Apple TV
Apple TV is a digital media player and microconsole developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is a small network appliance hardware that plays received media data such as video and audio to a television set or external display. Since its second generation model, it is an HDMI-compliant source device and can only be connected to an enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen television through HDMI to function.
Developer | Apple Inc. |
---|---|
Manufacturer |
|
Type | Digital media player Microconsole |
Release date |
|
Introductory price | |
Online services | 8,000 total apps, including 2,000 games and 1,600 video apps (as of October 27, 2016)[4] |
Website | apple.com/tv-home |
Apple TV lacks integrated controls and can only be controlled remotely, either through an Apple Remote, Siri Remote or some third party infrared remotes. Since the fourth generation model, Apple TV runs tvOS with multiple pre-installed software applications. Its media services include streaming media services, TV Everywhere-based services, local media sources, and sports journalism and broadcasts. At a March 2019 special event, Apple lessened attention on the Apple TV because of its lack of success. To generate additional revenue, they instead released Apple TV+ and Apple TV Channels a la carte.
Background
In 1993, in an attempt to enter the home-entertainment industry, Apple released the Macintosh TV. The TV had a 14-inch CRT screen alongside a TV tuner card.[5] It was not a commercial success, with only 10,000 units sold before its discontinuation in 1994.[6] The company's next industrial foray was in 1994 with the Apple Interactive Television Box 1994. The Box was a collaboration venture between Apple, BT, and Belgacom, but it was never released to the general public.[6][7] Apple's final major industrial attempt before the Apple TV was the commission of the Apple Bandai Pippin in 1990s, which combined home game console with a networked computer.[6][8]
Starting as early as 2011, Gene Munster, a longtime investment banking analyst at Piper Jaffray, rumored that Apple would announce a HDTV television set hardware to compete with Sony, LG, Samsung, and other TV manufacturers.[9] Apple, however, never released such product. In 2015, Munster relented and recanted his rumor.[10][11] This was mentioned as a potential breakthrough product in the biography Steve Jobs.[6][12] Apple TV is an HDMI-compliant source device without integrated controls that can only be controlled remotely.[13] The latter can either be accessed through Apple Remote or Siri Remote or other third party infrared remotes.[14][15] At the March 2019 Apple special event, Apple announced they would withdraw focus from Apple TV due to its low-rate success against their competition. To achieve more profit, they released Apple TV+ and Apple TV Channels a la carte.[16][17]
Models
First generation
At a September 2006 Apple special event, Apple announced the first generation Apple TV. It was originally announced as "iTV" to fit into their "i"-based product naming convention, but was renamed "Apple TV" before launch because of a trademark dispute with British broadcasting network ITV in the United Kingdom.[18] Pre-orders began in January 2007 and it was released in March 2007. It is based on a Pentium M processor and ran a variant of Mac OS X Tiger, and included a 40 GB hard disk for storing content.[19] It supported output up to 720p on HDTVs via HDMI, and supported some standard definition televisions via component video.[20] At launch, Apple TV required a Mac or Windows-based PC running iTunes on the same network to sync or stream content to it.[21]
A model with a 160 GB hard drive was released in May 2007. The 40 GB version was discontinued in September 2009.[22] In January 2008, it became a stand-alone device through a software update, which removed the requirement of iTunes syncing from separate computer, and allowed for media from services such as iTunes Store, MobileMe, and Flickr to be rented or purchased directly on the Apple TV.[23]
In July 2008, Apple released the software 2.1 update which added external recognition of iPhones and iPod Touches as alternative remote control devices to the Apple Remote.[24] In September 2015, Apple discontinued iTunes support for the first generation Apple TV, with accessibility being obstructed from such devices due to obsolete security standards.[25][13]
Second generation
Apple released the second generation Apple TV in September 2010. It is based on the ARM-based Apple A4 chip instead of an Intel x86 processor, and runs a variant of iOS.[26][27] It is housed in a black enclosure and is one-quarter the size of the first generation model. The device has 8GB of flash storage for buffering, replacing the internal hard drive in the first generation model. It supports output up to 720p via HDMI and does not support standard definition televisions.[28][29] In conjunction with its release, Apple renamed AirTunes as AirPlay, with support for streaming video from iPhones, iPads and Macs to Apple TV.[30]
Third generation
At a March 2012 Apple special event, Apple announced the third generation Apple TV. It is identical to its predecessor in external appearance, and includes an A5 chip with one core deactivated and supports 1080p video output.[31][32] It also allows remote access to HomeKit devices.[33]
Apple quietly released an updated "Rev A" in January 2013. It added support for peer-to-peer AirPlay, and it uses a single-core variant of the A5 chip. The device also draws less power than the original third generation model. It was discontinued in October 2016.[34] In December 2017, Apple added support for Amazon Video.[35] The Apple TV app, bundled with Apple TV Software 7.3, was released in May 2019.[36]
HD (originally fourth generation)
On September 9, 2015, Apple announced the fourth generation Apple TV at an Apple special event. The fourth generation model uses a new operating system, tvOS, with an app store, allowing downloads of third-party apps for video, audio, games and other content. It uses a 64-bit Apple A8 chip, and adds support for Dolby Digital Plus audio. While similar to the form factor of the second and third generation models, the fourth generation model is taller. In contrast to the old remote's arrow button, the fourth generation Apple TV's touch remote uses swipe-to-select features, Siri support, a built-in microphone, volume control over HDMI CEC and IR, and an accelerometer (IMU).[37][38]
Upon release, third-party apps were available from a limited range of providers, with new APIs providing opportunities for more apps. A requirement of new apps and games was that they must include interfacing with the new touchpad-enabled Siri remote, which was later relaxed for games.[39][40][41]
The fourth generation Apple TV started shipping in October 2015. Upon launch, there were several unexpected issues such as incompatibility with Apple's own Remote app for iOS and watchOS.[42] These issues were fixed by Apple on December 8, 2015 in tvOS 9.1.[43] On September 13, 2016, Apple released tvOS 10, bringing an updated remote app, single-sign on, and dark mode. tvOS 10 also introduced HomeKit support and allows it to function as a home hub, supporting controlling appliances remotely, granting guest access, and setting up automations.[44]
Apple continued to sell the fourth generation model in parallel with newer, 4K versions as an entry-level option, rebranding it as the Apple TV HD in March 2019.[45][46] On October 18, 2022, the Apple TV HD was discontinued after seven years on the market.[46]
4K (first generation)
At an Apple special event on September 12, 2017, Apple announced the Apple TV 4K, which supports 2160p output, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and includes a faster Apple A10X Fusion chip supporting HEVC hardware decoding. Dolby Atmos support was added in tvOS 12.[47][48] Following the announcement of the new models, the 64 GB version of the Apple TV HD was discontinued.[49] Externally it is similar to the fourth generation model, with the only differences being the addition of vents on the base, the removal of the USB-C port, and the addition of a tactile white ring around the Menu button on the included Siri Remote.
