Apple - TV (Home Theater) Review

Overall 4.50 of 5 view all 4 reviews

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dgoodman
Chicago, IL

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Great access to iTunes content but average video quality.

I only watch TV on my schedule, early adapter, gadget guy, converted Apple fan

Pros

Easy interface, Easy to set up, Immediate access to all iTunes content, Streaming video is awesome

Cons

Video quality is made for the iPod

MAY

2007

I watch almost all my TV via iTunes for a variety of reasons. Apple TV has made it so much easier to access that content as well as all my content in my iTunes library via my TV. The interface is so easy, just what you would expect. The problem is not as much with Apple TV as with the video content iTunes sells. Until they sell video that is not made for the iPod, it will just look OK on a big flat screen TV. What's the point of an HDMI connection with iTunes content. I expect this to change in the future. Apple has got to start selling at least DVD quality video soon.

Last edited on May 02, 2007

Apple - TV (Home Theater) is recommended by dgoodman

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Comments about dgoodman’s Review

davidkam wrote on May 17, 2007 at 11:26AM

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Why should this replace a component? Did a DVD player replace anything? Its the equivalent of a DVD player for iTunes Store content. If you don't have that type of media, Apple TV is not going to do much for you. Will still stream your music library, but that can be done much cheaper with an Airport Express, albeit with navigation from computer rather than via the TV. I'll get one once I upgrade my TV, but I have a good amount of iTunes Store media.

dgoodman wrote on May 9, 2007 at 8:47AM

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That is true, Leon, for most people. But since I never got a DVR and don't have digital cable, I've been buying most of my TV shows on iTunes. The best part is my gym has TV screens at every piece of cardio equipment and I can plug my ipod into it. 45 minutes of cardio == an episode of Heroes or 24. I used to have to move shows to my ipod and then attach it to my TV when watching shows at home. Now I don't have to, it's all there. Worth $300, probably not. But it has made life easier and my friends love the screen saver which takes all the photos from your library and scrolls them around on your TV while playing a playlist during a party or something.

leon wrote on May 3, 2007 at 6:39PM

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I too am a Mac fan, but I can't figure out why I should buy this thing. It can't be a DVD player, it can't be DVR. What do I get to take out of my rack when I put this thing in? Nothing as far as I can tell. Its only interesting to me if you believe the crazy predictions of Cringely, but that is a risk in its own right.

More Apple - TV (Home Theater) reviews

Apple Apple TV
Key Features	Connectivity Wireless / Wired Type Digital Media Streamer Usage Music, Pictures, Movies
Miscellaneous	Product ID 40833654 Release Date February, 2007 UPC 885909129256
Product MPN	MPN MA711LL/A
Warranty	Warranty 1 Year
Other Features	Built-in Data Storage 40 GB Additional Features Built-in Data Storage Operating System Microsoft Windows XP, Apple MacOS Video system PAL Included Components Remote Control Hard Drive Size 40 GB
Dimensions	Width 7.7 in. Depth 7.7 in. Height 1.1 in. Weight 2.4 in.
Media Player	Picture Format JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP (bitmap), TIFF Video Format MPEG 4 Audio Format MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF Max Compression Rate MP3 320 kbps
Interfaces	Host / Network Interface USB x 1, RJ-45 x 1 Additional Interface IrDA
Video Features	Video system PAL

Apple - TV (Home Theater) Review

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