Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Introduction
Long gone are the days when a TV was a standalone device.First came the VCR.Itwasinnoc-
uous enough; just one box. And such a useful box, as we could finally watch movies at home
and record TV programs! Then came the cable box. That meant a few more wires, but look at
all the extra channels we got!And then came the Nintendo,justonemorebox,forSuperMario
Bros.
And before we knew it, the simple, stoic, wood-paneled TV set of old had become a tangled
rat's nest of wires, boxes, remotes, game controllers, and power adapters. Teaching someone
(like my wife) how to use my entertainment system became an exercise in frustration. Which
input is the TV on? OK, what's the receiver set to? Now change the channel on the cable
box…no, no, that's the stereo remote, the cable remote has the big red button…where's the
cable remote?
Areyoutiredoftryingtofigureoutyourentertainmentsystemorwritingdetailedinstructions
foryourfamilysotheyknowhowtoturnthethingon?Iunderstand;I'vebeenthere.I'mhere
to show you the way out.
The second- and third-generation Apple TVs, first introduced in 2010, are small, simple, yet
incredibly powerful devices. Apple is constantly adding more content providers, and with
Apple'srevolutionaryAirPlayfeatureforsendingaudioandvideofromaMac,iPad,oriPhone
to the Apple TV, the possibilities are nearly endless.
I've replaced nearly every device in my entertainment center with the Apple TV. My family
doesn't have to think about inputs, or fumble with discs; when we want to watch something,
we can quickly pull it up without remembering arcane button sequences. And it's not just
about watching TV and movies—if I want to play music or show photos of the baby to his vis-
iting grandmother, I can do that on the Apple TV too. It's a one-stop box.
