Third generation, 2012 model

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

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

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

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

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

Delivery set and appearance

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

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

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

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

The remote control hasn't changed at all either: the same sleek shape, Unibody style, and minimal buttons. But even they are enough to work with the device, including navigation, switching audio tracks and subtitles.

Hardware features

The changes that made it possible to provide 1080p playback are the installation of a new processor and a doubling of the amount of RAM, up to 512 MB. The amount of flash memory is preserved (8 GB). The processor in the new model is installed in the same family as in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Only in this case there is only one core, unlike other devices. Given the single-tasking use of the player, this is absolutely not critical and the “regular” Apple A5 is quite enough here.

The radio module does not directly affect the speed of the device, but it is certainly important for broadcasting video over a wireless connection. Its basis is the Broadcom BCM4330 chip, which in this device is capable of operating at a frequency of 2.4 or 5 GHz. As for the speed, it is difficult to find exact information, but most likely we are talking about the 2T2R mode with 300 Mbps.

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

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

Connection and setup

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Working with multimedia

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

The formal list of supported formats includes:

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

photos in JPEG, GIF, TIFF formats.

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

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

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

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

Other countries are much more fortunate. They can use Apple TV to buy and watch movies and TV series from the massive iTunes library. What is interesting - it is not at all necessary to download files beforehand for viewing - the online broadcast mode works. Of course, for high-definition video, you will need a fairly fast Internet channel. The manufacturer says 8 Mbps for 1080p, 6 Mbps for 720p and 2.5 Mbps for standard definition video.

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

Series can only be bought, both as separate episodes and as subscriptions for the season. The cost of the HD version of one series can be $2.99.

You don't even need to use a PC to make a purchase - all actions can be carried out directly from Apple TV or other devices with a built-in iTunes store. The on-screen catalog looks great - provides detailed information about the film, including trailer, rating, synopsis, cast list, director, producer. And by the latter, you can search for other films.

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

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

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

Airplay

With the implementation of Full HD resolution support on the player, AirPlay technology takes on a new meaning. However, a study of the operation of this function showed that not everything is as simple as we would like. The mobile companion in this case was the iPhone 4S.

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

AirPlay Mirroring, implemented in the iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and later models, will allow you to stream a full desktop and programs to your TV (if they are not blocked by the author), even if they do not have built-in AirPlay support.

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

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

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

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

findings

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

Technically and externally, Apple TV has changed very little. There was no place even for “stripes” that will help to distinguish the 4 and 4S phones from the outside. It is difficult to say how justified this approach is in terms of the success of the product on the market, but the manufacturer knows better. However, there was nothing much to improve - the size is great, the connectivity options are optimal, the wireless network controller and power supply are built-in, the data comes from the network, so no local storage or expansion ports are required.

Once again, I really liked the company's approach to sharing the media library. Everything is simple to set up, easy to manage and works without problems. The only inconvenience can be considered the need for iTunes on a working personal computer. Although if you only use content downloaded from the iTunes store, then you can refuse this - videos and series will come directly from the company's servers, and music from your own iCloud. Or you can transfer video and music from iPhone/iPad/iPod touch mobile devices.

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

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

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

A complete review of Apple TV 3, a description of all the parameters and features of the work should expand your understanding of the promising media player. In order to fully realize the potential of the set-top box, you will need an Internet connection. Do not forget about this, without access to the network, the meaning of using a media player is lost. We have already had a brief introduction to what Apple TV is. Now let's take a closer look at all the functionality of the branded set-top box.

Contents of delivery

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

For the production of the case, high-quality wear-resistant plastic is used. The prefix has rather compact dimensions: 10 × 10 × 2.5 centimeters. The top panel has a glossy brand logo. The ends of the console are glossy, while the top panel is completely matte. A signal receiver from the remote control and a status indicator are mounted in the front panel.

Apple TV 3 connects to your TV using an HDMI connection. As an addition, the media player has an “Optical Audio” port that can be used to output sound in digital quality. There are no analog jacks on the console. In addition to the already listed ports on the rear panel there is a microUSB connector, a network interface (100 Mbps), and a connector for connecting the power cable.

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

Hardware features

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

RAM 512 MB

Built-in flash memory 8 GB

Dual-core Apple A5 processor (one core disabled)

PowerVR SGX 543MP2 graphics chip

Built-in Wi-Fi 802.11n

Supported codecs MPEG4, H.264

AVI, MOV, MP4, MP3, AAC, WAV, AC3 formats

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

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

TV connection and setup

Connecting to the TV does not take long. You will need an HDMI cable to connect the corresponding connectors on the TV and set-top box. An HDMI port on your TV is a prerequisite for connection.

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

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

Multimedia features

In terms of functionality, the media player is aimed at those users who already own Apple products. For those who want to get an analogue of Smart TV from an ordinary TV, it is more reasonable to pay attention to smart set-top boxes. Further review of the Apple TV 3 will be aimed at getting to know the functionality of the set-top box.

