None of the other options we've tested have felt as simple, solid, and easy to use as the new Apple TV. Putting content concerns aside (which admittedly is difficult to do), the Apple TV has a lot going for it.
Read the full review →Heads up! A newer version of this product is out!
83
Conclusion: We're mixed
While Apple TV may be the most user-friendly set-top on the market, it offers fewer programming options than some competing products — in part because some programmers compete with Apple's iTunes Store. Roku, for example, offers Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, HBO GO and Pandora, none of which are available on Apple TV.
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Critic reviews
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Apple TV is easy to use and has a more elegant interface, and we like the idea of streaming content from a PC more than plugging in a USB drive. AirPlay will make Apple TV even more compelling, because you'll be able to beam video and photos straight to your HDTV from devices that turn on instantly.
Read the full review →Sure, the rental limitations can be irksome, but, particularly for iOS device owners, the new features dramatically outweigh the letdowns. Because of its affordability, ease-of-use, and impressive capabilities, the Apple TV gets our Editors' Choice award.
Read the full review →We'd also add one more comment: if you want the simplest, most straightforward streaming-media experience, Apple TV has the edge there (too). That might not matter to tech enthusiasts who've been streaming media for years, but it makes it a more mainstream-friendly box.
Read the full review →The problem I have with the Apple TV is it feels like a product with a lot of wasted potential. ... With the Apple TV despite its lower pricing it’s just not complete enough. You can watch some TV shows but not others, so you have to keep cable. And those that you can watch don’t stream live...
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darrenhoward
Apple's only real mistake was limiting on-board storage. If the Apple TV is ever added to the App Store ecosystem, this may be limiting.
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Dunnion
Sadly the negatives of this Apple product revolve around the Apple centric services. Renting movies on this device proved to be a headache. Apple states that you can rent a movie and start watching it instantly, which I attempted to do. When I rented "The Social Network" I was greeted by a...
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majipoor
My guess is that with a completely different strategy than Google with Google TV, Apple may succeed with such product to link the TV set with the Internet and all your other devices. While Logitec Google TV box offers a creepy remote, Apple's remote is minimalistic (yet functional) and when...
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nrnicksterw
Coming from an Android user and open source die hard I say go out and buy it! For New Zealand it is the best on the market! (Well it is the only one on the market here though).
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How it stacks up
Instantly compare the Apple Apple TV 2nd-gen side by side with some of the top devices on gdgt!
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Other Apple digital media players
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