Apple TV

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Apple TV

2nd generation Apple TV

Manufacturer

Apple Inc.

Type

Digital media receiver

Release date

October 1, 2010 (current release) January 9, 2007 (original release)

Introductory price

USD $99

Operating system

Mac OS X 10.4.x (Tiger) on the firstgeneration Apple TV, and iOS 4.x on the second-generation Apple TV

Intel Pentium M on the firstCPU generation Apple TV, and Apple A4 (ARM Cortex-A8) on the secondgeneration Apple TV

40GB or 160GB on the firstMemory generation Apple TV, and 8GB on the second-generation Apple TV

Input

Apple Remote, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad (via Remote)

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), 10/100 Connectivity Ethernet, Micro-USB, HDMI, Optical audio

Online services

iTunes Store, Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, MobileMe

23 mm (0.91 in) (h) Dimensions 98 mm (3.9 in) (w) 98 mm (3.9 in) (d)

Weight

0.6 lb (0.27 kg)

Website

Apple Apple TV

Apple TV is a digital media receiver made and sold by Apple Inc. It is a small form factor network appliance designed to play IPTV digital content originating from the iTunes Store, Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, MobileMe or any Mac OS X or Windows computer running iTunes onto an enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen television. Apple offered a preview of the device in September 2006 and began shipping it the following March.[1] 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.[2] The new version has no hard drive; however, it does have 8 gigabytes of flash storage.[3] All content is drawn from online or locally connected sources.

Contents
[hide]

1 History 2 Features o 2.1 Local sources 2.1.1 Supported formats o 2.2 Connectivity o 2.3 AirPlay o 2.4 Remote control o 2.5 Software 3 Technical specifications 4 Modifications and hacks 5 Limitations o 5.1 Functionality o 5.2 Former limitations 6 Sales o 6.1 First generation o 6.2 Second generation 7 Mac Mini comparison 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] History
Apple TV was unveiled as a work in progress called "iTV" at a press conference in San Francisco, California on September 12, 2006. Apple CEO Steve Jobs demoed a modified Front Row interface using the Apple Remote. Industry experts described the appliance as a "short Mac Mini".[4][5] Jobs announced that Apple would start taking pre-orders for Apple TV on January 9, 2007, at the Macworld Conference & Expo. Apple TV started shipping on March 21, 2007.[6] Apple released a 160GB model on May 31, 2007; it discontinued the 40GB version on September 14, 2009.[7] 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."[8] 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.[9] The second-generation Apple TV was unveiled during an Apple press conference on September 1, 2010.[10][11][12]

[edit] Features
Apple TV allows consumers to use an HDTV set to view photos, play music and watch video that originates from limited Internet services or a local network. The first generation (white) had iTunes, Flickr, Mobileme/.Mac, and Youtube. The second generation added Netflix. Both models supported downloading/streaming podcasts. Notable competitors include Western Digital Media Center, Roku, and Google TV. Supported Internet media services include:[13]

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.[14][15][16] Since 2008, podcasts have been served on the Apple TV as other kinds of video, as opposed to in RSS and similar feeds.[17][18] Until mid-March 2009, the Apple TV was the only way to purchase HD iTunes content.[19] 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.[20] Netflix streaming integration was added in the September 2010 revision. YouTube videos can be viewed directly on the Apple TV.[21][22] A YouTube account is not required, but allows a user to set personalized options, such as favorites.[23] Rotten Tomatoes review syndication and ratings offered per title available for rent.[24] Rotten Tomatoes account holders cannot login, so is not needed nor required, as no personalised options are available.

Apple TV does not support user-defined RSS audio, video and text feeds.[25] Parental controls allow consumers to limit access to Internet media service content. Internet media is split into four categories: "Internet Photos", "YouTube", "Podcasts", and "Purchase and Rental". Each of the categories is configured by a parental control of "Show", "Hide" or "Ask" to prompt for a 4-digit preset code. In addition, movies, TV shows, music and podcasts can be restricted by rating.[23] Although Apple TV has a "Closed Captioning" setting, subtitles are not available for most iTunes content.[26]

[edit] Local sources

Apple TV can sync or stream photos, music and videos from a computer running iTunes.[27] A user can connect a computer on a local network to maintain a central home media library of ripped CD, DVD or HD content,[28] provide direct connectivity to photo organization software such as iPhoto,[29] limit home video access to a local network only,[30] play Internet radio,[31][32] or preload content on Apple TV to be used later as a non-networked video player.[33] For users who wish to connect the Apple TV to a computer, synchronization and streaming modes are supported.[27] In synchronization mode, Apple TV works in a similar way to the iPod. It is paired with an iTunes library on a single computer and can synchronize with that library, copying all or selected content to its own hard drive. After syncing, Apple TV need not remain connected to the network.[33][34] 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.[35] 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.[36][37] 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. [edit] Supported formats Apple TV supports the following audio, video, and picture formats:[38] Video

