The first-generation Apple TV has lost its ability to connect to iTunes, and this issue is apparently affecting users worldwide.

The problem started last week, on April 17, when for some reason the device lost its iTunes connectivity. More specifically, the first-generation Apple TV is still able to connect to the Internet, but users can no longer access iTunes.

As the first-generation Apple TV has been around for quite a long time, many users worldwide rely on this device and so far it has posed no issues. As MacRumors points out, a lengthy thread started on Thursday, April 17, on Apple's support forum continues to grow as an increasing number of users complain about the same issue.

"Accessing the Internet works. The Trailers option flickers off when selected but if I am quick enough I can access it. The trailers will stutter, pause and lag. No access to the iTunes Store at all for movies, tv shows, or podcast. Youtube works without a problem. I unplugged the AppleTv twice, and restarted it with the remote once. All is not well," one user reported on April 17. "As of last night I has full access to the iTunes Store. Since this morning I was getting an Itunes Store Not Available message, and after unplugging the AppleTv the iTunes Store access completely disappeared except for movie trailers. I really hope that Apple has not killed the 1^st gen ATV functionality. Mine works flawlessly and has never given me a problem until today."

"Same thing here. As of thursday 17 april 2014 my ATV1 won't connect to iTunes Movies for rent or TV shows. Only my own content and it wont even play correctly. It pauses every couple seconds. I restarted my ATV1 more than for times ans still the same," another user complains. "I restore it to Factory Settings OS 1.0 and works fine now. But since its super old OS wont sync with iphone for remote."

The issue seems to have started at the same time FaceTime stopped working for iOS 6 users, which suggests that Apple may have made some changes that affected both services. Some users expressed concerns that the dreaded Heartbleed bug could have something to do with it, but Apple repeatedly said that Heartbleed did not affect any of its "key services."

Apple has provided no comment so far on this matter, and it remains unclear at this point just what caused the first-generation Apple TV to lose iTunes connectivity, or when it will be restored. The device is no longer available for sale as of September 2010, but many users worldwide still use it. Apple gave no warning of dropping support for this device, but until the company issues an official statement it's difficult to determine what's going on. We'll keep you up to date as soon as Apple offers some explanation or fix, so stay tuned.