Apple offered a preview of the device in September 2006 and began shipping it the following March. It initially shipped with a 40GB hard disk; a 160GB version was introduced two months later and the earlier model was ultimately discontinued.
In September 2010, Apple announced a second-generation version of the Apple TV. About a quarter of the size and one-third of the price of the original Apple TV, the new device can stream rented content from iTunes and video from computers or iOS devices via AirPlay. The new version has no hard drive; however, it does have 8 gigabytes of flash storage. All content is drawn from online or locally connected sources.
Apple TV started shipping on March 21, 2007. Apple released a 160GB model on May 31, 2007; it discontinued the 40GB version on September 14, 2009.
At Macworld 2008 on January 15, 2008, Jobs announced a major (and free) software upgrade to the Apple TV. Dubbed "Take Two", the upgrade turned the Apple TV into a stand-alone device that no longer required a computer running iTunes on Mac OS X or Windows to stream or sync content to it. Jobs said, "Apple TV was designed to be an accessory for iTunes and your computer. It was not what people wanted. We learned what people wanted was movies, movies, movies." The update also allowed the device to rent and purchase content from iTunes directly, as well as download podcasts and stream photos from MobileMe (.Mac at the time) and Flickr.
The second-generation Apple TV was unveiled during an Apple press conference on September 1, 2010.
Notable competitors include Western Digital Media Center, Roku, and Google TV.
Supported Internet media services include:
*Users can access the iTunes Store directly through Apple TV to rent movies and TV shows and stream audio and video podcasts. While the first iteration of the Apple TV could purchase content, the second generation lacks a hard drive, and thus cannot store purchased content. Instead, users would need to buy content on a computer and stream it to the Apple TV. Since 2008, podcasts have been served on the Apple TV as other kinds of video, as opposed to in RSS and similar feeds. Until mid-March 2009, the Apple TV was the only way to purchase HD iTunes content. Apple TV can display photos from Flickr and MobileMe in a slide show, with automatic cross-dissolve transitions, and optionally with the Ken Burns effect.
Apple TV does not support user-defined RSS audio, video and text feeds.
A user can connect a computer on a local network to maintain a central home media library of ripped CD, DVD or HD content, provide direct connectivity to photo organization software such as iPhoto, limit home video access to a local network only, play Internet radio, or preload content on Apple TV to be used later as a non-networked video player. Photos can sync from iPhoto, Aperture, or from a hard disk folder on a Mac, or Adobe Photoshop Album, Photoshop Elements, or from a hard disk folder in Windows.
Apple TV can also function as a peer-to-peer digital media receiver, streaming content from iTunes libraries and playing the content over the network.
First generation Apple TVs can stream content from up to five computers or iTunes libraries. Also, five Apple TVs can be linked to the same iTunes library. For second generation Apple TVs, use of the Home Sharing feature of iTunes is required, which will automatically allow you to stream content from other iTunes libraries. This depends on the Apple TV and iTunes library you are streaming from are on the same local network along with the same Apple ID for Home Sharing.
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Apple TV cannot play 1080i or 1080p HD content (e.g., HD camera video) unless it is converted to a lower-resolution format.
Apple offers 4 Mbit/s H.264 720p movies and video podcasts on iTunes. In comparison, Blu-ray movies are typically 1080p H.264 or VC-1 video encoded at 48 Mbit/s.
Apple TV's audio chip supports 7.1 surround sound, and some high definition rentals from iTunes are offered with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
There is an Apple TV export option in QuickTime, which allows content in some formats that the device does not support to be easily re-encoded. Applications that use QuickTime to export media can use this; e.g., iMovie's Share menu, iTunes' advanced menu, and some third-party content conversion tools.
Audio is supported through the optical and HDMI ports. The previous Apple TV also had analog (RCA connector) audio ports.
