Apple TV (2nd Generation)

Essentials

Family: iOS

Codename: ?

Gestalt ID: 406

Minimum OS: Apple TV Software 4.0 (iOS 4.1)

Maximum OS: Apple TV Software 7.2 (iOS 8.3)

Introduced: September 2010

Terminated: March 2012

Processor

CPU: Apple A4 (ARM Cortex-A8)

CPU Speed: 1.0 GHz

FPU: integrated

Data Bus Width: 64-bit

Address Bus Width: 32-bit

Level 1 Cache: 32 kB data, 32 kB instruction

Level 2 Cache: 512 kB on-processor

RAM Type: on-board

Onboard RAM: 256 MB

RAM slots: none

Maximum RAM: 256 MB

Video

GPU: PowerVR SGX 535 (via A4)

Max Resolution: 720p

Video Out: HDMI

Storage

Flash Drive: 8 GB

Input/Output

USB: 1 (Micro-USB)

Audio Out: HDMI, optical TOSLINK

Networking

Ethernet: 10/100Base-T

Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n

Miscellaneous

Power: 6 Watts

Dimensions: 0.9" H x 3.9" W x 3.9" D

Weight: 0.6 lbs.

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).

Picture Credits:
Apple, Inc.