Apple TV second generation: a small black box with a great potential

"Skukozhenny Mac mini»? - I thought, when I first took the 'Baby »Apple TV second generation in the hands. The shape of this gadget really looks like reduced several times the cheapest desktop Mac. Furthermore, it possesses "skukozhennoy" stuffing, so to speak. Inside - it's actually the same computer, only on the ARM platform, rather than the x86, as a modern Mac. But, let's talk about everything in order and start with the sweet-and Unboxing (note: under the cut a lot of pictures, all clickable).

Packaging is also like a Mac mini

Packaging in the new Apple TV set-top box is also similar to that of mac mini. It is made of high quality cardboard with color printing, displaying the device itself, it is, but with a remote control and a TV, an apple, Wi-Fi icon and standard product information.

The unit itself takes up the entire top of the box, underneath a small recess in the standard laid Aluminum Apple Remote ControlAnd a cardboard plate showed a power cord (power supply built into the console itself), the traditional set of papers and stickers apples.

Small and plastic, but stylish box

As I mentioned above - the device is very small. Even Apple TV model of the first generation looks by comparison like a dinosaur. The secret of success is simple - from set-top box hard drive has been removed, but about the hardware we'll talk about later, but for now examine the gadget looks.

Housing set-top box is completely made of plastic. Given its cost at $ 99 in the US, it is quite clear that Apple is trying to save money on materials. However, it looks great. Plastic pleasant to the touch, it feels that strong. Top panel matte side - gloss, and the lower part has a Soft-touch covering. Incidentally brink set-top boxes packed in a hard film which is easy to remove, but it's hard to go back. Although the average user this will not worry, and I have to return because the toy - a long time I'm back pasted film.

On the rear face showed a connector for the power cable, HDMI port, optical audio interface, Ethernet-adapter and micro-USB port. The last in everyday use is not particularly necessary, but it can help if you need to restore the device on a critical failure if this occurs suddenly, it is doubtful. iTunes is easy to recognize the set-top On USB-connection and allows you to manually restore its firmware.

About iTunes I mentioned it is not just. What other device recognizes this mediakombayn? That's right - in addition to the normal iPod music players and even iPhone / iPod touch and iPad. Ie iOS gadgets floor control. The same software platform is the basis and the Apple TV, and even on the hardware stuffing it differs little from the tablet. Inside, everything is the same chip Apple A4, 256 MB RAM, 8 GB of flash memory and Wi-Fi module. Thus, we can easily conclude that performance of the device is only enough for video playback at 720p resolution, though, to be honest - this is more than enough for today Of HD-TV. Video looks great, the picture is clear. Actually, we are poised to connect set-top boxes.

Turn and study

How to connect Apple TV is easy to ugliness: connect HDMI-cable (remember that complete it is no need to buy separately), power cord, stuck it into the wall outlet, turn on the TV - it everything. I note that the HDMI connectors and power supply is very tight, and the console is turned on as soon as power is applied, ie, the plug falls into a power outlet. No separate switch.

Immediately noticed that the interface device displays at 720p. The first thing I was asked to go through basic configuration: select the language access point Wi-Fi, to accept or reject an offer to Apple anonymously send some information about the work adaptations. After that there is Apple TV menu.

Interface set-top beautiful, simple, and in fact similar to that of the first generation Apple TV. To work with the remote control handy, except when something needs to be entered using the virtual keyboard. In addition, there is a separate application to control a TV set-top box through the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

In the "Movies", you can choose the most popular and new at the moment pictures, view them by genre, find out what's in cinemas (useless for Russia) or search for the moving picture by name.

See "TV show" meant by a television series. Several points are similar to those in the "Movies", plus you can choose only from the HD-series and TV companies. For each series of preview is available for 30 seconds.

See "Internet" offers to connect to online video and photo service, or listen to the radio. For citizens with the former Soviet Union may be interesting YouTube, Flickr, and "Radio", plus the MobileMe, if there is a corresponding subscription. The YouTube, by the way, work is very solid, although now it will surprise nobody.

Select "Computers" I think one of the most important for our compatriots, who in most cases are not likely to buy or rent movies and TV shows English-speaking. Through it you are connecting your home collection in iTunes to set-top box. Naturally, this must have. That is, in fact, it will be interesting only to users Mac OS X. People working with Windows, typically do not use iTunes to shape their media collections. It also requires Apple ID, which is a sort of electronic key for access to personal media content. And the last step - activate the "Home Sharing" in iTunes on your PC (found in menu "More"), and there are selected images for sharing, so that they can be viewed through Apple TV. After that there is the possibility of using Wi-Fi over the air broadcast media content to Apple TV and display it on HD-TV.

