Tech Specs

Hardware

Width	3.9 inches
Depth	3.9 inches
Height	0.9 inches
Weight	0.6 pounds
Color	Black

Software

Audio codecs supported	WAV, AAC, MP3, AIFF, Apple Lossless, Audible
Video codecs supported	H.264, MP4, M-JPEG
Media streaming	AirPlay, PC, Mac

Output ports

HDMI output(s)	1
Digital optical audio output(s)	1

Connectivity

Ethernet	1
Wi-Fi	Yes
Built-in Wi-Fi support	802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11a
USB	1

Bundled remote control

Connection type	IR
Remote model	Apple Remote

Recent News

No recent news about Apple TV (2nd generation).

Recent Discussions

No recent discussions about Apple TV (2nd generation).

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• 9.0

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  Reviewed by coffeebot3000 (Currently owns)

  November 15, 2012 02:13 am

  I've been using the Apple TV 2 for about two years now. My first big surprise was when I actually got it. I'd thought it would be the same size as the first Apple TV. The size and design are great. Very basic and sleek. Since it's black, it hides out of the way easily.

  I specifically wanted this device because I knew I was going to jailbreak it. I have a lot of DVDs and video files which I didn't want to convert to the iTunes library, and jailbreaking it let me stream the movies from my iMac to my TV finally. There isn't a lot of worthwhile content for someone like myself, living in Japan. Again, thanks to a hack and installing XBox Media Center, I've been able to stream a lot of TV shows that I otherwise wouldn't be able to watch here.

  Also, since all my content was on another computer, it constantly had to be running in order to stream files. Everything came together when I bought an Airport Extreme and connected an external drive to it with all my files. Now, I'm able to stream content directly through the router.

  The controller is small and almost awkward to hold, and recently pushing the down arrow seems to work only half the time. Luckily, the iPhone has a great control app for the Apple TV.

  My advice is if you have everything already in itunes, like purchased music and movies, or you plan on jailbreaking the device, it's a fantastic accessory for the home. At only $100, it's also one of the cheapest accessories you can buy to make your entertainment center better.

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 9
  • Software 6
  • Content selection 6
  • Performance 8
  • Accessories, remote 5

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• 8.0

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  Reviewed by dougmorton (Currently owns)

  June 3, 2012 05:18 pm

  I've been using the Apple TV since October 2010 after my pre-order arrived. I should note I live in the UK and use the UK iTunes store so the content selection is slightly different to US consumers.

  It looks cool next to the Xbox and PS3. The UI isn't amazing, it's better than most TVs or other TV boxes, however, it's not as good as the PS3 or Xbox. It's fast at doing what it does and is only limited by the UI and Internet connection. The aluminium remote looks good with limited functionality, about the same as any other remote really. However, the remote app is amazing and AirPlay which is the main thing I use this for is really good.

  To conclude: It's a good £99 accessory from Apple.

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 9
  • Software 6
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  • Performance 9
  • Accessories, remote 10

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• 9.0

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  Reviewed by Zach Gilbert (Currently owns)

  February 5, 2012 10:08 pm

  I've had this since Apple launched the product and I've seen it evolve into a excellent substitute to many of the other streaming options. One thing I've found with Air Play mirroring is that performance is greatly affected by signal strength. One or two bar less in your wifi meeter means a drastic change in gameplay via your iPhone to the Apple TV,

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 9
  • Software 8
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  • Performance 10
  • Accessories, remote 10

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• 7.0

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  Reviewed by jkiffney (Currently owns)

  January 5, 2012 11:16 am

  For integration with other apple products such as iPhones - airplay works great. It is flawless and seamless. The apple TV doesn't bring a lot of useful content by itself. Adding apps would be a great benefit so things like Amazon or CBS could stream to the device. Also, an analog audio out would be a plus also.

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 8
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  • Content selection 4
  • Performance 8
  • Accessories, remote 7

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• 8.0

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  Reviewed by Canucker2 (Currently owns)

  December 27, 2011 02:19 pm

  Apple Remote very basic but works with Harmony One. Content improved in Canada recently. Best (killer) feature is AirPlay streaming of HiDef content from iPhone or iPad. Innocuous and minimalistic design and good price (for Apple). Well worth it if you own a flat screen TV and use iTunes or have an iOS device. Interface is very simplistic/minimalistic but that's what Apple is trying to push (it’s the anti-GoogleTV).

