Ready to give up cable TV and get rid of the influx of advertising? With Apple TV, you can rent or buy high-quality movies, listen to podcasts, watch Netflix, Hulu, watch sports, view photos, and listen to music from your computer, all from the comfort of your couch. You will learn how to set up and use Apple TV in this article.

Steps

Part 1

Unbox your Apple TV. Install it next to the TV; you will also need an outlet nearby and, if you have wired Internet, then a network cable.

• Don't put Apple TV on other equipment, and don't put anything on Apple TV either. This may cause the equipment to overheat and cause signal interference.

1. Connect the HDMI cable. Connect one end of the cable to the Apple TV (the connector on the back of the set-top box), and connect the other to your TV.

   • Note: This article describes how to connect directly to a TV. If you are using a receiver, please refer to the instructions for use. The receiver will be an intermediate link between the Apple TV and the TV.
   • Apple TV has TOSLink digital audio output. If you use this standard, connect one end of the cable to the Apple TV output, and the other to the TV input.

2. Connect the Internet cable. If you have wired Internet, connect it to your Apple TV.

   • Apple TV has built-in 802.11 Wi-Fi, which you can use to connect to a wireless network.

3. Connect the power cable. Once all cables are connected, connect your Apple TV to power.

   Turn on the TV. Enter the world of Apple TV! On your TV remote, switch to the HDMI input that your Apple TV is connected to.

   • If this is your first time connecting your Apple TV, you should see a setup screen. If it does not appear, make sure that the cables are connected correctly and the desired signal source is selected.

   Part 2

   Setting up Apple TV

   1. Understand your Apple Remote. All operations will have to be carried out using this remote control.

      • The black ring is used to move the cursor up, down, right, left.
      • The gray button in the center of the circle is used for selection.
      • Pressing the "Menu" button brings up the menu or returns to the previous screen.
        • Press and hold the "Menu" button to return to the main menu.
        • Press and hold the "Menu" button while watching a movie to access subtitles.
      • The "Play/Pause" button is used only for pause and play.
      • Press and hold the Menu button and the down arrow to reset your Apple TV. During the reset, the status light on the set-top box should blink.
      • To create a pair between the remote control and the set-top box, press and hold the "Menu" right arrow button for 6 seconds. This will allow you to control the set-top box only from this remote control and will disable other remote controls.
      • There is a free app on the App Store called "Remote" that takes full advantage of the Apple Remote. If you have an iPhone or iPad, this will be a great addition to your Apple TV experience.
      • Apple Remote Not is universal. To change the TV volume and other functions, you will have to use the TV or receiver remote control.

   2. Connect to a wireless network. Using the on-screen prompts, select Network Settings. If your wireless network is hidden from others, then enter the name of the network. After selecting the network, enter the password (if available) and save the settings by clicking on the "Done" button.

      • If you are not using DHCP, then you will have to enter the IP address, subnet mask, router address and DNS.

   3. Set up the Home Sharing feature. To access music and video files on your computer, use the Home Sharing feature.

      • Set up the Home Sharing feature. From the main menu, go to settings and select "Home Sharing". Enter your Apple ID and password.
      • Set up Home Sharing in iTunes. From the File menu, choose Home Sharing > Enable Home Sharing. Enter the same Apple ID and password you use on your Apple TV.

   Part 3

   Enjoy the content

   1. Watch a huge number of movies! With iTunes on Apple TV, you have access to the latest movies in 1080p (v3) or 720p (v2) high definition. You can watch the film, rent it, or purchase it for your collection.

      • While almost all content on iTunes can be streamed, many movies cannot be rented for the first few weeks after their release. They can only be purchased, but a little later it will be possible to rent them. Sometimes films are only available for rental or purchase.
      • Individual TV shows can only be purchased, although you can subscribe for an entire season. A current TV series on iTunes is usually delayed a day or two from its regular broadcast.

   2. Display mode from your iOS devices. With AirPlay, you can play movies and photos stored on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch on your TV. You can also use your TV as a giant screen for your iPhone 4S or iPad.

   3. Use the "Home Collection". With this feature, you can browse and play your entire iTunes library, as well as all playlists, and even use the Genius feature. You can view photos using iPhoto on your computer, or simply transfer photos to display on Apple TV Home Sharing.

      • To access the music, movies, photos, and videos on your computer, from the Apple TV main menu, go to Computers. Any type of content available on the computer will be displayed on the TV.
      • To access all music stored in iCloud using iTunes Match, click on the orange Music button in the main screen menu.

