Apple TV - 8GB Local Storage - Oh my!

Well despite Apple not mentioning the amount of local storage on the new Apple TV we know know just what's in this little baby. iFixit have done their usual fabulous job of tearing down the new device and made some interesting discoveries.

What is this? A Samsung K9LCG08U1M 8GB NAND Flash chip?

Why, yes it is. It's the same part we found during the iPad teardown! This is a pretty remarkable amount of storage for a $99 device.

So the Apple TV does have a decent amount of internal storage - a whopping 8GB. Not only that, but it also has an empty memory slot next to the existing 8GB that could indicate an option for a 16GB version of higher.

As the device is intended to be a streaming device only, the local storage must only be for one thing and that that's the local installation of iOS applications.

Not yet, but Apple only have to flip a switch and we could have apps on our Apple TVs

OK, it's probably a bit more than that, including some changes to the iOS SDK, but at least the hardware platform is in place.

The iFixit teardown also brought up some other interesting points:

• It includes the exact same A4 chip as found in the iPad (but not in the iPhone)
• It has 256MB of RAM as found in the iPad
• It has the same 802.11n Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/FM chip as found in the iPad
• It's very power efficient and should run cool to the touch (just like the iPad)
• The logic board appears to have some pin outs on the logic board that matches the size of a dock connector? Something for the future or maybe the logic board is to be used in a different device.

In all, a lot of power for a low price.

It will be interesting to see how Apple ramps up the functionality of the Apple TV over time with the introduction of new features and services.

We've barely seen a fraction of what they have planned for the Apple TV.

By the way, I've revised the results of my predications for the new Apple TV in the blog post I published the day before the announcement.  In it, I said:

8 or 16GB local storage for Apps and Games

I think I'm going to say I nailed that particular prediction ;-)

Comments

[Gazmaz]

So how long before someone strips it down and produces their own 'computer' using the Apple TV guts?.

[Michael]

Open up ATV for Apps + Plex = Awesome!

[danielflugt]

@gazmaz: Well, the old Apple TV was able to run Tiger with some heavy tinkering. I couldn't imagine this happening to the new box anytime soon, seeing it's using the A4 chip and, as far as I know, no OS besides iOS has been programmed for it.

Still, it looks like an interesting product - if you live in a country where Apple offers video purchases or rental that is

[Mitch Cohen]

I suspect the flash memory module is needed for the Apple TV anyway - for the OS, storing system settings, caching streaming video, etc. 2GB-4GB would likely be fine, but I'm guessing the price differential is tiny (especially since Apple buys them in such quantity, including 8GB modules for other devices). But I'm sure hoping they do open this up - the potential is significant.