Apple TV
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We have collected 12 reviews of the Apple TV. Experts rate Apple TV 7.4/10. Reviewsor.com helps you find reviews, best prices, user reviews of the Apple TV and Apple Media streamer.
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Apple TV Reviews
Apple TV review
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That seems to be the motto for Apple with the Apple TV, which Steve Jobs once described as his hobby. The latest model retains the tiny form factor of the second generation player, but it improves on it by adding a new, easier-to-use interface and support for 1080p resolution Full HD playback. The price of the Apple TV remains unchanged at £99. So is there enough here to convince those of you who've been less than impressed with previous versions to plump for Apple's little box of TV tricks? Outwardly, little has changed in this update. That's no bad thing in my book, because if you were to design a simple media streamer from scratch, this is pretty much how you'd want it to look. For starters, it's tiny -- small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It's ideally sized for hiding away beneath your flat-screen TV and the combination of rounded corners and matte black design are quite cool without 'screaming look at me'. Its petite dimensions leave you wondering why so many other media streamers are so large and unwieldy. The case design is very tidy -- even the power supply is built into it. There are no buttons on the front to break up the clean lines. Around the back is a pretty minimal set of connections, but enough to get the job done.
Apple TV review
At the same time as announcing the new iPad in March 2012, Apple also issued an update to its Apple TV. It wasn't the full on Apple iTV, the rumoured Apple television that many had hopped for, rather it was a small revision to the existing media streamer of last year, retaining the same form factor but with an updated menu system and faster processor. The biggest change though is its new ability to stream and play full 1080p HD movies - last year's model could only manage 720p, which was all the iTunes Store offered for movie rentals and purchasing anyway. Of course, this means that Apple is going to have to update a lot of its iTunes Store catalogue to 1080p for you to get the most out of it, but most new movies were being offered in 1080p when we checked. As well as enabling you to purchase and rent movies Apple TV does two other things of note - it acts as a browser for selected Internet content (YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, iCloud, Podcasts, etc) and thanks to Apple's AirPlay system it can receive content streamed from a Mac, PC or iOS device and play it on your television.
Apple TV review (2012)
After endless speculation and debate, Apple's latest event came and went with nary a mention of a Cupertino-made television set. But Apple's little set-top box did get a refresh, bringing some oft-requested upgrades and improvements to the $99 device. The 2012 Apple TV has a new interface, a new A5 SoC, the ability to (finally) stream movies you've purchased through iTunes, 1080p movie streaming through iTunes and Netflix, and more. It's also as deeply integrated with Netflix as ever, and AirPlay is getting better all the time. The Apple TV also holds a lot of clues for what Apple's trying to do in the TV space, whether or not it ever decides to build an actual television. The new Apple TV feels more like a refresh rather than a leap ahead, but Apple's clearly pushing on with its television strategy. So will the new version nudge out the set-top competition and earn a spot in your home theater stack? Is this model differentiated enough from the last iteration to warrant another $99 from last year’s buyers? And more importantly, is this really the way forward for media consumption on your biggest screen? Read on to find out. David Pierce contributed to this review.
Apple TV
Two years later, and our Editors' Choice set-top box Apple TV ($99, 4 stars) is back, and it's new and improved. Those improvements are very, very slight, but they still count. The 2012 model is pretty much identical to the old one in size, shape, features, and its $99 (list) price tag. For a full rundown of every nook, cranny, and function of the Apple TV, our review of the last iteration of product still applies here. An overhauled iOS-like interface gives the Apple TV a fresh menu system, but that's available to last-gen Apple TV owners through a software update. Still, the new model supports 1080p video and keeps its under-$100 price, so it retains its Editors' Choice crown. DesignPhysically identical to the last version, the new Apple TV is a tiny black, square puck measuring 0.9 by 3.9 by 3.9 inches (HWD) and weighing 9.6 ounces. The front panel shows a single white light indicating that the box is on, the top has a matte black finish with an Apple logo on it, and around back are connectors for the power cable, HDMI, microUSB, optical audio, and Ethernet. Even the remote is identical, a slight, simple silver wand with a navigation pad and play/pause and menu buttons.
