Part of the secret of Apple TV is that, like most of Apple's products, it doesn't try to do everything and thus is less complex. It can't receive or record cable or satellite TV, so it isn't meant as a replacement for your cable or satellite box, or for a digital video recorder like a TiVo. It can't play DVDs, so it doesn't replace your DVD player. Its sole function is to bring to the TV digital content stored on your computer or drawn from the Internet. Like a DVD player it uses its own separate input on your TV set, and you have to change inputs using your TV remote to use it. All of these functions are controlled through iTunes on your Windows and Mac computers, just as you would control an iPod through iTunes
