Apple TV 101

In case you haven’t yet seen one, Apple TV ($119; apple.ca) is a great little gadget for those who spend time in front of their television. But be aware it’s a supplement – rather than a replacement – to traditional TV.

How to set it up:

1. Connect the Apple TV, a small black box a tad bigger than a deck of cards, to your television via an HDMI cable (not included). The location of the connection will vary with each television, usually at the back or side, and it should be labelled as HDMI. You can get an HDMI cable at any home electronics store and it ensures you will get the best quality picture available (and it handles audio, too).
2. The second step is to join Apple TV to your wireless network (or use a wired Ethernet cable instead by plugging it into the back). With the former (the more popular option), you’ll see Apple TV appear on your TV screen. Enter the Settings option, choose Network Settings and then search for and join your network. The last step is to type in your password, which you only need to do once. You do have a password on your wireless network, yes?
3. Start watching. You can rent HD movies from iTunes (for $6 a pop). You have 30 days to start watching a movie, and once you click to start you have 48 hours in which to finish it (or you can watch it as many times as you like within this period). You can also access various online video services, such as YouTube (free) or Netflix (paid), or you can wirelessly stream media from your home computer – such as videos, photos and music – as long as it’s in iTunes.