- Apple TV Links Directly to Your iTunes and iCloud Accounts
- Specialized Apple TV Programming Is Available
- Apple TV Utilizes AirPlay to Wirelessly Link Your TV with Your iOS Mobile Device
- What Comes with the Little Black Box Known as Apple TV
What Comes with the Little Black Box Known as Apple TV
The Apple TV device that’s currently available is a small black box (measuring 0.9 inches high by 3.9 inches wide and 3.9 inches deep) that connects to your HD television set or home theatre system using an HDMI cable. It will not work with older television sets that lack an HDMI port. At the same time, the Apple TV device is connected to your television or home theatre system (including your stereo surround sound speakers), and it must also be connected to the Internet.
The Apple TV box allows for an Ethernet cable connection to the Internet. This grants you access to all your iTunes and iCloud content, but does not work with iOS’s AirPlay feature. To utilize Airplay in conjunction with your iOS mobile device, the Apple TV box and your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch need to be connected to the same wireless network (via a wireless Internet router in your home or office).
The latest generation Apple TV device that was released in March 2012 offers a higher-resolution viewing experience than previous Apple TV models. Content can now be experienced on your HD television set in true 1080p resolution in conjunction with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound (when applicable). Like its predecessors, the current generation Apple TV box comes with a handheld remote control. An HDMI cable to connect the Apple TV box to your television or home theatre system is sold separately. To enhance the audio experience, you can also use an optional Optical Audio cable to link your Apple TV to your home theatre system or compatible HD television set.
All interaction with Apple TV is done through a series of on-screen menus that appear on the television set. However, you can also download the free Remote app from the App Store and control your Apple TV using your iOS mobile device.
If you already have a second-generation Apple TV device (purchased within the last two years or so), be sure to download and install the upgraded operating system for free. This OS upgrade does not offer 1080p resolution for programming, but does feature Apple TV’s new on-screen user interface.
As a standalone device that connects to your television, the latest generation Apple TV offers more than 90,000 TV show episodes and 15,000 movies via iTunes on an on-demand basis. However, when you use this device in conjunction with your iOS mobile device, the ability to stream content offers a multitude of advantages and options when it comes to enjoying video content, audio (music, audiobooks, podcasts, etc.), or photos.
Final Thoughts
So, if you already have an HD television set and an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, think of the Apple TV as a $99 add-on accessory that greatly enhances the capabilities of the technology you already own and use. It also grants broader accessibility to your content.