The Apple TV 3 (third generation) network media player is an excellent multimedia gadget that provides the user with extensive functionality and excellent performance when working with online applications. This device, often referred to simply as a prefix, has not received mass distribution in Russia and the CIS countries. Many people are simply not familiar with the specifications and capabilities of the set-top box, and we are ready to fill this annoying gap.

A complete overview of Apple TV 3, a description of all the parameters and features of work should expand your idea of ​​a promising media player. In order to fully realize the potential of the set-top box, an internet connection is required. Do not forget about this, without access to the network, the meaning of using a media player is lost. We have already carried out a brief introduction to. Now let's take a closer look at all the functionality of the proprietary set-top box.

Contents of delivery

Apple TV 3 is sold in a small box inside which there is a media player itself, a special remote control, a power cable, as well as several leaflets (description of the device, user manual).

For the production of the case, high-quality wear-resistant plastic is used. The attachment has a fairly compact size: 10 × 10 × 2.5 centimeters. The top panel features a glossy corporate logo. The ends of the box are glossy, while the top panel is completely matte. The front panel contains a remote control signal receiver and a status indicator.

Apple TV 3 connects to your TV using an HDMI connection. As an addition, the media player has an “Optical Audio” port with which you can output sound in digital quality. There are no analog connectors on the set-top box. In addition to the ports already listed, the rear panel contains a microUSB connector, a network interface (100 Mbit / s), and a connector for a power cable.

The bottom of the media player is made of rubber, so there are no problems with stability and slip. The ergonomic remote control includes the minimum number of necessary buttons, which are completely enough for comfortable control of the device. Let's continue our Apple TV 3 review and look at the hardware features of the set-top box.

Hardware Features

The device is capable of playing video in 1080p Full HD resolution without any problems. No brakes were noticed. The detailed specifications are as follows:

• RAM 512 MB
• built-in flash memory 8 GB
• dual-core Apple A5 processor (one core disabled)
• PowerVR SGX 543MP2 graphics chip
• built-in Wi-Fi 802.11n
• Supported codecs MPEG4, H.264
• formats AVI, MOV, MP4, MP3, AAC, WAV, AC3

Although one core is disabled by hardware in the A5 processor, its performance is fully sufficient for high-quality Full HD video playback and for working with applications. Apple TV 3 uses a radio based on the Broadcom BCM4330 chip. Its frequency is 2.4 or 5 GHz. Maximum speed up to 300 Mbps. The radio module does not directly affect the speed of the set-top box, but it is very important when broadcasting video over Wi-Fi.

The third generation set-top box model is released with iOS version 5.1 (some models with iOS version 5.2). Let's continue the review of Apple TV 3 and find out the specifics of connecting the set-top box to a TV and its subsequent configuration.

Connecting to a TV and setting up

It doesn't take long to connect to your TV. You need an HDMI cable, with which you need to connect the corresponding connectors on the TV and set-top box. Having an HDMI port on your TV is a prerequisite for making a connection.

The settings menu includes six items. The General tab allows you to get information about the model, firmware, connecting new remotes, network and other important aspects of Apple TV 3. The Screensaver tab is used to configure options for displaying photos during music playback or when the set-top box is in standby mode. The user can customize the parameters of the iTunes Store, you can also specify the maximum quality of the video being played and the location.

In the "Audio and Video" section, the hardware settings of the set-top box are made, such as resolution, Dolby Digital format, sound effects and others. The next section is responsible for configuring the operation of AirPlay technology. This technology allows you to transfer video or audio information from supported iOS devices to the TV. In the last paragraph, you can enable support for "Home Sharing". With this technology, you can combine multiple devices to share your iTunes library.

Multimedia capabilities

In terms of functionality, the media player is aimed at those users who already own Apple products. For those who want to get an analogue of Smart TV from a regular TV, it is more reasonable to pay attention to. A further review of Apple TV 3 will focus on the functionality of the set-top box.

One of the main ideas for using a media player is to easily view videos and music from the iTunes branded store. A full-fledged showcase of popular films and music is well implemented in the set-top box. Its design fully adapts to the size of your TV screen. The user has the opportunity to buy films for multiple viewing, or rent them for one-time viewing within two days.

The new iTunes Radio service allows you to listen to your favorite songs in high quality. Considering the ability to digitally connect the set-top box to a home theater, this service is very useful. Apple TV 3 supports the ability to play music files from your iTunes library on your computer, as long as it is connected to the same wireless network. The support of the YouTube service will appeal to users from Russia and the CIS; there is also access to less popular video services.

AirPlay technology allows you to broadcast content from Apple mobile devices to your TV screen in real time. It works flawlessly, there are no problems with video freezing during broadcasting. Thus, it becomes clear the direction in which this media player can be used comfortably and the circle of people for whom it will be interesting.

conclusions

Apple TV 3 review showed that the main audience of the device is the owners of other gadgets from Apple. If you don’t mind paying 60-90 rubles for watching a movie in excellent quality or buying a movie for “eternal” access for 150-350 rubles, then this prefix will suit you perfectly. The perfect symbiosis of Apple TV 3 with devices such as iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Mac will suit many advanced users.

