A few years ago, Apple took an unprecedented marketing step: a new development of the company was announced long before the product appeared on store shelves. This product was an apparently unremarkable device, soon called Apple TV, which won the hearts of millions of users who own modern wide-screen plasma TVs.
So what is an Apple TV? This is a network device of a small form factor, designed to provide the ability to download and subsequently play back using a TV available on the Internet in electronic form digital media content. This seemingly simple device is a special kind of digital receiver developed and marketed by Apple Inc.
Apple TV is compatible with the new generation of IPTV, working on the Internet TV protocol. Apple TV devices are capable of downloading and playing video files from iTunes, YouTube, Netflix or Flickr 7 Internet resources on modern TVs made using advanced technology. In addition, they can process content from iTunes running on a Mac or Windows operating system.
The first-born Apple TV appeared on the market in 2006 with a 40 GB hard drive, but soon the next generation of the receiver in an improved version came out, featuring optimized dimensions and a reasonable price.
The modern Apple TV model can transfer data from the Internet or locally connected sources using the AirPlay function - a system that streams data from portable media players, Internet tablets and smartphones to other devices over a wireless network.
You can fully experience what Apple TV is in all its forms, thanks to its use in combination with AirPlay. The bundle of Apple TV AirPlay allows you to make images and sound from your iOS device wirelessly available for your home HD TV and speakers. With a simple click of a button, you can take the video that you are watching on your iPad and send it to your HDTV via Apple TV.
Since 2007, the Apple TV YouTube wireless video transmission system was launched. This service demonstrates videos on a user's widescreen TV directly from YouTube.
Using the elegant Apple TV interface and the simple Apple Remote, viewers can easily view, find, and watch free YouTube videos on their home TV at any time.
A distinctive feature of later Apple TV models is the ability to receive movies for rent, rather than buying them, as many users do. The settings make it easy to select the filmstrip, as well as any content available on Netflix, YouTube and MobileMe. YouTube even has its own categories among those available in the device’s settings, which makes it much easier to watch videos from this popular Internet resource.
In March 2012, the third-generation Apple TV was launched, which supports 1080p video. Thanks to a recent software update, it also now supports a Bluetooth keyboard. Otherwise, it is very similar to the second-generation device, which was launched in September 2010 and only supported 720p video.
The device works quietly and efficiently. It is so small that it fits in the palm of your hand. Therefore, it can be put in any convenient place, and when it is in standby mode, it consumes much less energy than your night lamp.
Now we can confidently answer the question of what Apple TV is. Combined with AirPlay, this is simplicity, convenience and comfort for all users who like to watch something on the Internet. That's what an Apple TV is!