Apple TV

At the same time as announcing the new iPad in March 2012, Apple also issued an update to its Apple TV.

It wasn't the full on Apple iTV, the rumoured Apple television that many had hopped for, rather it was a small revision to the existing media streamer of last year, retaining the same form factor but with an updated menu system and faster processor.

The biggest change though is its new ability to stream and play full 1080p HD movies - last year's model could only manage 720p, which was all the iTunes Store offered for movie rentals and purchasing anyway.

Of course, this means that Apple is going to have to update a lot of its iTunes Store catalogue to 1080p for you to get the most out of it, but most new movies were being offered in 1080p when we checked.

As well as enabling you to purchase and rent movies Apple TV does two other things of note - it acts as a browser for selected Internet content (YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, iCloud, Podcasts, etc) and thanks to Apple's AirPlay system it can receive content streamed from a Mac, PC or iOS device and play it on your television.

Best Home theater product for the money hands down!

I originally owned an Apple TV first gen with the 160 gb hard drive in it. Resolution was 720p. It was pretty good for its time. I see people buying the Apple TV 2 at a higher price because they can jailbreak it. Personally I checked out all those millions of channels and to me 95 percent of it was junk. Yeah Apple has fewer apps BUT, Since I bought my Apple TV 3 I purchased 3 more because of the incredible picture quality and the verity of things it does. Once I logged into the first one, turned on sharing on my computer, itunes and I have iTunes Match, literally everything ever purchased was there. Music, TV shows, Movies, everything. I do like HBO go which I wish was on there and other apps like Max go, etc. I ended up purchasing a ROKU XS because it had the HBO GO app but then I activated AIR PLAY and my AV world opened right up. I have Charter internet at 100MBPS so fast internet, iPad and iPhone. All of those apps I mentioned earlier HBO etc which none of them allowed mirroring earlier now you can use AIR PLAY with them.Perfect! I want to watch Starz Banshee on my iPad, hit airplay which gives me all the apple TVs on my network and instantly a 1080p audio video of Banshee on my 47 inch LG tv. I have a TIVO premier, (actually 3 of them. Between the TIVO, Apple TV and iPad. My Onkyo TX NR 809 and Jamo BX 200 vintage speakers, 2 Jamo 360 subs, I have (for me) just the best home theater and I would lose half of it were I not have my Apple TV 3. And the cost! Its stupid not to have a few provided you have the internet with good bandwidth!I have 3 AVR's in 3 different locations and with airplay on with each of them, play a playlist on my computer and VIOLA! Music everywhere! Incredible, How did I live all these years with out this! If you don't have an apple TV 3, skip the 2, not worth it and buy a few 3's YOu wont be sorry!

With Apple, you get what you pay for: Quality, durability, perormance A#1.

Apple TV gives me access to the best 1080p HD content — including top movies, my music and photos, and more — right on my widescreen TV.

I can even play content from my iPhone 5 on my wide-screen TV using AirPlay and can easily stream anything from my MacBook Pro's huge library.

It works perfectly and was extremely easy to set up and use in my wide bandwidth home system, driven by an Apple Extreme wireless router.

My Apple-based system is fully integrated, extremely powerful, modestly priced, and works perfectly 99+ % of the time.

If I want to become a TV/video maven, I may add a Roku 3 to the mix but there aren't enough hours in the day to watch everything that might interest me.

In short, the Apple TV is $85.00 well spent AND works perfectly even in systems that are not Apple based.

Try it; you'll like it.

If you don't have one, get one. If you only have one, get two!!!

I bought this little box just to enable our family to watch Netflix on our TV. In the process we now get to view all our family movies, listen to all our favorite music, see everything that's on our iTouches iPads, iPhones, and our computers, and because of this $115 expenditure my overall satisfaction with life on earth has been improved. If you don't have this thing and you have a TV you are missing out big time.

Ausome product

In my opinion it is very well worth having. It has great picture quality even on my 60 inch plasma. What I discovered that was truly impressive to me was how I can now use my ipod to control my music played through my stereo using apple TV just as long as I stay within my wireless router distance. No need to have the computer on or ipod cable connected. A+ to Apple.