Recently I bought a 3rd generation Apple TV. At first glance, this decision looks very strange in 2018. However, with a set-top box that was discontinued in 2016, I solved a whole bunch of questions and spent a penny on it.

Now Apple TV replaces HDMI, which I have recently been allergic to, gives me the ability to listen to Apple Music on my home audio system and watch videos from my MacBook on the TV screen, and also gives access to hundreds of TV channels.

3rd generation Apple TV does not support tvOS- this is the prefix on which you cannot install applications from the App Store.

It will coolly replace HDMI over AirPlay

It happened in March this year. After the tragic event after which I had to buy another Apple laptop for a replacement and spend a lot of money on repairs, I do not use such cables at all.

After plugging an HDMI to USB-C cable into one of the four ports on the 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, it really started to smoke (like special effects from cheap action movies), I smelled burning and a sense of hopelessness replaced watching Paddington's Adventures 2 ".

The laptop did not die completely. One USB-C port definitely did not work for him, and the rest of the problems lay inside the "non-separable" case.

For 5 weeks I waited for the entire motherboard to be replaced under warranty, I was glad that the case was generally recognized as a marriage, and decided to stop using HDMI if possible.

Apple TV 3rd generation turned out to be one of the cheapest, but adequate options to get rid of wires and stream videos to your TV or projector from your Mac over Wi-Fi.

To do this, just enable screen mirroring via AirPlay from the menu bar (if there is no corresponding icon here, go to System Preferences> Monitors and look for video mirroring options). Works passably, you can make presentations to the public and show photos to friends.

It works similarly with iPhones and iPads. You need to select "Screen Repeat" in the "Control Center" and decide on the Apple TV to which you want to broadcast all this.

Will show the movie on the big screen TV

Of course, all the movies you buy or rent through the iTunes Store work seamlessly on Apple TV 3. But many people will also be interested in viewing content from alternative sources - for example, from a Mac hard drive.

This is my first personal Apple TV. Before that, I had to work with test samples or set-top boxes of colleagues and friends. Therefore, I naively believed that with the help of banal screen mirroring via AirPlay, I would be able to watch my videos and offline films on a large TV screen. I was wrong.

Common screen mirroring is not always suitable to watch movies on a TV screen via AirPlay.

Yes, video replay will help with viewing photos and presentations. Nevertheless, when the transmitted image becomes multicolored and dynamic, high-quality sound appears, and that's all, the Wi-Fi channel may simply not be enough - especially if your router is not directly under the set-top box.

The way out will be a direct Internet connection to Apple TV via Ethernet (there is such an opportunity here). However, I did not plan to fill up the entire apartment with wires and deliberately did not run the cable to the TV during the renovation. No wired internet in 2018. What to do?

You need an application that will transmit via AirPlay not a copy of the screen, but a specific video that will be buffered.

Bad option: 5KPlayer (free). At one time, this video player for Mac famously shot, as it was able to transfer video and audio from iPhone and iPad to the Mac screen. The opportunity is useless in my eyes, but many people liked it.

But with the advent of this feature in QuickTime Player, the need for 5KPlayer in this context has disappeared.

Nevertheless, the player can work with Apple TV in the form that we need - to transmit not a duplicate of the screen, but a video stream. This feature works without jerks and slowdowns, but it is limited only by Apple's proprietary MP4, and this is a failure ...

It may sound silly, but I am also confused by the icon of the player with a hello from the days of skeuomorphism, with which it replaces all video files, if you set the application for them by default.

Great option: Soda Player (free) is another matter. This player can transfer videos of absolutely any format to Apple TV without any problems.

In addition, it works with torrents without the need to download, supports SOCKS5 and can even stream videos to Chromecast. The application works almost seamlessly, it has a great interface and a nice minimalistic blue icon.

It is strange that we do not have a full review of this miracle solution, and I will definitely correct this annoying misunderstanding.

The default YouTube app works

Of course, any modern Smart TV has YouTube. On my new TVs on Tizen from Samsung, the video service client is also preinstalled. But sometimes I use panels without smart features, and an inexpensive Apple TV allows me to watch my favorite vlogs, reviews and news.

By and large, many today prefer YouTube, not films or traditional television. Therefore, this opportunity on the big screen is more than relevant.

You can log into your account and get a list of subscriptions, there is a normal search and even browsing history. These Apple TV 3rd generation features enough.

It doesn't have Apple Music, but it can be solved

Unfortunately, you can't use Apple Music on the 3rd generation Apple TV without additional devices. However, this did not turn out to be a problem for me.

AirPlay audio from iTunes or from a mobile device without any problems at all. To do this, just select Apple TV as the playback source, and the sound from the iPhone, iPad or Mac will immediately go to the built-in acoustics of the TV or an audio system connected to it.

On Apple TV, you can select the Now Playing menu. It shows the song title, time and album cover. You will not be able to control playback through the set-top box itself. Nevertheless, if you started music via iPhone, you can even control it using Apple Watch.

What's more, Apple Music doesn't end with the scope for action. You can also use any other music service you like.

And the set-top box will open hundreds of TV channels ...

When I bought the 3rd generation Apple TV, I thought, first of all, to jailbreak the set-top box and try to get the most out of it. Nevertheless, I did not study this issue in advance and was faced with the impossibility of hacking it and installing some additional software.