The device connects to the internet and local networks through an Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection. The device also has a Micro-USB port, but this is reserved for service and diagnostics. On the previous Apple TV, media files can be transferred directly onto the device by syncing with another computer. Once content is stored on the device, an internet connection would no longer be needed to view content.
The AirPort Express' streaming media capabilities use Apple's Remote Audio Output Protocol (RAOP), a proprietary variant of RTSP/RTP. Using WDS-bridging, the AirPort Express can allow AirPlay functionality (as well as Internet access, file and print sharing, etc.) across a larger distance in a mixed environment of wired and up to 10 wireless clients.
AirPlay can be controlled by a Keyspan USB-enabled infrared remote control plugged into the USB port, but the Apple Remote's volume buttons cannot control AirPlay. However volume control can be adjusted using the slider within iTunes.
Speakers attached to an AirPort Express or Apple TV can be selected from within the "Remote" iPhone/iPod Touch program, allowing full AirPlay compatibility (see "Remote control" section below).
On July 10, 2008, Apple released Remote, a free iOS application that allows the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad to control the iTunes library on the Apple TV via Wi-Fi.
The original Apple TV ran a modified build of Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger that presented the user with an interface similar to that of Front Row. While this interface was merged back into Mac OS X v10.5 in late 2007, major Apple TV enhancements since then ("Take Two" and later) have not been included in Front Row. Content was organized in six groups (movies, TV Shows, music, YouTube, podcasts, and photos) and presented in the initial menu along with a Settings option for configuration, including software updates. The included Apple Remote was used to navigate through the menus by using the up or down buttons and selecting options with the play button. The left and right buttons were used to perform rewind and fast-forward functions while viewing video content and perform previous and next song functionality when selecting audio-only content. The "Music" submenu offers similar options to those found on an iPod, presenting the available music sorted by artist, album, songs, genres, and composers, as well as offering a shuffle option and listing available audiobooks. As categories are selected with the remote, animated album art is displayed on the side of the display for the contents of the selected category. While playing "audio-only" content such as music and audio podcasts, Apple TV periodically moves album art and content info on the TV display to prevent burn-in on video displays.
| Apple A4 (ARM Cortex-A8)
|-
| Graphics
| Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 with 64 MB of VRAM
| Apple A4 (PowerVR SGX535)
|-
| Memory
| 256 MB of 400 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
| 256 MB
|-
| Hard drive
| 40 or 160 GB hard disk
| 8 GB NAND Flash for Cache
|-
| Connectivity
| USB 2.0 (officially for diagnostic use only, though hackers have managed to allow connectivity of hard disks, mice, and keyboards), infrared receiver, HDMI, component video, optical audio
| Micro-USB, HDMI, infrared receiver, optical audio
|-
| Networking
|Wi-Fi (802.11b/g and draft-n), 10/100 Ethernet
|Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), 10/100 Ethernet
|-
| Output
| 720p 60/50Hz, 576p/576i 50Hz (PAL), 480p/480i (480i is unofficially supported) 60Hz
| 720p, 480p
|-
| Audio
| Optical audio, HDMI, RCA analog stereo audio
|Optical audio, HDMI
|-
| Power
| Built-in universal 48W power supply
| Built-in 6W power supply
|-
| Dimensions
| (h)
(w)
''(d)
| (h)
(w)
''(d)
|-
| Weight
|
|
|-
| Operating System
| Modified build of Mac OS X v10.4
| Modified build of iOS
|-
|}
As of September 2010, Apple does not prevent users from modifying their Apple TVs, but does warn that applying hacks may void the product's warranty.
Installing updates for the Apple TV system software typically removes software hacks, but major ATV hacks are updated regularly.
Most Front Row plugins are minor and have not been updated to work with Apple TV 2.x. AwkwardTV reports 10 plugins out of 32 have been certified compatible with the "Take Two" update.
Popular modifications include replacing Apple TV's Front Row interface with alternative media center software, including XBMC Media Center and Boxee. Though Boxee installs a Netflix Watch Instantly plugin, the Apple TV does not have enough processing power to run the Silverlight framework that the Netflix plugin depends on.
