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Essentials REMOVEApple TV (2nd Generation) REMOVEApple TV
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Family iOS iPod
Codename ? iTV
Gestalt ID 406 406
Minimum OS Apple TV Software 4.0 (iOS 4.1) Apple TV Software 1.0 (OS X 10.4)
Maximum OS Apple TV Software 7.2 (iOS 8.3) Apple TV Software 3.0 (OS X 10.4)
Introduced September 2010 March 2007
Terminated March 2012 September 2010
Announced   January 2007
Processor REMOVEApple TV (2nd Generation) REMOVEApple TV
CPU Apple A4 (ARM Cortex-A8) Pentium M
CPU Speed 1.0 GHz 1 GHz (under-clocked to 350 MHz)
FPU integrated integrated
Register Width 32-bit 32-bit
Data Bus Width 64-bit 32-bit
Address Bus Width 32-bit 32-bit
Level 1 Cache 32 kB data, 32 kB instruction 32 kB data, 32 kB instruction
Level 2 Cache 512 kB on-processor 2 MB on-processor
RAM Type on-board DDR2
Onboard RAM 256 MB 256 MB
RAM slots none none
Maximum RAM 256 MB 256 MB
Bus Speed   350 MHz
ROM   EFI
Video REMOVEApple TV (2nd Generation) REMOVEApple TV
GPU PowerVR SGX 535 (via A4) GeForce Go 7300
Max Resolution 720p 720p
Video Out HDMI HDMI, Component
VRAM   64 MB
Storage REMOVEApple TV (2nd Generation) REMOVEApple TV
Flash Drive 8 GB  
Hard Drive   40/160 GB
Input/Output REMOVEApple TV (2nd Generation) REMOVEApple TV
USB 1 (Micro-USB) 1 2.0
Audio Out HDMI, optical TOSLINK HDMI, stereo RCA, optical S/PDIF
Networking REMOVEApple TV (2nd Generation) REMOVEApple TV
Ethernet 10/100Base-T 10/100Base-T
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n 802.11a/b/g/n
Miscellaneous REMOVEApple TV (2nd Generation) REMOVEApple TV
Power 6 Watts 48 Watts
Dimensions 0.9" H x 3.9" W x 3.9" D 1.1" H x 7.7" W x 7.7" D
Weight 0.6 lbs. 2.4 lbs.
Description Introduced in September 2010, the Apple TV (2nd Generation) was a dramatic re-think of the more than 3-year-old original Apple TV, inside and out. On the outside, it was dramatically reduced in size, with fewer ports optimized for contemporary AV equipment: component video and analog audio output were removed, though the HDMI and TOSLINK ports remained.

Inside the changes were even more dramatic: the Apple TV (2nd Generation) was now backed by iOS 4.x, running on an Apple A4 processor, and no longer included a hard drive for storing audio and video content. In place of on-disk content, the Apple TV (2nd Generation) supported streaming of audio and video from a variety of sources. Local streaming was supported via AirPlay, streaming TV shows and movies could be rented from iTunes. YouTube and Netflix streaming were also supported. MLB TV, Vimeo and Flickr integration were subsequently added as well.

Perhaps the most dramatic change of all was the price: the Apple TV (2nd Generation) cut the price of the original Apple TV by more than half, to $99. It was replaced in March 2012 by the Apple TV (3rd Generation).

Announced in January 2007 under the codename iTV and Released two months later, the Apple TV was apple's official first foray into the set-top market (Prototypes of a never-released PPC 603-based set top box from the late 1990s surface from time to time). Running a closed, custom build of Mac OS X (based on v10.4.7), the Apple TV allowed streaming of audio and video from any iTunes-equipped computer on the local network, acting as a single FrontRow-style interface for all computers in a household. In addition to on-network audio and video, the Apple TV could also play select YouTube videos (re-encoded in h.264) and movie trailers from Apple's website.

The Apple TV could be connected to any widescreen TV with either HDMI or component video, supported both analog and digital audio via RCA and optical S/PDIF outputs and supported resolutions from 480p to 720p. The 40 GB model sold for $299, and a 160 GB was available BTO for $399. In January 2008, Apple reduced the price of both models, to $229 and $329, respectively. Apple also released a new version of the Apple TV software, which allowed rental of DVD-quality and HD movies directly from the device. In October 2009, Apple introduced Apple TV 3.0, dropped the 40 GB model, and dropped the price of the 160 GB model to $229. It was discontinued in September 2010, with the introduction of the Apple TV (2nd Generation).

Picture Credit Apple, Inc. Apple, Inc.