New Apple TV (Latest Model - Launched Mar 2012)

I had been reading the reviews on the Apple TV for some time and had mixed feelings on what to expect. I bought an ipad3 2 weeks ago and looked at what I could use with it.. I saw a quick demonstration of the Apple TV at the Apple store in Birmingham and realised I could use it to play my music and videos as well as show my pictures on my Panasonic TV . What I did not appreciate was just how easy it was to set it up and use. In addition I had not realised how much can be obtained as a stand alone item without using the iPad as the controller.

The quality of the music, pictures and video is fantastic. I downloaded Where Eagles Dare from iTunes onto my iPad and played it on my TV through the Apple TV connected to my Onkyo amp by HDMI cable. The amp has an HDMI out whiich is connected to the HDMI input on the TV, so the one lead from the Apple TV sends both picture and sound into the amp and the amp then sends the audio to the speakers and the picture to the TV. Bearing in mind this was filmed in 1968 and I only bought the standard version, the picture quality is brilliant and the sound is also first rate.

I also have an old Marantz amplifier and TV in another room. The amp does not have the facility of HDMI in and out but it does have facility to use an optical lead for the sound. The TV does have an HDMI in connection. I was able to take an HDMI lead from the
Apple TV and plug it into the TV ( but turned the TV volume down to zero) and took an optical cable from the Apple TV to the Marantz amp. The result was still lovely picture and sound.

By using the Apple TV controller without the use of the iPad I can still watch YouTube, see podcasts, listen to radio channels and view iTunes.

I appreciate that using an iPad and Apple TV is a very expensive remote controller for your TV and music, but when you consider what you can actually use them to view and listen to it is a brilliant way of taking control of your entertainment system. I have actually composed this entry using my iPad, so it is much more than just a controller.

For me this has been a sound investment

Bought as a birthday pressie for my husband - excellent. Worked first time with no fiddling about. Qick, efficient service. Would highly recommend to others.

I have been using Apple TV stream both Netflix and iTunes movies, as I like the idea I can view any movie at any time...

Streaming from iTunes has worked flawlessly, which is good.. The only downside it gets quite expensive to get new movies (especially HD), so I decided to get a Netflix account..

The Netflix (Uk), issue being watching a HD movie the system will stop streaming up to a couple times a movie.. Then you have to start movie and jump to location you where last at where.. Fortunately the latest iOS update did manage to save location, so thankfully you don't need to fast forward to location, but process becomes very annoying when you watch a film)

So in summary iTunes becomes quite expensive, so good for a few films but not ten films a month..
Netflix is good for older movies, unlimited in number you can watch, but has such poor connection issues.

1) Apple improved its Netflix app I would give it another star.

2) Apple had other Apps from love film (and worked flawlessly), I would give int another star.

3) Apple had BBC Player and iTV Player, it would be a perfect system...

So at the moment I have a device I mainly use for Netflix (a bit flawed) and iTunes (expensive, but works).

I believe Apple need to improve its regional awareness, as a lot of Apps are aimed at American Market (MLB.tv NBA)... Where as UK market you should have BBC Player, iTV Player...