The Apple TV 3 media player (model MD199) is a compact and versatile device that will eliminate the use of video and audio cables and turn a regular TV into a media center. Apple TV 3 is the third generation of media player (Apple TV 3 Gen).

CONDITION: USED 100% tested and technically sound. The case is without defects.

Thanks to AirPlay technology, any content from any Apple device (iPhone, iPad, MacBook) is transmitted “over the air” to any TV. You no longer need to copy photos and videos to a flash drive to show them on the big screen: just connect to your Apple TV and get “wireless HDMI” for all your gadgets.

If you have an Apple ID, using Apple TV you can watch all new Russian and foreign films (in Full HD quality) from the iTunes store. You don't need a computer for this: all control is done using the miniature aluminum remote control that comes with the Apple TV.

CHARACTERISTICS:

Model: MD199RU/A, MD199RS/A
CPU: Apple A5 (PowerVR SGX 543MP2), 1 GHz
Video and audio outputs: HDMI, S/PDIF (optical digital audio port)
Permission: 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD 1080p) 60/50Hz
Network adapters: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), 10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0+EDR
AirPort: AirPort Extreme with AirPlay technology
Ports: Micro-USB (for service), IR receiver (for remote control)

Dimensions and weight:

Width: 9.8 cm
Depth: 9.8 cm
Height: 2.3 cm
Weight: 0.272 kg

Advantages of Apple TV 3 (A1469) compared to Apple TV 2 (A1378):

— support for Full HD resolution (1080p) versus HD Ready (720p) for the second generation;
- twice the amount of RAM (512 MB versus 256 MB);
- more powerful processor (Apple A5 vs Apple A4)
— support for all current Apple devices (including the latest iPhone and iPad models 2016-2017).

Advantages of Apple TV 3 (A1469) compared to Apple TV 4 (A1513):

— presence of an optical digital audio port (S/PDIF);
- smaller, lighter and cheaper.

Manufacturer: Apple Inc, 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California, 95014, USA. Made in China.

Review of Apple TV (fourth generation)

Contents of delivery

• Console
• Network cable
• Remote control
• Lightning cable
• Documentation

Let's look at the new Apple TV set-top box, not an updated one, but a new one - yes, you can still rent a movie for the evening, but you can also install karaoke if you want and sing to the TV, or play, or watch "Comedy Club" and the series “Fizruk”...

Positioning

When you tell or show someone the capabilities of Apple TV, they may immediately object that advanced modern TVs have all this 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 true. But there are at least a few reasons to buy an Apple TV:

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

There are other reasons, but they may seem a bit far-fetched - I'd 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 experimentally established that they instantly master the remote control, programs for the set-top box, and start watching TV series - I don’t know how this would happen with Android TV. Maybe the same, maybe not. I would recommend the Apple TV for family entertainment, the game of chicken may seem brutal, 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 brutal. 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 like.

Design, construction

It’s a pity that Apple forgot to include an HDMI cable in the kit; I seem to have a lot of cables at home, but they were all occupied - they could have easily stopped being so clumsy, it’s not particularly 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 the kit includes a Lightning cable for charging the remote control, yes, yes, there is now such a plug. As you can see in the photo, the proprietary 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, this is good, you don’t need to think about the state of the battery constantly, you don’t need to buy batteries, the built-in battery will probably last for several years. I’ll say right away that you can use many existing joysticks with Apple TV; in a couple of days we’ll 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 appearance of many other accessories for Apple TV, for example, small keyboards, advanced joysticks and who knows what else. If tvOS continues to develop, the imagination of the developers should be enough for even the most unprecedented additions. After all, there are already good races, the already mentioned “Asphalt”, so why not make some simple steering wheel? The racing is good and vibrant. The proprietary remote control can be used, but it’s not very convenient. Let me note that you need to hold it by the ends and imagine that this is not a remote control, but a steering wheel, turn from side to side - the car moves. It takes some getting used to, but then everything will work out naturally and easily. The touch pad also takes some getting used to, but then rewinding in films is a pleasure, it’s very easy to select 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, damn you! Little by little I manage to get used to it. Then, I also found another problem at the very beginning: Apple TV is demanding on Wi-Fi quality. We tried to use “Iota” - we couldn’t log into our account, we tried to connect to an iPhone running in modem mode - nothing worked 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 your 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 the optical cable has disappeared, but everything else remains the same. Here is a 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 you suddenly want to take screenshots, you will need a USB-C to USB cable, connect it to the MacBook Pro, turn on QuickTime Player, and the image from the TV appears there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have such a cable, so I filmed it with a camera. I repeat, a detailed video about the menu, applications and more will appear soon.

