has a declamatory and firm following . However , videos are available from a diverseness of other sources that are n’t supported by Apple TV and the iTunes software .
Still , if you want easy access to euphony and video from iTunes , as well as your personal digital image , Apple TV is an splendid pick .
[ Ryan Faasis a freelance writer and IT advisor particularize in Mac and multiplatform meshwork design and troubleshooting . He is the co - writer ofEssential Mac OS X Panther Server Administrationand the writer ofTroubleshooting , Maintaining , and Repairing Macs . ]
