News
Apple TV 2G teardown reveals 8GB of storage
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Wednesday, September 29, 2010
News Category: Apple TV
iFixit has completed its teardown of the second-generation Apple TV, and has already revealed several previously unknown details of the device. Notably, the second-generation Apple TV sports 8GB of internal flash storage, equivalent to the $99 iPhone 3GS, and also features 256MB of RAM, the same as the fourth-generation iPod touch and the iPad. Its Apple A4 chip bears the same marking as the one found in the fourth-generation iPod touch and iPad, but different from the iPhone 4; the Broadcom BCM4329XKUBG 802.11n Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/FM chip is also the same as the one found in the iPad. Overall, iFixit gave the second-generation Apple TV an eight out of ten for repairability thanks to its easy-to-open case, separate power supply board, and common fasteners.
Related Stories
- ESPN in talks with Apple to bring content to Apple TV
- Foxconn making preparations for Apple HDTV
- Apple releases Apple TV Software Update 5.0.1
- Kanex ATV Pro solves Apple TV to VGA dilemma
- Third-gen Apple TV found to have dual-core A5
- Apple supplier Hon Hai takes large stake in Sharp
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- Pulp adds iCloud sync, new Home Page
- WordPress for iOS adds Push Notifications
- Sony launches Music Unlimited for iOS
- Apple device poll ends, computing poll begins
- Fruit Ninja adds new features and power-ups
- Apple to sell Nest Learning Thermostat
- Third-gen iPad to launch in Guam, Philippines May 29
- Apple tweaks App Store with Editors’ Choice, Free picks
- Panic releases Diet Coda
- Booq rolls out new Folio for iPad
Recent Reviews
- Pelican i1075 Hardback Case for iPad
- Skinit Skins for iPad (3rd-Generation)
- Spigen SGP Steinheil Ultra Optics Screen Protector for iPad (3rd-Gen)
- ZeroChroma VarioProtect for iPhone 4/4S
- BodyGuardz UltraTough Clear Skins for iPad (3rd-Gen)
- Wrapsol Original + Ultra Hybrid Protective Film for iPad 2/iPad (3rd-Gen)
- iBattz Mojo Removable Power Card Wallet
- dreamGEAR i.Sound Power View Pro S 2.1A Dual Charging Dock
- dreamGEAR i.Sound Universal Power View
- Sena Cases Florence Portfolio for iPad (3rd-Gen)
Recent Articles
- Removing music from iTunes after copying to iPod
- iOS Gems: Farm 123, Facebook Camera, Scribblenauts, Shoot the Zombirds + Virtua Tennis Challenge
- iTunes TV show size totals don’t match actual disk storage
- Consolidating Multiple iTunes Libraries
- Converting Purchased Videos to 1080p HD
- Find My Friends always reports home location
- Creating an iTunes Match library from an external hard drive
- Benefits of keeping apps in iTunes when using iCloud
- Recovering iTunes from an External Hard Drive
- Normalizing volume levels for Voice Memos
1
And what about new iPod touch 8GB?
Posted by alfagta on September 29, 2010 at 12:52 PM (PDT)
2
That’s great news! I figured it should have around 4GB to store a local cache of your rented movies, so 8GB is great… I’ll get one if it ever comes to Mexico (and since iTunes 10 added the Mexican rating system, it might actually happen).
Posted by Korpil on September 29, 2010 at 12:54 PM (PDT)
3
“Notably, the second-generation Apple TV sports 8GB of internal flash storage, less than any other currently available iOS device save for the $99 iPhone 3GS”
Wow, then my brand new iPod touch 4th gen with 8GB flash storage must be from some weird alternate reality…
Posted by Mike11 on September 29, 2010 at 1:28 PM (PDT)
4
8GB of storage means one thing; an App Store for the Apple TV is very possible, indeed.
Posted by Luis on September 29, 2010 at 2:04 PM (PDT)
5
Uhhhh, is it just me, or does 8GB seem very small? I mean a movie on iTunes for rental is 1.5 GB alone for SD, and even more for HD. I would assume that Apple TV will use video that will be similar in size/compression.
I just would have expected a lot larger. Am I misunderstanding how this is to work, maybe?
Posted by Kevin on September 29, 2010 at 2:15 PM (PDT)
6
The second-generation Apple TV isn’t designed to store anything. Content is supposed to be either streamed over the Internet (in the case of rented content) or streamed from iTunes.
That said, the 8GB of memory may be intended for use as a “cache” for rented content. It would make sense to be able to download and store a movie while you’re watching it, particularly for slower connections. I doubt that it’s intended to download everything you may rent, since even a single HD movie runs around 4GB.
Of course, it’s equally possible that Apple just needed to put some capacity of Flash memory in to store the OS and went with 8GB chips because they were cheap and readily available.
Posted by Jesse Hollington in Toronto on September 29, 2010 at 2:52 PM (PDT)