It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.
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| — | Walt Disney |
Interesting stuff, but I’m still waiting for clear evidence either regarding the validity of String Theory. I’m still not a believer.
Apple TV 2 First Impressions
I received my brand new Apple TV 2 today and here are my first impressions after using it for a few hours.
Packaging and Hardware
To start, the packaging is phenomenal as is the usual situation for an Apple product. I am also blown away by how small and light the device is, it’s barely larger than the iPhone 4. The only other hardware in the box is the aluminum remote and the power cable. The remote is thin and light, but feels sturdy comfortable in the hand to use. Despite the nice aesthetic of the remote, it leaves a lot to be desired while actually controlling the Apple TV, more on that later.
Setup
The setup is a breeze. Plug in HDMI cable and power and you’re ready to go. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect to your home network to really get the device working. Now it’s time for your first encounter with the annoyance of entering text and numbers with the included Apple TV remote. It takes way too long to “hunt and peck” with the remote to enter an alphanumeric Wireless password or Apple ID. So, the first thing I recommend you do is pair the Apple TV to an iOS device (like an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch) that has the updated Apple Remote App installed. Once you have the Remote app up and running, the Apple TV becomes a whole lot better and easier to control. It’s actually really neat to swipe on your iPad and have the Apple TV respond, and it is smart where whenever you come across a text entry screen on the Apple TV, the Remote app immediately pops up the keyboard to allow for text entry. It is the little touches like this that remind you that you are using an Apple product.
User Interface
The UI is minimal, yet polished and easy to navigate. You have all your media from your connected computers available for streaming or the option to view the Apple rentals or Netflix, YouTube, or browse Podcasts. The picture quality was awesome on my HD TV and the streaming was fast and responsive.
Summary
The bottom line is that if you have most of your content in iTunes and are looking for a polished UI to interact with Netflix and movie rentals, and plan on using the Remote app from a connected iOS device to control it, the Apple TV is a great device easily worth the $99.
Mmmm… new flavors of DODOcase iPad case are available
I absolutely love my DODOcase! It keeps my iPad protected and does so with maximum style. My only regret now is that I ordered before all of these awesome colors were available.
Great article by Leo Laporte highlighting the ephemeral nature of social media. Also makes me want to keep up with my blog more.