By and large, even a number of scenarios for using AirPlay would have been enough for me (at least for the ridiculous price of this Apple TV), but access to additional content through DNS spoofing came to the rescue.

It transforms the built-in apps of your old Apple TV into limitless aggregators for TV channels, movies, and series.

Pager TV - most legal service(from those known to us), with which you can link an IPTV playlist with TV channels offered by any of the operators of your choice to the old set-top box.

The service costs $ 1 per month. But a couple of weeks for testing is free. How do I set it up?

Step 1. Turn on Apple TV - not only 3rd generation will work, but also 2nd

Step 2. Open "Settings"

Step 3. Go to the "General" section

Step 4. Expand the Network menu

Step 5.... Under WiFi or Ethernet, find the DNS setting.

Step 6. Select "Manual" under "DNS Setting" and enter: 037.230.116.189 or 062.109.022.177

Step 7. Return to the "General" section and place the cursor on the item "Send data to Apple"

Step 8. Open the "Profiles" menu using the "Play" button on the remote

Step 9. Select "Add Profile"

Step 10. Enter the address pagertv.ru/atv and click "Add"

Step 11. Sign up to Pager TV service from your computer or smartphone

Step 12. Go to the VIMEO app on Apple TV

Step 13. Log into your Pager TV account from your computer or smartphone

Step 14. Enter here the unique code that you see on the TV screen and click "Save Changes"

Step 15. Now go to your playlist and add a link to the M3U playlist with channels, here is a test for 3 channels - http://pagertv.ru/test.m3u

Ready to give up cable TV and get rid of the ad flood? With Apple TV, you can rent or buy high quality movies, listen to podcasts, watch Netflix, Hulu, sports channels, view photos and listen to music from your computer, all from the comfort of your couch. Learn how to set up and use your Apple TV in this article.

Steps

Part 1

Apple TV connection

Unpack Apple TV. Install it next to the TV, you will also need an outlet nearby, and if you have a wired Internet, then a network cable.

• Don't stack Apple TV on top of any other tech, or stack anything on Apple TV either. Doing so may overheat the equipment and cause signal interference.

1. Connect the HDMI cable. Connect one end of the cable to your Apple TV (the connector on the back of the box) and the other to your TV.

   • Note: This article describes a direct connection to a TV. If you are using the receiver, then refer to the instructions for use. The receiver will be the intermediate link between the Apple TV and the TV.
   • Apple TV has TOSLink digital audio output. If you are using this standard, connect one end of the cable to the Apple TV output and the other to the TV input.

2. Connect the Internet cable. If you have a wired internet, connect it to your Apple TV.

   • Apple TV has built-in 802.11 Wi-Fi that you can connect to a wireless network.

3. Plug in the power cord. After connecting all cables, plug the Apple TV into power.

   Turn on your TV. Plunge into the world of Apple TV! On the TV remote, switch to the HDMI input to which your Apple TV is connected.

   • If this is your first Apple TV connection, the setup screen should appear. If it does not appear, make sure the cables are connected correctly and the correct signal source is selected.

   Part 2

   Set up Apple TV

   1. Understand the Apple Remote. All operations will have to be carried out using this remote control.

      • The black ring is used to move the cursor up, down, right, left.
      • The gray button in the center of the circle is used to select.
      • Pressing the "Menu" button brings up a menu or returns to the previous screen.
        • Press and hold the "Menu" button to return to the main menu.
        • Press and hold the "Menu" button while watching a movie to access subtitles.
      • The "Play / Pause" button is only used for pause and play.
      • Press and hold the Menu and Down Arrow button to reset Apple TV. During the reset, the status light on the set-top box should blink.
      • To create a pair between the remote control and the set-top box, press and hold the "Menu" arrow button to the right for 6 seconds. This will allow you to control the set-top box only from this remote control and turn off other remotes.
      • There is a free app on the App Store called "Remote" that shows you the full capabilities of the Apple Remote. If you have an iPhone or iPad, this is a great addition to your Apple TV.
      • Apple Remote not is versatile. To change the volume of the sound on the TV and other functions, you will have to use the remote control from the TV or receiver.

   2. Connect to a wireless network. Follow the on-screen prompts to select in network settings. If your wireless network is hidden from others, then enter the name of the network. After selecting the network, enter the password (if any) and save the settings by clicking on the "Done" button.

      • If you are not using DHCP, then you will have to enter the IP address, subnet mask, router address and DNS.

   3. Set up Home Sharing. Use Home Sharing to access the music and video files on your computer.

      • Set up Home Sharing. From the main menu, go to settings and select "Home Sharing". Enter your Apple ID and password.
      • Set up "Home Sharing" in iTunes. From the File menu, choose Home Sharing> Include Home Sharing. Enter the same Apple ID and password you use on your Apple TV.

   Part 3

   Enjoy the content

   1. Watch a huge number of movies! With iTunes on Apple TV, you have access to the latest movies in 1080p (v3) high definition or 720p (v2). You can watch the movie, rent it or purchase it for your collection.

