Apple TV Special Report: Hot to the touch -- reducing surface temperature

Several users are reporting that the Apple TV is hot to the touch -- not surprising since the top of the device's case actually acts as a heatsink. AnandTech's dissection of the Apple TV explains. Some users have found success with the following cooling remedies:

Manually put in standby mode It appears that putting the Apple TV in standby mode manually -- achieved by pressing the center button for 6 seconds -- rather than allowing the unit to idle while not in use can result in reduction of overall surface temperature. You can tell that the unit has entered standby mode when the status indicator light turns off.

Stream don't sync Though not an ideal solution some excess heat that can be avoided by streaming media rather than synchronizing data. The Apple TV's spinning hard drive (required for playing back synchronized media stored on the unit) can create additional heat.

Use component cables instead of HDMI In some cases, using component cables rather than HDMI cables can reduce overall surface temperature.

Index:

• Available storage space
• Connecting the Apple TV through a Firewall
• Does not appear in/disappears from devices list in iTunes
• HDMI connection does not work -- fixes
• Hot to the touch -- reducing surface temperature
• Incorrect time setting
• Interference with wireless phones
• Internet connection fails
• iPhoto synchronization fails
• Knowledge Base documents (from Apple)
• Performing a factory restore
• Purchased media (iTunes Store movies, songs) not playing -- fixes
• Resolution difficulty
• Running diagnostics
• Slow transfer: Use Ethernet for synchronization
• Translating video so it plays on the Apple TV

Resources