4K (second generation)
On April 20, 2021, Apple announced an updated Apple TV 4K with the A12 Bionic chip, support for high frame rate HDR, HDMI 2.1, and Wi-Fi 6. Its HDMI port supports ARC and eARC, which allows other sources plugged into the television to output audio through Apple TV, including to AirPlay speakers like HomePod.[50] Like the HomePod mini, it has a Thread radio. It also has the ability to pair with the ambient light sensor on iPhones with Face ID to optimize its color output, a feature that was also extended to older Apple TVs with tvOS 14.5.[51] AirPlay supports high frame rate HDR playback, allowing videos shot on the iPhone 12 Pro in Dolby Vision 4K 60fps to be mirrored in full resolution. Following the announcement, the previous Apple TV 4K with an A10X chip was discontinued.[52]
The model also comes with a thicker redesigned Siri Remote with a circular touchpad with navigational buttons, as well as power and mute buttons. The remote does not include an accelerometer and gyroscope, which were present in the previous Siri Remote, making it incompatible with some games.[53] The remote is compatible with previous generation tvOS-based Apple TVs and ships with an updated SKU of the Apple TV HD.[54]
4K (third generation)
On October 18, 2022, Apple announced an updated Apple TV 4K with the A15 Bionic chip, reduced weight and dimensions, and support for HDR10+. It comes in two configurations, a Wi-Fi-only model with 64 GB of storage, and a higher-priced 128GB model with Wi-Fi, Ethernet and a Thread radio. The included Siri Remote charges via USB-C instead of Lightning.[55]
Features
Apple TV allows consumers to use a HDTV with any Apple TV or a UHDTV with Apple TV 4K or later, to stream video, music, and podcasts as well as downloading apps and games from the tvOS App Store. The first, second, and third generations offered limited content which Apple had provisioned to work with Apple TV. These have now been discontinued[56] in favor of the fourth generation Apple TV, with an OS based on iOS called tvOS which lets developers create their own apps with their own interface that run on Apple TV. These include multimedia, music apps, and games.[57][58]
Features of Apple TV include:
- Video Streaming
- Users of Apple TV can rent or buy movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store, or stream video from a variety of services found in the tvOS App Store such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Twitch, Amazon Freevee, Paramount+, Noggin, Peacock, Hulu, Hotstar, HBO Max, Discovery+, Disney+, Star+, iQIYI, Showmax, Tencent Video, TVING, Kocowa, Niconico, AbemaTV, Crunchyroll, SonyLIV, ZEE5, Tubi, Eros Now, Pantaya, TVB Anywhere, SF Anytime, Dailymotion, and YouTube.
- Users can stream live and on-demand content from apps that support login through a cable provider by way of one universal app called TV. The single-sign on feature in tvOS 10.1 and later allows users to log in to all of these apps at once, bypassing the need to authenticate each individually.
- Music and Podcasts Streaming
- Users can access their music and podcasts libraries that they purchased in iTunes through iCloud through the Music and Podcasts apps, respectively. In addition, users can also subscribe to music streaming services such as Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora Music, Tidal, Qello, KKBOX, and Anghami and access content that way.
- Photos
- The built in Photos app syncs user photos from iCloud Photo Library and displays them on TV. In addition, users can download third-party apps like Adobe Lightroom[59] to view, edit and share them.[60]
- Apps and Games
- With the fourth generation Apple TV and later, users can download apps and games from the tvOS App Store. This app store is similar to the one found on the Apple iPhone and iPad.
- Apps can now be ported from iOS easily by developers since tvOS and iOS share a common codebase and kernel.
- Examples include the Papa John's Pizza[61] and Grubhub apps which allows for users to order food right from Apple TV and Zillow which allows users to search for homes right on their TV.[62] A NASA app for Apple TV includes live streaming of NASA TV content, including International Space Station missions.[63]
- Games use the Accelerometer and Gyroscope along with the touchpad found on the Siri Remote for control. External Bluetooth game controllers can also be paired.
- Examples include Asphalt 8, which can be played using the Siri Remote.
- Casting and Mirroring
- With AirPlay, users can stream or mirror content wirelessly from an iOS device or Mac. AirPlay can be accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (swipe down from top right on newer models) in Control Center on iOS or in the Menu Bar on a Mac. Its functions include:[64]
- Casting, which allows users to wirelessly send video or audio from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the Apple TV.
- Mirroring, which allows users to wirelessly mirror their Mac screen or AirPlay device which to the TV, using it as a second monitor.
- Peer-to-Peer AirPlay, which uses Bluetooth to connect if the Apple TV and the iOS Device/Mac are not on the same Wi-Fi network.
- With AirPlay, users can stream or mirror content wirelessly from an iOS device or Mac. AirPlay can be accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (swipe down from top right on newer models) in Control Center on iOS or in the Menu Bar on a Mac. Its functions include:[64]
- Siri
- Siri is built into the fourth generation and later Apple TV. It enables voice dictation in text fields, including usernames and passwords.[19]
- Universal search is available for a wide number of apps in the United States, but the feature is limited to iTunes and Netflix in Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In Australia, universal search supports movies and TV shows in iTunes, Netflix, and Stan.[65][66] Apple has been expanding the feature to encompass additional channels worldwide.[67]
- A Live Tune-In feature that allows the viewer to ask Siri to tune to live streams of FuboTV, Pluto TV, DAZN, WWE Network, FITE TV, and Xumo among many others that support Live Tune-In.
- HomeKit
- The third-generation[68] Apple TV and later can also be used as a home hub to control HomeKit devices, such as locks, thermostats, or garage doors either locally or over the Internet. HomeKit Automation, such as automatic implementation of scenes, multiple user support, and using Siri to control devices, and remote access for shared users or HomeKit-enabled cameras is only possible with a fourth generation Apple TV or later.
- General
- HDMI CEC to control other devices in a user's home theater setup.[69]
- App Switcher which enables users to switch apps.
- Aerial Screensaver which allows the TV to display a flyover view of a city when Apple TV is inactive. Screensavers can also be invoked from the home screen by pressing menu on the Siri Remote once.[70]
App Store
- With the fourth-generation Apple TV (Apple TV HD) and tvOS, Apple announced an App Store which allows any developer to make apps using the APIs available specifically tailored towards the TV.[71] Also, since tvOS is based on iOS, any developer can port over apps from iOS and with a few modifications, as Apple stated on stage, and can make them available for all tvOS users with the App Store. The App Store is not available to previous Apple TVs and is a feature of the fourth generation Apple TV onward.
Accessibility
Since tvOS and watchOS are based on iOS, they have inherited many of the accessibility features of iOS and macOS[72] and are compatible with Apple's entire product line including the Apple Watch as a remote controller for the Apple TV. tvOS includes the Apple technologies of VoiceOver, Zoom, and Siri to help the blind and those with low vision. Pairing a Bluetooth keyboard with the tvOS on the Apple TV enables another accessibility feature that also is an incorporation of VoiceOver. When typing, VoiceOver mirrors with an audio voice, each character pressed on the keyboard and repeated again when it is entered. The Apple TV is designed to work with the Apple Wireless Keyboard or the Apple Magic Keyboard.
