Apple is not particularly in a hurry to upgrade one of its most bizarre products in the past, but became a mass transition to iOS. This, of course, talking about Apple TV. When the update does not appear a year after the release of set-top boxes of the second generation, the rumors, they say, Apple already, and will not release a new gadget model, but instead incorporate it into its future TV. Nevertheless, on March 7, update Apple TV still held and to be honest, it was almost imperceptible. Although, it is worth noting that within the device seriously changed, but whether it is strongly influenced by the experience of the operation of set-top box? On this and will talk in this article.
Two brothers twin
Distinguished from each other Apple TV second and third generation is virtually impossible, and this applies to the packaging too. Give ordinary citizen two boxes, and he does not understand which of them hides a novelty. I myself did not realize far, how to distinguish them. Only a good shaking his box in his hand, noticed on one of its faces a modest inscription "1080p».
Actually, this is the main difference between the devices, if you do not go into the technical details. Preceded supports the output images and broadcast video in 720p resolution, set-top box of the third generation successfully mastered FullHDIe 1080p. But about stuffing talk later, but for now let us have a detailed look at the device box.
Traditional white box of small size (about 10h10h5 cm), quite weighty, made of very high-quality cardboard and, in principle, no different from the package Apple TV 2Gen. Is it slightly in the inscriptions. On the upper side shows a set-top box almost life-size, on the bottom - its advertising opportunities, and Russian-speaking users will be useful only part about AirPlay. On one of the faces of detailed information about the device, serial numbers and other "bureaucracy".
Inside the box was discovered usual set: the device itself in the film, fashion and flat power cable with US plug, unchanging aluminum remote control Apple Remote and a small set of securities with short instructions and labels-apples.
TV set-top box itself also has not changed in appearance. Small flat box with dimensions 98h98h23 mm and weighing 270 g Made of plastic, but in the hands feel very solid and monolithic. The upper side of the mat, that this does not prevent her from actively collect fingerprints. Fringe glossy, about fingerprints - the same way. The lower portion has a matte effect and Soft Touch. On slippery surfaces such as glass table lacquered or Apple TV rack rests not particularly reliable, but more or less rough surface is well worth. Although the device is so small that its accommodation problems should not arise at all.
Communication options are already well familiar with Apple TV 2Gen - all the holes are on one of the faces. Thus, the power plug all the same tight, and an HDMI port - the standard, it will have to buy for cable separately, Apple saves. There is a service connector micro-USB, but in normal operation it is not used only for emergency flashing. Also there is an optical audio output for connection to a compatible acoustics and has an Ethernet port for connection to a home network.
Close to standard shell iOS
Neither the power button or any other elements on the housing set-top box does not. As soon as the device is powered, it is turned on and proposes to base setting if it is the first power on after purchase. All the usual way: the choice of language, Wi-Fi network and enter its password, activation, and offer to help in the improvement of Apple products (anonymous reports are sent when errors occur):
But it brought a surprise menu. With the last (or penultimate, I have not followed this case) updating the company completely changed the shell design, bringing it closer in appearance to the standard iOS desktop on the iPhone and iPad. Besides, missing section Internet. All located there earlier services like YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix and others have moved to the main desktop. At the top are the most popular in the current films.
To be honest, the new interface as something not particularly impressed, and the version with horizontal-vertical menu I liked more. On the other hand, this is clearly a matter of habit, and gradually the new interface logic is perceived quite adequately. In addition, it is also a matter of taste. Some of my friends new interface immediately aroused excitement and elation.
Let's look deeper into the maze of menus. YouTube traditionally useful and convenient, there is a breakdown by category, search, selection of the best video and the ability to log in to your account. The picture quality depends on the particular channel. If there are options in high definition, the system is to load them.
By the way, I can not say that 1080p gives some special advantage over 720p. Maybe the TV was not very heaped up, but I think the whole point in the distance, where we are on the screen. Already a couple of meters not tell whether HD content or playing FullHD resolution. But, once this support is, and the interface is in the native resolution of the TV, it's good. When connecting to an older "zomboyaschiku" low-resolution TV set-top box without problems goes to 720p or 480p mode.
section movies although it looks like the new interface in a different way, but the content is different, but the menu of the vertical became horizontal, and most of the screen is occupied with a video icon. For "our" user here will be useful except that the trailers section. Although all content is in English, but it is not critical for the commercials.
section serials very attractive, it is a pity that it is not in Russian. Please note that the content is available in 1080p resolution. The cost of each series varies from $ 2 to $ 4. I suppose that the reason for such a price increase (before each series cost $ 1, $ 2 rare) was the most FullHD resolution, and may have changed the agreement between Apple and broadcasters. Every episode can be viewed in 30 seconds, the demo mode.
music section offers to enter into an Apple account, and download content from the cloud. Of course, nothing prevents to broadcast from "home collection». In terms of the settings there is nothing changed, respectively, visitors can explore this issue in Apple TV review of the second generation.
Configuration section is not undergone much change, except that the added photostream and there was a feature to set a password on the AirPlay:
Television FullHD-gates for iOS-devices
actually, AirPlay and it is one of the most useful functions for which it is worth to buy a TV set-top box. After all, in fact, this technology greatly extends the capabilities of the available technology Apple is a kind of bridge between them and the big-screen TV.
