All About the Second Generation Apple TV

The second-generation Apple TV was the successor to the original Apple TV, Apple's first entry into the set-top box/Internet-connected TV market. This article details its key hardware and software features. It also provides a diagram to help you understand what each of the device's ports does.

Get to Know the Second Generation Apple TV

While the original Apple TV stored content locally–whether by syncing from a user's iTunes library or via download from the iTunes Store—the second-generation model is almost entirely Internet-centric. Instead of syncing content, this device streams it from iTunes libraries via AirPlay, the iTunes Store, iCloud, or other online services using built-in apps like Netflix, Hulu, MLB.TV, YouTube, and more.

Because it doesn't need it, the device doesn’t offer much in the way of local storage. It does have 8 GB of Flash memory used for storing streamed content, however.

This version of the Apple TV runs a modified version of the operating system Apple uses for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Specifically, the firmware is a variation of iOS 7. Future versions would continue to use a version of iOS until the fourth-generation hardware, which finally got its own framework: tvOS.

Here are some more technical details from the second-generation Apple TV:

Anatomy of the 2nd Gen. Apple TV

This image shows the back of the second-generation Apple TV and the ports that are available there.

From left to right, they are:

1. Power Adapter
2. HDMI port (top)
3. Mini USB port
4. Optical Audio jack
5. Ethernet port