Apple TV with and without tvOS supports closed captioning, so the deaf or hard of hearing can properly watch TV episodes and feature-length movies. Compatible episodes and movies are denoted with a CC (closed captioning) or SDH (Descriptive Audio) icon in the iTunes Store either on the Apple TV or in iTunes itself. The viewer can customize the captions in episodes or movies with styles and fonts that are more conducive to their hearing and/or visual impairment.[73] Apple's Remote app on iOS devices allows control of the Apple TV from an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.[74]
Restrictions
Similar to Google's redesign of YouTube, Apple has restricted access to most viewed charts on movies and podcasts. They are replaced by "Top Movies", "Top Podcasts", and "Editor's Picks".[75] Parental controls allow consumers to limit access to Internet media service content via "Restrictions" settings; individual services can be turned off (e.g., to reduce clutter), icons can be rearranged via the tap-and-hold technique à la iOS. Internet media is split into four categories: "Internet Photos", "YouTube", "Podcasts", and "Purchase and Rental". Each of the categories is configured by a parental control of "Show", "Hide" or "Ask" to prompt for a 4-digit PIN. In addition, movies, TV shows, music and podcasts can be restricted by rating.[76]
Streaming video sources
Apps available for Apple TV can stream video from a variety of sources, including Netflix, ESPN+, Disney+, Star+ (Latin America only), Paramount+, Hotstar, Hulu, Movies Anywhere, Niconico, AbemaTV, TVING, Kocowa, Eros Now, YuppTV, iQIYI, Catchplay, Viu, AMC+, Struum, Start, MEGOGO, Viaplay, Oznoz, Cine Mestizo, SF Anytime, Ibakatv, Curiosity Stream, Nebula, FuboTV, Voot, BET+, Noggin, Pluto TV, Philo, BritBox, Globoplay, Acorn TV, Videoland (Netherlands only), RTL+, WWNLive, Viki, Rakuten TV, ALTBalaji, ABC iview (Australia only), 7plus (Australia only), 9Now (Australia only), Stan (Australia only), Foxtel Now (Australia only), Kayo Sports (Australia only), Binge (Australia only), TVNZ+ (New Zealand only), Neon (New Zealand only), Vidio (Indonesia only), iWantTFC, meWATCH (Singapore only), HIDIVE, RTÉ Player, TVB Anywhere, ZEE5, Crunchyroll, Pure Flix, SonyLIV, Crackle, Popcornflix, DocPlay, FilmOn, GuideDoc, Irokotv, Minno, TVPlayer, Zeus Network, Flix Premiere, BBC iPlayer (UK only), ITV Hub (UK only), STV Player (UK only), All 4 (UK and Ireland only), My5 (UK only), NOW (UK, Ireland and Italy only), UKTV Play (UK and Ireland only), Hallmark Movies Now, Toon Goggles, Yippee TV, the Bally Sports app, Stirr, Honor Club, UFC Fight Pass, Shudder, Mubi, Filmatique, Crave (Canada only), RiverTV (Canada only), Highball TV (Canada only), OneSoccer (Canada only), Allblk, Plex, Sling TV, Sun NXT, Aha, Hoichoi, Amazon Prime Video, Twitch, Amazon Freevee, WWE Network, ViX, Blim TV, Pantaya, DAZN, Dailymotion, MyCanal (France only), Salto (France only), Showmax, Tencent Video, Dropout, Tastemade, Discovery+, GolfTV, Spectrum TV Stream, DirecTV Stream, Vudu, Xumo, NBC Sports Gold, Hayu, Xfinity Stream, Craftsy, Night Flight Plus, TED, YouTube, YouTube TV, BroadwayHD, Means TV, Red Bull TV, FloSports, FITE TV, Impact Plus, Shahid, Frndly TV, Tubi, Fox Soul, and Fox Nation along with Starz, HBO Max, Peacock, Showtime Anytime, and the TV Everywhere portals of several cable and broadcast networks, and the video subscription portals of all of the four major North American sports leagues: the NFL TV app, MLB.tv, NBA League Pass, and NHL.tv.
Local sources
Apple TV allows users on a computer running iTunes to sync or stream photos, music and videos.[77] A user can connect a computer on a local network to maintain a central home media library of digitized CD, DVD or HD content,[78] provide direct connectivity to photo organization software such as iPhoto,[79] limit home video access to a local network only,[80] play Internet radio,[81][82] or preload content on Apple TV to be used later as a non-networked video player.[83] For users who wish to connect the Apple TV to a computer, synchronization and streaming modes are supported.[77] Apple TV in synchronization mode works in a way similar to the iPod. It is paired with an iTunes library on a single computer and can synchronize with that library, copying all or selected content to its own storage. Apple TV need not remain connected to the network after syncing.[83][84] Photos can be synced from iPhoto, Aperture, or from a folder on a Mac, or Adobe Photoshop Album, Photoshop Elements, or from a hard disk folder in Windows.[85]
Apple TV can also function as a peer-to-peer digital media player, streaming content from iTunes libraries and playing the content over the network.[86][87] First-generation Apple TVs can stream content from up to five computers or iTunes libraries. Also, five Apple TVs can be linked to the same iTunes library. The second-generation Apple TV onwards allows users to stream content from more than one iTunes library: these additional iTunes libraries can be on the same or on different computers. This is possible when Apple TV and every iTunes library from which you want to stream content meet all of the following conditions: (1) the Apple TV and the iTunes library you are streaming from are both on the same local network, (2) each uses the iTunes "Home Sharing" feature, and (3) each are using the same "Home Sharing" Apple ID. Apple TV HD and newer can also stream content locally using third-party apps such as Plex, Kodi, VLC media player, Emby and MrMC.
Supported formats
Apple TV natively supports the following audio, video, and picture formats (although with the Apple TV HD and later, apps may use alternative built-in software in order to play other codecs and formats, e.g. Emby, MrMC, VLC media player, Kodi and Plex):
Video
Picture
|
Audio[lower-alpha 1]
TV compatibility
|
Others
Attempts to sync unsupported content to Apple TV will draw an error message from iTunes.[94] The first- and second-generation Apple TV video output can be set to either 1080i or 1080p; however, this resolution is limited to the user interface and the viewing of photographs – all other content is simply upscaled to those resolutions. Those models cannot play 1080i or 1080p video content (e.g., HD camera video).[86][87][95][96][97] The third- and fourth-generation Apple TV support 1080p video content. The Apple TV 4K, as the name suggests, supports 4K resolutions and HDR, including Dolby Vision. 4K content from sources such as iTunes can be played on a compatible 4K television set.
Apple offers H.264 1080p movies and video podcasts on iTunes.[98] In comparison, Blu-ray Disc films are 1080p H.264 or VC-1 video encoded at rates of up to 40 Mbit/s.[99] Apple TV's audio chip supports 7.1 surround sound,[100] and some high definition rentals from iTunes are offered with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.[101] There is an Apple TV export option in QuickTime which allows content in some formats that the device does not support to be easily re-encoded.[102] Applications that use QuickTime to export media can use this; e.g., iMovie's Share menu,[103] iTunes' advanced menu,[104] and some third-party content conversion tools.[105]
Connectivity
Apple TV streams video through an HDMI cable (Type A) connected to the TV's HDMI port. Audio is supported through the optical or HDMI ports. The device also has a Micro-USB port, which is reserved for service and diagnostics. The device connects through Ethernet or Wi-Fi to the computer for digital content from the Internet and local networks. Apple TV does not come with audio, video or other cables, which must be acquired additionally as required.[106] On the previous Apple TV, media files could be transferred directly onto the device by syncing with another computer. Once content was stored on the device's hard drive, Internet connectivity was no longer needed to view content.[83] This is not the case with the later models, which do not have a hard drive for storing media.
The first-generation Apple TV had component video and RCA connector audio ports, both removed in the 2nd generation. The device does not have RCA/composite video or F/RF connectors,[87][107] but can be tricked into outputting color via composite.[108] Starting with the Apple TV HD, Apple removed the optical audio port. Apple also enhanced the HDMI port by adding support for HDMI 1.4. The 4th generation also removed the Micro-USB port in favor of the reversible USB-C port and the 5th generation removed USB entirely.
AirPlay
AirPlay allows iOS devices or an AirPort-enabled computer with the iTunes music player to send a stream of music to multiple (three to six, in typical conditions) stereos connected to an AirPort Express (the audio-only antecedent of Apple TV) or Apple TV.[109] The AirPort Express' streaming media capabilities use Apple's Remote Audio Output Protocol (RAOP), a proprietary variant of RTSP/RTP. Using WDS-bridging,[110] the AirPort Express can allow AirPlay functionality (as well as Internet access, file and print sharing, etc.) across a larger distance in a mixed environment of wired and up to 10 wireless clients. Speakers attached to an AirPort Express or
Apple TV can be selected from within the "Remote" iPhone/iPod Touch program, allowing full AirPlay compatibility[111] (see "Remote control" section below). A compatible Mac running OS X Mountain Lion or later can wirelessly mirror its screen to an Apple TV through AirPlay Mirroring[112][113] while one running OS X Mavericks or later can also extend its display with AirPlay Display.