      • While almost all of the content on iTunes is viewable, many movies cannot be rented in the first weeks after their release. They can only be purchased, but later it will be possible to rent them. Sometimes films are only available for rent or purchase.
      • Selected TV shows are only available for purchase, although you can subscribe for the entire season. The current TV series on iTunes is usually delayed by a day or two from regular broadcast.

   2. Display mode from your iOS devices. With AirPlay, you can play movies and photos stored on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch on your TV. You can also use your TV as a giant screen for your iPhone 4S or iPad.

   3. Use Home Sharing. With this feature, you can browse and play your entire iTunes library, as well as all playlists, and even use the Genius feature. You can view photos using iPhoto on your computer, or simply transfer photos to display on Apple TV Home Sharing.

      • To access music, movies, photos, and videos on your computer, go to Computers from the Apple TV main menu. Any type of content available on the computer will be displayed on the TV.
      • To access the whole music stored in iCloud using iTunes Match, click the orange Music button on the home screen.

Apple TV (fourth generation) review

Contents of delivery

• Prefix
• Network cable
• Remote control
• Lightning cable
• Documentation

We are dealing with a new Apple TV set-top box, not updated, but a new one - yes, you can still rent a movie for the evening, but you can also install, if you wish, karaoke and sing on the TV, or play, or watch the Comedy Club and the series "Fizruk" ...

Positioning

When you tell or show someone the capabilities of Apple TV, they may immediately object, they say, because advanced modern TVs have all this and without any set-top boxes, there are Smart TV, Android TV and other shells that can make it possible to play or buy movies in third-party services ... This is all true. But there are at least a few reasons to buy an Apple TV:

• If you have a perfectly good TV, but without any shells.
• If you have a perfectly good TV, it has a shell, but it doesn't suit you.
• If you have been using iTunes for a long time, there are hundreds of films, music albums in your library and you would like to play all this content on your TV, rent movies.
• If you want to play games on your TV, but you have never done it, and you have doubts about the convenience of this process, then you should definitely try Apple TV.

There are other reasons too, but they might seem a little far-fetched - I would recommend the Apple TV to anyone who loves OS X and iOS and wants something equally sleek and thoughtful for the largest screen in the house. I would recommend Apple TV to girls, it has been experimentally established that they instantly master the remote control, programs for the set-top box, start watching TV shows - I don’t know how this would happen with Android TV. Maybe the same, maybe not. I would recommend the Apple TV for family fun, playing chicken may sound brutal, but there are other games out there. For example, Shadowmatic perfectly develops spatial thinking, but "Asphalt" does not develop anything, but it is very cool to drive one by one.

Actually, I would recommend everyone to try the updated Apple TV, it's a shame it can't be rented. Well, the prices in Russia are now cruel. When you remember how much the old Apple TV cost, a tear of nostalgia immediately appears. Okay, let's not be sad, but rather see what the updated console is.

Design, construction

It's a pity that Apple forgot to put an HDMI cable in the kit, I seem to have a lot of cables at home, but they all turned out to be busy - they might as well not be scruffy, it's not very expensive (to put it mildly). The set includes a remote control, a network cable, a set-top box, a remote control strap is inserted into the Lightning connector, and you also need to buy it separately. But in the kit there is a Lightning cable for charging the remote control, yes, there is now such a plug. As you can see in the photo, the proprietary iPhone stand can be used for the remote control as well. The operating time of the remote control is several months when used in normal mode, which is good, you don’t need to think about the state of the battery all the time, you don’t need to buy batteries, the built-in battery will probably work for several years. I must say right away that many existing joysticks can be used with Apple TV, in a couple of days we will post a video review, where we try to connect and use one of them - go to this material, there will be a video.

Accordingly, this gives hope for the emergence of many other accessories for Apple TV, for example, small keyboards, advanced joysticks and who knows what else. If tvOS continues to evolve, developers' imagination should be enough for the most unprecedented add-ons. After all, there are already good races, the already mentioned "Asphalt", so why not make some simple steering wheel? The races are good and bright. The branded remote control can be used, but not very convenient. I note that you have to hold it by the ends and imagine that this is not a remote control, but a steering wheel, turn it from side to side - the car moves. You need to get used to it, but then everything will turn out naturally and easily. The touch pad also requires getting used to, but then rewinding in films is a pleasure, it is very easy to choose the right moment, quickly rewind to the right place, step back, repeat - easy, graceful, great! But at first, typing on the virtual keyboard makes you wince. Unaccustomed to skipping letters, moving your finger faster than necessary, miss, miss again, so bless you! Little by little I manage to get used to it. Then, I also found another problem at the very beginning, Apple TV is demanding on the quality of Wi-Fi. We tried to use "Iota" - it was not possible to enter the account, tried to connect to an iPhone operating in modem mode - nothing happened either. The set-top box connected to the home access point instantly, and you can find it (the point) on the TV screen or set up using the iPhone, put it on Apple TV, and voila, the settings are transferred. Well, then only the remote control will help you, the plump black box can be hidden away.

Compared to the previous version, the set-top box has become larger, the connector for connecting an optical cable has disappeared, but everything else remains the same. Here is a complete list of connectors and more:

• HDMI 1.43;
• Supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac with MIMO technology;
• Ethernet port 10 / 100BASE-T;
• IR receiver;
• USB-C for service and support;
• Built-in power supply.