Apple TV (2012) Review
The 2012 revamp of the Apple TV brings better performance and a new interface, but still leaves users high and dry for much content outside iTunes.After Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography got fans hyperventilating for an Apple-branded television last fall, the winter announcement of a lightly refreshed Apple TV may have come as a letdown. Still physically identical to its predecessor, the beefed-up 2012 Apple TV now plays 1080p video and offers an even further streamlined interface, plus AirPlay. But does it warrant an upgrade for existing Apple TV users, and does it compete with the likes of the Boxee Box and Roku? We took a closer look to find out. If you’re not already familiar with the miniaturized black Apple TV that came out back in 2010, check out our review of the original device for a primer. So little has changed that we won’t don’t want to rehash too much, but here’s the executive summary: We liked the incredibly small, sleek and quiet design of the original, but the amount of content it delivered was lacking unless you wanted to dig yourself into a nice deep credit card bill with iTunes purchases. It was, first and foremost, a storefront for Apple. Not that much has changed. The biggest news for videophiles will be an update from 720p to 1080p output resolution.
Apple TV Wireless HD Media Streamer Review
In early September, Steve Jobs took to the stage and unveiled the new-and-improved . What was once considered a \"hobby” device was reworked, streamlined, made more affordable, and aimed squarely at the masses. It enters an increasingly crowded market of devices that offer near-instant access to libraries of recent movies and TV shows, as well other online streaming media content from the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and Flickr. Not to mention the ability to also stream media you already own—videos, music, and photos—from your computer to your TV and audio system. The Apple TV comes with a consumer-friendly price tag of $99, which is sure to give the likes of Roku, WD TV HD Media Player, and Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV HD Media Player devices a run for their money. You can even add the myriad of Google TV devices we're sure to see coming to market in the coming months to the growing list of devices that are vying for the precious HDMI connections on the back of our HDTVs. Speaking of HDMI, the Apple TV does not come with an HDMI cable, so you'll need to provide one yourself.
Apple TV Review
Apple's redesigned Apple TV shrinks considerably in size and price, but does it add enough features to stay competitive in a rapidly expanding field.Steve Jobs doesn’t have many failures to mar his comeback at Apple, but if most Apple aficionados had to find one, we’re guessing it would be the little white box known as Apple TV. The first version arrived with a fizzle back in 2007, largely panned for its high price and low functionality. Apple has steadily sanded off rough edges year after year, though, and in 2010 Apple TV underwent a metamorphosis, entering a cocoon and emerging smaller and cheaper than ever. But does the latest version of Apple TV finally deliver on the promise Jobs pitched three years ago, or is Apple still struggling to break onto the big screen?“Unobtrusive” would seem to be the operative word for the redesigned Apple TV, which shrinks to such tiny proportions that it’s apt to almost disappear in home theater cabinets designed for the hulking, heat-gushing equipment of yesteryear. At only 3.9 inches square and just under an inch thick, you could easily pocket the device, though we’re not sure how much utility that particular trick actually serves, unless you’re the migratory breed of college student who moves his A/V equipment around twice a year.
Apple TV review
Apple TV has dumped its 40GB of storage, three-quarters of its footprint and halved its UK price. And yet Steve Jobs continues to refer to it as a "hobby". Perhaps it's because Apple TV remains somewhat of an enigma. It doesn't fit into Apple's main product groups – on apple.com it's filed under 'iPod' in the category tree. On one hand Apple seems to want to shove it under the carpet, on the other it keeps re-inventing the device. It wouldn't even send us one for review such is Apple's nonplussed attitude to the box. We'll be positive though – Apple TV is a darn good media box to use with your Mac and with iTunes more specifically, and its price has reduced significantly – even if you would pay a shade over £60 for this box in the US – and that's a big saving and a big shame. But Apple TV has two big issues. The first is to do with the UK. In the US, the box is compatible with Netflix, providing video on demand TV programmes and movies for a fee. In the UK, there is no such service available for the box. LoveFilm would be an obvious partner, but it hasn't happened yet. However, iTunes rentals are available for £3.49 for HD films, £2.49 for SD – you have 30 days to start watching and then 48 hours to finish once you've clicked to rent.
Apple TV (2010)
In the battle to dominate the living room, the new Apple TV doesn't seem to have a lot of firepower. It doesn't boast as many content partners as Roku, nor is it as ambitious as the upcoming Logitech Revue with Google TV (which has a full web browser and an HD webcam connection) or the Boxee Box (which plays every file known to man and has social networking integration). No, Apple's $99 set-top just provides a simple way to rent movies and TV shows, and it's much smaller and runs cooler than the first version. Plus, Apple has added Netflix to the content mix, so you're not locked into the iTunes universe. So is the new Apple TV too simple, or is it just the right product for the masses? When you put the Apple TV in your hand--yes, the whole thing fits in your palm--you can't help but be impressed with just how compact this device is. (You also realize just how easily Apple could build its technology into a big screen, should it decide to take that whole Apple TV name literally.) This 0.6-pound device is 80 percent smaller than the original model, which means it will take up very little room in your entertainment center. It's so compact, in fact, that we had no problem packing it on a recent trip and plugging it in to our hotel room's TV.