The remote control itself is a complex device. There is an IR sensor for controlling the volume on the TV, Bluetooth 4.0 for communication 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. Some games make a difference between whether you swipe in the center or along the edge, and that's where the emphasis is; impressions after working with a touch surface - just like after using other Apple technology, for example, an 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 console a try 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, but at the same time you can install RuTube, watch “Dancing” or TV series, many people like Comedy Club - you can watch “Comedy”. There are also 2x2, but the choice of series is limited. I personally am waiting for the “Amediateki” application so that I can calmly watch new episodes of my favorite series, films on TV - by the way, there is a very good selection of movies there, there is a lot of stuff that you won’t 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 understand, you can generally hang out there for a day if you wish. All applications resemble their iOS counterparts, that is, they are video catalogs, select and watch. The quality is good, I use Apple TV with an old Samsung TV, other than Full HD there is nothing special to brag about.

Yes, if suddenly there are karaoke lovers among you, there is karaoke here. I’m not a fan myself, but I’ve been told that karaoke works effectively here, and it’s better for fans of this business not to tell about this feature of Apple TV. Moreover, there is not one, but several programs for singing.

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 formats of music - you can listen to it for days on end, without stopping.

That is, if previously Apple TV was limited by the music you purchased (I’m exaggerating, but still), now there are no limits. The entire iTunes library is at your disposal thanks to Apple Music, there are applications like MixCloud, and catalogs of Internet radio stations for Apple TV are appearing.

Let's move on to films, all purchased films are available for downloading and viewing, some can be rented. Contrary to popular belief, this does not apply to all films - most new films can only be purchased, not rented. For example, now “Everest” is sold for 349 rubles in HD, 199 rubles in SD, it’s better to buy it in HD, but it’s even better to get your butt off the chair and walk to the cinema. It’s much better to watch Everest there than at home. But The Agents of U.N.C.L.E. can already be bought for 349 rubles, and rented for 99 rubles - a good offer.

In any case, iTunes prices are reasonable, and if you buy an Apple TV, you should be prepared for paid content. I know that most of the readers are already accustomed to paying for books, music and films, but, nevertheless, there are also those who do not understand where the money goes and why they need to pay “for air”. This is always a personal choice for 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 many more of those who want to receive a high-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 so is the sound. If you slide your finger down on the touchpad, the audio menu will appear, where you can select the audio track, subtitles, and through which device the audio will be played.

As with the previous set-top box, it is possible to transfer images to Apple TV from the device, but the quality is so-so. I tried to transfer an 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 write separately about ten good games for Apple TV at the end of the month, but for now I will say that the programs are made intelligently, they are interesting to play even for me - most of the things here are arcade games, but this does not detract from their merits. For example, Crossy Road is great to play in a group, when everyone around you is trying to tell you, snatch the remote control and play on your own.

And now imagine that all this is on your TV. It has become much more functional, don’t you think? Yes, before I could easily buy Interstellar and watch it with my family while relaxing after a busy day. But now there is easy, understandable and simple access to programs of a wide variety of directions and with a wide variety of content - we can not only select “Interstellar”, but also watch the latest episode of “Dancing”, if the urge arises. And you don’t need to carry a laptop, transfer images from an iPad or iPhone, or otherwise complicate life.

Performance and Features

The console is available in two versions, 32 and 64 GB. As I understand it, Apple made a version for those who will install a lot of applications, and a version for those who will install the main thing and calm down and 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 on the size of applications, it is 200 MB, it may be removed in the future. 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 place all the icons on the desktop, if desired, add widgets there, as in Android - now the navigation is frankly stupid, go to the desired item I still can't do it the first time. You will definitely go somewhere in the wrong place, there is also the remote control “helping”, unnecessary movement, and you will immediately go somewhere away from the desired menu item. Siri search in Russian does not work yet, but when it appears, it will be of help.

Apple, as always, took care of people with disabilities. You press the Menu button three times, and VoiceOver turns on, voicing menu items, here is a list of all the “Universal Access” items:

• VoiceOver;
• Increase;
• Bold font;
• Increase contrast;
• Reduced movement;
• Supports closed captioning and subtitles for people with hearing impairments;
• Keyboard shortcuts (I'm not entirely sure about this one).