Remote control
Apple TV can be controlled by many infrared remote controls[114] or paired with the included Apple Remote to prevent interference from other remotes.[86][115][116] Either kind of remote can control playback volume, but for music only.[23][117][118] The Apple Wireless Keyboard is supported on the second-generation Apple TV and later using the built-in Bluetooth.[119] The consumer has the ability to control media playback, navigate menus and input text and other information. Third-party keyboards that use the Apple layout may also be compatible.[119] On July 10, 2008, Apple released Remote, a free iOS application that allows the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad to control the iTunes library on the Apple TV via Wi-Fi.[120][121] The Apple Watch also has a remote app to control Apple TV.[122] The Remote App was updated on September 13, 2016,[123] to take advantage of all the features of the Apple TV 4. This includes Siri, Touchpad, and Home Buttons, along with a now playing screen.
On September 9, 2015, Apple announced the new Siri Remote for the fourth-generation Apple TV (Apple TV HD) (although in some territories, Apple have kept the name Apple TV Remote, due to Siri functionality not being enabled on it in that territory).[124] It is a completely redesigned remote that features dual microphones for Siri support and a glass touch surface for navigation around the interface by swiping or tapping and scrubbing to fast forward or rewind. Also, it has a menu and home button, a Siri button to invoke Siri, a Play/Pause button, and a Volume Up/Down button to control the volume on the TV. The Siri Remote communicates with the Apple TV via Bluetooth rather than infrared, removing the requirement of a line-of-sight with the device. This new remote is only supported by the Apple TV HD and later and will not work with earlier generations.
Siri
Beginning with the Apple TV HD, the remote includes two microphones and a button to activate Siri. Siri on the Apple TV has all of the functions of Siri on iOS 9; it can also respond to requests specifically for the TV.[125] For instance, the viewer can ask Siri to search for a TV show or movie and it will search across multiple different sources to tell the user where the content is available to watch. It can also do things such as Play/Pause,[126] Rewind/Fast Forward, skip back 15 seconds and temporarily turn on captioning when asked "what did he say?" or "what did she say?", open a specific app, and more.
Software
First generation
The original Apple TV ran a modified build of Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger.[127]
Apple TV Software 1.0
Apple TV software 1.0 presented the user with an interface similar to that of Front Row. Like Front Row on the Mac, it presents the user with seven options for consuming content. Movies, TV Shows, Music, Podcasts, Photos, Settings, and Sources. It was a modified version of OS x v10.4 Tiger.[128]
Apple TV Software 2.0
In February 2008, Apple released a major and free upgrade to the Apple TV, labelled "Take Two" (2.0). This update did away with Front Row and introduced a new interface in which content was organized into six categories, all of which appeared in a large square box on the screen upon startup (movies, TV shows, music, YouTube, podcasts, and photos) and presented in the initial menu, along with a "Settings" option for configuration, including software updates.[129][130]
Apple TV Software 3.0
In October 2009, Apple released a minor upgrade for the Apple TV called "Apple TV Software 3.0".[131] This update replaced the interface in version 2.0 with a new interface which presented seven horizontal columns across the top of the screen for the different categories of content (Movies, TV Shows, Music, Podcasts, Photos, Internet, and Settings).[132] This update also added features such as content filtering, iTunes Extras,[133] new fonts, and a new Internet radio app. One new feature in particular was the 'Genius' playlist option allowing for easier and more user friendly playlist creating.[134]
Second and third generation
The 2nd[135] and 3rd[136] generation Apple TVs run a version of iOS, rather than the modified Mac OS X of the original model. The interface on Apple TV Software 4 is similar to that of previous versions, with only minor changes and feature additions throughout. In March 2012, Apple released a major new software update, with the Apple TV 3rd generation, labeled as Apple TV Software 5 (iOS 5.1),[137] which shipped with the new 3rd generation Apple TV. This update completely revised the look of the home screen to make it resemble the icon grid seen on iOS. Instead of 7 columns, content and third-party channels are shown in a tiled grid format,[138] which can be rearranged. Throughout the years, for Apple TV Software 5–6, Apple released minor revisions, content additions, and feature updates.
The Apple TV Software 7.0 features a flat look similar to iOS 7 and OS X Yosemite and adds features such as Peer-To-Peer AirPlay.[139] Version 8.0 was skipped. Apple TV Software 7.2.2 (iOS 8) is currently available for the Apple TV (3rd generation), as of March 2019. It does not support tvOS 9.0 or later. However, it does support Amazon Video, which was automatically added to those Apple TVs running 7.2.2 on December 6, 2017.[35] In May 2019 Apple TV Software 7.3 (iOS 8.4.2) was released to the public. This update was the first update for the 3rd generation Apple TV since 2016. This update adds the new Apple TV app to the home screen. The Apple TV app brings compatibility to the Apple TV Channels service. This update also fixes some security flaws found in Apple TV Software 7.2.2 and earlier.[140] On September 24, 2019, Apple TV Software 7.4 (iOS 8.4.3) was released to the public.[141] On March 24, 2020, Apple TV Software 7.5 (iOS 8.4.4) was released to the public.[142]
HD and 4K
The Apple TV HD and later run an operating system called tvOS[143] which does not support the earlier generations of Apple TV. It features an app store, allowing third-party app developers to release their own apps on the platform.[144] The new software also features support for Siri voice control. The tvOS software development kit (SDK) for developing tvOS apps is included in Xcode 7.1 and later.[145] A new development feature, App Thinning,[146] is used in the Apple TV, running on tvOS, due to the storage restrictions of the device (as little as 32 GB) and the dual-use of the NAND Flash Memory to precache movies from Apple's content servers as well as storage for downloaded applications from the tvOS App Store. Apple's aim is to limit the size of application downloads and steering users toward downloading individual segments of apps in order to better manage storage space. Developers have reacted with criticism toward the download size limits, arguing that it leads to situations where game data is purged and has to be re-downloaded.[146]
Technical specifications
Obsolete[147] | Vintage | Discontinued | Current |
Models | 1st generation | 2nd generation | 3rd generation | HD (originally 4th generation) | 4K (1st generation) | 4K (2nd generation) | 4K (3rd generation) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Release date(s) | January 9, 2007 | September 1, 2010 | March 7, 2012 (Rev A) January 28, 2013 |
October 30, 2015 | September 22, 2017 | May 21, 2021 | November 4, 2022 |
Discontinued | September 1, 2010 | March 7, 2012 | March 10, 2013[148] (Rev A) September 8, 2016 |
