Apple tv 2nd generation - connect guide

With Apple TV, you can rent high-definition movies, purchase TV shows, watch streaming content from Netflix, and enjoy podcasts, YouTube and Vimeo videos, and Internet radio. And, you can stream your personal iTunes content wirelessly from a Mac or PC, and view photos from your computer or Flickr on your widescreen HDTV, from the comfort of your couch. And with AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to Apple TV.

Note: Content availability varies by region.

What's in the box

Note: Your power cord may look different from the one pictured here.

Apple TV at a Glance

 

• IR receiver Use with the included Apple Remote to control Apple TV.
• Status lightThe status light flashes slowly when Apple TV starts up. When Apple TV is on, the status light glows. See “Status Light” on page 31.
• Micro USB portFor service and diagnostics.
• Power portConnect the included AC power cord to the power port on Apple TV.G
• Ethernet portIf your network is Ethernet-based, connect an Ethernet cable.£
• HDMI portConnect Apple TV to the HDMI port of a high-definition TV using an HDMI cable.
• Optical digital audio portConnect Apple TV to a home theater receiver that has an optical digital audio port,using an optical digital audio (also called S/PDIF or TOSLINK) cable.Z
• Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi technologyConnect Apple TV to your wireless network.

What You Need

To start using Apple TV, you need the following:

High-Definition TV

A high-definition TV capable of displaying 720p video

Cables

• An HDMI cable to connect Apple TV to your TV
• An optical digital audio cable (if you plan to use one)

Network

• An 802.11b, g, or n Wi-Fi wireless network (wireless video streaming requires 802.11g or 802.11n), or 10/100Base-T Ethernet network
• A broadband Internet connection (DSL, cable, or LAN)
• Your wireless network name and password (if you use one)

Software and Accounts

To play content from a Mac or PC on Apple TV, you need the following:

• An Apple ID to rent movies or purchase TV shows from the iTunes store,and to use Home Sharing to stream content from a Mac or PC
• iTunes 10.2 or later
• A Netflix account to stream content 

Setting Up Apple TV

Apple TV connects to your TV through an HDMI port that delivers both audio and video. Before you set up Apple TV, look at the ports on the back of your TV to make sure you have the right cables.

You can connect Apple TV to a high-definition TV or home theater receiver that has an HDMI port, using an HDMI cable for both video and audio.

You can also use an optical digital audio cable to connect Apple TV to a receiver for audio.

Important: Before you connect Apple TV to a power outlet, carefully read these installation instructions and the safety information in the included Important Product Information Guide.

Step 1: Connecting the cables

1. Connect one end of an HDMI cable to the back of your TV.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to the HDMI port on the back of Apple TV.
3. If you’re using an optical digital audio cable for audio, connect one end of the cable to the audio input port on your receiver or TV, and the other end to the optical digital audio port on the back of Apple TV. 

Note: The built-in 802.11 Wi-Fi technology connects Apple TV to your wireless network. If your network is Ethernet-based, connect Apple TV to your network using an Ethernet cable.

Step 2: Connect the power cord

Connect one end of the power cord to the power port on the back of Apple TV and the other end to a power outlet.

Important: Don’t place anything on top of Apple TV. Objects placed on top may interfere with the wireless signal. Don’t place Apple TV on other electronic equipment in a media cabinet.

Step 3: Turn on your TV and select the input

The first time you use Apple TV, it helps you choose a language, select a network, and configure Apple TV to work with your network (if necessary).

If you see just a black screen the first time you use Apple TV, make sure the input setting you’ve selected on your TV matches the input you connected the cables to on your TV or home theater receiver.