How to Install Apple TV to Your Television

The great thing about Apple TV is that it works wirelessly. Your computer and TV are in constant contact with each other—every time you get something new on Itunes, it will show up on your Apple TV drive. First though, you’ve got to connect the box.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• An Apple TV box
• A high-def TV

1. First, buy the Apple TV module: cheaper than most Ipods at $299.
2. Find some space for it. It’s small: 8 inches square and an inch high. You don’t want the box to be obstructed. Don’t place anything on top of the Apple TV console. Like VCRs or DVD players, you want some breathing room for the module so it doesn’t overheat.
3. Get an enhanced or high definition TV. Older sets don’t have the connections necessary for the Apple TV. More and more, you’re going to be seeing TVs advertising Apple TV compatibility.
4. Connect the cables. Hardest part, but once you’re done, you don’t have to think about it. Connect a widescreen TV using the HDMI port. Connect the component video cable to the component video input. Connect the analog audio cable to the analog audio input. Optional but recommended: connect a cable using the Optical Video Out port to your home theater receiver.
5. Hint: for all connections, use the corresponding green, blue, and red connectors to the Y, Pb, and Pr ports on the TV.
6. If you have wireless capability, you’re basically done. If you are using Ethernet (not as highly recommended) connect the Ethernet cable from your network portal to the Ethernet connection on the back of the Apple TV console.
7. Now, connect the power cord—not before the above steps.
8. Use the Apple TV remote to navigate the Apple TV menu. Like playing a DVD, you will need to switch to Apple TV using the remote.

Tips & Warnings

• Limitations: you can’t yet use the Apple TV box to download files directly. You’ll have to use the computer, but this can really clear your harddrive of disk space if you have a lot of files built up.
• You want a fast wireless network of it could take hours to upload movies to the Apple TV. With a good, fast connection, streaming should be seamless.
• You can synchronize five household computers to all correspond with the same Apple TV box. You’ll need a new Apple TV box for different TVs, though.