Tim Cook kind of rushed past the Apple TV update yesterday. On the surface of things, not much changed: 1080p was the only real new feature, as the new iOS-like interface and Netflix sign-up are also available on older Apple TVs via update. But under the hood, the little black box is powered by a custom single-core A5 chip.
The old Apple TV used the exact same same A4 processor found in the iPad and iPod Touches of the time (model number K4X2G643GE. The iPhone 4 used a slightly different chip). Now, the specs page lists the Apple TV as containing an “Apple single-core A5 chip.”
The new iPad, on the other hand, sports the new dual-core Apple A5X.
Why? Well, the Apple TV needs to do 1080p video, and that’s about it. The iPad, on the other hand, needs to run apps and power a crazy retina display. Clearly the A5X would have been overkill (and over expensive) for the little $99 box.
And speaking of prices, reports on Twitter say that the Apple TV is dropping in price outside the US, dropping from €119 to €109. My guess for this is the strong dollar exchange rate.
[Via Apple Insider]