What are options for connecting Apple TV to SD set?

I spoke to apple today about this, as I want to do the same thing.

It will only work through the component out.

I've seen some component switch boxes which would save you having to keep unplugging the connections ;

http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2006/08/24/AV-Tool-AV-5831-Component-Video-AV-Switcher/p1


Hope this helps.

It will only work through component; and we have to hope Apple built in an SD output option.

Different problem

My 36" Toshiba has component inputs and supports 480p. However it's a 4:3 television and has no letterboxing feature to force black bars on widescreen content. I'm hoping the TV will have such a feature. Otherwise I'll be stuck with 16:9 content stretched to 4:3.

Yvan256 said:

Otherwise I'll be stuck with 16:9 content stretched to 4:3.

Click to expand...

Actually, I think it's smooshed!

To the OP -- if the squish mode works on the DVD through component ins, I don't see any obvious reason it would not also work on the Apple TV (assuming this is, as you say, a feature of the TV and not of the DVD player). I personally would echo recommendations that you do something involving a switch so that you are using component ins....

The Apple TV has component output, which means it can be used on an SD TV. HDTV only works via the HDMI interface. The requirements for the Apple TV are just a widescreen TV. I assume this means it will only output an anamorphic 16:9 signal, which means people with 4:3 TVs need to have a set that will letterbox the image. I don't know of any sets that do this - only DVD players. I don't think the Apple TV will have any other output options in its settings (like 4:3, 16:9 letterbox, 16:9 pan and scan).

The biggest problem is actually for European users - the equivalent of the component system here is RGB, which is pretty much the same thing but it is totally and completely incompatible with component (used in the USA, Australia, New Zealand). So for European users you must have a TV that has component input (only available on high-end TVs) or use HDMI. I have a rather nice and expensive Loewe set, which only has RGB or S-video input.

So the Apple TV is useless for a large number of European users.

zen said:

HDTV only works via the HDMI interface.

Click to expand...

Where have you heard this? Why would Apple deliberately cripple the component out and not allow it to output 720p or 1080i? Please cite your sources...