相較於iPhone、iPad、MAC電腦這些著名的蘋果裝置,Apple TV在台灣算是還比較少人用的高科技玩具。雖然Apple TV從第一代以來已經推出有將近七年了,但是台灣直到去年才跟隨推出第三代,民眾相對顯得陌生。對於Apple TV不太認識的人,可以先看一下這篇Bryan寫的無線高畫質影音傳輸 APPLE TV 三代目開箱試玩。在過年前我飛到了美國朋友家渡假,這篇主要是跟大家分享,在朋友家也可以登入自己的iTunes帳號使用Apple TV,並且觀賞到一些美國限定的數位內容。
Apple TV是以HDMI的型式跟家中電視連結,搭配電腦裡面的iTunes帳號,將電腦裡面的數位檔案同步到電視當中,透過電視的大螢幕來播放原本電腦當中的音樂或是影片,以及其它購買的內容等,而且同步後Apple TV不需保持網路連線狀態,也能正常播放電腦中的數位檔。Apple TV最多可以串流五台電腦,或是五台Apple TV連接一部電腦,若是有使用iPhone、iPad、iPod touch等行動裝置,還可以下載Remote這個應用程式,將這些裝置以Air Play當成遙控器來使用,在客廳當中走來走去也能自由操作Apple TV。
Hulu Plus跟Netflix一樣月初費為7.99美元,但是免費試看的期間比較短,只有一星期而已。
Apple TV在一般美國家庭,其實已經是相當普及的影音設備,要在台灣可能還得花一段時間才能被大眾認知。畢竟台灣的數位頻道並不多,而且對於付費制度的接受程度也沒有美國高。真的很希望台灣的數位電視頻道可以趕快跟進,我對於第四台的低畫質越來越反感了...就算是家中買了高畫質電視,卻沒有足夠相對應的高畫質頻道也只是枉然啊
Apple TV is a digital media receiver developed and sold by Apple Inc. It is a small form factor network appliance designed to play digital content from the iTunes Store, Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Flickr, iCloud, MLB.tv, NBA League Pass, NHL GameCenter, or any Mac OS X or Windows computer running iTunes on an enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen television.
Apple offered a preview of the device in September 2006, and began shipping it the following March. It initially shipped with a 40 GB hard disk; a 160 GB version was introduced two months later, and the earlier model was ultimately discontinued.
In September 2010, Apple announced a second-generation version of the Apple TV. About one-quarter of the size and one-third of the price of the original Apple TV, the new device could stream rented content from iTunes and video from computers or iOS devices via AirPlay. The new version no longer has the hard drive; however, it does have an undocumented internal 8 GB flash storage, speculated to be used for smoother playback of streamed media. All content is drawn from online or locally connected sources.
A third generation of the device was introduced at an Apple event on March 7, 2012, with new features such as higher resolution (1080p) and a new user interface.
Notable competitors include Western Digital Media Center, Roku, Boxee, YouView, SonySMP-N200 and Google TV, as well as Smart TV upgraders from companies such as Samsung and LG.