The second-generation Apple TV, the first model to take on the now familiar “little black box” look, has been officially declared “obsolete” by Apple.
Apple today updated its official list of vintage and obsolete products to add the second-generation Apple TV, originally released in 2010.
The second-generation Apple TV, first released in 2010, offered a redesigned black body and an aluminum Apple Remote. It was quite a change from the silver and white Apple TV model that first debuted in 2007, and sported a bulky body that resembled a Mac mini. The second-generation ATV was sold from 2010 to 2012, when it was replaced by the third-generation model.
The second-generation model is now declared “vintage” in the United States and Turkey, while it is classified as “obsolete” everywhere else. Apple’s website explains the difference:
Vintage products are those that have not been manufactured for more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Apple has discontinued hardware service for vintage products with the following exceptions:
- Mac products purchased in the country of Turkey. Owners of vintage Mac products may obtain service and parts from Apple service providers within the country of Turkey.
- Products purchased in the state of California, United States, as required by statute
- Owners of vintage Mac products may obtain service and parts from Apple service providers within the state of California, United States.
- Owners of vintage iPod products in the state of California may obtain service from Apple Retail Stores or by contacting AppleCare at 1-800-APL-CARE.
- Owners of vintage iPhone products in the state of California may obtain service from Apple Retail Stores or by contacting AppleCare at 1-800-APL-CARE.
For products purchased in France, see Statutory Warranties of Seller and Spare Parts.
Obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than 7 years ago. Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased. Apple has discontinued all hardware service for obsolete products with no exceptions. Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. All Apple Retail Stores and the Canadian, European, Latin American, and Asia-Pacific operating regions follow the U.S. product list, but make no distinction between vintage and obsolete. When applied to Apple Retail Stores and these operating regions, products on the U.S. vintage list (all models) are considered obsolete.
What all this means is that Apple will no longer provide hardware support for the older model Apple TV, expecting in Turkey and California, two locales where local laws require service to be provided for such devices for a longer period of time.