If you suddenly want to take screenshots, you need a USB-C to USB cable, connect it to your MacBook Pro, turn on QuickTime Player, and an image from the TV appears there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have such a cable, so I shot it with a camera. Again, a detailed video about menus, applications and more is coming soon.

The remote control itself is a complex device. There is an IR sensor for controlling the volume on the TV, and Bluetooth 4.0 for communicating with the set-top box, Lightning for charging, an accelerometer and a gyroscope, a glass touch pad, you can not only move your finger on it, but also press it. In some games, there is a difference between swiping in the center or along the edge, and there is an emphasis on that; the impression after working with the touch surface - as after using other Apple technology, for example, an iPhone or iPad.

Operating system

The capabilities of the operating system are very good in the future, but even now the device is not perceived as something unfinished, crude, such a feeling did not arise either for me or for those whom I gave to try the console. On the contrary, the thing is perceived extremely positively. If you already had an Apple TV and are used to renting movies there, then you can do it here, only along the way you can install RuTube, watch Dances or TV shows, many people like Comedy Club - you can watch Comedy. There is also 2x2, only the choice of series is limited. Personally, I am waiting for the Amediateki application so that I can calmly watch new series of my favorite TV series and films on TV - by the way, there is a very good selection of films, there is a lot that you will not find anywhere else. The choice of applications is already great now, here you have The Nat Geo TV, HBO NOW, news, and YouTube - you know, you can hang out there for a day if you want. All applications resemble their iOS counterparts, that is, these are video catalogs, select and watch. The quality is good, I use Apple TV with an old Samsung TV, besides Full HD, there is not much to boast about.

Yes, if suddenly there are karaoke lovers among you - there is karaoke here. I'm not an amateur myself, but I was told that karaoke works efficiently here, and those who like this business are better off not talking about such a feature of Apple TV. And for singing there is not one, but several programs.

If a soundbar or other speaker system is connected to the TV, you can listen to purchased music or use Apple Music, which is great when meeting with friends. A TV in the living room, a table in the living room, everything is logical - especially since music can work in a number of applications. Listening to Igor Nikolaev and playing Crossy Road is possible. True, in some programs this does not work, either it is a bug, or voice acting will be possible everywhere.

Yes, I can't help but notice that there is also Mixcloud, a program with mixes, different formats of music - you can listen to it all day long, without stopping.

That is, if earlier Apple TV was limited to the music you purchased (I exaggerate, but nevertheless), now there are no boundaries. The entire iTunes library is at your disposal thanks to Apple Music, there are applications like MixCloud, catalogs of Internet radio stations for Apple TV appear.

Moving on to films, all purchased films are available for download and viewing, some can be rented. Contrary to popular belief, this does not apply to all tapes - for the most part new items can only be bought, no rental. For example, now "Everest" is sold for 349 rubles in HD, 199 rubles in SD, it is better to take it in HD, well, it is even better to lift the fifth point from the chair and walk to the cinema. It's much better to watch Everest over there than at home. But "Agents of ANKL" can already be bought for 349 rubles, and rented for 99 rubles - a good offer.

Either way, iTunes prices are reasonable, and if you're buying an Apple TV, you should be prepared for paid content. I know that most of the readers are already accustomed to paying for books, music and films, but, nevertheless, there are those who do not understand where the money goes and why you need to pay “for air”. This is always a personal choice of everyone, and we will not discuss the topic of paid content here, I will only note that in Russia people still show an unexpected enthusiasm for services - there are many more people who want to receive a quality service and are ready to pay for it. In the case of iTunes on Apple TV, there are no questions about the service itself, the previously purchased movie was downloaded in a minute, the quality is excellent, the sound is also great. If you slide your finger down on the touch panel, the audio menu will appear, where you can select the audio track, subtitle, through which device the audio will be played.

As in the case with the previous set-top box, it is possible to transfer pictures to Apple TV from the device, the quality is so-so. Tried image transfer from MB Pro.

In addition to programs, audios and films, there are also games. And here, besides Crossy Road and Asphalt, there is also Shadowmatic, Rayman, Manticore Rising, Guitar Hero. I think it will be possible to write separately about a dozen good games for Apple TV at the end of the month, for now I will say that the programs are well made, it is interesting to play them even for me - most of the things here are arcade, but this does not detract from their merits. In the same Crossy Road, it is great to play in a company, when everyone around you is trying to tell, pull out the remote control in order to play on your own.

And so, now imagine that all this is on your TV. It has become much more functional, isn't it? Yes, before I could easily buy Interstellar and watch it with my family, relaxing after a busy day. But now there has appeared an easy, understandable and simple access to programs of a very different orientation and with a wide variety of content - we can no longer only choose Interstellar, but also watch the latest issue of Dances, if we feel like it. And there is no need to carry a laptop, transfer an image from an iPad or iPhone, or otherwise complicate life.