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 8
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  • Content selection 7
  • Performance 9
  • Accessories, remote 7

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• 9.0

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  Reviewed by freetab (Currently owns)

  December 20, 2011 05:56 pm

  The Apple TV provides a wide variety of content in a small package. All you have to do to set it up is plug it into a TV and into a power outlet. Turn it on, go through a five minute setup, and you're done. After that, you could access iTunes movies, TV shows, your iCloud photo stream and your iTunes Match library. You also have access to some sports and news stations along with Netflix and internet radio. My absolute favorite feature is AirPlay. With literally a click of a button, you can watch videos or listen to music from your iDevice or computer. I even tried out the mirroring feature with phenomenal results. However, there are a few cons to this device. First and foremost, there's no Hulu. I mainly like to watch TV shows on Hulu and my only options are iTunes and Netflix. I guess I'll have to stick with my Xbox for that. The remote also seems very strange to use. It's a nightmare to type on the keyboard with this remote. You have to back and forth between each letter just to type a simple name. An alternative though is to use the remote app for iOS. It provides a gesture pad that lets you to navigate around the software in a much simpler manner. When you type, it lets you use the onscreen keyboard, which is wonderful to use. Overall, the Apple TV is a great device. There are a ton of areas where I would like to see improvement, but nonetheless I still enjoy using it to view all of my content.

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 10
  • Software 9
  • Content selection 7
  • Performance 10
  • Accessories, remote 7

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• 9.0

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  Reviewed by SirGibler (Currently owns)

  December 20, 2011 05:14 pm

  The Apple TV is in one word: great. Sure, 1080p would be great and a less minimal remote would be more than welcomed, but these aren't huge omissions. With Photo Stream, AirPlay, and iTunes Match, the Apple TV is the perfect addition to any iOS user's television. For $100, the Apple TV is a great addition to any television.

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 10
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  • Performance 9
  • Accessories, remote 5

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• 8.0

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  Reviewed by magneticmediafed (Currently owns)

  December 20, 2011 04:55 pm

  I have a few boxes that stream content. This is always the one that I turn on first, and with the inclusion of the MLB app last summer, it's proven to be something of a blank canvas. I'm always anxious to see what capabilities get added with future software updates.

  There is, of course, one big problem: the remote. It's not really even the remote's fault as the system doesn't need more than simple navigation. The problem is specifically with keying text, which is incredibly cumbersome with a d-pad and enter-button. Siri to the rescue?

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 9
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  • Performance 10
  • Accessories, remote 5

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• 9.0

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  Reviewed by kevinjohngomez (Currently owns)

  December 20, 2011 10:02 am

  I really enjoy this device. It's a much more sophisticated experience to that of competitors like Roku. The industrial design is spot on. It's really compact and solid. Being made of plastic seems a little low-end for Apple, but it's certainly high-grade plastic. The only flaw in my opinion is it's lack of apps. iTunes, Podcasts, and Netflix account for about 75% of my entertainment, but I'd really love access to Hulu.

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 9
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  • Content selection 7
  • Performance 9
  • Accessories, remote 10

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• 7.0

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  Reviewed by Dan Chilton (Currently owns)

  December 20, 2011 09:46 am

  If you have kids, this sandwich-shaped bad-ass is a must have. Actually, I take that back. If you have kids AND a Netflix subscription, then this beautiful Texas-toast-sized box is a (your respective deity)-send. The software could stand to be a little more open and offer more codecs, but who are we kidding here -- this is Apple, and that boat sailed a long time ago. I've been tempted to jailbreak this little puck, mainly so I could get VPN functionality and more codecs, but I'm too lazy. Even still, I love this Micro-Machine-warehose-sized box. I really feel like I'm living in the future when I can sit in bed and pull up any baseball game my heart desires with the click of a button on a Spartanly designed aluminum sliver.

  The Breakdown

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  • Design 9
  • Software 6
  • Content selection 7
  • Performance 9
  • Accessories, remote 6

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