64 GB: September 12, 2017 32 GB: October 18, 2022 |
April 20, 2021 | October 18, 2022 | In production |
Unsupported | N/A | September 17, 2014 | Partially supported | Fully supported | |||
Model number - Model ID - Order number |
A1218 - AppleTV1,1 - MA711 |
A1378 - AppleTV2,1 - MC572 |
A1427 - AppleTV3,1 - MD199 (Rev A) A1469 - AppleTV3,2 - MD199 |
A1625 - AppleTV5,3 - MGY52 for 32 GB models MLNC2 for 64 GB models |
A1842 - AppleTV6,2 - MQD22 for 32 GB models MP7P2 for 64 GB models |
A2169 - AppleTV11,1 - MXGY2 for 32 GB models
MXH02 for 64 GB models |
|
Processor | 1 GHz Intel "Crofton" Pentium M[149] | 1 GHz Apple A4 (ARM Cortex-A8) | 1 GHz Apple A5 (single-core ARM Cortex-A9, dual-core with one core locked) (Rev A.) 1 GHz Apple A5 (ARM Cortex-A9, single-core - redesign from A5 dual-core). |
1.5 GHz dual-core Apple A8 | 2.38 GHz 6-core Apple A10X | 2.49 GHz 6-core Apple A12 | 3.23 GHz 6-core Apple A15 |
Graphics | Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 with 64 MB of VRAM[150] | Apple A4 (PowerVR SGX535) | Apple A5 (PowerVR SGX543MP2) (Rev A) Apple A5 (PowerVR SGX543MP1) |
Apple A8 (PowerVR Series 6XT GX6450) | Apple A10X Fusion (12-core) | Apple A12 Bionic (4-core) | Apple A15 Bionic (5-core) |
Neural Engine | N/A | 8-core | 16-core | ||||
Memory | 256 MB of 400 MHz DDR2 SDRAM[151] | 256 MB LPDDR2[152] | 512 MB LPDDR2[153] | 2 GB LPDDR3[154][155] | 3 GB LPDDR4[156] | 4GB LPDDR4 | |
Storage | 40 or 160 GB internal HDD | 8 GB NAND flash for cache[153][158] | 32 or 64 GB NAND flash | 64 or 128 GB NAND flash | |||
Peripheral connections | |||||||
HDMI (unspecified) | HDMI 1.4 | HDMI 2.0a | HDMI 2.1 | ||||
Component video | N/A | ||||||
Optical audio | N/A | ||||||
USB 2.0 (officially for service use only, though hackers have managed to allow connectivity of hard disks, mice, and keyboards)[159] | Micro-USB (reserved for service) | USB-C (for service and developer use) | Hidden Lightning port inside the Ethernet port (for service use)[160] | None [157] | |||
N/A | Lightning port to charge Siri Remote | USB-C port to charge Siri Remote | |||||
Connectivity | |||||||
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g and draft-n) (Broadcom BCM94321MC, dual-band, 300 Mbit/s)[161] | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g and draft-n) (Broadcom BCM4329, dual-band, 150 Mbit/s)[162][119] | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11a/b/g/n) (Broadcom BCM4330, dual-band, 300 Mbit/s)[163] | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) (dual-band, 867 Mbit/s) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) | |||
N/A | Thread | Thread (128GB model only) | |||||
10/100 Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (128GB model only) | |||||
N/A | Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (support for keyboards only)[162] | Bluetooth 4.0 (support for keyboards only)[119][164] | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 5 | |||
Infrared receiver | |||||||
Video output | |||||||
1080p (undefined, following the Version 3.0 software update), 720p 60/50 Hz (NTSC/PAL), 576p 50 Hz (PAL), 480p 60 Hz (NTSC)[165] over HDMI (HDCP capable) or Component Video (480i 60 Hz is unofficially supported) |
720p, 576p, 480p over HDMI only (HDCP capable) |
1080p, 720p, 576p, 480p over HDMI only (HDCP capable) |
2160p, 1080p, 720p, 576p, 480p over HDMI only (HDCP capable) | ||||
SDR | SDR, HDR10, Dolby Vision | SDR, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | |||||
Audio output | |||||||
Optical audio (48 kHz maximum sample rate), HDMI, RCA analog stereo audio | Optical audio (48 kHz fixed sample rate), HDMI | HDMI-CEC, AirPlay, Bluetooth | |||||
Supports output up to 5.1 channels | Supports output up to 7.1 channels | Supports output up to 7.1.4 channels (Dolby Atmos) | |||||
Power | Built-in universal 48 W power supply | Built-in universal 6 W power supply | Built-in universal 11 W power supply[166] | Built-in universal 13 W power supply[156] | |||
Dimensions | 1.1 inches (28 mm) (h) 7.7 inches (200 mm) (w) 7.7 inches (200 mm) (d) |
0.9 inches (23 mm) (h) 3.9 inches (99 mm) (w) 3.9 inches (99 mm) (d) |
1.4 inches (36 mm) (h) 3.9 inches (99 mm) (w) 3.9 inches (99 mm) (d) |
1.2 inches (30 mm) (h) 3.66 inches (93 mm) (w) 3.66 inches (93 mm) (d) | |||
Weight | 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg) | 9.2 oz (260 g) | 15 oz (430 g) | 7.3 oz (210 g) (64GB model)
7.5 oz (210 g) (128GB model) | |||
Included remote | Apple Remote (plastic) | Apple Remote (aluminum) | Siri Remote (first generation) (2015-2021 SKUs) Siri Remote (second generation) (2021-2022 SKUs) |
Siri Remote (first generation) | Siri Remote (second generation) | Siri Remote (third generation) | |
Initial operating system | Apple TV Software 1.0 (modified build of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger) | Apple TV Software 4.0 (based on iOS 4.1) | Apple TV Software 5.0 (based on iOS 5.1) (Rev A) Apple TV Software 5.2[167] (based on iOS 6.1) |
tvOS 9.0[168] (based on iOS 9)[169] | tvOS 11.0 (based on iOS 11) | tvOS 14.5 (based on iOS 14.5) | tvOS 16.1 (based on iOS 16.1) |
Current operating system | Apple TV Software 3.0.2 (modified build of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger) | Apple TV Software 6.2.1 (based on iOS 7.1.2) | Apple TV Software 7.9 (based on iOS 8.4.6)[170] | tvOS 16.1 (based on iOS 16.1) |
Timeline of iOS devices: iPhone, iTouch, iPad, and Apple TV (2G) models |
---|
Limitations
Functionality
Apple TV contains neither a TV tuner nor a personal video recorder.[86][94] Both capabilities can be applied to the connected home computer through various third-party products, such as allowing PVR software to connect to iTunes and enable scheduled HDTV recordings to play automatically via Apple TV for playback.[173] Apple TV HD and newer can be linked with Wi-Fi-based tuners such as HDHomeRun.[174]
The Front Row interface lacks some iTunes functionality, including rating items, checking the account balance, adding funds to the account, synchronizing from more than one computer,[175] full Internet radio support,[87][176] and games.[177]
The Movies search box only searches the iTunes Store, not local hard drives and networks.[178]
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.[179][180] Movies purchased on Apple TV can be moved to a video-enabled iPod or iPhone via iTunes.[181]
Apple TV prior to 4th generation (Apple TV HD) does not support the HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (HDMI CEC) protocol.
On the Apple TV (2nd generation), digital output audio is up-sampled to 48 kHz, including lossless CD rips at 44.1 kHz. Although this is a higher frequency and the difference is not audible, it is seen by some as falling short of digital transmission of data standards due to the audio not being 'bit perfect'.[182]
Sales
1st generation
Within the first week of presales in January 2007, Apple TV was the top pre-selling item at the Apple Store.[183] Orders exceeded 100,000 units by the end of January and Apple began ramping-up to sell over a million units before the 2007 holiday season.[184] Analysts began calling it a "DVD killer"[185] that could enable multiple services. Analysts also predicted that Apple could sell up to 1.5 million units in the first year.[186] Besides the Apple Store, Best Buy was one of the first retailers to carry the device;[187] Target and Costco[188] followed shortly thereafter.
