Who hasn’t heard of Apple TV, the media player from Apple? Tim Cook says this device is unlike anything that has come before. Is that really true? What does it have to offer? Let’s explore all these questions together.
Table of Contents
What is Apple TV?
It’s more like a set-top box that takes its content from the Internet and displays it on your TV. It also runs applications preinstalled into its system. You could be a subscriber of the Cox TV starter package and can still be streaming content from this service.
The funny thing is that it’s not a TV. Rather, it’s a palm-sized plastic box that you are supposed to connect to your TV set using an HDMI cable. It then connects to your wireless network bringing Internet videos to your TV.
Right now, the newest version of this TV is Apple TV 4K, which was revealed in 2017. This device is powered by an A10X Fusion chip. This chip was found in iPad Pro. Its predecessor was Apple TV HD which sports A8 chip installed on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
How Does It Work?
People with smart TVs can also use this TV. If you have contour TV, follow your Cox Contour TV guide to see how to use Apple TV with your service. You don’t need an iPhone or use this TV. However, you must have an iTunes account which you are going to use to sign up and log in to your TV.
This TV comes with more than 50 channels. It supports HBO Go, Disney, CNBC, YouTube, Netflix, and so many others. But that doesn’t mean you get the same kind of access offered by cable service providers.
Apple TV and the Apple TV App
If you are out googling Apple TV, you will be confused with the search results. This TV (the product/set-top-box) is different from the Apple TV app. Consider this device similar to Cox TV equipment. It’s just hardware.
The app, on the other hand, is a central hub for movies and TV shows. It splays content from iTunes and your library and connected streaming service in a single place.
Then, there’s another app called Apple TV Plus. It is a video subscription service featuring Apple’s original TV shows and movies. It’s an exclusive way of watching the original content. It’s not free rather, it costs $4.99 per month. This streaming service is definitely not like Amazon prime video or Netflix because it focuses on original programming only. You may contact Apple’s customer support to use all three of these services together.
What Can You Do with Apple TV?
Moving on to what matters, what can you do with this TV? Well, the list is long. You can:
Stream Movies and TV Shows
The device supports several entertainment providers starting from PBS, YouTube, HBO GO, Hulu, Amazon, Netflix, and so many others.
Keep in mind buying Apple TV service does not give you access to the content you would like to watch. It is just like buying a new TV which won’t work unless you have access to cable. So, you must have an account with any of the streaming services supported by Apple TV.
You can also access shows from your cable provider through Apple TV. For example, if your cable provider offers HBO, you can buy the HBO new service and use the app to watch their shows through Apple’s service.
Stream Audio
Since its Apple, it’s obvious to support music available on iTunes. You can also stream music from major music service providers such as Spotify.
Mirror Your Screen
With the AirPlay feature, you can mirror the screen of your iPhone or iPad on your TV too. This is useful if you want to view non-streaming content on a big screen. You can use your TV to access your emails, check your Instagram feed, and even play games. That means you can also use it this TV as Social TV. Doing all the said activities on full display is a great experience, isn’t it?
Final Words
Given the amount of money the company has spent on this streaming box, it’s definitely worth it for anyone who is a hardcore Apple fan to add this TV into their ecosystem.