At the beginning of his career, this development has been used only for viewing photos and videos, but the company gradually develop it. In iOS 4.3 Apple AirPlay adds the ability to use third-party programs and even opened a special section in the App Store. Thus, it is possible to broadcast the image of the games and other products, but restrictions have fallen only with the arrival of iOS 5. It then appeared AirPlay Mirroring mode, and happiness come... But not everything is so simple, my friends.
The first thing I suggest a look at the video to get an idea of the work of this regime, as it is not far away everything in it was so fabulous, as described by Apple or ushlymi guys in their respective stores:
So I dedicated video games mostly as the most resource-intensive process. In addition, the broadcast was carried out with the new iPad. This allowed to test the Apple TV to the maximum in terms of peak performance and, you know, set-top box gangbusters coped.
In particular, the traditional activities like browsing through AirPlay photos, videos, web surfing and other activities in Mirroring mode runs without any problems. At least for a video I filmed videos at 720p playback process or in 1080p, but the problem with them is also not observed, can not be said about the games. With them, everything is more complicated and the App Store would not hurt to have a section for products that fully support the AirPlay, as in Mirroring mode, they do not always work well.
For example, AirAttack HDWorking on the iPad Retina-resolution and broadcasting on the big screen via AirPlay Mirroring, looked very good and pleased playable FPS (Frames Per Second, the number of frames per second), although there are subsidence.
But in Death Rally play was not very pleasant because of the significantly lower FPS. Serious "brakes" did not happen, but twitching picture on the screen and slow, if not completely malleable gameplay did not have a violent race.
Bright and colorful Luxor 2 is in 2D, and luxurious effects are not adversely affected the quality of a broadcast image through AirPlay.
When I decided to run Real Racing 2 HD, Is already preparing to see a slide show, given that the game is very beautiful and complex in terms of graphics. The tablet is loads to the maximum, but still supports the Retina. But the fears proved groundless. Developer fully implemented AirPlay support, resulting in a smooth and enjoyable gameplay with high FPS and a lot of positive emotions.
Brain you know what it should be, that the technology has reached a high enough level for the implementation of things happening on the screen beauty. But the soul sings with delight when on the huge screen a powerful 4-wheel race car is rapidly absorbed kilometer route, and you operate this machine using a smooth plate motion, which is not just a joystick, but also information panel. In addition, you understand that it is a tablet generates a picture by 42-inch panel - it's just a fairy tale come to life, which in the '80s and early' 90s, I myself and I could not imagine enjoying the ZX Spectrum 128, its advanced sound processor and connected 5.25-inch floppy drive instead of the cassette recorder.
And you need it?
To summarize on the above, you can draw a simple conclusion: Apple TV AirPlay Mirroring capabilities mode completely enough quality to display even the most complex games, but the latter must be adapted to this. In the case of Death Rally plate was responsible for the image output as its own screen or on television - is too serious work, given the high-quality graphics and, accordingly, a high load on the CPU and GPU. iPad trite not cope and the frequency dropped frames. The Real Racing 2 HD image is only displayed on one screen, and it frees up system resources, allowing you to achieve a smooth framerate on the big screen. On the tablet in this case, hanging a simple image with the map or the menu. But if the game is not very complicated in terms of graphics, it is quite well displayed immediately on two screens, which was clearly demonstrated by the example of Luxor 2 and AirAttack HD.
Of course, the game - this is not the most important thing, but it is worth remembering that not all of them will work on the big screen smoothly. The rest of the third-generation Apple TV also demonstrates the excellent functionality, and if you often have to show your photos on the big screen guests or captured on iPhone 4S video, TV set-top box is clearly not redundant.
Should I change the Apple TV second generation novelty? I think that is unlikely. As I mentioned above, at a distance of a couple of meters of any difference between FullHD and HD is not. As the functionality of the device through the universal software are identical.
Apple TV purchase makes sense only if the house has a couple of gadgets with the logo in the form of a bitten apple. Trying to get acquainted with the world only through Apple TV set-top box does not work, it is completely tied to the ecosystem of the company's products. As a media player it is disappointing, because it is impossible to connect external HDD, and broadcast videos from your PC via iTunes is limited only MP4 format. Any Chinese TV player with the USB-connector and support for 100,500 medaiformatov would be preferable, if the task is to look "Computer" videos on the big screen.
Similar opportunities can be obtained only by combining set-top box with the iPhone or iPad, AirPlay Mirroring and having involved a third-party player software, to understand any relevant formats. For example, AVPlayerHD.
Generally, Apple TV set-top box as it was a "hobby" of the company, so they stayed. Yes, it has become more popular and sold very serious copies, but other Apple products it away. This is a nice accessory that $ 100 could buy without looking, but for $ 200 as it stands in the Russian and Ukrainian realities, already conceived, and whether such a need at home or toy is worth spending the money on more traditional household media player, which "eats" any movie downloaded from the most dense torrents, and it is easy to bring to the big screen television in resolution 1080p.
Apple TV 3Gen for the review provided magazine "America"