Apple TV - MC572LL/A NEWEST MODEL |  | Brand: Apple
Buy New: $99.00
as of 9/4/2010 14:06 CDT details
New (2) from $99.00
Rating:  5 reviews
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 4.3 x 4.3 x 2.6
MPN: MC572LL/A
Model: MC572LL/A
UPC: 885909410521
EAN: 0885909410521
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| Features:
| » | Stream HD movies and TV shows rented from iTunes, plus content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, and MobileMe | | » | Smaller, redesigned device with HDMI and digital optical audio output; connects to network via Wireless-N or Ethernet | | » | Silent, cool, and very low power operation in an enclosure that's less than four inches square | | » | Music, videos and photos can also be streamed from PCs and Macs | | » | Comes with 7-button aluminum Apple remote; can be controlled by iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch via Remote app |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Redesigned to be smaller, the Apple TV allows you to rent commercial-free TV shows in HD as well as rent from the largest selection of HD movies--many available the same day they come out on DVD. Now everything you want to watch--movies, TV shows, photos, and more--streams wirelessly to the Apple TV, and you don't have to worry about managing storage or syncing to your iTunes library.  Stream HD movies and TV shows from iTunes plus content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe. Click here for a larger image. The Apple TV streams content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, and MobileMe, as well as music, photos, and videos from PCs and Macs to your HDTV. And those movies and TV shows you bought on iTunes don't have to stay on your computer. For maximum entertainment, stream your digital collection over the air to your Apple TV. It features built-in HDMI, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and an internal power supply for easy set-up, and it features silent, cool, very low power operation in an enclosure that's less than four inches square--80 percent smaller than the previous generation. Control the Apple TV using the included seven-button aluminum Apple Remote, or use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and the Remote app--a free download from the iTunes App Store.  Set-up is quick and easy with a single HDMI cable connection. Get Connected with Apple TV Setting up Apple TV is about as simple as it gets. Just plug the power cord into the wall and connect Apple TV to your widescreen HDTV using an HDMI cable (sold separately). Since everything streams wirelessly to Apple TV, that's all you need. The Apple TV also features a powerful A4 processing chip, enabling it to stream everything effortlessly without frozen screens or stutters. Video looks crisp and clear. And just like watching a DVD, you can fast-forward through opening credits, pause for a popcorn break, or replay a scene. Instant HD Movie Rentals With Apple TV, you get instant access to the hottest Hollywood titles and new releases--often the same day they come out on DVD. Popular movies are never out of stock and you can rent as many as you want--perfect for spontaneous movie nights (or afternoons or mornings). Search by top movies, title, or genre. Even read a quick movie review, watch the trailer, and check out the latest ratings from Rotten Tomatoes. Once you find what you're looking for, simply press Play, and in seconds, you're watching the opening credits with theater-like Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. You have 30 days to start watching, and once you begin, you can watch as many times as you want in 24 hours.  The 7-button aluminum remote. À la Carte TV Show Rentals With Apple TV, you can rent your favorite TV shows--sitcoms, dramas, and reality series--on the spot, completely commercial free and in HD for just 99¢ per episode. Watch a show the day after it airs, or catch up on past seasons with a marathon of back-to-back episodes. Once you rent an episode, you have 30 days to press Play, then it's yours for the next 48 hours. Watch it once, or replay it as many times as you want. Even More Choices with Netflix, YouTube, MobileMe, and Flickr Apple TV also gives access to the Netflix streaming catalog for Netflix subscribers, and the ability to browse and search, rate content, add to or remove from your queue, or instantly stream straight to your HDTV. Apple TV users can also enjoy millions of YouTube videos, more than 200,000 podcasts, 4,000 Internet radio stations and personal photos from MobileMe and Flickr with several gorgeous new slideshow themes.  Control the Apple TV with the free Remote app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (device not included). Give your digital collection some airtime. You've also probably got tons of music on your computer. The Apple TV connects them to your HDTV and home theater system without missing a beat. Your iTunes music library streams directly to Apple TV, so you can sit back, choose a tune, and enjoy the music. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Perfect Companions to the Apple TV Download the free Remote app from the App Store to your iPhone or iPod touch, and with a flick of your finger, you can rent new movies and TV shows, scroll through the Netflix catalog, and browse your media collection. Remote uses the same easy-to-use interface you already use to browse music and video on your Multi-Touch device, so you immediately know how to navigate. If you want to find something specific, use your device's QWERTY keyboard to quickly tap out the title instead of clicking letters on the Apple TV screen. Coming Soon: AirPlay You can already stream music and video from your computer to Apple TV. With AirPlay, you can stream music and video from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, too. So if you feel like watching a movie you have on one of your devices, you don't need to rent or buy it again. Just tap to start playing content on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, then tap again to instantly stream whatever you're watching--or listening to--directly to Apple TV. AirPlay is coming soon to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch near you. (AirPlay is coming soon and will be available on all iOS 4 devices.) Specifications - System requirements:
- AirPort Extreme, Wi-Fi 802.11b, g, or n wireless network (wireless video streaming requires 802.11g or 802.11n) or 10/100BASE-T Ethernet network
- iTunes Store account for renting movies and TV shows
- Netflix account for streaming Netflix content
- For streaming media from a Mac or PC: iTunes 10 or later; iTunes Store account for Home Sharing
- Video formats:
- H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
- Audio formats:
- HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through
- TV compatibility: High-definition TVs with HDMI and capable of 720p 60/50Hz,2 including popular models from these manufacturers: Hitachi, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, Vizio, Westinghouse
- Wireless: 802.11n Wi-Fi (a/b/g compatible); 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
- Ports: 1 HDMI; 1 optical audio; 1 Fast Ethernet; IR receiver; microUSB (for service and support)
- Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 0.6 pounds
- Power: Built-in 6-watt universal power supply
What's in the Box Apple TV, aluminum Apple Remote, power cord, documentation
Product Description
The sleek new Apple TV has been completely retuned for your entertainment. Itâs 80 percent smaller than the previous generation â even with a built-in power supply. Which makes it perfect for sitting neatly on a widescreen TV stand or squeezing into a crowded media cabinet. Not only does the new Apple TV have an amazingly small footprint, itâs also incredibly energy efficient. It stays cool without a fan, so itâs never noisy. And when itâs not filling your living room with drama, romance, and comedy, it uses less power than a night-light.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Major Downgrade September 4, 2010
Kevin C. Johnson (Celebration, FL USA)
2 out of 17 found this review helpful
Its unfortunate that we have to lose so much functionality in the new Apple TV.
 $3.99 a movie is steep; Why buy Apple TV? September 3, 2010
A. Driver (La Grange,CA, USA)
3 out of 19 found this review helpful
I suppose you could buy it just for the technology, but the "Value Add" does not meet the bottom line for me. Why would you rent 1 movie for $3.99 when you can watch unlimited movies from Netflix for $9 a month? Okay, let's say you watched 30 TV shows with it instead at $1 a show. That's $30. You are at a decent monthly package with Dish Network for $35, where I can watch over 100 channels and a ton of shows. I guess I don't get it. If you want it to stream photos etc from your PC to your TV....okay...I can see that....but not to rent movies or TV shows.
 Apple TV - Attractive Price - Super Compact - Loses Features September 2, 2010
Stephen (Brawley, US, Canada)
22 out of 35 found this review helpful
Apple TV became available to the public in early 2007. I purchased mine at that time, and I have used it faithfully for more than three years and seen several software updates.
I use it to stream music, movies, and TV shows I purchase on iTunes to my HDTV in the living room. Sometimes, I will also rent a movie or buy a TV show directly from the Apple TV in the living room. Quick and easy. The HD items sold and rented were always a consistent quality as the Apple TV stored them on its hard drive until enough was loaded to play uninterrupted. That has now changed as will be discussed later.
Apple TV September 2010 changes many things. Externally, the new Apple TV is tiny. It is approximately 1/4 the size of the original Apple TV. Gone is the white plastic and brushed aluminum in favor of black plastic, to look sleek amongst the latest consumer electronics next to the TV. Component output is gone. The only output on the Apple TV is now HDMI and Optical and Analog Audio. Therefore, make sure your HDTV (and you must have a HDTV to use Apple TV) has HDMI input (all HDTVs in the past 3-4 years should indeed have HDMI).
You connect the Apple TV to your wireless or wired network. The wireless as before is Wireless N, so it is fast and has decent range if you have a Wireless N base station. You can continue to stream content from a computer with iTunes open that has been paired with the Apple TV. Therefore, all your purchased iTunes Music, TV Shows, and Movies will be available on the Apple TV. However, you will NOT be able to sync content to this Apple TV as there is absolutely NO internal storage for users to sync to. Everything must be streamed.
Therefore, with no internal storage, you can no longer buy content directly on the newest Apple TV either. You can still buy content on iTunes at your computer and wait for it to completely download, and then stream it to the Apple TV. However, you must plan ahead to do this and it must download completely before you can stream it, this is a drawback of the newest Apple TV.