Performance and features

The set-top box is available in two versions, 32 and 64 GB, as I understand it, Apple has made a version for those who will install a lot of applications, and the version for those who install the basic and calm down will not experiment. There is, of course, a difference in price, 13,990 and 17,990 rubles. As far as I heard, now there is a limit for the size of applications, it is 200 MB, in the future it may be lifted. In the future, Apple TV has a lot to change. For example, now the desktop repeats the design of the first Apple TVs, although it would be better to emphasize the continuity of tvOS and iOS and allow the user to simply bring all the icons to the desktop, add widgets there if desired, as in Android - now the navigation is frankly stupid, go to the desired item from the first try I still can't. You will definitely go somewhere in the wrong place, there is also the remote control "helps", unnecessary movement, and immediately went somewhere from the desired menu item. While the search for Siri in Russian does not work, when it appears, it will be of help.

Apple, as always, has taken care of people with disabilities. Press the Menu button three times, and VoiceOver turns on, reading menu items, here is a list of all the "Accessibility" items:

• VoiceOver;
• Increase;
• Bold font;
• Increased contrast;
• Decreased movement;
• Support for closed captioning and closed captioning for people with hearing impairments;
• Keyboard shortcuts (I don't quite understand about this).

A little about video and audio formats:

• H.264 video up to 1080p, 60fps, high or main profile level 4.2 or lower;
• H.264 video, Baseline Profile 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 kbps, 48 ​​kHz, stereo audio in m4v, .mp4, and.mov formats;
• MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640x480 pixels, 30 fps, simple profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 kbps, 48 ​​kHz, stereo audio in m4v, .mp4 and.mov formats;
• HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 kbps), Protected AAC (for files from the iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4 ), Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1.

Let me remind you again that Apple TV is sensitive to the quality of the Internet connection, you can connect to the network both via Wi-Fi and using an Ethernet cable, this method seems to me an anachronism. Although you can parry, the speed and reliability of the cable connection is higher. Well, if you don't mind another cable in the living room, your will.

The heart of Apple TV is the A8 processor with 64-bit architecture, the set-top box works smartly, the transition from section to section is quick, the only drawbacks are the absence of thumbnails for some films on the main page, but here is the tvOS problem. For all the time of use, there were no application crashes, I would like to get some kind of intelligible menu of running applications, like in iOS.

conclusions

Let me remind you that the price is 13,990 and 17,990 rubles, a good gift for the New Year and for any other holiday. The whole family can use Apple TV, and there's plenty to do for dad, mom, and kids. I hope, albeit a bit chaotic, I told you about the main features of this interesting device. I remember how the first Apple TV was “broken”, used to watch movies, after so many years there is a device in the living room completely in the spirit of the century - everything is on the net, and it’s a sin not to use it. If you want to pump up (sorry) your TV, the Apple TV will do a great job.

P.S. As promised, I will write in more detail about the programs and games used on Apple TV separately.

Third generation 2012 model

Last fall, we reviewed the second generation network media player from Apple. Unique design was noted as the brightest side of the model. However, this applies to almost every product from this manufacturer. The main scenario for using the device is watching purchased videos and series directly from the Internet, bypassing computers and iTunes.

For the majority of domestic users, the purchase of audio / video materials is currently not available, which significantly reduces the interest in the product. But this relatively inexpensive and well-made player can also be used to view the finished video from the iTunes library on a PC, and the installation of additional software brings its capabilities closer to the most interesting representatives of this class of devices.

However, no software could fix the hardware limitation - the maximum video output resolution of the second generation device is 720p, which looks somewhat strange in 2012. We have already said that this limitation is partly due to the capabilities of the content distribution system. But time does not stand still, and this spring Apple decisively fixed this problem too - the updated Apple TV set-top box (MD199, A1427), presented simultaneously with the new tablet model, now copes with Full HD video and supports output in this resolution to TVs and other devices. ...

Since this is practically the only difference, this material is an abbreviated overview, and if you have not previously dealt with this device, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the detailed publications on past modifications: first generation (2007), second generation (2010).

I would like to remind you once again that this product is not presented by the company on the Russian market, so you will not find it in branded stores and will not be able to get any local support from Apple. The main reason for this decision lies in the inaccessibility of the content store to domestic users. And why we don't have it is a completely different story.

Delivery set and appearance

According to these parameters, the device is no different from its predecessor. The compact box contains a player, a remote control, a power cable and a few leaflets.

The body is made of black plastic and has very attractive dimensions - less than 10 × 10 × 2.5 centimeters. The top panel is matte with a glossy manufacturer's logo, the ends are completely glossy. The remote control receiver and status indicator are hidden on the front panel.

The HDMI port is used to connect to a TV or projector. Additionally, an optical digital audio output is provided. Analog options were completely abandoned. Also on the back you can find a microUSB service connector, a network port (100 Mbps) and a power cable input. The device consumes less than ten watts and has a built-in power supply, which is much more convenient.

The bottom of the player is made of rubber, so it will stand very stable on any surface.

The remote control has not changed at all: the same graceful shape, Unibody style and the minimum number of buttons. But even they are quite enough to work with the device, including navigation, switching audio tracks and subtitles.

Hardware Features

The changes that allowed for 1080p playback include installing a new processor and doubling the amount of RAM to 512 MB. The amount of flash memory is preserved (8 GB). The processor in the new model is installed in the same family as in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Only here there is only one core in this case, unlike other devices. Considering the single-tasking use of the player, this is not at all critical and the “usual” Apple A5 is quite enough here.

