Full Review - Setting up the Apple TV
Setting Up the Apple TV The Apple TV hadn’t lost its connection to our network or iTunes, which means we can continue to copy over our stream content. Still unchanged is that the Apple TV can only display up to 720p resolution, but it does so in 24 frames per second which is perfect for films. So videos imported into iTunes (as opposed to being downloaded from the iTunes store) must continue to be properly converted using, in our case, programs like Handbrake and VisualHub whether they’re to be in standard or higher definition. We should also mention that while there’s now a resolution setting on the APPLE TV for 1080p (when using a HDMI connection), it’s just a continuation of upscaling the image to more closely match the native resolution of the HDTV display. It’s no different than that setting being found on a DVD player; you still can’t create resolution when it’s not there. The quality of the video being presented that we have stored on the Apple TV’s hard drive hasn’t changed either. Standard-resolution still looks bad to fair, with plenty of artifact problems to put up with. Converted DVD movies continue to look good, although they continue to have resolution issues tied in to the particular titles (any Harry Potter DVD for example goes mushy when smoke or magical sizzle CG effects show up). And being able to upconvert to 1080p now matches the resolution of our Samsung LED rear-projection display, but doesn’t really make a differ-ence in any of the video as we see it. But now we can access surround sound from the optical output which really does beef up the audio. That is, of course, provided we convert titles over that way from now on. Music continues to be streamed in stereo when we select a playlist or song, plus cover art is displayed as it was be-fore. Photos can be copied over or streamed from the computer directly - unchanged is that you are limited to streaming from iPhoto or Aperture (on a Mac) or PhotoShop Album or PhotoShop Elements on a PC - streaming either the entire photo library or selected albums. YouTube seems the same as well, with viewing from thousands of titles with predetermined choices like “Most Viewed” and “Top Rated” or searching for specifics. But now we can sign in with our existing account. CH, CH, Changes Podcasts may have started out as audio shout-outs, but they quickly became video based and, more recently, in high-definition as well. Besides being able to watch/listen to those that have been downloaded and stored on iTunes, the Apple TV can now access them directly - again furthering its independence from a computer. Also directly accessible from the Apple TV are photos from a person’s .Mac gallery as well as viewing those from the photo website Flickr. These are “public” galleries where the user doesn’t mind strangers viewing them.
Setting up the Apple TV is as simple as it could possibly be. It is easier to set up the Apple TV than most kitchen appliances or VCRs. Upon opening the Apple TV's packaging, you'll likely be surprised to find very little inside; the Apple TV itself, the power cable, the tiny little Apple remote and some limited documentation.
To set the Apple TV up, first remove all the plastic wrapping that the contents are covered in. Attach your component audio & video cables (or the single HDMI cable) to the corresponding outputs on the back of the Apple TV. Connect the cable(s) to your EDTV or HDTV and turn the TV on. Turn on the Apple TV.
The very first time you turn on the Apple TV, select the default language for all the menus. Because there's no keyboard for the Apple TV, you'll have to use the Apple remote for selections.
After your language preference is selected, the next screen asks you to select a wireless network to connect to. If you live in an area where numerous 802.11b/g/n wireless networks are present, you'll probably see them all on the Apple TV screen. Use the remote to scroll to your preferred network. Note that this is not like war-driving - you can't arbitrarily select any unencrypted network. It has to be the very network that you connect your computers to; it should also be an encrypted network.
Speaking of encrypted networks, the next screen requires that you enter the pass phrase for your wireless network. Being a bit of a security nut, I was dismayed to realize that I had to use the Apple remote to enter in a very long network key using the letter-by-letter, arcade-game style text entry mode. After some grumbling and a lot of scrolling and clicking, the pass phrase was finally entered in and the Apple TV instantly joined the wireless network.
Apple TV Passphrase Screen
The final setup process involves a PIN number displayed on your TV. Apple TV and your iTunes library need to pair up, and this is done by means of a security code, or PIN. When you open iTunes, the Apple TV shows up as an available music device, just like an iPod would show up. When you click on the Apple TV option, you are asked to enter the Apple TV's PIN number. Once this is done, the Apple TV and iTunes perform a one-time handshake and prepare to sync music, videos, podcasts, etc.
Apple TV Pin Screen
Back on the TV screen, my Samsung HDTV lit up with the beautiful Apple TV 'welcome' video sequence. The entire setup process took less than 5 minutes. Apple TV gets major points for ease of setup.
The Apple TV may not support hot-swapping of video cables. Moving from HDMI to component connections, at least in my test, resulted in a blank screen after selection of the correct 720p setting. A reboot of the Apple TV with component cables proved effective. The resulting picture was fantastic.
Doing the Update
So we’re going to install the update now - and besides a reworked interface we expect the optical out to add the ability to transfer Dolby Digital surround for multichannel sound as well as the upscaling of video to now go to 1080p. But the biggest change will be to cut the cord from iTunes and let the Apple TV stand on its own four rubber feet. The Apple TV begins the download, which takes about 20 minutes with our broadband connection via wired Ethernet. It then reboots itself a number of times before finally displaying a new and splashier opening screen (which like the earlier one doesn’t ever show itself again unless it loses power or there’s a factory reset). The new home screen comes up and that it’s simplified is an understatement: being text columns with sub menus to choose from. Of course the individual menus still feature graphics.
So let’s get to the real changes - starting small and working our way up the media chain (as it were). First, the Apple TV is now an Airtunes device - similar to Apple’s AirPort Express internet module. What this means is that first, you can now send iTunes music wirelessly to it, and so audio can then be played through the speakers of the TV or audio amplifier connected to the Apple TV. Additionally, software such as Rogue Amoeba’s Airfoil 3 improves upon this by enabling any audio that can be played on a Mac or PC to be transmitted through for listening to. It works as stated and we like being able to easily hear our Sirius audio this way - taken from the internet-based player on our Mac.
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by Stacey on May 5, 2008:
“We loved Apple TV so much, we now have two... one for each floor of the house. The larger size is a must, especially with the movie download capability, from the couch. That said, here's what I would suggest to make users like us even happier: - allow...” More...