Users have also upgraded the first-gen device's internal hard drive.
A hardware hack allows the first-gen Apple TV to output color through composite video. For firmware version 3.0, the existing 2.x hack involving a kernel module called TVComposite.kext, is not yet working as of 11/1/2009.
1080p playback can be enabled on the 1st Generation Apple TV by installing a Broadcom CrystalHD PCI-e card and the latest version 10 (Dharma) of XBMC.
AirPlay video and photo streaming is now available on the 1st Generation Apple TV by installing the Remote HD plugin.
As the second generation Apple TV is iOS based, developers have used the traditional Jailbreaking techniques to install additional software on the Apple TV. This is accomplished by downloading the Apple TV's firmware from Apple's servers, then using a custom firmware application like PwnageTool to create a custom firmware. Users then connect their Apple TV to iTunes, place the Apple TV in DFU mode and restore the custom firmware to the Apple TV. This custom firmware provides SSH support to the device where users may use APT to install software to the device. Currently there is a limited amount of Apple TV compatible software, however a recent release of Plex Media Center has enhanced the Apple TV's media support.
The Front Row interface lacks some iTunes functionality, including rating items, synchronizing from more than one computer, full Internet radio support, and games.
The Movies search box only searches the iTunes Store, not local hard drives and networks.
Movies rented on Apple TV must be watched on Apple TV, unlike iTunes rentals, which can be transferred to any video-enabled iPod, iPhone or Apple TV. Movies purchased on Apple TV can be moved to a video-enabled iPod or iPhone via iTunes.
The Apple TV uses the older QuickTime 7 engine, so it cannot play videos which use H.264 Sample Aspect Ratio (which requires QuickTime X).
The February 2008 release of the 2.0 ("Take Two") software update allowed users to rent standard-resolution or HD movies with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. Previously, Apple TV had officially supported only Dolby Pro Logic simulated 5.1, QuickTime and Apple TV did not ship with an AC-3 codec, and iTunes Store content only supported 4.0 surround sound. News sites were reporting that some users had worked out how to add AC-3 (Dolby Digital) 5.1 channel support by hacking the unit.
Before the 2.3 update, the Apple remote could control sound volume and Front Row navigation via a Macintosh computer, but only volume via Apple TV. Apple released movie wish lists, video playlists, and "watched" flags in Apple TV software versions 2.1 through 2.4.
Two months into sales, Forrester Research predicted that Apple would only sell a million Apple TV units, because consumers prefer advertisement-supported content over paid content. Forrester predicted that cable companies would be the clear winners over content providers such as the iTunes Store. Shortly after, Apple released YouTube functionality and Jobs stated that Apple TV was a "DVD player for the Internet". Market analysts immediately saw that YouTube on Apple TV "provides a glimpse of this product's potential and its future evolution", but overall, analysts had mixed reactions regarding the future of Apple TV. Some negative reactions followed after Jobs referred to the device as a "hobby", implying it was less significant than the Macintosh, iPod, and iPhone.
In the fourth quarter of 2008, sales were triple that of the fourth quarter of 2007.
In Apple's first-quarter 2009 financial results conference call, acting chief executive Tim Cook stated that Apple TV sales increased three times over the same quarter a year ago. Cook mentioned that the movie rental business was working well for Apple, Apple would continue investment in movie rentals and Apple TV, but Apple TV is still considered a hobby for the company.
The Mac Mini can stream content from services like YouTube, Hulu and Netflix, using either a browser or one of several full featured free HTPC applications like XBMC Media Center, Boxee, and Plex.
The original Apple TV must be hacked to add software like XBMC Media Center or Boxee to partly compensate for the lack of browser-based functionality. Since this is not a stock set up, official software updates remove the hack and it could void the warranty.
Category:2007 introductions Category:Apple Inc. hardware Category:Digital media receivers Category:Television technology Category:ITunes
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