Friday, May 1, 2015
The Gadgeteer: APPLE TV
The Gadgeteer: APPLE TV: APPLE TV ~ Demystified …. © 2015 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT Apple TV is a...
APPLE TV
Demystified….
© 2015 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BOB SKIDMORE
CORRESPONDENT
Apple TV is a 1080p high definition streaming device
that’s been around for some time in various models. This device, like many
others, has preloaded apps that allow for the selection of specific television
program sources such as THE HISTORY CHANNEL, CNBC, PBS and ABC NEWS. Many other
non-network sources including music, HULUPLUS, NETFLIX and SKY NEWS are presently
available. SKYNEWS is a British all news channel much like CNN that may be
accessed without any fees or special requirements. Apple TV can also access your
purchased movies, TV shows, and music with iTunes
Match, right from iCloud. You can stream video, games and more from your
iPhone, iPad or MAC to your TV by using AirPlay. Videos and photos can also be
streamed from PC’s and MAC’s. In short, these apps have the ability to be
displayed on your television by means of an optional HDMI cable.
(TIP: If your flat screen has all its HDMI ports in use, a simple fix
would be to purchase an HDMI switch such as the Belkin AV10117 4-way with a wireless
remote. This will accommodate the Apple
TV, plus leave you with three spares.)
If you do not subscribe to these services via your
cable service, or have a TV that does not have preprogrammed apps like NETFLIX,
Apple TV is an easy fix. However, many of the apps require that you are
serviced by a cable provider that has paid the fees for these offerings. When
you initially select the app, it will ask you if your cable provider is among
those shown, followed by a form of verification. If your provider is not participating,
you will be unable to access the programming from this app. You may think
because you receive this channel over cable you would automatically qualify to
receive it via Apple TV. Not so, as these fees are over and above what the
cable provider pays for cable distribution. Nowhere in the marketing material
or manual is this restriction indicated, so take heed. Additional program apps
are made available through periodic upgrades. One such recent upgrade features
HBO at $15.00 monthly.
(TIP: Apple TV comes preprogrammed with apps. These preloaded apps vary
from country-to-country. It’s possible to travel with an Apple TV box loaded
with U. S. A. region apps and use it internationally. You may, however, reset
the region to other countries listed in the settings app. This should allow
access to the apps for that region. You can easily reset the region to the U.
S. in the same manner. Since it’s a very compact computer that uses a TV to
display the signal, you need not worry about the TV standard of PAL or NTSC. It’s also multi-voltage and requires only a power plug adapter
for the specific country you are in. If you purchase an Apple TV box in another
country it will come set to the apps specific to that region.)
Apple TV allows for wi-fi or a direct-wired connection
with the Internet. Since streaming video is speed and processor dependent you
would be well advised to opt for a wired interface to minimize or eliminate
buffering. The device also comes with a remote control. Its operation is
somewhat clumsy, so if you have an iPhone 6 or iPad you can download a free Bluetooth enabled “remote Apple Essentials” app from the App Store that dramatically
improves the process.
A handy under the screen mount, “totalMount”, is an optional accessory. It attaches the Apple TV box
under the flat screen making for a simple line-of-site connectivity link
between it and the supplied remote.
The 1080p HD picture quality is outstanding, but does
require a medium to high speed Internet connection for best results. Apple
never pre-releases new product information, however, rumors abound that a new
model may be released in June of this year. While no official details have been
released by Apple, rumor has it that the new box will support TV, music and
purchasable apps, have an expanded memory that goes well beyond the existing
8gb Apple TV boxes and will operate on an improved operating system that will
support Siri voice controls. Furthermore, Apple may be planning to launch an
online TV service this autumn in partnership with broadcasters possibly
including ABC, CBS and FOX. They are also reportedly in talks with U. S.
programmers. They plan to offer a “slimmed-down” cable-style bundle of roughly
twenty-five channels that will be available to view across Apple TV boxes and Apple
iOS devices including iPads and iPhones. Again, these kinds of services make it
an ideal travel companion.
GADGETEER’s RATING: ★★★★★
MSRP: Apple TV $69.00 (current model) ~ Total Mount $19.95
Belkin AV10117 4-way HDMI
switch $34.95
Graphic
credits: Apple; Belkin
Bob Skidmore is a freelance
writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent,
or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his
points of view and not those of the manufacturer. The manufacturer generally
supplies products at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is
received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of
review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior
ratings.
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