Apple has done a very good job with the Apple TV, according to an in-depth, technical review posted by PC Magazine on Thursday.

The review was notable for its technical depth and attention to detail. For those audio/videophiles who've been hungry for some of the detailed technical specifications, such as the HDMI protocol used (it's 1.2) or the details of the video formats, the review is excellent.

As most reviews do, it started with the description of the device and the set up. However, at every turn there are additional technical details.

For example, the authors described the set up: "So: what do you need for this to work? First and foremost: you need the latest version of iTunes (7.1.1), and should also get the latest Quicktime update. Assuming you have a wireless 802.11 b (11mbps), g (54 mbps), or n (145 or 300 mbps) network, iTunes will detect Apple TV when you power up. It should be noted that we experienced only minor stuttering when streaming video content over a "b" wireless set-up. The sound was trailing the video. Our solution? Pause and play the video again, and things were back in synch. A "b" network is certainly not ideal, but it works, and it will only occasionally sputter during streaming. You can also connect to Apple TV via standard Ethernet to enjoy the simplicity and reliability of wired networking."

Clearly, the authors had a test unit for a long time before Apple shipped in order to write such a detailed and technical review.

When the authors turned to the TV side, they left no specification uncovered. "The audio formats are the usual suspects for iPods�AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (from iTunes Store); MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR; Apple Lossless; AIFF; and WAV�but no support for Audible. And for those of your who want to watch your vacation slideshow on your new flat panel, as long as you have your pics in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, or PNG, you're good to go. As for TV compatibility, as mentioned earlier, you'll need an enhanced definition or high definition widescreen with 1080i 60/50Hz, 720p 60/50Hz, 576p 50Hz (PAL format), or 480p 60Hz. Apple has designed this product to work only with widescreen EDTVs and HDTVs," they reported.

This was much more than a simple review of the product. It marks the unveiling of the product from a technical standpoint. Anyone who is a serious home theater customer will find everything they need in this excellent report.