apple tv 2012
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Apple TV (2012) raids iPad 2 parts bin, packs 32nm A5 silicon
Cupertino's latest Apple TV has already been torn asunder and had its guts revealed to all the online world. And, we've already told you of the many ways that it differs from its predecessor. Despite that in-depth examination of Apple's media streamer, turns out it had another secret that was recently unlocked by the folks at Chipworks, who discovered it's packing a new, smaller A5 chip that's masquerading as a single-core unit. Turns out, that's the same 32nm dual-core SoC found in new iPad 2s -- elder iPad 2 units pack 45nm chips -- but the 3rd-gen Apple TV only uses one of those cores to give you your 1080p fix. We don't know if the second core's simply sitting idle or if Apple's using up some defective A5s it had laying around, but we do know that you can see some more close up shots of the silicon in question at the source below.
Apple TV (2012) gets torn down, confirmed to have 512MB of RAM, 8GB of storage
We already knew about most of the latest Apple TV's technical upgrades, but a few key specs have eluded us since its announcement. That's now changed, however, thanks to user aicjofs over at XBMC's forum, who ripped a fresh unit apart to find out exactly what's inside of its shell. Apart from its documented single-core A5 SoC, it's now confirmed that the 1080p-capable streamer features 512MB of Hynix-branded RAM (up from 256) along with an unchanged 8GB of storage, courtesy of Toshiba. Interestingly, there's no word on whether it's still packing Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR like the 2010 variant (Apple's website only lists 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi), but MacRumors notes that aicjofs has discovered what's possibly an additional WiFi antenna. A few parts are still under investigation, but you can check out the links below for more info.
1080p-capable Apple TV ships a day early, just in time to AirPlay with your new iPad
Did you hop on the pre-order train for the third generation Apple TV, right after the Cook-note? Might want to check that doorstep, as a metric ton of you -- including reader Joel above -- have written in to say your new hockey-puck streaming boxes have arrived. For those keeping score, that's a day ahead of the announced March 16th ship date, meaning lucky souls can get a little downtime with that revamped interface and 1080p streaming a little early. Let us know how your liking it in the comments, and for those of you still waiting, may we humbly recommend our hands-on or comparison posts?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple TV vs. the new Apple TV (2012): what's changed?
The Apple TV might still be a hobby, and thus not the main event at Tim Cook's Apple presentation today, but Apple's participation in the living room has had its fair share of rumors, speculation and dreams. The fact that the user experience has been streamlined is the big news today, but there is also a modest spec bump that includes the ability to play and output 1080p. Other than that you can easily see after the break how well the new Apple TV matches up with its predecessor.
Netflix on new Apple TV supports 1080p, all boxes get integrated signup and pay via iTunes
Even though Apple didn't make any huge changes on its new Apple TV box, it does come with a slight spec bump for Netflix. On the third generation Apple TV, Netflix will take advantage of its higher resolution output with 1080p streams, just like other platforms like the PS3 and Roku. Don't have the new box? You'll still get a slightly more integrated experience, now that new users can sign up directly from the Apple TV, and pay via their iTunes account.
Apple reveals 1080p Apple TV: $99, arrives March 16th
It looks like we were blind-sided a little by that decidedly iPad-esque invite, because Apple has something more for us -- it's just announced the latest iteration of Apple TV and it can do 1080p video. The new UI inches slightly closer to iOS territory, with a splash of new color and a whole range of third-party apps willing to play with the new box. This includes access to Photo Stream alongside old favorites like Netflix, Flickr and YouTube. Expect improved connectivity to the iCloud (including your movie content) and better integration of your iTunes playlists directly from the refreshed UI. The good news: the price is going nowhere -- the new model matches the 2010 version at $99. The bad? You'll have to wait until next week to get your hands on one. Pre-orders start today.For more coverage of Apple's iPad event, visit our hub!
