 Simply the Best Media System to Attach to your Television ! |
| Review Date: July 17, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Gavin Robinson, London, UK |
I have tried them all: Media Systems attached to the tv which stream from your pc, Windows Media Center, and many others. This is by far the best ! I bought the 160GB version, and I have not had one regret so far ! Amazing menus, and I have just downloaded my entire iTunes onto the hdd. Setup is as simple as can be: turn your pc on, open iTunes, ensure your network is up and running, and turn on the Apple TV. Note the code on your tv, which the Apple TV creates, then waddle over to your pc, tap that into iTunes (which would have already seen the Apple TV box on your network). You can then either stream or transfer the iTunes files. I opted to transfer, as it will then have everything without the pc being on. Goodness, could it be any easier. The menus and the remote are very responsive and it keeps things simple and user friendly. Video playback is a bit grainy, as these films, etc are designed for an ipod, and not your 50 inch display in the lounge ! However, if you are not used to High Definition SKY, etc, you will not see the difference. In fact Apple are going to release versions of films, etc for download in a resolution that will be in sync with a 50 inch display. So no fear for the future ! If you have a friend in the states, ask them nicely if you can put credit on their bank account and use the US iTunes. They have TONS of excellent stuff ! I am not saying that I have done this, but it's quite simple: iLibs, then copy across Libraries. The Apple TV is now an integral part of my entertainment system. It's an exceptional system, and sounds great either via the hdmi, or the optical output. I can only highly recommend you purchase one ! You will not regret it !
2009 Update: Apple's HD Content looks AMAZING on my 50inch HD Plasma....I still rave about this to my friends and family - still going strong... software updates from Apple are steady and have improved the menu system. If this broke tomorrow, I would buy a new one immediately, it's such an essential bit of kit in our TV Room....... Still the Best Media Centre device that money can buy ! |
If you have itunes but this... if you don't then get itunes then buy this!
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| Review Date: August 24, 2007 |
| Reviewer: J. Sewell, |
Apple do it again. Another sleek, sexy, wonderful piece of kit.
One box, two leads (three if you don't have wirless internet), and tv really is what you want it to be!
Very very easy to set up (though at first iTunes didn't see the device, just go into itunes, prefrences and untick the look for Apple TV box, select OK, then go back and re-tick it - it then found it no problem).
As well as downloading EVERYTHING you have on itunes, not just your music, but any movies, podcasts, tv shows etc, you can also
Download any folders of photos - then bore I mean show all your friends a neat slide show on your telly with your fav music in the background (or even cooler have your photos floating around the screen as your screen saver on your telly!).
Watch trailers of movies - want to go to cinema but not sure what films are worth seeing... this will give you huge list to look at.
Surf and watch youtube videos - if you into youtube that is!
Best of all - once you synched up and downloaded to the internal harddrive (will I ever fill a whole 160Gb??) you could always unplug the box, take the box, power lead and telly lead to a mates house for an evening watching movies, listening to music, or showing your holiday snaps!
Yeah everything this box can do you can do on your computer... but just so nice lounging in front of proper tv and with a simple remote having all this at hand.
Go on you know you want one! |
Apple TV
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| Review Date: April 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Mr. Christopher N. D. Hurt, Devon, UK |
| This is an amazing piece of kit. It was easy to set up, apart from the fact I could not remember my password, and used in conjunction with my iMac computer is so easy to synchronise or update. I use it mainly for still photographs and music. The beauty is that we no longer have to stand around my computer to look at photographs. They can be downloaded to the Apple TV within minutes and viewed from the comfort of an armchair on a large TV screen with pleasant music playing at the same time. It really was plug and play, apart from the password bit. |
Best client available
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| Review Date: April 1, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Blasto, UK |
You buy a computer, take it home and switch it on. Ok it will work, but expect to be a bit underwhelmed until you start to put your own software on and get it doing what you want. The Apple TV is exactly the same. Plug it in and browse the iTunes store and youtube. Big letdown. But once you start to feed the Apple TV your own content, this little machine outshines all the competition.
Here's two ways to transform this little box into something you will never look back from:
1. Have a pc or mac sat somewhere in your house running itunes and streaming content to the ATV. I picked up an ancient Apple G4 for free and it now serves up over 1TB of iTunes library - music and film. Rip your own CDs and DVDs and your library will soon swell up to this size.
2. Buy ATV Flash and add software to the ATV - it is after all a computer. Add an external USB drive full of all your films and songs and then there's no need to run a computer as well. You can then also run Boxee etc if you like all that stuff.
(Note - my two ATVs are 40GB and their drives are empty).
I prefer option 1 simply because my old G4 is feeding two ATVs and some other computers around the house - a one stop shop.
So with a bit of twiddling about, you have a fully functional media client. But why the ATV instead of a PC home media centre or an XBox, etc? Its hard to explain until you've seen both side by side. Its like comparing an ipod to a big boombox. One is smaller and does less, but does it so much better. An ATV is small, silent, simple to use, elegant, and offers a superb picture quality (despite not being full 1080P). An Xbox or PC media centre is big, ugly, very noisy, has a fussy and unintuitive interface... With the ATV, you loose a little, you gain a lot. Just as with the iPod, iPhone, etc, its as much what isn't include as what is. Let me put it this way. If you find all the increasingly blingy, animated and option-filled DVD menus just get in your way of enjoying film, get an ATV. If you like all the bling and gimmics, maybe you need to look elsewhere? |
Great product....ignore other media players
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| Review Date: February 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: P. S. Burley, UK |
| I did so much research for a media player WDTV etc,,the ATV is great...dont underestimate the value of podcasts on your 50" plasma and the access to all your DVD;s (in my case access to music DVD's)...to be able to sit on the sofa and surf your entire collection of DVD's with a remote then switch to YOUTUBE and Podcasts...fantastic...could do with better/faster processor..but had mine 6 weeks and if it got nicked tomorrow I would buy another....GET ONE !! |
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