Take Control of Apple TV (1.0) (2014)

Introduction

Long gone are the days when a TV was a standalone device. First came the VCR. It was innocuous enough; just one box. And such a useful box, as we could finally watch movies at home and record TV programs! Then came the cable box. That meant a few more wires, but look at all the extra channels we got! And then came the Nintendo, just one more box, for Super Mario Bros.

And before we knew it, the simple, stoic, wood-paneled TV set of old had become a tangled rat’s nest of wires, boxes, remotes, game controllers, and power adapters. Teaching someone (like my wife) how to use my entertainment system became an exercise in frustration. Which input is the TV on? OK, what’s the receiver set to? Now change the channel on the cable box…no, no, that’s the stereo remote, the cable remote has the big red button…where’s the cable remote?

Are you tired of trying to figure out your entertainment system or writing detailed instructions for your family so they know how to turn the thing on? I understand; I’ve been there. I’m here to show you the way out.

The second- and third-generation Apple TVs, first introduced in 2010, are small, simple, yet incredibly powerful devices. Apple is constantly adding more content providers, and with Apple’s revolutionary AirPlay feature for sending audio and video from a Mac, iPad, or iPhone to the Apple TV, the possibilities are nearly endless.

I’ve replaced nearly every device in my entertainment center with the Apple TV. My family doesn’t have to think about inputs, or fumble with discs; when we want to watch something, we can quickly pull it up without remembering arcane button sequences. And it’s not just about watching TV and movies—if I want to play music or show photos of the baby to his visiting grandmother, I can do that on the Apple TV too. It’s a one-stop box.

Why Apple TV?

If you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem with a Mac, iPad, or iPhone, the Apple TV becomes a no-brainer. Thanks to AirPlay and the Remote app for iOS, the Apple TV is the ultimate Apple peripheral. If you can see it on your Mac or Apple handheld screen, you can likely AirPlay it to your TV.

In addition, the Apple TV is the only set-top box with content from the iTunes Store, arguably the best digital content marketplace in the world. If what you want to watch or listen to isn’t on iTunes, it’s probably not available.

Best of all, the Apple TV is simple—both to set up and operate.

That said, how does the Apple TV stack up to the competition?

· Roku: The Roku is the closest competitor to the Apple TV, and in some ways it is superior—being both cheaper and having more channels. However, if you keep most of your media in iTunes, then the Apple TV is a much better option, as the Roku can’t play iTunes content or act as an AirPlay receiver.

· Smart TVs and Blu-ray players: Many televisions feature built-in apps, as do many Blu-ray players. However, in my experience, they tend to be sluggish and thus painful to use.

· Game consoles: Game consoles, like the Xbox and PlayStation, have home media capabilities, but are more expensive, larger, and more power-hungry than the Apple TV.

· Chromecast: Google’s $35 Chromecast is tempting, but it has several drawbacks. First, it requires a smartphone to operate. Second, the content choices are limited, as it has no built-in apps. Third, it lacks the processing power of the Apple TV, so the video quality is lower, and gaming is out of the question. For more information, see my TidBITS article Testing Google’s Chromecast for Apple Users.