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

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

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

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

Overview of the Apple TV (fourth generation)

Contents of delivery

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

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

Positioning

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

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

There are other reasons too, but they might seem a bit far-fetched - I would recommend the Apple TV to anyone who loves OS X and iOS and wants something equally sleek and thoughtful for the biggest screen in the house. I would recommend Apple TV to girls, it has been empirically established that they instantly master the remote control, programs for the set-top box, start watching TV shows - I don’t know how it would happen with Android TV. Maybe so, maybe not. I would recommend the Apple TV for family entertainment, the game of chicken may seem cruel, but there are other games out there. For example, Shadowmatic perfectly develops spatial thinking, but Asphalt does not develop anything, but it’s very cool to drive in turns.

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

Design, construction

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

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

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

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

If suddenly you have a desire to take screenshots, then you need a USB-C to USB cable, connect it to your MacBook Pro, turn on QuickTime Player, and the image from the TV appears there. Unfortunately, I did not find such a cable, so I shot it with a camera. I repeat, a detailed video about the menu, applications and more will soon appear.

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

Operating system

The capabilities of the operating system in the future are very good, but even now the device is not perceived as something unfinished, raw, neither I nor those to whom I gave the prefix to try it had such a feeling. On the contrary, the thing is perceived extremely positively. If you already had an Apple TV and you are used to renting movies there, then you can do it here too, only along the way you can install RuTube, watch Dances or TV shows, many people like Comedy Club - you can watch Comedy. There are also 2x2, only the choice of series is limited. I personally am waiting for the Amediateki application to calmly watch new series of my favorite TV series, films on TV - by the way, there is a very good selection of movies, there are many things that you will not find anywhere else. The choice of applications is already great, here you have The Nat Geo TV, and HBO NOW, and news, and YouTube - you know, you can hang out there for a day if you wish. All applications are reminiscent of counterparts for iOS, that is, these are video directories, choose and watch. The quality is good, I use Apple TV with an old Samsung TV, except for Full HD, there is not much to boast about.

Yes, if suddenly there are karaoke lovers among you, there is karaoke here. I myself am not a fan, but I was told that karaoke works effectively here, and it is better for fans of this business not to talk about such an opportunity for Apple TV. And for singing there is not one, but several programs.

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

Yes, I can't help but notice that there is also Mixcloud, a program with mixes, different music formats - it's quite possible to listen for days on end, without stopping.

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

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

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

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

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

And so, now imagine that all this is on your TV. It has become much more functional, don't you think? Yes, I used to be able to easily buy Interstellar and watch it with my family while relaxing after a busy day. But now there is an easy, understandable and simple access to programs of very different directions and with a variety of content - we can already not only choose Interstellar, but also watch the latest episode of Dances, if we feel like it. And there is no need to carry a laptop, transfer an image from an iPad or iPhone, or complicate life in other ways.

Performance and Specifications

The prefix is ​​available in two versions, 32 and 64 GB, as I understand it, Apple made a version for those who install a lot of applications, and a version for those who install the main one and calm down, will not experiment. Of course, there is a difference in price, 13,990 and 17,990 rubles. As far as I heard, there is currently a limit for the size of applications, it is 200 MB, in the future it may be removed. A lot could change for Apple TV in the future. For example, now the desktop repeats the design of the first Apple TV, although it would be better to emphasize the continuity of tvOS and iOS and allow the user to simply put all the icons on the desktop, if they want to add widgets there, as in Android - now the navigation is frankly stupid, go to the desired item the first time i still can't do it. You will definitely go somewhere in the wrong place, there is also a remote control that “helps”, an extra movement, and immediately somewhere left the desired menu item. While the search for Siri in Russian does not work, that's when it appears, it will be of help.

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

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

A little about video and audio formats:

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

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

The heart of Apple TV is the A8 processor with 64-bit architecture, the set-top box works quickly, the transition from section to section is fast, the only shortcomings are the lack of thumbnails for some movies on the main page, but this is already a tvOS problem. For all the time of use, there were no crashes of applications, I would like to get some kind of intelligible menu of running applications, as in iOS.

findings

Let me remind you that the price is 13,990 and 17,990 rubles, a good gift for the New Year and for any other holiday. The whole family will be able to use Apple TV, and there is something to do for dad, mom, and kids. I hope, albeit somewhat chaotically, told about the main features of this interesting device. I remember how they “broke” the first Apple TV, used it to watch movies, after so many years in the living room there is a device completely in the spirit of the century - everything is on the network, and it’s a sin not to use it. If you want to upgrade (sorry) your TV, Apple TV will do just fine.

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

In this guide, we will talk about jailbreak Apple TV 3 and why you need to perform an operation on this device. For Apple TV 3 Jailbreak is performed using special utilities. Using one of them, you can view many online media services. You can also play music, watch movies, videos, or photos through your tvOS devices using the Airplay feature. Through Air Play Mirroring, you can stream and transfer videos to the set-top box if you have a new Mac computer. And not to mention, the Apple TV 3 user interface is currently arguably the best in the world, leading the competition by a wide margin.

