Hands-On With the New Apple TV: A Closer Look at the Hardware and tvOS

[MacRumors]

The new Apple TV officially became available for purchase today, with Apple selling the fourth-generation set-top box in retail stores around the world. We went hands-on with the Apple TV to give MacRumors readers who want to know more about the device a chance to get an overview of the hardware and the software.

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Apple's latest Apple TV marks a significant departure from the previous-generation Apple TV, with a thicker external design, a touch-based motion-enabled remote control that doubles as a gaming controller, and a more powerful A8 processor.

On the software side, it's running a new operating system called tvOS, which includes universal search features for finding television shows and movies across a wide variety of platforms, Siri integration for voice-based search, and a full App Store that's open to third-party developers. We're going to take a closer look at the App Store and the Siri/Search features in videos coming later this evening.

Earlier today, we shared a tidbits post on the new Apple TV, and our forum members have also been posting their first impressions and thoughts on the device, a thread that's well worth reading for those still trying to decide whether to make a purchase.

Apple is selling the new Apple TV in retail stores and from the online Apple Store. It's priced at $149 for 32GB of storage and $199 for 64GB of storage.

Article Link: Hands-On With the New Apple TV: A Closer Look at the Hardware and tvOS

 

[sniffies]

No way to skip to the next song via remote outside the Music app.

I really hope the remote will get the previous/next buttons with the next tvOS update.

 

[Banyan Bruce]

Hit all the right spots in our household. Huge improvement over previous Apple TVs. Fast, responsive and actually easy to use. Love addition of Siri. Waiting for the apps to flow now.

 

[sniffies]

By the way, my other Apple TV 4 is still preparing for shipment.

 

[bgraham]

What will make it great is good app support. It will take a lot to beat the extensive support of things like Chromecast, Roku and Amazon.

 

[0815]

By the way, my other Apple TV 4 is still preparing for shipment.

Mine too - biggest Apple order mistake ever to pre-order with next day shipping and than not having it on launch day.

I will survive and nothing bad happened - just would have been nice to have it over the weekend. Guess has to wait for next weekend until I find time again to play with it.

 

[gugy]

Can't wait to get mine next week. I think ATV will be big once apps mature and more availability on the app store.
Looking forward to get Plex.

 

[tillsbury]

Yes, all looking lovely now, just waiting for Plex/Kodi or some equivalent and this will be the device to run all my TVs

 

[trifid]

Everyone has been waiting for the Apple TV to have an app store, (many have been waiting for half a decade for Plex app). I almost buy it but then I asked myself: do I really need this?

I already got used to airplay and taught this to everyone in my family, there is always an ipad or iphone available to airplay, with all the apps you can imagine. There is the games aspect, but 'lite' tv gaming is already available on so many devices already, including my old Roku 3.

It seems to me Apple TV 4 offers too little too late. The only thing I would find useful is if it served as a central homekit with always on Siri so I could say "hey siri turn off lights" without touching a remote, but it doesn't even have that.

 

[Manderby]

I almost got motion sick just by looking at the video and not even full screen. Poor girlfriends which have to endure this.

 

[fullauto]

Siri aside, a dedicated Mac mini still seems like the better option. Is there a web browser for ATV4? Chrome app?

Love the use of motion and parallax.

 

[chasonstone]

I'm likely not jumping on this, I have an Apple TV already and not looking to spend 150 bucks to replace it. But I'm super stoked on the App Store aspect, I've always thought it needed it. So I'll just lovingly look forward to that being apart of it when I do eventually upgrade.

 

[sshambles]

Would love to purchase this if Touch ID was featured.

The outdated way of entering passwords, instead of using Touch ID on the remote itself (as my hope for Apple TV 4 was) is a mistake. Perhaps the Apple Remote app will update to use Touch ID from iPhone, but they had the chance to put it on the actual remote. They added 3 extra buttons, but of course one of them couldn't be Touch ID.

 

[AtheistP3ace]

I don't know. Siri doesn't work at all for me. Granted I didn't sit with it for long. Just had a baby Monday. Well my wife did but that doesn't exclude me from parental duties. But I tried show me good movies. Show me movies with will Ferrell. It moves the colored waves around when I speak and hold the button but after I let go it just moves back and forth like its processing but nothing happens. Blarg. I'll mess with it later. Searched forums but didn't see anyone else complaining. Guess it's me doing something wrong.