Apple TV
Since this past August, we've taken a look at three popular media players... ASUS' O!Play Air, WD's TV Live Plus, and most recently, AC Ryan's Playon!HD mini. Of these, it'd be difficult to call one more feature-rich than the other, as all of them support most of the common audio and video formats, along with some Web services, such as Netflix and Flickr. If anything, each time we review a new media player, it feels even more robust than the last, but with the Apple TV, we're actually in a strange situation where we're not really moving far ahead in terms of media support, but quite a bit back. But like most things Apple creates, what the Apple TV lacks in such support, it hopes to make up with in other ways, such as with exclusive iTunes integration, a classy user interface and smooth operation. Does it deliver? We're here to find that out. When Apple launched its first Apple TV in early 2007, no one could quite understand what the company's goals with it were, and suffice to say, adoption was somewhat slow. But what it offered was a simple device for media fiends, especially those addicted to Apple's iTunes, to play content on their TV... and it did those things well.
Apple TV (Fall 2010)
In case you haven't noticed, there's a revolution going on in how people watch movies and TV. Traditional services like cable and satellite are losing ground, as more people are streaming content directly from the Internet, using services like Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon Video On Demand. The revamped Apple TV is the company's aggressive move to capture the streaming-video business: for just $99, you get access to Netflix, YouTube, TV, and movies from the iTunes Store, plus all the music and videos on networked computers running iTunes. And with a pitch-perfect design and user interface, it'll be hard for Apple fans to pass it up. The Apple TV's shortcomings are all about content, which is arguably the most important aspect of a product like this. Currently the only supported TV networks are ABC, Fox, Disney, and BBC, and even with those networks, many popular shows, such as "Modern Family" and "House," aren't available. That's a lot of missing content for people looking to ditch their cable subscription, especially when the competing Roku XDS offers Amazon VOD, which streams TV shows from every network, and will soon have Hulu Plus to boot.
Apple TV (2010)
After two years of radio silence, Apple has completely redesigned its "hobby" product and the result is a more feature-driven, streamlined Apple TV. The hard drive is gone, along with the bulky design and the hefty price tag. The new Apple TV costs only $99 direct, offers 99-cent television show rentals, and streams content not only from your computer's media library, but from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch via AirPlay. The upcoming Boxee Box and Google TV, and even the already-released Roku XDS ($99.99, 2.5 stars) have their work cut out for them, as the Apple TV offers enticing reasons - including Netflix integration - to stay within the iTunes ecosystem. Despite some content limitations - as well as functional limitations, like the inability to buy content or store it on the device, no other set-top box has yet to offer the feature set of the re-imagined, more-affordable Apple TV, so it's our new Editors' Choice media hub. Losing that hard drive means the Apple TV can be considerably smaller - about 75 percent, in fact - than its predecessor. Measuring 0.9 by 3.9 by 3.9 inches (HWD) and weighing less-than 10 ounces, the Apple TV is basically a tiny black box with connections on the back and the Apple TV logo on its top panel.
Prices
| Retailer | Information | Prices | |
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Apple TV (Newest Version) | $95.99 | See it |
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Apple TV | $95.99 | See it |
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The new Apple TV - Black (MD199LL/A) | $99.99 | See it |
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Apple - Network Audio/Video Player - Wi-Fi | $99.99 | See it |
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Apple MA711LL/A TV with 40GB Hard Drive [OLD VERSION] | $269.9 | See it |
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Apple MA711LL/A TV with 40GB Hard Drive [OLD VERSION] | $269.95 | See it |
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Apple TV MC572LL/A (2nd Generation) | $275 | See it |
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Apple TV Digital Media Streamer - JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, BMP, MPEG-4, MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF - Fast Ethernet, Wi-Fi | $284.95 | See it |
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Apple TV (1st Generation) | $299.99 | See it |
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Apple TV 40GB | $349.99 | See it |
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Apple TV MB189LL/A with 160GB Hard Drive [OLD VERSION] | $379 | See it |
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Apple TV MC572LL/A (2nd Generation) | $389.95 | See it |
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Apple TV MB189LL/A with 160GB Hard Drive [OLD VERSION] | $399.99 | See it |
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Apple TV with 160GB drive - Bulk Eco Packaging (1st Generation - A1218 - Model: MB189LL A) | $499.99 | See it |