In terms of procuring content directly from the device, rental is now the only way as rentals can simply stream direct from Apple servers. New Hollywood movies are $4.99, which must be viewed within a specified time period. Select TV Shows from FOX & ABC are only 99 cents but must also be viewed within a specified time period. You can continue to buy TV shows on iTunes at your computer and stream them over at any time, but again, you will have to wait until the entire program has downloaded to iTunes, to then view on Apple TV.
The other negative with no internal hard drive is that the picture quality will inevitably depend on your Internet connection, when viewing rental content. Why? Previously Apple TV would store a HD movie as it began to download, so even if you only had a 1 megabit internet connection, it would start downloading and once enough was stored, you could begin viewing.
Now, you will always be able to begin watching your streamed rental immediately. However, if you have a slow internet connection, the quality will have to adjust, so you may not be getting that HD quality after all.
One of the few new features coming with an update in the near future will allow you to stream a video directly from an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad which you may have near the Apple TV.
NETFLIX streaming is a new addition to Apple TV, which is welcomed. However, so many devices can stream NETFLIX that you may already own another one. Picture viewing and YouTube are still there, for those who are faithful to those features.
However, one must wonder about this new Apple TV. It looks great externally, and it is not much bigger than an iPod Classic. However, many features and functionality have been lost. After much debate, I give it four stars. While it is missing some features of the first Apple TV, it is trying to be something new, more affordable, simpler, and it fulfills this promise. Future Apple updates might make it even better! I would recommend it certainly, if you do not have a previous Apple TV, but if you have an old one, you might want to wait. The performance offered by the newly included Apple A4 Chip could give Apple some opportunities to add features to the Apple TV in the future, many have speculated about Applications being added, but Apple has made no suggestion that such a move is coming, so don't count on it. Overall, this Apple TV may see an upsurge in sales due to the lower price point and attractive size. Furthermore, if 99 cent TV rentals catch on, that could be a big thing indeed.
Those brand new to Apple TV will likely enjoy the updated product. It connects your iTunes library to your TV, plus opens up on demand rental streaming opportunities.
Nevertheless, for passionate original Apple TV users, they will have take a big gulp, if considering the new model, with so many features now gone with the absence of a hard drive or other storage. Very much recommended, but make sure it offers the features you are looking to have.
 Still a five star September 2, 2010
DigiGeek (Los Angeles, CA)
9 out of 21 found this review helpful
The Apple TV is still the most mis-understood product. Most companies would be thrilled to sell as many of any product as Apple has sold of the Apple TV, but by the high standards set for any Apple product these days it has to be classified as just a "hobby" instead of a serious business unit. Crazy.
I owned the first 40GB when it first became available in March 2007 (announced in Sept 2006). I purchased it for the sole ability to get my music and photos from upstairs to my living room. Today, many products can perform this task, but few do it well or as easy. I upgraded to the 160GB later and purchased two of the 160GB for my work that we use to play corporate videos, product photos with music playing in the background (ok, my work is cooler than most companies).
One of the best things about Apple is that they constantly improve the product and offer software updates that introduce new features. An example of this is the fact that January 15, 2008, Apple announced a major software upgrade to the Apple TV system (dubbed "Take Two"). This removed the requirement that all content sync from the computer and allowed the Apple TV to fetch rental or purchase content directly through the internet. Take Two also introduced YouTube access, a feature that consumed hundreds of hours of my nightlife.
This new version removes the hard disk drive which means that all content will stream to the Apple TV. Whether that is from the internet (iTunes purchase, YouTube or now Netflix), directly stream from your computer (photos, music, videos, etc.) or stream movies or music from an iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad.
All-in-all, I've loved the Apple TV for years and played a hand in selling many of these for Apple as an advocate of the product. While some perceive the disappearance of specs (component video, 160GB local storage, etc.) as a negative, I look at it simply as an evolution.
I sold my home 160GB Apple TV ahead of this launch and am quite happy with that decision. Apple has confirmed that the old Intel chip Apple TV's will not get the new OS which was designed for the A4 ARM processor. If I was a betting man, I put money on the fact that a future software update will bring apps to the Apple TV. Apple could easily turn the Apple TV into a gaming system with an iPod Touch or iPhone as the controller (or a separate controller). One thing is for certain, Apple TV "Take 3" is just the beginning. They are working hard to figure out how people want to interact with their television sets and they have a few million beta testers to date.
Will be great for playing movies from my computer September 2, 2010
Jon Wade (Steamboat Springs, CO)
11 out of 64 found this review helpful
This is worth if for the chance to easily play movies on my HDTV that are stored on my computer. Netflix is a big plus and I look forward to simplifying my av setup with this product.
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