A little about video and audio formats:

• H.264 video up to 1080p, 60 fps, high or main profile level 4.2 or lower;
• H.264 video, base 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 Mbit/s, 640x480 pixels, 30 frames/s, simple profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 kbit/s, 48 ​​kHz, stereo sound 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 via Wi-Fi or using an Ethernet cable; this method seems anachronistic to me. Although you can counter - the speed and reliability of the cable connection is higher. Well, if another cable in the living room doesn’t bother you, it’s your choice.

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 films on the main page, but this is already a tvOS problem. During the entire period of use, there were no application crashes; I would like to get some kind of clear menu of running applications, like in iOS.

conclusions

Let me remind you that the price is 13,990 and 17,990 rubles, a good gift for the New Year and any other holiday. The whole family can use Apple TV, and there's something for dad, mom and kids to do. I hope, albeit somewhat chaotically, I talked about the main capabilities of this interesting device. I remember how we “broke” the first Apple TV and 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 Internet, and it would be a sin not to use it. If you want to upgrade (sorry) your TV, Apple TV will do the job just fine.

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

In this guide we will talk about jailbreak Apple TV 3 and why it is necessary perform an operation on this console. 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 tvOS devices using the Airplay feature. Through Air Play Mirroring, you can stream and stream videos to your set-top box if you have a new Mac. And not to mention, the Apple TV 3's user interface is currently arguably the best in the world, beating the competition by a wide margin.

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

But still, despite some restrictions, this does not mean that you cannot bypass them. There is a way that will allow you to get much more available content, more features and the most from your Apple TV 3. You just need to follow the jailbreak procedure.

The term Apple TV 3 Jailbreak may sound a little scary. But this is not true, because we are not talking directly about hacking. We're just talking about gaining access to tvOS Apple TV 3. Jailbreak for Apple TV 3 is a popular method of bypassing tvOS restrictions. Although many people may question its legality and safety, this will not stop you from completing it. In addition, jailbreaking a tvOS device is not that difficult (if you know the algorithm and strictly follow it).

Overall, the procedure is very easy. Its implementation will not be difficult for anyone who has installed the software on a PC at least once. The operation is safe for the device itself and should not cause negative consequences. So don't worry about anything and follow the steps suggested below.

Why hack Apple TV 3?

The first question that may arise in your mind about jailbreaking is what will this operation do? Is it worth doing this 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 videos.

If at Using Apple TV 3, if you want to transfer media to your TV, you'll need iTunes. In other words, you're limited to the type of media and apps Apple chooses. This applies to software available in the official store iTunes. It's also possible to install popular applications such as XBMC, making it much easier to stream digital content onto your home network.

Know that after completing Jailbreak Apple TV 3, none of the “native” programs will be erased. And none of the functions included in the operating system. won't disappear. In other words, you'll be able to make premium movie rental purchases through iTunes and access some video streaming apps like Netflix.

Benefits of hacking Apple TV 3

The result of hacking depends on the initial 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 content of any type.

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

Also, if you are interested in changing the navigation menu layout, changing some other options, or adding other custom backgrounds, then by doing the hack you can get it all. Moreover, there are many other benefits that you will get by simply having this surgery. It will only take a few minutes of your time. After jailbreak, the device will not have any restrictions and will be able to support and play all file formats. This is a truly recommended thing that everyone simply has to decide on. user .

How to jailbreak Apple TV 3?

The method of performing the operation on an Apple TV is not complicated. Any user will complete the process in no time using Pur Jailbreak Apple TV 3 Tool. You don't need to have advanced technical knowledge, just use the instructions below. The method has been tested and confirmed to take no more than ten minutes.

At present, it is quite obvious that the third generation of televisions from the company in question is already available on the market. And if you didn't know, let us tell you that the main reason for this is the free jailbreak tool for Apple TV 3. If you think about what is the best media player in the world, you can without a doubt decide that it is Apple TV 3. And all this because the set from 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 company’s resource on the Internet. Plus, if you choose to subscribe to Netflix, you can watch the world's best TV series. But if you decide to jailbreak, you also have many other options. Once jailbroken, 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 hacking Apple TV 3 then just follow the instructions below.

