Apple TV is an integral part of the isolates iTunes system and does not play with other computer media players like Windows Media Player or others. And, some also complain that it will only be able to play on a high definition, wide screen television. But, if you are an existing Mac user with HDTV, an Apple TV is probably still your network media player of your choice. For a PC user with an iPhone who relies purely on iTunes to manage your media, you also may appreciate the ease of use and elegantly simple on-screen menus. Apple TV gives you access to everything you want to see and hear â blockbuster movies, TV shows, your music and photos, even news and sports â right on your wide screen TV. And now that your content is stored in iCloud, you can easily access your previously purchased TV shows. Even your photos update automatically. The most notable addition is AirPlay mirroring, which allows you to stream whatever is on your iPhone 4S or iPad 2 directly to your HDTV.
1. Play all the files that are in your iTunes library
With iCloud, you can browse and watch your purchased TV shows and listen to your previously purchased music. And with Photo Stream, your photos update automatically â no syncing, no sending.
iPhoto also seamlessly synchronizes with the Apple TV so that your newest pictures are always available to watch on your TV. For PC users, iTunes will find your photos automatically if you store them in your ‘My Pictures’ folder.
Protected files include music and movies that are purchased from iTunes, as well as digital versions of movies that come with your DVD or Blu-ray Disc that you load directly onto your computer.
You can copy the music or movie file from your iTunes library to a device, but the copyright protection ensures that the other devices cannot play the protected files.
Apple product also lets you authorize a number of different devices to play your protected music and movies. This includes your Apple TV too. You are never locked out of the music or movies that you own.
2. HD picture quality is amazing
The movie and music reproduction is on the edge. Photos and movies are clearly HD and colors are vibrant, too. There is no added interference to music. It is as good as playing the original music file.
3. Synchronizes with your computer when you add new files
You do not need to have your PC turned on to have an access to your media.
Music, movies and photos that you have recently added to your computer are found and added in your Apple TV library.
Because your media is now saved to a hard drive, your computer does not need to be powered on, nor do you have to leave the iTunes app open. The hard drive solution also removes home network connectivity issues that can also slow down streaming media.
The second generation Apple TV has no hard drive and can only stream photos, music and movies from your home network iTunes libraries and on-line media websites.
4. Easy to set up and connect to your PCs and other Apple devices
There is a need to troubleshoot connections when setting up a net media player. Some PCs or network attached storage or media servers may not be listed as a connected source. You may also have to do some settings because you are connecting new devices and computers from various manufacturers that might be using different software.
Apple excels in making devices that are tested to work mutually. You can be assured that your iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Mac computers will be able to discover each other, connect and play with little efforts. Likewise, a PC running iTunes can easily share multimedia with the Apple TV and other Apple devices.
5. Buy your music and buy or rent movies directly on the Apple TV
On the Apple TV, if you just want to add a particular album, you can anytime buy music on a whim to be played directly on your Apple TV from the iTunes store. It will be then synchronized to your PC’s library directly.
One of the best uses for either generation of the Apple TV is that you can rent movies directly from the iTunes store, and watch them almost instantly. Depending on the speed of your connection, you just have to choose a movie to rent and it will begin downloading.
Apple TV’s limitations?
You can only get your home network media from your iTunes application. You cannot stream your photos, music or movies from a network attached server or from PCs that are not running iTunes application.
The first generation Apple TV can be bought under $150 for the 160 GB hard drive model and the second generation Apple TV runs $99. It has no hard drive to sync with your computer or store media, but it does connect to Pandora and Netflix. For all those who wish to buy a first generation Apple TV, be aware that Apple has said that there will be no further updates to add features like Pandora and Netflix.
Movies rented on Apple TV must be watched on Apple TV, unlike iTunes rentals, which can be transferred to any video-enabled iPod, iPhone or Apple TV. Movies purchased on Apple TV can be moved to a video-enabled iPod or iPhone via iTunes.