Two months into sales, Forrester Research predicted at the time that Apple would only sell a million Apple TV units, because consumers prefer advertisement-supported content over paid content. Forrester predicted that cable companies would be the clear winners over content providers such as the iTunes Store.[189] Shortly after, Apple released YouTube functionality and Jobs stated that Apple TV was a "DVD player for the Internet". Some market analysts predicted that YouTube on Apple TV "provides a glimpse of this product's potential and its future evolution",[190] but overall, analysts had mixed reactions regarding the future of Apple TV. Some negative reactions followed after Jobs referred to the device as a "hobby", implying it was less significant than the Macintosh, iPod, and iPhone.[191]
In the fourth quarter of 2008, sales were triple that of the fourth quarter of 2007.[192]
In Apple's first-quarter 2009 financial results conference call, acting chief executive Tim Cook stated that Apple TV sales increased three times over the same quarter a year ago. Cook mentioned that the movie rental business was working well for Apple, Apple would continue investment in movie rentals and Apple TV, but Apple TV is still considered a hobby for the company.[192] Due to the growth of digital TV and consumers turning to Internet media services, an analyst at the time predicted sales of 6.6 million Apple TVs by the end of 2009.[9]
2nd generation
The second generation sold 250,000 units in the first two weeks it was available. On December 21, 2010, Apple announced that they had sold 1 million units.[193] In the second fiscal quarter of 2011, it had topped 2 million in total sales, with 820,000 sold in that quarter alone.[194]
On January 24, 2012, Apple announced they had sold 1.4 million units in the first fiscal quarter of 2012,[195] and 2.8 million units in all of fiscal year 2011.[196] (4.2 million units through January 1, 2012).
3rd generation
Tim Cook announced at the All Things Digital conference in May 2012 that Apple had sold 2.7 million of the 3rd generation model in 2012.[197]
In the Q4 FY2012 earnings call, Engadget reported comments from Tim Cook that Apple had shipped 1.3 million Apple TV units in the 4th Quarter (presumed to be 3rd generation).[198]
MacObserver reported statements by Tim Cook in the Q1 FY2013 earnings call that Apple sold over 2 million Apple TV units in the December Quarter (presumed to be 3rd generation).[199]
These reports lead to a cumulative volume of the 3rd generation device of 6 million units, as of January 1, 2013.
On February 28, 2014, at Apple's shareholders meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that in 2013 Apple TV brought in 1 billion dollars of revenue for Apple.[200]
A market survey published by Parks Associates in December 2014 found that Apple TV has lost consumer traction to Google Chromecast, garnering only a 17% market share.[201]
Tim Cook announced at the Apple Watch conference on March 9, 2015, that Apple had sold a total of 25 million Apple TVs up to that point.[202]
HD and later
During an Apple earnings call on January 27, 2016, CEO Tim Cook stated that the Apple TV had record sales. However, no specific sales figures were mentioned; Apple TV is included in an "Other products" category, which also includes the Apple Watch, iPods, and Beats products, and is not broken down by individual products.[203] In June 2019 it was estimated that there are 53 million units of all generations in use worldwide.[204]
In 2019, Apple analyst John Gruber stated the Apple TV sells at a low profit margin or a loss, saying units are effectively sold at cost.[205]
See also
- Comparison of set-top boxes
- Mac Mini, which originally featured the Front Row application, a similar remote 10-foot user interface as the Apple TV
References
- "Apple TV". Apple Store. Archived from the original on January 14, 2007.
- "Differences Between Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3: EveryMac.com". EveryMac.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
- "Apple TV - Tech Specs - Apple". Apple. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- "Apple unveils new TV app for Apple TV, iPhone and iPad". Apple Inc. October 27, 2016. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- "When Apple flops: The worst Apple products of all time". Network World. August 6, 2009. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "Apple TV: The history of Apple's bid to take over your living room". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- Chen, Brian X. "Apple TV Prototype Sells on eBay for 46 Bucks". Wired. Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "When Apple Failed". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "Is Apple planning a DVR and web-enabled TV set?". TechRadar.com. March 2, 2009. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
- Miller, Chance (December 15, 2016). "Gene Munster, who (in)famously predicted an Apple TV set for years, is leaving Piper Jaffray to start a VC firm". 9 to 5 Mac. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- Yarow, Jay (May 19, 2015). "Top Apple analyst Gene Munster forced to confront the reality that there will be no Apple television". Business Insider. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- Richmond, Shane (December 30, 2011). "Apple 'plans 37-inch TV for 2012'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- "Apple TVs (plus iPods & Cinema Displays) hitting obsolete status day before new hardware on Sept 9". 9to5Mac. August 28, 2015. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- "Apple TV: Can I program my universal remote to work with Apple TV". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- "Can the Apple TV bring everything under (remote) control?". Macworld. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- Pullen, John Patrick (March 24, 2019). "Apple's Two-Word Plan for the Future of the Internet: Subscribe Now". Fortune. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- Greenwald, Will (March 26, 2019). "Apple TV Is the Death of Apple TV". PCMag.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- Cohen, Peter (September 12, 2006). "Apple 'It's Showtime!' event". MacWorld. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2006.
- "Apple TV Now Shipping" (Press release). March 21, 2007. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- Cheng, Jacqui (March 27, 2007). "Apple TV: an in-depth review". Ars Technica. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- "Apple TV (2007) Review". Macworld. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- Arya, Aayush (September 14, 2009). "Apple drops price of 160GB Apple TV, kills 40GB model". MacWorld. Archived from the original on October 5, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
- "Apple TV: About Apple TV software updates". Apple Inc. November 19, 2008. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
- Bohon, Cory (July 10, 2008). "Apple TV 2.1 update goes live, adds MobileMe support". Engadget. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- "About iTunes Store availability". February 23, 2018. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- Helft, Miguel (September 1, 2010). "From Apple, a Step Into Social Media for Music". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- Heussner, Ki Mae (September 1, 2010). "Apple Goes 'Wild' Over New iPods". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 4, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- "Apple TV (2nd generation) - Technical Specifications". February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- "Apple TV 2nd Generation Teardown — Page 2". iFixit. September 29, 2010. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- "Apple TV review (2010)". Engadget. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- "Apple". Archived from the original on August 9, 2013.
- "Update – 32-nm Apple A5 in the Apple TV 3 – and an iPad 2!". Chipworks. April 11, 2012. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
- Hall, Zac (September 16, 2016). "HomeKit automation no longer works with third-gen Apple TV after iOS 10 (Updated: Apple clarifies)". 9to5Mac. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- "Apple discontinues third-gen Apple TV, removes it from online store". October 5, 2016. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- "Amazon Prime Video app rolling out to Apple TV App Store". 9to5Mac. December 6, 2017. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- "iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 now available with new TV app". May 13, 2019. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Gil, Lory (July 3, 2019). "Siri Remote for Apple TV: The ultimate guide". iMore. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- Patel, Nilay (October 29, 2015). "Apple TV review". The Verge. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- "Apple TV game developers are required to support the Siri remote". Engadget. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- Apple TV games are no longer required to support Siri Remote Archived December 14, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. iDOwnloadBlog. June 14, 2016.
- "Apple Drops Requirement for tvOS Games to Use Siri Remote as Controller". MacRumors. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- Campbell, Mikey (October 30, 2015). "New Apple TV incompatible with Apple's own Remote app for iOS and watchOS". Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- "Apple Remote App for iOS Now Works With New Apple TV Following tvOS 9.1 Update". Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- "Set up your HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV, or iPad as a home hub". Apple Support. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- Apple rebrands 2015 Apple TV as ‘Apple TV HD’ as it introduces Apple TV+ streaming service Archived March 25, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. 9to5Mac. March 25, 2019.
- Axon, Samuel (October 19, 2022). "RIP Apple TV HD: Apple went all-in on 4K yesterday". Ars Technica. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- The Apple TV is finally getting Dolby Atmos support Archived June 4, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. The Verge.
- "tvOS 12 now available for Apple TV 4 and Apple TV 4K, brings Dolby Atmos audio, screensaver updates, more". 9to5Mac. September 17, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- Apple TV 4K brings home the magic of cinema with 4K and HDR Archived March 1, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Apple. September 12, 2017.
