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Apple TV 40GB | 
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| Brand: Apple
Category: CE
Buy New: £175.00
New (6) Used (2) from £160.00
Rating:  35 reviews
Media: Electronics
Fragile: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0
Dimensions (in): 77.6 x 77.6 x 11
MPN: MA711B/A
Model: MA711B/A
UPC: 885909160310
EAN: 0885909160211
Release Date: February 28, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW - SEALED. SENT BY SPECIAL DELIVERY USUALLY SHIPS IN 24HRS
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| Customer Reviews: Read 30 more reviews...
 A great product for its intended audience February 10, 2007
BobOxford (UK)
34 out of 35 found this review helpful
Several people are missing the point here, including some people who have berated other reviewers for missing the point. Here's the deal:
Apple TV is most like having a video iPod installed permanently in your living room, with some important additions. When you open up iTunes on your computer, it will appear like an iPod does in your 'devices' list. You can then sync or drop videos, music, photos and podcasts onto it. Like an iPod. These will sit on its hard drive, and allow you to access them without your computer being switched on. Like an iPod. You can then watch/listen to/look at these things on your telly (at 720p for video, which is the minimum standard for HDTVs at the moment).
Unlike an iPod, however, it will also stream content over your network dynamically, from up to 5 different computers. So, if your main computer is 'sync'd', you can view stuff on your friends' Macs, or that other PC you have at home (provided these are switched on to allow the streaming to take place). There's also a menu option to view trailers for current cinema releases, also in HD, streamed over the net.
There are *rumoured* features apparently planned with the release of Mac OS X 'Leopard', that will allows Mac users to broadcast their screen wirelessly via their Apple TV onto their HDTV.
Yes, it's quite pricey, but it's also really cool. That's Apple all over, so nobody needs to be surprised. The major catch is that, at present, iTunes Music Store buyers based outside the USA can't buy much in the way of movies, TV shows etc. This turns a 5* product into a 2* fancy paperweight for UK users. If, however, you have found a way to buy US ITMS content, or have other plans to use it to show your own films, then this product's potential is awesome, and for that I still give it full marks.
All your music selectable from your armchair April 26, 2007
Engineer (Stockport)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I bought this so I could store all my music CDs on it, and listen from the comfort of my armchair, without keep getting up and changing CDs. Of course, a connection to a TV is required so that you can see which album/track you are selecting. Once selected though, you can turn off the TV of course. (Make sure your TV is compatible, SCART is not supported, only HDMI, DVI and analogue component).
I could then box up all my CDs and remove them from the lounge, generating more space.
I did not buy it for any of its 'video' features, just simply as a music server. From what I have read, only music videos are available, at a premium price - 1.89 each.
It has a small disc, only 33GB is available, which equates to approx 1300 songs in the apple lossless format, so I required compression.
I have a decent audio system (arcam pre & power amp), with B&W 803D speakers. I thought the compression would make it sound terrible and unusable. However, I was wrong. Using AAC compression at 80kbps and above, I was unable to tell the difference between the compressed and the lossless version. So I have stored all my CDs in the default 128kbps AAC format. In this format, 1500 songs takes 5.6GB.
I connected the optical digital output of the appleTV to the digital input of my Arcam pre-amp processor. This way, I was able to benefit from not using the internal DAC (even though the internal DAC will be more than acceptable for most people). This product is suitable for audiophiles, since they can use an expensive external DAC of their choice (e.g. Bel Canto DAC3).
As a music server, where you have access to your whole collection in very high quality sound without a PC being switched on (but you do need a TV), this product is excellent. If you buy it for something else, you may be disappointed.
Brilliant!!!!!! May 7, 2007
Mr. T. Murphy
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Everything I needed. I have tons of dvds decoded on my mac, which is in my bedroom. Now I stream them to my lcd, via apple tv. Betst buy in a long,long time. No more searching for dvd to watch, just scroll the menu. Stream or sync your films it's so easy. My advice is to treat yourself.
Fantastic and very, very easy to use. March 26, 2007
S. WILSON-BILLING (UK)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Wow, what can I say, Apple have done it yet again. Setup time was about two minutes and very easy - your Grandmother could set this up. We now have the kids movies, music and photos playing in the playroom - no more constant changing of the DVDs for my two year old (and no more scratched DVDs either). Anyone who has used an iPod will be able to use the Apple TV. The graphics are gorgeous and everything looks great on our HDTV and there is NO stuttering or skipping during playback.
One thing to watch - there are no cables in the box for connecting to your TV, I had to go out and buy one. Otherwise I would totally recommend this product.
Very welcome piece of kit March 2, 2007
bilbo--baggins (UK)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
When Apple launched the Airport Express I could really see the potential of being able to stream music to the living room via AirTunes. I even went as far as selling my CD player to declutter my living room. However, with the main computer being upstairs, not being able to control the music was a big limiting factor. Later on, I got a laptop and found it quite convenient to use this to play music shared from upstairs to the Express.
Throughout this time I wished that they would bring out a new version with a video output and an infrared sensor. This would allow me to see on my TV screen what music is playing, and choose from playlists etc.
For me this is the real reason for buying the Apple TV. Compared to the 90 I spent on the Airport Express, the Apple TV is just as good value, and a far more useful product.
Now, I know Apple is targetting the product for playing back video, and indeed I plan to start importing my DVD's onto a huge hard drive and see how this goes. However, for me music is what I really want this for. In that respect, there is another advantage over the Express - it has a pair of phono outputs to connect high quality audio cables to the amplifier, rather than just a mini-jack output.
Time will tell how useful I find the Apple TV for video, I guess it might be a good opportunity for me to see all those music DVD concerts I can never be bothered to find and put in the DVD player.
I'm proud to say that I have finally got around to finishing importing every single CD I own, packed the CD's away into boxes, and stored them away. I've even got rid of three tall CD racks to create a bit more space in the living room!
While the Apple TV may not be the answer to the world, the universe and everything, it certainly is a product I'm looking forward to making regular use of.
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