Apple TV Wireless HD Media Streamer Review
In early September, Steve Jobs took to the stage and unveiled the new-and-improved Apple TV. What was once considered a “hobby” device was reworked, streamlined, made more affordable, and aimed squarely at the masses. It enters an increasingly crowded market of devices that offer near-instant access to libraries of recent movies and TV shows, as well other online streaming media content from the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and Flickr. Not to mention the ability to also stream media you already own—videos, music, and photos—from your computer to your TV and audio system.
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The Apple TV comes with a consumer-friendly price tag of $99, which is sure to give the likes of Roku, WD TV HD Media Player, and Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV HD Media Player devices a run for their money. You can even add the myriad of Google TV devices we’re sure to see coming to market in the coming months to the growing list of devices that are vying for the precious HDMI connections on the back of our HDTVs. Speaking of HDMI, the Apple TV does not come with an HDMI cable, so you’ll need to provide one yourself.
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| In the box | • Apple TV • Aluminum Apple Remote • Power cord • Documentation |
| Size and weight | • Height: 0.9 inch (23 mm) • Width: 3.9 inches (98 mm) • Depth: 3.9 inches (98 mm) • Weight: 0.6 pounds |
| Processor | • Apple A4 chip |
| Ports and interfaces | • HDMI • Optical audio • 10/100BASE-T Ethernet • Built-in IR receiver • Micro-USB (for service and support) |
| Environmental requirements | • Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C) • Storage temperature: –4° to 113° F (–20° to 45° C) • Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing • Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m) |
| Power | • Built-in 6-watt universal power supply |
| Wireless | • Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) |
| Video formats | • H.264: Up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz; stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats • MPEG-4: Up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz; stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats • Motion JPEG (M-JPEG): Up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw; PCM stereo audio in .avi file format |
| Audio formats | • HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through |
| Photo formats | • JPEG, GIF, TIFF |
| TV compatibility | • High-definition TVs with HDMI and capable of 720p 60/50Hz, including popular models from these manufacturers: Hitachi, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Vizio, Westinghouse |
| System requirements | • Wi-Fi (802.11a, b, g, or n) wireless network (wireless video streaming requires 802.11a, g, or n) or 10/100BASE-T Ethernet network • iTunes Store account for renting movies and TV shows • Netflix account for streaming Netflix content • For streaming media from a Mac or PC: iTunes 10.0.1 or later; iTunes Store account for Home Sharing |
| Accessories | • HDMI to HDMI Cable • Digital Optical Audio Cable • AppleCare Protection Plan |
| Apple TV is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact: | • Brominated flame retardant–free • PVC-free10 • Meets ENERGY STAR Version 2.0 requirements for set-top boxes |
Price: $99
