Tell me everything you can about Apple TV

[Krischaser]

I know nothing about Apple TV. Please tell me everything you know about Apple TV. Thanks

 

[dawnhaze]

It's a little black box that hooks up to a HD TV. It connects to wifi to stream content from the internet. A lot of that content, like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and sports services, requires paid subscriptions. Some of it, like Youtube and Vimeo, doesn't.

It also has a capability called Airplay that allows you to stream video, music, and photos from iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, etc) as well as from Mac computers, which can also project their entire screen display wirelessly onto the TV. I think Airplay can be done from iTunes on Windows computers as well, but I don't think they can do the display mirroring.

You can also purchase (and in some cases, rent) TV shows, movies, and other content from the iTunes content system directly from the device.

Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD have 'apps' on the Apple TV. I think you have to sign in with a cable TV provider to access the majority of the stuff they offer, but I'm not 100% sure about that, since I don't use them.

 

[KS_Disney_Dad]

AppleTv is a great compliment to an iPhone and or iPad. I used my iPhone to take video of the kids skiing and then played it over the AppleTv on the big screen. No loss of quality. It's also very portable since its small, light weight, and only requires a HDMI connection. We took it on vacation to a beach house and when the rain came the kids were able to watch Netflix.

 

[lizabu]

We love ours. It basically lets your regular tv do things only a smart tv can do. We watch Netflix or YouTube and you can put things from your ipad up on the TV using airplay.

 

[JB2K]

I know nothing about Apple TV. Please tell me everything you know about Apple TV. Thanks ��

It basically has the same popular apps as a Roku/WD box or Blu-ray player (Netflix, Hulu Plus, etc.) with one very noticeable difference...

If you have Apple products (iPhone, iPad, etc.) running video, or, if you have digital copies of your Disney movies saved to iTunes, you would be able to view all this content on your HDTV...

 

[JuneChickie]

on our ipad we can watch cbs , nbc , etc ,, can we use the apple tv thing to put this up on our big screen tv . we're trying to get rid of cable tv and if we use our ipad and the apple tv thing , we would get rid of the cable bill.


Thanks

 

[mom2t]

Hooked mine up last night in 10 minutes. Love it.

 

[gilby]

We use ours daily, its great to watch everything on the big tv.

 

[MrEVILdrPorkchop2u]

Looking forward to hooking ours up tonight.

 

[wekhogan]

One drawback has been there's no Amazon instant video app, and there still isn't, but I read the Amazon app has been updated to allow Airplay. So you can see it that way. I've only read this - I'm sure owners can confirm or deny

 

[Laura's Dad]

A correction to a previous post. The newer models do have YouTube capability.

If you have Apple iphones, computers, ipads, etc. it can be well worth it. With AirPlay, you can play music and videos on your big screen TV wirelessly. It also has some free apps (Smithsonian Channel) with some interesting documentaries. Our Netflix runs better through it than through our Blu-Ray player. It can be a cool little box if you use Apple products.

 

[JB2K]

on our ipad we can watch cbs , nbc , etc ,,

CBS? Really?? Always thought CBS was restrictive on how their shows were distribiuted over the internet...

 

[JB2K]

Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD have 'apps' on the Apple TV. I think you have to sign in with a cable TV provider to access the majority of the stuff they offer, but I'm not 100% sure about that, since I don't use them.

The way the Disney/Apple relationship works is, yes, there are apps for their three kids-oriented cable channels (Disney Channel/DisneyXD/Disney Junior), as well as others in the corporate family (ABC, ESPN). The apps have a few selected episodes of popular programs from those channels for free viewing -- however, if you want current episodes, or steaming content, you must be a cable/satellite subscriber (you would then log-in with your cable/satellite credentials).

 

[SuzanneSLO]

One drawback has been there's no Amazon instant video app, and there still isn't, but I read the Amazon app has been updated to allow Airplay. So you can see it that way. I've only read this - I'm sure owners can confirm or deny

I can confirm that we watched Amazon instant video on our TV by using Airplay from our iPad.

With newer Macs, you can mirror the screen, which means if you can watch an episode on your computer, you can watch it on your TV. We use the Mobile mouse app to control our computer in the next room. -- Suzanne

 

[DizMe]

Is Apple TV similar to Slingbox? I have a friend who loves Slingbox and I have to admit it sounds intriguing to be able to watch what I get on my home cable on my ipad, anywhere.

 

[wiigirl]

Hooked mine up last night in 10 minutes. Love it.

Me too!

 

[Cindy B]

I use Apple TV every day at work. I love using the airplay option.

 

[JB2K]

Is Apple TV similar to Slingbox? I have a friend who loves Slingbox and I have to admit it sounds intriguing to be able to watch what I get on my home cable on my ipad, anywhere.

Not really -- Apple TV is more comparable to other "streaming enetertainment boxes", such as those made by Roku or Western Digital, which means they have various entertainment apps, such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Vudu, while also having the unqique ability to watch Apple digital copies of movies/videos on your HDTV (instead of the iPhone/iPad).

A Slingbox offers the ability to watch your cable TV content (via the internet) over a connected computer/device -- the only other product that comes close to that is Dish's "Hopper".

 

[CrowMomma]

I love my Apple TV so much I dropped my cable service.

Something I did not see mentioned is that you can also play radio stations from around the country, iTunes radio or podcasts. When there is an important event (like the presidential debates) they have live coverage via Wall Street Journal (although I usually use my attic mount antenna for most live events).

If you have a PC, you can use AirParrot to stream your desktop to your Apple TV.

Only complaints are that the remote has a very limited range/angle (solved this with a little IR extender cable), the search interface is terrible and doesn't find things as well as Roku, no amazon and it cannot stream non-iTunes movies/files, and the latest Roku has a headphone jack in the remote (how cool is that!).

 

[DizMe]

Not really -- Apple TV is more comparable to other "streaming enetertainment boxes", such as those made by Roku or Western Digital, which means they have various entertainment apps, such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Vudu, while also having the unqique ability to watch Apple digital copies of movies/videos on your HDTV (instead of the iPhone/iPad).

A Slingbox offers the ability to watch your cable TV content (via the internet) over a connected computer/device -- the only other product that comes close to that is Dish's "Hopper".

Thank you! I'm very new to apple products.