H.264 up to 720p at 30 frames per second MPEG-4 up to 720 x 432 (432p) or 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps Motion JPEG up to 720p at 30 fps

Picture

JPEG GIF TIFF

Audio

HE-AAC (V1)

AAC (16320 kbit/s) FairPlay protected AAC MP3 (16320 kbit/s, with VBR) Apple Lossless AIFF WAV

Attempts to sync unsupported content to Apple TV will draw an error message from iTunes.[39] Apple TV cannot play 1080i or 1080p HD content (e.g., HD camera video) unless it is converted to a lower-resolution format.[36][37][40][41][42] Apple offers 4 Mbit/s H.264 720p movies and video podcasts on iTunes.[43] In comparison, Bluray movies are typically 1080p H.264 or VC-1 video encoded at 48 Mbit/s.[44] Apple TV's audio chip supports 7.1 surround sound,[45] and some high definition rentals from iTunes are offered with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.[46] 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.[47] Applications that use QuickTime to export media can use this; e.g., iMovie's Share menu[48], iTunes' advanced menu,[49] and some third-party content conversion tools.[50]

[edit] Connectivity

Back of 1st generation Apple TV

Back of 2nd generation Apple TV Apple TV outputs video through an HDMI port. While the previous iteration also had component video ports, they were removed in the current generation. The device does not have RCA/composite video or F/RF connectors. Of the original Apple TV, reviewers wrote that Apple

is "future-proofing", and "if you do not have HDTV now, you will in the future".[37][51] The product does not come with audio or video cables. 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.[33]

[edit] AirPlay
AirPlay allows an Apple TV or AirPort-enabled computer with the iTunes music player to send a stream of music to multiple (three to six, in typical conditions) stereos connected to an AirPort Express or Apple TV.[52] The AirPort Express' streaming media capabilities use Apple's Remote Audio Output Protocol (RAOP), a proprietary variant of RTSP/RTP. Using WDS-bridging,[53] 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[54] (see "Remote control" section below).

[edit] Remote control

Apple TV can be controlled by virtually any infrared remote control[55] or paired with the included Apple Remote to prevent interference from other remotes.[36][56][57] Either kind of remote can control playback volume, but for music only.[9][58][59] 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.[60][61]

[edit] Software

The original Apple TV's software was based on the Mac OS X Front Row application. 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.[62] 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.[63][64] 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.[36]

Apple TV 3.0 interface, released October 29, 2009 Like Front Row on the Mac, the "TV Shows" option allows the user to sort contents by show or date and the "Movies" option also allows the user to view movie trailers for new releases. All video content, including movies, TV shows, music videos, and video podcasts, includes bookmark functionality. Apple TV automatically bookmarks video content midstream to continue playback at a later time.[65] 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.[65] The second generation Apple TV runs a version of iOS, rather than the modified Mac OS X of the previous model. The interface is similar to that of the previous generation, with only slight modifications.

[edit] Technical specifications

Model Release date(s) Processor Table of models First generation September 12, 2006 Second generation

September 1, 2010 Apple A4 (ARM Cortex-A8) Apple A4 (PowerVR SGX535) 256 MB [69] 8 GB NAND Flash for Cache[70] Micro-USB, HDMI, infrared receiver, optical audio

1 GHz Intel "Crofton" Pentium M[66] Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 with 64 MB of Graphics VRAM[67] 256 MB of 400 MHz DDR2 SDRAM[68] Memory Hard drive 40 or 160 GB hard disk USB 2.0 (officially for diagnostic use only, though hackers have managed to Connectivity allow connectivity of hard disks, mice, and keyboards)[71], infrared receiver, HDMI, component video, optical audio Wi-Fi (802.11b/g and draft-n), 10/100 Networking Ethernet 720p 60/50Hz, 576p/576i 50Hz (PAL), 480p/480i[72] (480i is unofficially Output supported) 60Hz Optical audio, HDMI, RCA analog Audio stereo audio Built-in universal 48W power supply Power 7.8 in (200 mm) (h) Dimensions 7.8 in (200 mm) (w) 1.1 in (28 mm) (d) 2.4 lb (1.1 kg) Weight Operating Modified build of Mac OS X v10.4 System

Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), 10/100 Ethernet 720p, 480p Optical audio, HDMI Built-in 6W power supply 3.9 in (99 mm) (h) 3.9 in (99 mm) (w) 0.9 in (23 mm) (d) 0.6 lb (0.27 kg) Modified build of iOS

[edit] Modifications and hacks

Within days of the release of the first-gen Apple TV, various non-commercial and commercial hacks became available. These allowed users to remotely access the device, add support for other codecs, install a full-blown copy of Mac OS X Tiger, access the hard drive via USB, use the device to browse the web, use non-Apple remote controls, and download metadata from the IMDB.[25][73] In mid-2008, Fire Core released the aTV Flash software, which gives the Apple TV support for other media formats, a web browser, external USB hard drive support, and more.[74] A free and open-source alternative, atvusb-creator, does much the same using a simple graphical interface on both Mac and Windows.

