Customise Apple TV: Your How-To Guide

Posted on 20 July, 2015

The rumours of an upgrade for Apple TV have been swirling around for at least two years now. We thought the Worldwide Developers Conference hosted by Apple earlier in the year would set the scene for a fourth-generation Apple TV. Any hopes we had were dashed when Apple declared it wasn’t quite ready for a new unveiling. So until that time arrives we remain content with Apple’s current offering.

Over time Apple has continued to offer new content and as users we can add our own. So the number of channels and icons to scroll through continue to grow.

We will take a look at three ways you can customise Apple TV to ensure your content is organised in a way that suits you.

Customise Apple TV: main menu.

All Apple TV channels appear on the main menu, this includes when any new channels are added. You are in control though of what channel can be seen.

To hide a channel that you don’t watch from you main menu:

Go into the settings app on the second row below iTunes and shared computer channels.
Select main menu.
Select “Hide” for any channel that you don’t want showing. This is done by selecting the appropriate channel and clicking the centre select button on your Apple TV remote. Channels that are visible will be listed as “Show,” while channels that are invisible are shown as “Hide.” You can change a channels status at any time.

Customise Apple TV: rearrange icons.

If you want certain icons to appear at the top of your Apple TV’s menu you can rearrange the order in which they appear. You can rearrange all icons apart for the top row of the menu which remains static.

To change where an icon appears in the menu:

Select the icon you want to move.
Press and hold “Select” on the remote (the icon will start to jiggle just as it does on iOS)
Use the remote to move the icon to where you would like it.
Press select to finish.

Customise Apple TV: set a password to access a channel.

You can customise Apple TV to restrict what channels can be watched. For example parents may want to control what their kids have access to.

To do this:

Access the Apple TV “Settings” menu.
Select “Restrictions.”
Choose “Turn on restrictions.”
Enter and confirm a four-digit password
Scroll down the list of channels where you will have three options: Show, Hide and Ask. Select “Ask” to keep the channel in your main menu but to prompt for a password every time someone wants to access it.

What is Apple TV?

Posted on 13 February, 2015 26 February, 2015

What is Apple TV?

Simply put, Apple TV is a digital media player. Apple TV is a small device that uses a cable to connect to your television.

You can use Apple TV to steam movies, TV shows, news, sport, music, photos and other files from your Apple device to any high-definition TV with HDMI.

As well as being able to access your personal media through iTunes you can access content from MLB.TV, NBA.com, NHL GameCenter, Australian Cricket, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and a host of other channels.

Like your other Apple devices, Apple TV is easy to set up and use.

Apple TV works with all your other Apple devices. Your Apple TV will pick up your iPhone, iPod, iPad, or Mac if it is in range. You can also use a PC running iTunes to stream content from your library on to your TV. Once your Apple TV is setup you can login to your Apple account to access any content previously purchased through iTunes. Unfortunately you cannot access any content that is saved outside of your iTunes library.

Apple TV is great for sharing things like photos, home videos or custom playlists. So rather than have lots of people cramming around an iPhone to see your holiday snaps, Apple TV allows you to see them all on the big screen. To get Apple TV working you will have to be connected to your home wifi network.

AppleTV has many great features here are just 3:

Apple TV has Family Sharing. This makes it easier for the whole family to share content
Apple TV is great to use with AirPlay. AirPlay allows you to mirror what is on your device and see a duplicate image on your TV screen. This makes it great for playing games, displaying emails, text messages or showing presentations.
By downloading an Apple TV remote app you can also control Apple TV through your iPhone or iPad. This is most helpful when searching for content. Rather than navigating the keyboard on the TV with your remote you can simply type what you are looking for into your Apple device.

Via: Lenovo, Mac World, AboutTech, Apple, Business Insider

What is coming from Apple in 2015?

Posted on 13 January, 2015 12 January, 2015

What can we expect from Apple in 2015? There’s certainly a lot of rumours and predictions making the rounds. Let’s take a look at some of Apple’s biggest products and what we could expect this year.

1. Apple Watch

While not yet an Apple product 2015 will see the launch of the Apple Watch. In fact, it’s the only product launch that has been officially confirmed by the company. Dates for the launch vary, but most expect it will be in February, possibly on Valentine’s Day. It will be Apple’s first wearable technology and will come in three different versions: Watch, Watch Sport and Watch Edition. There will be two models: a 38 millimeter model featuring a 272×340 pixel screen and a 42 millimeter version with a 312×390 pixel screen. Unlike other Apple products the Apple Watch will allow customisation in its design with a range of interchangeable straps. The first version of the watch will require an iPhone. If you don’t own an iPhone but would like an Apple watch you will have to wait until late in 2015. The watch will come with a heart rate monitor so health apps are likely to be central focus of the Apple Watch. Pricing will start at $349 in the US (approximately $430 Australian) with no indication around pricing for more expensive models.

2. Apple TV

With no significant update in a number of years, there are many rumours circulating around Apple TV in 2015. Some suggest Apple will launch a subscription service with live and on demand TV. Other rumours have suggested there will be support for video games as well as a dedicated App store. A dedicated App store could mean Apple TV is used as a control hub for various products around the home with developers using Apple’s HomeKit tools to create apps. While most rumours suggest that Apple will continue to refine Apple TV, rumours persist that a complete redesign is on the cards one that would once again see it dominate an increasingly competitive product segment.

3. iPhone 7

While it seems only recently that the iPhone 6 was launched, Apple has been consistently launching new versions of the iPhone in September each year. This is expected to continue. Over half of Apple’s revenue is generated from this product alone and therefore consistent launches of upgraded iPhones have almost become mandatory for Apple to ensure it remains at the forefront of the smart-phone industry. Rumours for the iPhone 7 focus on the devices camera. Some have predicted the biggest improvement ever for the iPhone’s camera especially the rear facing camera. Other rumours include a built-in Beats Music app, upgraded chip technology, wireless charging and a reversible USB charger.

4. iPad

The most likely prediction for the iPad this year is a larger screen. Dubbed the iPad Pro or iPad Plus the screen could be over 12 inches compared to the 7.9 and 9.7 inch models currently on offer from Apple. A partnership with IBM has most people predicting that the new iPad will be aimed at educational institutions and business professionals with a range of new business related apps to be launched. The new iPad may also allow multitasking through custom software allowing a split-screen.

5. Mac

Retina display has been a staple of the MacBook Pro since 2012. 2015 might finally see a MacBook Air with this same technology. A new 12 inch version alongside the current 11 and 13 inch models has been forecast as has ultra-slim casing, a new trackpad without a button and a fan-less design. It is possible too that the rumoured 12 inch version would be offered in the same three colours currently available for the iPhone 6. Predications for a release date centre around the middle of the year.