I have no problems to connect to the Apple TV 11.6-inch MacBook Air - everything worked smoothly and beautifully. Videos in 720p resolution broadcast is excellent, not to mention the music. Enjoyable time - the set-top even determines the place where he was stopped by watching a movie on a PC and offers to continue playing.

The last menu item - this is the "Settings". He is not very bulky and special difficulties will not cause even further from the user equipment. Actually here and customize it is nothing special, respectively, take a look at the pictures below, there are visible all the items.

Item to completely turn off the device does not. You can only send it in sleep mode, or it will occur automatically when inactive set-top box for a certain time by the user. I should add that not all elements of the interface translated into Russian - funny, but in the future, I'm sure it will get better through software update.

Sews and update

So, I studied the menu. It is simple to get confused difficult. It's time to use fancy features direct broadcast content with iGadzhetov in the set-top box. The benefit of the iPhone 4 and iPad has been updated to iOS 4.2.1, that is, there is a corresponding option. I run on the phone video, click on the appropriate button and... bummer, set-top box only perceives sound. Where's my video on the big screen TV?

The problem was the outdated firmware Apple TV - version 4.0. That's not cool, it is necessary to update. flashing process is unlikely someone will strain, everything is done automatically, over the air. To PC TV set-top box does not need to be connected. Clicking on the "Update Software" in the "Settings → General", you can go to drink tea, coffee and some fresh air for 10-15 minutes. The firmware is automatically downloaded from Apple and installed. After updating the software settings are not reset - it's convenient.

Now, that is quite another matter. Video and photos are transmitted with the iPhone or iPad directly to the TV through the air - super! I was impressed with this feature the most. Especially fun flipping photos iGadzhetov and they similarly are scrolled on the TV screen. Although there is one unpleasant moment - the Apple TV is not broadcast recorded with iPhone video, located in the phone's gallery. But if you throw it on the laptop, and then using iTunes to add to the video section on your smartphone, then you can transfer the image to the TV. I think this is a decent disadvantage with Apple side. I hope in future firmware corrected.

And where is the "miracle" to apply?

As you can see, Apple TV second generation, to some extent lost in comparison with the set-top of the first generation, but also something that has acquired. I note that the Apple TV 1G enjoyed stable demand due to the presence of HDD and the possibility to connect an external drive to it. The use of modified firmware allows us to "teach" it to play all the most popular video formats and convert so that a full-fledged media player for content in SD. Why tinkering with this thing, and reflash it all for the sake of standard definition video? Well, at least, because of the cool interface and ease of interaction with other Apple technology.

The Apple TV built-in current-generation hard drive is not present, and USB ports to support USB Host function, too, was not found. On the other hand, TV set-top box is easy to reproduce content from the iTunes library and the personal can transmit photos, video and music from portable devices based on the iOS. Basically, if you have the opportunity to take the device through a friend in the United States for the "symbolic" $ 100 and if you are the owner of Apple technology, you can not take thinking. Money is small, and bring to the big screen photos directly from iGadzhetov - is impressive and it is very convenient. It Was iPad electronic photo albums, and now becomes also the translator of images on HD-TV.

Yes, I understand that for comparable money, not to mention the cost of the device in their native lands (about $ 200), you can take some modern stationary media player, also known as the so-called mediahab that out of the box is able to turn any media content and can read information from external drives. But this is not Apple Magic, no single ecosystem, does not have the ease of use that you start to appreciate, having worked for a long time with the "apple" products. In general, everyone decides for himself.

In addition, the Apple TV has huge potential. This device and is asking for its own app store, both official and unofficial. Now my situation with this device resembles the 2007-2008 year, when the iPhone is moved as the a regular phone, but enthusiasts cheerfully hacked and offered to third-party software installer, aka Installer. A year after the release of aluminum iPhone we have received the official support of third-party software and the App Store. What is grown now - you all know. More than 300 thousand. applications, a lot of really high-quality software, smart games, PSP and Nintendo DS thrown into a dark corner and forgotten.

Apple TV in the future may become game console, Router, Wi-Fi, so anything at all - it's a small computer. It would be the software for all of the potential that laid down in this little black box. It is not necessary to talk about a particular abundance, but first precedents has already. Well, the story develops in a spiral. This we have already seen with the iPhone, the same may happen in the future, and with Apple TV: Steve Jobs will take the stage and say that now it is not just a set-top box, and more, with its app store, developers enormous army and great potential.

Apple TV for the review provided magazine "America"