- Welch, Chris (May 21, 2021). "The new Apple TV 4K lets you play any TV audio through a HomePod". The Verge. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- Cipriani, Jason. "New Apple TV trick: Use your iPhone to optimize your picture and make movies look better". CNET. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- Espósito, Filipe (April 20, 2021). "Apple announces sixth-generation Apple TV with A12 chip and new Remote". 9to5Mac. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- "New Siri Remote Lacks Accelerometer and Gyroscope for Gaming on Apple TV". MacRumors. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- Seifert, Dan (April 20, 2021). "A more powerful processor and a new remote". The Verge. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- Clark, Mitchell (October 18, 2022). "The new Apple TV 4K has a remote with USB-C and a lower starting price". The Verge. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- "Apple discontinues third-gen Apple TV, removes it from online store". 9to5Mac. October 5, 2016. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- "Apple TV Review 2019: Power and Quality with a price". Network Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Apple TV 4K Review". CordCutting. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
- "Announcing Lightroom for Apple TV". blogs.adobe.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- "How to sync Apple iPhone photos to iPad, Mac, Apple TV". CNBC. May 15, 2017. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "Papa John's now lets you order pizza straight from your Apple TV". 9to5Mac. August 30, 2016. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- "Apple TV Can Help You Find a New Home". Lifewire. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "NASA app for Apple TV adds live streaming from ISS, on-demand video, 15k photos & more". 9to5Mac. June 22, 2016. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "How to AirPlay content from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch". support.apple.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- "How to find something you'll like on Netflix, Stan and Presto". Business Insider Australia. January 11, 2016. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "About Search on your Apple TV (4th generation) - Apple Support". support.apple.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- Clover, Juli. "Apple TV Universal Search Gains Support for 9 New Channels Including Food Network and HGTV". MacRumors. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- "Automate and remotely access your HomeKit accessories". Apple Support. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- "Control your TV or receiver with your Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote - Apple Support". support.apple.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- "Aerial Screensavers on the new Apple TV". iLounge.com. November 25, 2015. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- Mayo, Benjamin (October 3, 2015). "Tim Cook: Apple will offer an Apple TV API to open up universal search beyond initial launch partners". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- "Accessibility on tvOS". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- "Turn on closed captions and subtitles on your Apple TV". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- Elliott, Matt (March 2, 2017). "What to do if you lose your Apple TV remote". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- "What's wrong with Apple TV". MacWorld. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- Lynch, Jim (February 15, 2008). "Hands On with Apple TV 2.0". ExtremeTech. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- "Apple TV Fast Start: The New User's Guide for Apple TV". Apple. November 26, 2008. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
- "My Apple TV Take Two Review: Ripping DVDs, Creating a Media Library, and HD Downloads". Myhdtvchoice.com. March 1, 2008. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- "My Take on Apple TV, Take Two". Tunegardener.com. February 17, 2008. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- "Liberate Your Memories: Home Movies on Your Apple TV". theAppleBlog. October 8, 2008. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- Breen, Christopher (September 4, 2008). "Adding streaming radio to Apple TV". MacWorld. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- Lu, Mat (April 30, 2008). "Apple TV offers limited internet radio support". Engadget. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- Pegoraro, Rob (March 29, 2007). "Apple Tries to Bridge Computer Desk, Living Room". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
- "iTunes for Windows 8.0 Help: Syncing your Apple TV with iTunes". Apple. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
- "Apple TV: Syncing Photos via iTunes". Apple. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
- Cheng, Jacqui; Ecker, Clint (March 27, 2007). "Apple TV: an in-depth review". ArsTechnica. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
- Falcone, John P. (March 27, 2007). "Review: Apple TV best for iTunes addicts". CNN. Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
- Apple has chosen HEVC as its next-generation video codec Archived September 13, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. 8 June 2017.
- "Apple TV Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on January 13, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- "Apple TV Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- "Apple TV Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- "Apple TV Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- "Apple TV: Tip – Author your own movie content with AC-3 audio for true surround sound". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
- Kafasis, Paul (March 22, 2007). "AppleTV Surprises And Impressions". Software's Under the Microscope. Rogue Amoeba. Archived from the original on March 27, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
- Breen, Christopher (March 30, 2007). "Apple TV". MacWorld. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
- Sadun, Erica (April 5, 2007). "AP disses Apple TV". The Unofficial Apple Weblog. Archived from the original on April 20, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- Reynolds, Paul (March 21, 2007). "Apple TV: Is it a "must-see" show". Consumer Reports. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
- "apple.com - Apple TV". Apple. January 15, 2013. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- Ou, George (January 18, 2008). "Here's what fake HD video looks like". ZDNet. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- Frakes, Dan (March 28, 2007). "Hacking Apple TV". MacWorld. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
- "Apple TV – HD Movie Rentals". Apple. Archived from the original on February 4, 2008. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
- Horwitz, Jeremy (March 18, 2007). "QuickTime gains 720P Apple TV high-definition export mode". iLounge.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
- "iMovie 8.0 Help: Watching your movies on Apple TV". Apple. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- Breen, Christopher (February 5, 2009). "DVD ripping FAQ". MacWorld. Archived from the original on March 11, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- Macworld has a guide for using the tools to convert media to Apple TV-compatible formats: Seff, Jonathan (April 4, 2007). "Convert video for Apple TV". MacWorld. Archived from the original on April 16, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
- "Apple TV technical specifications". Archived from the original on June 3, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
- "Apple TV – Tech Specs". Apple. Archived from the original on April 7, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
- "Get color output from Apple TV's composite video output". Apple TV Hacks. October 12, 2007. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- "Apple TV: Using AirPlay". Apple. November 20, 2008. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- "Apple WDS Setup". Support.apple.com. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- "iTunes Remote". Apple. September 13, 2011. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- "Mountain Lion Review: OS X Needs a New Vision". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "OS X Mountain Lion - Inspired by iPad. Made for the Mac". Apple. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
- "About Remote Learning on Apple TV". Apple. November 20, 2008. Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- "Pairing and Unpairing the Apple Remote with Apple TV". Apple. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- Breen, Christopher (May 31, 2006). "My multimedia Mac mini". MacWorld. Archived from the original on December 23, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- Carlson, Jeff (November 21, 2008). "Apple TV 2.3 Adds AirTunes, Volume Control". TidBITS. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- McNulty, Scott (November 24, 2008). "Apple TV 2.3: Now With More Remotes, and Remote Music". PC World. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- "Apple TV: Using the Apple Wireless Keyboard". Apple. April 26, 2013. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
- The Apple Remote Application can also be used to control your PC's iTunes library, Wi-Fi connected speaker system and more.Ricker, Thomas (July 10, 2008). "Apple's Remote: turns your iPhone into a WiFi remote control". Engadget. Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
- Bohon, Cory (July 10, 2008). "Apple TV 2.1 update goes live, adds MobileMe support". The Unofficial Apple Weblog. Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
- "Control Apple TV". Help.apple.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- "Everything new in tvOS 10: Smarter Siri, dark mode, HomeKit, more". 9to5mac. September 13, 2016. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "Apple TV -Tech Specs - Apple (HK)". Apple. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- "9 Siri commands to use with your Apple TV remote". CNET. CNET. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "Everything You Can Say to Siri on the New Apple TV". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "What operating system do the Apple TV models use? Do they run Mac OS X? Do they run iOS?". EveryMac. April 12, 2013. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
- "From hobby to hero: The history of Apple TV". Cult of Mac. Cult of Mac. September 3, 2015. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "Gallery: Apple TV Take 2 software update". MacNN. February 12, 2008. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- "How to update Apple TV software". Apple. September 2, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- "Picking the Ultimate Home Entertainment Box: Apple TV 3.0, why it's triple the meh". PC Authority Australia. PC Authority Australia. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "Hands On with Apple TV 3.0". PC Mag. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "Apple Introduces Apple TV 3.0 Software With Redesigned User Interface". Apple Newsroom. Apple. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "12 Things You Need To Know About Apple TV 3.0". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "Is it the end of the line for the second-generation Apple TV?". iMore. September 25, 2014. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Apple TV (3rd Generation, Early 2013) Specs (3rd Gen, MD199LL/A)". Every Mac. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Apple cutting off payment source changes for older versions of iOS". AppleInsider. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Apple TV 1080P Review (2012)". Gotta Be Mobile. March 16, 2012. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "2013 Apple TV revision gets its first exclusive feature: iOS 8's Peer-to". 9to5mac. September 23, 2014. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- "About the security content of Apple TV Software 7.3". Apple Support. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- "Apple TV Software 7.4 (12H876) - Releases - Apple Developer". developer.apple.com. September 24, 2019. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- Filipe Espósito (March 24, 2020). "tvOS 13.4 and TV Software 7.5 updates for Apple TV now available". Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
For users of the third-generation Apple TV, Apple has also released the Apple TV Software 7.5 with general improvements, since this model has access to the Apple TV App and Apple TV+.
