What is Apple TV?

Apple tv is a set top box that you connect to you're tv and you can use to play contact from you're mac, iPhone, iPod, and iPad. First with you're tv it comes with a remote and it is very accessible to work. All the menus and controls are accessible on the apple tv. You can also mirror content on the apple tv using airplay from you're iDevices.

You can also play movies tv shows that you have downloaded to iTunes and you can also play movies from netflix if you have a netflix subscription and the same thing for hulu.

Isaac, Thanks for your description. I don't have a TV. What kind of TV do I need to buy? I guess, then, that it uses the audio from the TV? Thanks again.

Stewart O Any tv with an HDMI port will work. the video and audio are transferred to your tv from the apple tv. You can connect to your router using WIFI or LAN. It is an awesome device, I would recommend you to get it. Also for those who wish to watch apple tv outside of the USA there is a very good and cheap service which doesn't require you to go through difficult setups. http://www.unotelly.com I have been using them for 3 days now and all works awesome.

I am not sure about what tv you should get.

Thanks John for the recommendation. I'm still a bit confused on the benefits of an Apple TV verses streaming through my PC or IOS devices.If I'm not going to watch anything, (visually), what purpose does the TV serve connected to the Apple TV? I apologize for my apparent denseness.

My Apple TV has only an HDMI output. I have it connected to a TV, and the TV's audio outs to a sound system. Without the TV, it would be an inert little box. We have a TV for sighted family members. If it weren't for that, I'd likely look for other ways to stream content to the audio system. If you have a receiver with HDMI, you could likely hook the Apple TV up to it, and not need a TV. I'm not sure about that though.

I always thought the Apple TV was, well, a TV. Thanks for explaining it-really helpful.

Just to clarify, apple tv does also have digital out. SO if your receiver has optical input, you can use this as well, without HDMI. FOr a while I used mine like this, when sighties weren't around, I just didn't need to have the tv running. The only issue I run into, was when I tried to stream video audio to the apple tv, it gave me an error that there is no video output. I had to turn on tv for that, to make it work. I am not shure if there are audio receivers with HDMI ports, as it is meant to transfer video content as well. Don't count on it though, I am not very up to date on todays receivers. For airplay, Home sharing music, iTunes store music etc, having only digital audio is fine.

Does Apple TV provide access to local TV stations or is it purely just a streaming content reciever?

What I am looking for is a standard TV that provides spoken feedback when you do something like change a channel or setting. Since I am single and live alone, only audio output is required.

I've had an Apple TV for over a year now, and it is amazing overall.
I have mine hooked into a receiver that accepts HDMI, and other than when company comes over, I never turn our TV on.
In addition to watching downloaded content an streaming audio from any I device, there are lots of different content sources, such as major league baseball, you tube, net flix, and lots more.
I highly suggest getting a Bluetooth keyboard, as using the included remote to enter text in searches is a pain.
The one I have is a Logitech, forget the model number, but you can control up to three devices with it, so mine works with my iPad, iPhone and the Apple tv.
It is definitely the best $100 I ever spent on a piece of hardware for entertainment.

The AppleTV works with streaming services, not local television.