Instructions for hacking Apple TV 3

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

• Once you have launched the tool, select “Create IPSW” and continue with Jailbreak for Apple TV 3.
• Once you have created the IPSW, open the IPSW file on your device.
• Connect your Apple TV 3 using a USB cable to your computer. While you're doing this, make sure to leave the 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 automatic reboot process. Once it is completed, your Apple TV 3 will be successfully jailbroken.
  All the steps described above are quite simple and easy to follow. We are absolutely sure that you will not have any problems with hacking Apple TV 3 and carrying out the procedure yourself.

To many users have already managed to jailbreak Apple TV 3. Just download the free tool and try it yourself. Why limit Apple TV 3 to playing only content from the cloud when you can access all types of media and streaming content for free. Hacking Apple TV 3 is the ideal solution. Don't put off surgery until later and do it right away Now.

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 simply called a set-top box, has not received widespread distribution in Russia and the CIS countries. Many people are simply not familiar with the characteristics and capabilities of the console, and we are ready to fill this annoying gap.

A full review of Apple TV 3, a description of all parameters and operating features should expand your understanding of the promising media player. In order to realize the maximum potential of the set-top box, you will need an Internet connection. Don’t forget about this; without access to the network, the point of using a media player is lost. We've already given 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 contains the media player itself, a special remote control, a power cable, and several leaflets (device description, user manual).

High-quality wear-resistant plastic is used to produce the case. The console has fairly compact dimensions: 10×10×2.5 centimeters. There is a glossy corporate logo on the top panel. The ends of the console are glossy, while the top panel is completely matte. The front panel contains a signal receiver from the remote control and a status indicator.

Apple TV 3 connects to your TV using an HDMI connection. As an addition, the media player has an “Optical Audio” port, which can be used to output sound in digital quality. There are no analog connectors on the set-top box. In addition to the ports already listed, on the rear panel there is a microUSB connector, a network interface (100 Mbit/s), as well as 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 sufficient for comfortable control of the device. Let's continue our review of Apple TV 3 and look at the hardware features of the console.

Hardware Features

The device can easily play video in 1080p Full HD resolution. No brakes were noticed. Detailed specifications are as follows:

RAM capacity 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

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

Although the A5 processor has one core disabled in hardware, its performance is fully sufficient for high-quality Full HD video playback and for working with applications. Apple TV 3 uses a radio module based on the Broadcom BCM4330 chip. Its operating frequency is 2.4 or 5 GHz. Maximum speed up to 300 Mbit/s. 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 model of the set-top box is available with iOS version 5.1 (some models with iOS version 5.2). Let's continue our review of Apple TV 3 and find out the features of connecting the set-top box to the TV and its subsequent configuration.

Connecting to a TV and setting up

Connecting to the TV will not take much time. You will need an HDMI cable, with which you need to connect the corresponding connectors on the TV and set-top box. The presence of an HDMI port on your TV is a prerequisite for connection.

The settings menu includes six items. The “Basic” tab allows you to get information about the model, firmware, connecting new remote controls, network and other important aspects of the Apple TV 3. The “Screen Saver” tab is used to configure options for displaying photos while playing music or when the set-top box is in standby mode. The user can configure the settings of the iTunes Store brand, and 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 the AirPlay technology. This technology allows you to transfer video or audio information from supported iOS devices to your TV. In the last paragraph, you can enable support for “Home Collection”. Using this technology, you can connect multiple devices to share access to your iTunes library.

Multimedia capabilities

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 a regular TV, it is more reasonable to pay attention to smart set-top boxes. Our further review of Apple TV 3 will focus on getting to know the functionality of the console.

One of the main ideas of using a media player is convenient viewing of videos and music from the iTunes brand store. The set-top box has a high-quality, full-fledged showcase of popular films and music. Its design is completely adjustable to the size of your TV screen. The user has the opportunity to buy films for repeated viewing, or rent them for one-time viewing for two days.

The new iTunes Radio service allows you to listen to your favorite songs in high quality. Considering the ability to digitally connect the set-top box to a home theater, this service is very useful. Apple TV 3 supports the ability to play music files 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; there is also access to less popular video services.

AirPlay technology allows you to broadcast content from Apple mobile devices to your TV screen in real time. 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.

A review of Apple TV 3 showed that the main audience of the device are owners of other Apple gadgets. If you don’t mind paying 60-90 rubles to watch a movie in excellent quality or buying a film for “eternal” access for 150-350 rubles, then this set-top box is perfect for you. The ideal symbiosis of Apple TV 3 with devices such as iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Mac will suit many advanced users.

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