The radio module does not directly affect the speed of the device, but it is certainly important for broadcasting video wirelessly. It is based on the Broadcom BCM4330 microcircuit, which in this device is capable of operating at 2.4 or 5 GHz. As for the speed, it is difficult to find accurate information, but most likely we are talking about 2T2R mode with 300 Mbps.

Note also that this model comes with iOS version 5.1 (in Apple TV numbering - 5.0), which has many additions and improvements compared to 4.x.

At the time of this writing, this firmware version for the model in question was hack-resistant, so it was impossible to run any additional programs on the device. However, time does not stand still and, most likely, at some point this device will also be jailbroken.

Connection and configuration

In most cases, turning on the player for the first time is quick and easy - you just need to select the interface localization. Russian users will be disappointed with the player's home screen - only the library from the PC and the settings menu are available for them. To view online services, you need to configure the player for another country.

But let's take a look at the possible settings first. Their menu consists of six and a half items. The last half is putting the device into sleep mode. In most cases, falling asleep automatically is sufficient.

In the "Basic" group, you can view the model, serial number, firmware version of the device, update the software, set up the network and time zone, connect new remote controls, and enable "Parental Control". The "Screensaver" section is used to select options for displaying photos when listening to music and when in standby mode. Sources can be the National Geographic channel, a couple of pre-installed albums, MobileMe, Flickr, and a new feature of the latest iOS versions - Photo Stream.

You can customize the settings for the iTunes Store in the corresponding item. In addition to specifying your Apple ID, you can choose the maximum video quality (depending on the speed and quality of your Internet channel) and location. Depending on the country selected, different items will be available in the main menu of the device.

In the "Audio and video" there are several hardware settings, in particular the TV resolution, color mode, Dolby Digital broadcast mode, as well as items such as music repeat, sound effects, soundtrack and subtitle selection. In the TV-out settings, it is usually enough to leave everything in "Automatic". There should be no problems with modern technology. Note that the frame rate in Full HD mode is selected in the menu and the choice is only from 50 and 60 Hz. The video player cannot automatically change the frequency of the video output depending on the parameters.

The next item is responsible for the operation of the AirPlay technology. With it, you can send a video or audio stream from any iOS device or from iTunes for display on your TV screen. At the same time, it is enough for the devices to be on the same network; there is no need to use the same Apple ID on them. You can restrict access to this function by setting a password on the player.

The final setting is to enable Home Sharing support. This technology lets you combine up to five devices to share your iTunes library on your computer. All devices must use the same Apple ID for it to work.

Comparison with the previous version of the player shows that there are no significant differences in the settings.

Working with multimedia

For the domestic user, the most interesting is the work in the "Home Sharing" mode with access to content located on a PC with iTunes installed. In this case, the question of how these files appeared on the computer will not interest anyone. To work with the player with the library, you need to create an Apple ID and use it in both iTunes and Apple TV.

A formal list of supported formats includes:

• video with resolution up to Full HD, frame rate up to 30, with H.264 codec, HP and MP profile up to 4.0, with AAC-LC audio in m4v, mp4, mov containers;
• video with a resolution of 640 × 480, a frame rate of 30, with the MPEG-4 SP codec, with the same sound and container;
• video with resolution up to 720p, frame rate 30, with M-JPEG codec, PCM audio in avi container;
• audio recordings with AAC formats (including those protected from iTunes), MP3, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV, Dolby Digital 5.1 with transmission to an external receiver;

photos in formats JPEG, GIF, TIFF.

In fact, this information makes little sense for the model under consideration - this is not a universal media player, but a device for working in the infrastructure built by Apple. So the user does not need to think about the formats and their subtleties - if the content is received from an official source, it will be played by the player. In most cases, you can summarize this saying to "if the content is in iTunes, then it can be used with Apple TV."

In particular, the native clips used for testing, edited in iMovie and encoded in the built-in 1080p template, have an H.264 profile [email protected] and bitrate up to 20 Mbps and are reproduced by the device without any problems, not only via cable, but also via Wi-Fi. So in general, if you are used to iTunes or use Mac OS, then you will not encounter any difficulties with Apple TV compatibility.

In fact, the same mp4 does not have significant drawbacks compared to other modern options - it supports Full HD and the H.264 codec, it can have several audio tracks and subtitles, it is possible to use built-in tags, it is played by most other player models. A similar remark applies to music - for many users, mp3 features are enough, and if necessary, you can use Apple Loseless.

Together with Home Sharing it can be convenient to use the Remote utility available free of charge in the App Store. With it, you can control the operation of all devices - select a video from the iTunes library on your PC and send it for viewing via Apple TV. Another convenient scenario would be listening to music through a player with a digital connection to the receiver without having to turn on the TV for navigation.

Other countries are much more fortunate. They can use Apple TV to buy and watch movies and TV series from the huge iTunes library. Interestingly, it is not at all necessary to pre-download files for viewing - the online broadcasting mode works. Of course, high-definition video requires a fast enough internet connection. The manufacturer says 8 Mbps for 1080p, 6 Mbps for 720p and 2.5 Mbps for standard definition video.

