Second generation Apple TV was the successor to the original Apple TV, Apple’s first entry into the set-top box and Internet-connected TV market. This article details the main hardware and software features. It also provides a diagram to help you understand what each of the device’s ports does.
Apple discontinued the second generation Apple TV in 2012. Check out our guides to Apple TV fourth generation and Apple TV 4K for information on the latest models.
Meet the second generation Apple TV
While the original Apple TV stored content locally—whether by syncing from a user’s iTunes library or by downloading from the iTunes Store—the second-generation model is almost entirely web-centric. Instead of syncing content, this device streams content from iTunes libraries via Airplay iTunes Store, iCloud, or other online services using built-in apps such as Netflix, Hulu, MLB.TV, YouTube, and more.
Because it’s not needed, the device doesn’t offer many options for local storage. However, it has 8 GB of flash memory used to store streaming content.
This version of Apple TV runs a modified version of the Apple operating system used for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Specifically, the firmware is a variation of iOS 7. Future versions will use the version of iOS prior to fourth-generation hardware, which finally got its own platform: tvOS.
Here are some more technical details of the second generation Apple TV:
