The new Apple TV
is a drastic
change from what
we’ve seen from
the previous
versions of the
device. There’s
no more hard
drive, there’s
no big bulky
unit device that
runs loud and
hot, this is a
simple device
that fits into
the palm of your
hand, runs cool
and quiet,
doesn’t have a
hard drive, but
can still do
anything that
the old device
could do plus
some new
additions. In
fact, even the
user interface
is the same.
The outside of
the device is
the biggest
change. It’s
black now and
it’s tiny. It
weighs just over
half a pound,
and it’s roughly
4”X4” at its
biggest
dimensions. The
Apple TV can fit
in your hand.
With something
so small- you
wouldn’t think
there would be a
lot to it… and
for the most
part you’re
right. There’s
no hard drive
storage on the
new Apple TV,
you can’t
download content
to own it. You
can stream
content from
your PC, from
iTunes, or from
Netflix, but you
can’t download
something and
own it on your
Apple TV. This
is bad for those
of us who are
lazy and want to
own media from
the TV… but on
the other side
of that, if you
want to own it-
download it on
your computer
then stream it
to the Apple TV.
No Big. And the
sacrifice that
you get from
doing this for
the unit’s
efficiency is
well worth it.
The new version
of The Apple TV
runs silent, you
can only hear it
working if you
put your ear
right next to
it, and even
then it might be
a stretch.
Better than that
is it’s a device
that requires no
fans and no
cooling units.
It runs silent
and cool and
it’s encredibly
energy
efficient.
It looks and
runs different
than the old
Apple TV but it
still does what
the old Apple TV
did. You can
still rent
movies (TV Shows
now too.) You
can listen to
internet radio.
You can access
your iTunes
library from
your computer,
and so on. This
unit is a
fraction of the
size of the
original Apple
TV, runs quiet
and smooth, and
does everything
the old version
did well.
There’s no real
loss with it.
When you add
that to the
ability to
stream Netflix,
Apple TV is
better than
ever.
Not only is the
device simple-
installation is
incredibly
simple. You plug
in a HDMI cable
to your TV and
give it power.
That’s all you
have to do.
There’s also an
optional optical
plug for running
the device
through your
home stereo
system which is
welcome for
playing music
etc.
The Apple TV
remote remains
awesome; it’s
simple and easy
to use with
basically an
iPod interface.
It’s still
something you
can lose
incredibly easy
if you’re that
type of person
(I am.) This has
been remedied to
an extent- you
can use your
iPod Touch or
iPhone 4 running
IOS 4.1 as a
remote with the
Remote app. It’s
easy to use and
you’ll always be
able to run your
Apple TV from
here on out-
even when you
can’t find the
tiny remote.
The Remote App
isn’t the only
way Apple TV and
IOS 4 work
together.. You
can also stream
content with
AirPlay from
your iPod Touch/iPhone
onto your Apple
TV. As of press
time the feature
isn’t available,
but I’ve heard
that it will be
available with
the IOS 4.2
update that
comes out in or
around November.
Two quick things
on the Apple TV-
renting TV Shows
is the dumbest
thing iTunes has
done. Lots of
people are going
to do it, but
why pay .99 for
something that
you can watch
for 24 hours for
30 days. It’s a
little
ridiculous. What
if you rent a
show and it
turns into one
of your favorite
episodes ever?
Do you own it
and spend an
extra buck?
Something needs
to be addressed
with rent to own
inside of
iTunes. That’s
the only
complaint I
have.
Netflix
streaming is
common on lots
of devices. You
can stream
content through
Xbox LIVE (if
you pay for the
Gold
subscription)
and through Wii
and Playstation
Network, even
Blu-ray players
and TVs are
built in with
it. Some things
run great; other
things run slow
and extremely
shaky. Netflix
streaming on
Apple TV is the
best that I’ve
ever seen it.
It’s simple
navigation, its
simple playing
and buffering.
Basically it’s
the best… not by
far… but far
enough.
The new Apple TV
does what the
old Apple TV did
but it doesn’t
have hard drive
storage. Some
people are going
to gripe about
this, but it’s
not that big of
an issue when
you look at the
big picture. The
device can still
access owned
iTunes content
off of your
computer and you
can still rent
content on it
too. Add that
with internet
radio and the
best way to
stream Netflix
out there and
you have a
fantastic
device.