- "These are the most popular apps on Apple's new App Store". Fortune. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- Cunningham, Andrew (September 9, 2015). "Apple unveils 64GB Apple TV for $199, 32GB model for $149". Ars Technica. San Francisco, California. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- "tvOS for Developers". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
- "Apple TV is a Radical Rethinking of Your Relationship with the Hardware and Games You Own". Polygon. October 26, 2015. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "Vintage and obsolete products". Apple. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "TV (3rd Generation, Early 2012) Specs". EveryMac.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
- "What's inside an Apple TV: Tear-down reveals (almost) all". AppleInsider. March 28, 2007. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
- "Pentium M-based Intel chip at heart of Apple TV". AppleInsider. January 15, 2007. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Shimpi, Anand Lal (March 22, 2007). "Apple TV". AnandTech. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2007.
- "New Apple TV Offers 8 GB of Internal Storage, 256 MB RAM". MacRumors. September 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- "ATV3 Teardown". XBMC Forums. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- "New Apple TV has 2 GB RAM, included 802.11ac WiFi is faster than its Ethernet port". 9to5Mac. September 9, 2015. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- "App Programming Guide for tvOS". Apple. September 10, 2015. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- "Apple TV 4K Teardown". iFixit. September 25, 2017. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- "Apple TV 4K 2021 Teardown". iFixit. May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- "Apple TV 2nd Generation Teardown". iFixIt. September 29, 2010. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Cheng, Jacqui (January 9, 2007). "ARS at Macworld: Questions about the Apple TV". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2007.
- "Apple hid a Lightning connector for debugging in the Apple TV 4K's ethernet port". 9to5mac. October 18, 2019. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020.
- Apple TV 1st Generation Teardown Archived September 28, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. iFixIt.
- Apple TV 2nd Generation Teardown Archived June 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. iFixit. 29 September 2010.
- Apple TV 3rd Generation Teardown Archived May 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. iFixit. 19 March 2012.
- Apple TV (3rd Generation, Early 2013) Specs Archived January 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. EveryMac.
- "Apple TV (1st generation) – Technical Specifications". Apple. September 29, 2010. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- "Apple TV 4th Generation Teardown". iFixit. September 22, 2015. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- "New Apple TV (Model A1469) Discovered In FCC Filings, Likely To Arrive With Updated A5X (SoC) Processor". Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- "tvOS SDK Release Notes for tvOS 9.0 Beta". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
- "App Programming Guide for tvOS: The New Apple TV". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
The new Apple TV uses the latest iOS frameworks and frameworks that are unique to tvOS.
- "Software updates for Apple TV (3rd generation)". Apple Inc. April 26, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- Apple Inc., Newsroom Archive - Apple, Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- Mactracker (mactracker.ca), Apple Inc. model database, version as of 26 July 2007.
- Sadun, Erica (April 18, 2007). "Elgato releases EyeTV 2.4 update". The Unofficial Apple Weblog. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
- "apple_tv [HDHomeRun]". info.hdhomerun.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
- Chartier, David (March 29, 2007). "Apple TV: What you can't do". The Unofficial Apple Weblog. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2007.
- Dilger, Daniel Eran (February 5, 2009). "How Apple TV can score at the big 3.0". RoughlyDrafted Magazine. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- Berka, Justin (March 7, 2007). "Apple TV might have games, eventually". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
- Horwitz, Jeremy (January 30, 2008). "What to Expect From Apple TV 2.0: Photos and Details". iLounge. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- "How to rent a movie from the iTunes Store on Apple TV". Apple. December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- "iTunes Store movie rental usage rights in the United States". Apple. December 17, 2008. Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- Block, Ryan (January 16, 2008). "iTunes and Apple TV rentals and purchases: what you can (and can't) do". Engadget. Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- "All about the numbers..." AVHub.com.au. February 23, 2011. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- "Apple TV tops best seller list at Apple Store". AppleInsider. January 17, 2007. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
- "Apple TV Blowing Away Expectations". Apple Recon. January 24, 2007. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
- Martin, Scott (February 20, 2007). "Apple TV: DVD Killer?". redherring.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
- Christ, Steve (March 22, 2007). "Apple's Next Evolution". Wealth Daily. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
- Ogg, Erica (March 21, 2007). "Best Buy finagles Apple TV exclusive". CNET. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
- Cheng, Jacqui (April 30, 2007). "Apple TV shows up at Target and...Costco?". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
- Plesser, Andy (May 24, 2007). "Apple TV Sales Will Stall at 1 Million". AlwaysOn. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
- Crum, Rex (May 31, 2007). "Apple boosts analysts' hopes for Apple TV". MarketWatch. CBS. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
- Block, Ryan (May 30, 2007). "Steve Jobs live from D 2007". Engadget. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
- McLean, Prince (January 21, 2009). "Apple TV sales up threefold, will see continued investment". RoughlyDrafted Magazine. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
- Apple Stock Watch. "Apple TV Sales Hit 250,000 in Q4". MacObserver. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- Total shipments of new Apple TV top 2 million, 820K sold last quarter – report. April 19, 2011. Archived July 26, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Apple TV Second Generation holds 32 Percent of Internet Connected TV Markets, AppleInsider.
- "Apple Q1 2012: le trimestre de tous les records" (in French). Maximejohnson.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- "Apple's CEO Discusses Q1 2012 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". Seeking Alpha. Archived from the original on March 9, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- "Apple TV has Sold 2.7 Million Units This Year, Says Tim Cook". Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- "Apple Q4 2012 earnings: $36 billion in revenue, $8.2 billion net profit". Engadget. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- "Apple Earnings Report Q1 - 2013 on January 23rd, 2013". Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- "Apple CEO promises new products, says Apple TV no longer a 'hobby'". Reuters UK. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- "Apple TV fades away in streaming video player market". Rapid TV News. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on March 1, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- "Live blog: The Apple Watch". GigaOm. March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- Clover, Juli (January 26, 2016). "Apple Watch and Apple TV See Record Quarterly Sales". MacRumors. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Munster, Gene (June 7, 2019). "Apple TV Moves Forward Inside Third-Party Displays". Loup Ventures. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- Miller, Chance (February 2, 2019). "Gruber: Apple loses money on HomePod hardware, Apple TV 4K sold at cost". 9to5Mac. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
Footnotes
- Supports up to two-channel stereo unless otherwise noted.