Apple Apple TV / iTunes

Apple TV is no longer a novelty and is considered one of the few flops of its manufacturer. But the new iTunes HD video store could still help the smart set-top box to success.


The iPod for the living room


Some devices grow with their tasks: When Apple TV came to the market three years ago, it was smiled by the professional world and shunned by the buyers. However Apple has developed the software of the box, so that today it combines a bunch of functions. From the web radio and YouTube player to the music hard drive and the memory to the movie player, Apple TV brings all the media into the living room, which would otherwise be stored on the computer.


Lush online video store


Movies and series from the iTunes Store are directly accessible via Apple TV. There are videos in HD and SD resolution to borrow and buy. Brandneue Blockbuster, many children's films and above all TV series are only offered for sale.


Sound top, picture okay


The series is not cheap: the sixth season of "Gray's Anatomy" costs just under 60 euros. And not every rule is logical: HD feature films are only available on loan, series only for purchase. HD rental films only run on Apple TV, but HD branding on the PC and even on the iPhone and iPod.


However Apple offers the by far largest selection in the test: nearly two thirds of all titles from the test shopping cart. The rental rates are 2.99 to 3.99 for SD and one Euro for the HD versions at the bottom of the scale, the conditions are generous: rental films remain valid for 30 days after downloading to the hard disk

After the first start, they are available for 48 hours. SD videos can be moved to the PC and from there to mobile Apple devices, to watch them the next day in the S-Bahn on the iPhone further. The user can also store and watch purchase movies in parallel on Apple TV, several PCs and mobile devices.


As the only supplier, Apple delivers predominantly crisp 5.1 sound and partly even the American and the original version. The only real drawback: SD movies do not have the full DVD image resolution, but only well 450 lines in the 16: 9 format.


The difference to the DVD original of the test film "blindness" was not huge on the 42-inch test TV, but clearly visible. HD movies showed Apple TV but in the same high screen as the competitors - but "only" in the 720p format. For the AppleVideo film test was the fastest and easiest.


Testimonial


Apple TV / iTunes


270


+ Great ease of use + 5.1-kinoton and original fixtures to many films + largest film and series selection in test- no full PAL resolution for SD -film- high standby power consumption


Overall rating: very good 77%


Price / Performance: very good