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.[75] Installing updates for the Apple TV system software typically removes software hacks, but major ATV hacks are updated regularly.[76] 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.[77] Popular modifications include replacing Apple TV's Front Row interface with alternative media center software, including XBMC Media Center and Boxee.[25][78] 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.[79][80] Users have also upgraded the first-gen device's internal hard drive.[81] A hardware hack allows the first-gen Apple TV to output color through composite video.[82] 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. True 1080p playback and video output can be enabled on the first-generation Apple TV by installing a Broadcom CrystalHD PCI-e card and the latest version 10 (Dharma) of XBMC running on Linux instead of the native Mac OS X 10.4.x based operatting-system. 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. On January 20 2011 the XBMC team released the first official version of Xbox Media Centre for the second generation device.

[edit] Limitations
[edit] Functionality
Apple TV does not contain a TV tuner, nor a personal video recorder.[36][39] Both capabilities can be applied to the connected home computer through various third-party products; allowing PVR

software, for example, to connect to iTunes and enable scheduled HDTV recordings to automatically play via Apple TV for playback.[83] The Front Row interface lacks some iTunes functionality, including rating items, synchronizing from more than one computer,[84] full Internet radio support,[37][85] and games.[86] The Movies search box only searches the iTunes Store, not local hard drives and networks.[87] 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.[16][88] Movies purchased on Apple TV can be moved to a video-enabled iPod or iPhone via iTunes.[89] The Apple TV uses the older QuickTime 7 engine,[90] so it cannot play videos which use H.264 Sample Aspect Ratio (which requires QuickTime X).[91][92]

[edit] Former limitations

Photos were required to be synced to the device until an iTunes update enabled streaming.[93] 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,[40], though the full 5.1 Surround Sound digital discrete worked if a 5.1-capable receiver was connected via the optical cable to Apple TV and the audio content was encoded as lossless.[94][95] QuickTime and Apple TV did not ship with an AC-3 codec,[96] and iTunes Store content only supported 4.0 surround sound.[97] 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.[98] 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.[36][39] Critics claimed that Apple TVs TV-based interface was "cluttered" and difficult to browse or search for a specific movie, requiring Netflix-like queues and "watched" flags or dates.[99][100] Apple released movie wish lists, video playlists, and "watched" flags in Apple TV software versions 2.1 through 2.4.[9][101]

[edit] Sales
[edit] First generation
Within the first week of presales in January 2007, Apple TV was the top selling item at the Apple Store.[102] Orders exceeded 100,000 units by the end of January and Apple began rampingup to sell over a million units before the 2007 holiday season.[103] Analysts began calling it a "DVD killer"[104] that could enable multiple services. Analysts also predicted that Apple could sell up to 1.5 million units in the first year.[105] Besides the Apple Store, Best Buy was one of the first retailers to carry the device;[106] Target and Costco[107] followed shortly thereafter.

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.[108] 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",[109] 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.[110] In the fourth quarter of 2008, sales were triple that of the fourth quarter of 2007.[111] 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.[111] Due to the growth of digital TV and consumers turning to Internet media services, an analyst predicted sales of 6.6 million Apple TVs by the end of 2009.[112]

[edit] Second generation

The second generation sold 250,000 units in the first two weeks it was available. On December 21, 2010, Apple announced that they had sold 1 million units. [113]

[edit] Mac Mini comparison

A Mac Mini with Front Row Interface Apple enthusiasts seeking an alternative to the Apple TV sometimes consider the Mac Mini hardware as a more powerful, albeit more costly, solution for an HTPC (Home Theater PC) option.[114][115] As a full-featured computer, it lacks the out-of-the-box simplicity and ease of use of the Apple TV. Unlike the Apple TV and other iOS devices, the Mac mini must be authorized for FairPlay, reducing available authorizations for other computers. However, once configured for home theater applications, viewers can use the supplied remote control to activate and navigate the Front Row or other media management packages.[116] Advantages include

expandable storage, full 1080p video, support for multiple video and audio codecs, a DVD drive, and access to third party media management software. The Mac Mini remote can also control volume for all applications including video and music. 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 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 [117] and it could void the warranty.[118]