For example, let's look at the cost of these services in the United States. For films, there are two options - rent or purchase. Note that their availability is specific to the edition. In the case of rent, you can watch a movie within a month after payment, but if you have already started, then you need to finish it in 24 hours. The rental price for the HD version is $ 3.99 ($ ​​4.99 for recent releases). If the movie is available for sale, then its HD version can cost $ 19.99.

The series can only be purchased, both in separate episodes and by subscription for the season. The cost of the HD version of one episode can be $ 2.99.

You don't even need to use a PC to buy - all actions can be performed directly from Apple TV or other devices with built-in iTunes store. The catalog looks great on the screen - it provides detailed information about the film, including trailer, rating, short description, cast list, director, producer. Moreover, the latter can be used to search for other films.

For music lovers, support for the iTunes Match service ($ 24.99 per year) may be interesting, which allows you to store the entire media library in the iCloud cloud and have access to it at any time from any device, including Apple TV. In fact, not the music files themselves are saved, but only the fact that you own them (purchase or import from CD). Broadcasting to devices is carried out in streaming mode.

The set of supported online services has been slightly expanded in the new version of iOS. In particular, the menu includes:

• Netflix service (not available from Russia);
• sports videos from MLB, NBA, NHL (some features require a subscription);
• a catalog of trailers for films that have not yet been released;
• catalog of video reports and broadcasts WSJ Live;
• YouTube and Vimeo directories with ratings and other sorting options;
• searchable audio and video podcast catalog;
• directory of Internet radio stations;
• Photo Stream service;
• access to MobileMe;
• photo hosting Flickr.

AirPlay

With the introduction of Full HD resolution support on the player, AirPlay takes on a whole new meaning. However, research into the operation of this function has shown that not everything is as simple as we would like it to be. The mobile companion in this case was the iPhone 4S.

AirPlay provides several options. The first of them is the broadcast of multimedia files (video and music) from iTunes and iOS devices (including “outdated” ones, such as the third generation iPod touch) to the TV screen. Moreover, Full HD video is displayed in this resolution from both PC and iPhone 4S. A similar feature is available in some iOS programs, for example, in the YouTube client. You select a clip and tell the device to stream it over the network to AppleTV. The photos are a little worse. Sending from the standard gallery on the phone obviously works at a lower resolution.

The AirPlay Mirroring mode, implemented in iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and newer models, will allow you to broadcast your full desktop and programs to your TV (if this mode is not blocked by the author), even if they do not have built-in AirPlay support.

Pay attention here to the fact that the screen resolution of these devices is lower than Full HD, and the picture on the TV will look a little blurry. The description of The new iPad also indicates that video streaming from compatible programs is possible in Full HD, and the desktop is limited to 720p (although the tablet itself has stepped far beyond 1920 × 1080). Still, on-the-fly encoding of such streams requires high computing power.

The third option for AirPlay is the use of special software that supports working with two screens - built into a mobile device and external, implemented via Apple TV. Games are usually cited as examples. You can try the free versions of Ducati Challenge and MetalStorm: Wingman on iPhone 4S. They are good for demonstrating AirPlay - the iPhone becomes an interactive control panel in your hands, it uses a touchscreen, a built-in gyroscope, and displays game messages. And the main game picture is displayed on the TV screen (also only in 720p). Hopefully, there will be more such applications, and new versions of Apple's mobile devices will learn how to encode and transmit Full HD images.

Note that there are programs for Mac OS X on the market that allow you to integrate computers and laptops into the AirPlay structure - to broadcast an image from a PC screen to an Apple TV, or vice versa - to use a computer as an alternative to Apple TV when working with mobile devices.

Strict control by the manufacturer and perfect compatibility of various devices make AirPlay a successful alternative to the well-known DLNA protocol.

conclusions

The Apple TV update hasn't garnered much attention, but it's a significant step forward for the company. Full HD video support is now available in the iTunes media structure. It is presented in the store and streamed online, and can be viewed on PCs, mobile devices and TVs.

Technically and visually, Apple TV has changed very little. There was no place even for "stripes" that would help distinguish the phones 4 and 4S externally. It is difficult to say to what extent this approach is justified from the point of view of the product's success on the market, but the manufacturer knows better. However, there was nothing much to improve - the size is great, the connection options are optimal, the wireless network controller and power supply are built-in, the data comes from the network, so no local drives or expansion ports are required.

Once again, I really liked the company's approach to media library sharing. Everything is easy to set up, easy to operate, and works seamlessly. The only inconvenience is the need for iTunes on a working personal computer. Although, if you use only content downloaded from the iTunes store, then you can refuse from this - videos and series will come directly from the company's servers, and music - from your own iCloud. Or, you can transfer video and music from iPhone / iPad / iPod touch mobile devices.

The AirPlay Mirroring technology looks interesting and promising. Now, of course, few people can be surprised by compact game consoles, but the potential of this opportunity is clearly high. We can say with a high degree of probability that the next models on iOS will support the transfer of Full HD images to the TV, and there will be more and more applications using two screens.

To summarize today's review - Apple TV is an excellent solution for the task of watching videos on the big screen of your TV, if the media library is presented in iTunes or there is a need to broadcast multimedia, programs or games from mobile devices. The player has a very attractive design, is well made and costs relatively little ($ 99 in the US), especially when compared to other products from the fruit company.