 

[jazz1]

Would love to purchase this if Touch ID was featured.

The outdated way of entering passwords, instead of using Touch ID on the remote itself (as my hope for Apple TV 4 was) is a mistake. Perhaps the Apple Remote app will update to use Touch ID from iPhone, but they had the chance to put it on the actual remote. They added 3 extra buttons, but of course one of them couldn't be Touch ID.

Adding passwords is pure Hell with the remote. Even worse if you use the voice! Like having a parrot squawking at you while your trying to remember what you entered.

 

[ClaytonK]

Is the iOS Remote app going to work at some point? I'm new to Apple TV and it was miserable typing in all my usernames and passwords for each app using the onscreen keyboard.

 

[John.B]

Would love to purchase this if Touch ID was featured.

The outdated way of entering passwords, instead of using Touch ID on the remote itself (as my hope for Apple TV 4 was) is a mistake. Perhaps the Apple Remote app will update to use Touch ID from iPhone, but they had the chance to put it on the actual remote. They added 3 extra buttons, but of course one of them couldn't be Touch ID.

The lack of support for Bluetooth keyboards (or Apple's Remote app) is simply mind boggling! Did no one at Apple flick their way through a setup of their Netflix/Hulu/HBO accounts? Boxing mine back up for a return. I'll "try again" when Apple "tries again".

 

[mariusignorello]

Played with the new Apple TV in the store today, and I can't wait to buy one. The Remote app on iOS should alleviate typing issues, which also existed on the last Apple TV. One thing I will say is the demo unit ( not sure whether it was resetting like normal or not) did a soft restart. I'm not sure if it was a crash, I was on the home screen, but I can see that the software isn't absolutely perfect. There is fine tuning needed as expected.

Is the iOS Remote app going to work at some point? I'm new to Apple TV and it was miserable typing in all my usernames and passwords for each app using the onscreen keyboard.

Update should come soon.

 

[sshambles]

Is the iOS Remote app going to work at some point? I'm new to Apple TV and it was miserable typing in all my usernames and passwords for each app using the onscreen keyboard.

When they do update it, assuming they will, would be great to have Touch ID from iPhone or iPad but more interesting to see is if they'll update it for Apple TV 2/3 also.

The lack of support for Bluetooth keyboards (or Apple's Remote app) is simply mind boggling! Did no one at Apple flick their way through a setup of their Netflix/Hulu/HBO accounts? Boxing mine back up for a return. I'll "try again" when Apple "tries again".

Somebody forgot to code that in for keyboards? Geez. Amateur hour.

 

[John.B]

Somebody forgot to code that in for keyboards? Geez. Amateur hour.

Exactly. This is a solved problem. How was it overlooked for the ATV4?

 

[centauratlas]

Anyone see how to play a slideshow with background music as you could previously? That is the only thing I don't see so far.

 

[Walter Welch]

By the way, my other Apple TV 4 is still preparing for shipment.

Same here, ordered Monday!!!

 

[sshambles]

Exactly. This is a solved problem. How was it overlooked for the ATV4?

Perhaps something to do with not having a new design and trying to rush things through.
Come on, a thicker Apple TV? Ive has surely gone mad!

 

[CamiMR]

I don't know. Siri doesn't work at all for me. Granted I didn't sit with it for long. Just had a baby Monday. Well my wife did but that doesn't exclude me from parental duties. But I tried show me good movies. Show me movies with will Ferrell. It moves the colored waves around when I speak and hold the button but after I let go it just moves back and forth like its processing but nothing happens. Blarg. I'll mess with it later. Searched forums but didn't see anyone else complaining. Guess it's me doing something wrong.

I was having the same issue, and a restart seems to have done the trick!

 

[Leonard1818]

Hit all the right spots in our household. Huge improvement over previous Apple TVs. Fast, responsive and actually easy to use. Love addition of Siri. Waiting for the apps to flow now.

Legit Question: How long have you had it in your possession?