Will an ATV2 work out of the box?

[iRobz]

I'm about ready to order a new iMac and Apple tv, I'm holding fire for the supposed back to school promotion before ordering the iMac but wondered if I could get the Apple TV and have a play in the mean time.

I have an iPad full of media that I could stream from but am unsure if the ATV needs any sort of activation from an iTunes account before use.

 

[Panch0]

you need an iTunes Store Account, but it doesn't have to sync to an iTunes Library. If you have an existing PC that you use to sync your iPad, you can use that iTunes library with ATV through HomeSharing. The ATV doesn't get linked to a specific computer - it is all through the iTunes Account.

 

[iRobz]

I have an iTunes account but I haven't synced my iPad since my original iMac died last December.

So I'll be able to set the ATV up to be able to stream videos and music i have via AirPlay from my iPad?

 

[EmpyreanUK]

If the stuff's already on your iPad, you can use AirPlay to stream it from that directly to an Apple TV 2. As far as I can remember you don't need to log in to iTunes on the ATV2 to use it, but even if you are required to, you simply enter your iTunes username and password directly into the ATV —*you don't need to connect it to a computer at any point, for synching or anything else.

 

[aussiedj]

Depends what your definition of 'work' is.

 

[iRobz]

Brilliant, thanks peoples. I'm only after a bit of basic functionality and the ability to extend the content of my iPad to my tv, at least until my iMac arrives and then all the proper fun can begin.