Monday, December 2, 2013

Apple TV 3rd Generation is a Must Buy Staples Canada

Ed works from home and always needs office supplies and technological gadgets. While we are fortunate to have a Staples in town, sometimes they don’t have what we need and can’t drive two hours into Ottawa. In such cases, we use the services of Staples extensive online shop. With hundreds of items to choose from like this Apple TV 3rd Generation,

Staples Has Our Needs Covered!

THE PACKAGE
The package box contains the device, a remote, power cable and instructions. Installation is simple, connect the device via an HDMI cable (not included) to a HDTV (or monitor), connect to the internet via cable and power up. If one wishes to connect to the web via WiFi, it has to be done after powering up the device.

Note that while the Apple TV box has a USB connector on its back (see connectors, image 2), it is meant for Apple technical support access, so a USB keyboard / external device cannot be connected!

TONS of FEATURES
With the help of the remote one can navigate the menu structure (see image 3) quite easily. First it is best to update the operating system to receive all of the latest patches, fixes and any new features released by Apple. While this may take a bit of time, it is totally automatic once you press the update button.

The set top box has a number of media sources pre-programmed (see image 4), including YouTube and Netflix. Searching for material via the menu structure is a bit of a hassle since you have to hunt and peck with the remote on the on screen keyboard (see image 5). On the other hand, if you have a Bluetooth keyboard, it is simple to pair it with the Apple TV device which makes the typing of search terms a snap.

In addition to the above noted streaming sources, Apple TV can also access the iTunes Store for movies and TV shows. Also, it can play movies and audio from computers on a home network that have iTunes installed.

Using the built in AirPlay capability it is able to display information from iOS devices (iPad) and recent Mac computers on a TV screen (see image 6). This feature can be used to make presentations, browse the internet (there is no browser built into Apple TV) or make a slide show.

INTEGRATION
Apple TV strictly speaking only needs a TV that has an HDMI connector. It can then stream content from the web via its internet connection, such as YouTube or Netflix. If you have a computer (Mac or Windows, Linux users have to jump through some hoops, but can also make it work) that has iTunes software installed it will allow you to access Apple’s iTunes store or content that is stored on the computer. Android tablets are not left out in the cold either. There are apps that allow it to connect and play content on Apple TV via the Air Play connection.

CONCLUSION
Apple TV is an elegantly designed, high quality device, something that we have come to expect from Apple, at a cost that is quite reasonable. While it integrates especially well into an environment where there are other Apple devices, it is by no means a requirement.

The fact that Apple TV has been around since 2007, is in its third iteration, and the increasing prominence of IP based TV and streaming digital media, argues for Apple’s continued commitment to the device.