While the Apple TV 3 has some truly amazing features to offer to every user, it doesn't take long to notice that compared to other similar set-top boxes, it offers quite limited content. And you can't help but notice this fact unless you're really in the apple ecosystem. For example, compared to competitors, TV does not offer such a wide variety of channels. Broadcasting options are also very limited.

But still, despite some limitations, this does not mean that you cannot bypass them. There is a way to get a lot more content available, more features, and the most out of your Apple TV 3. You just need to perform the jailbreak procedure.

The very term Apple TV 3 Jailbreak can sound a little intimidating. But this is not the case, because we are not talking directly about hacking. It's just about getting access to tvOS Apple TV 3. Apple TV 3 jailbreak is a popular method to bypass tvOS restrictions. While many people may question its legitimacy and safety, that won't stop you from doing it. In addition, jailbreaking a tvOS device is not that difficult (if you know the algorithm of actions and strictly follow it).

In general, the procedure is very easy. Its implementation will not be difficult for everyone who has installed software on a PC at least once. The operation is safe for the device itself and should not cause negative consequences. Therefore, do not worry about anything and repeat the steps suggested below.

Why hack Apple TV 3?

The first question that may arise in your mind about the jailbreak - what will this operation give? Is it worth it and will it be harmful to the device? By performing this simple operation, you will significantly expand the capabilities of the set-top box. Until then, its functions will be limited to playing only standard types of music and video.

If at If you want to stream media to your TV using Apple TV 3, iTunes is required. In other words, you are limited by the type of media and apps chosen by Apple. This applies to software available in the official store iTunes. In addition, it is possible to install popular applications such as XBMC, which will make it much easier to stream digital content to your home network.

Know that after doing jailbreak Apple TV 3, none of the "native" programs will be erased. And none of the features included in the operating system. won't disappear. In other words, you'll be able to shop for premium movie rentals through iTunes and access some video streaming apps like Netflix.

Benefits of Hacking Apple TV 3

The result of hacking depends on the original goals. Let's say if you wanted to expand the functionality of Apple TV 3, then you will undoubtedly achieve this. And if at the same time you have a huge library with media files, installation XBMC or another manager will allow you to view any type of content.

If you want to access streaming video, you will need to install XBMC and a Plex server.
But if you want to access all free TV episodes from popular movie networks like NBC, SyFy, FXmYSAmThe ​​CW, ABC… It would be nice to install the Bluecop repository which will be installed in XBMC and this will allow you to access all free TV clips from popular television networks.

Also, if you're interested in changing the navigation menu layout, changing some other options, or adding other custom backgrounds, then hacking will get it all. In addition, there are many other benefits that you will get by simply having this operation. It will only take a few minutes of your time. After the jailbreak, the device will have no restrictions and will be able to support and play all file formats. This is really a recommended thing that everyone simply has to decide on. user .

How to jailbreak Apple TV 3?

The method of performing the operation on the "apple" TV does not carry anything complicated. Any user will complete the process in no time using Pur Jailbreak Apple TV 3 Tool. You do not need to have advanced technical knowledge - you only need to use the instructions below. The method has been tested and confirmed that it should not take more than ten minutes.

At present, it is quite obvious that the third generation of TVs from the company in question is already available on the market. And if you didn't know, we inform you that the main reason for this is a free jailbreak tool for Apple TV 3. If you think about what is the best media player in the world, you can no doubt decide that this is the Apple TV 3. And all this because the set from the "apple" allows you to watch movies, play videos, listen to music directly from your tvOS device.

And the only requirement to access the content is to download it from the firm's online resource. In addition, if you choose to subscribe to the Netflix server, you will be able to watch the world's best TV series. But if you decide to jailbreak, you also have many other options. After jailbreaking, you can easily install the latest and greatest apps, services and systems on your Apple TV 3. And it's all completely free. If you are interested in jailbreaking Apple TV 3 then just follow the instructions below.

Instructions for Jailbreaking Apple TV 3

Start downloading the software. Unzip it on your computer and install. The jailbreak tool is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers.

• After running the tool, select "Generate IPSW" and proceed with Jailbreak for Apple TV 3.
• Once the IPSW has been created, open this IPSW file on your device.
• Connect your Apple TV 3 using a USB cable to connect to your computer. While doing this make sure you leave Power Disconnected and after that just press Play/Pause for about 5-10 seconds.
• As soon as you complete the previous step, the device will start the process of automatic reboot. Once it is completed, your Apple TV 3 will be successfully jailbroken.
  All the steps above are quite simple and easy to follow. We are absolutely sure that you will not have any with hacking the Apple TV 3 and carrying out the procedure yourself.

many users have already managed to jailbreak their Apple TV 3. Just download the free tool and try it yourself. Why limit your Apple TV 3 to only cloud content when you can access all kinds of media and streaming content for free. Jailbreaking Apple TV 3 is the perfect solution. Do not postpone the operation for the future and do it right now.