10 New Features and Changes Introduced With 2022 Apple TV

[darkazcura]

Can somebody tell me the point of the Apple TV? Genuine question.

We have a smart TV and it's just simpler to use its own apps for things like Netflix or Amazon Prime, rather than mess around switching HDMI input and booting-up the Apple TV (which we do have, albeit an older one).

If I want to watch Apple TV shows then I do so on my phone, or MacBook.

Just about the only reason I've ever seen anybody use an Apple TV is for beaming photos onto the big TV screen. But that's not exactly an everyday thing.

For me, the Apple TV is faster, I like the interface, there are more apps available, and I find airpod integration really useful. I have a LG CX OLED, and that has one of the better TV interfaces out there. I still find it a pain to navigate most times. Most other TV interfaces are very clunky and slow in my opinion.

Also, HDMI switching isn't a hassle nor is "booting up" the Apple TV which is as instant as turning on the TV itself. I only use my TV for two things. My Apple TV or video games. When I click the power button on my Apple TV remote, it instantly turns on the TV, turns to the HDMI input if it happens to be on a different one, and turns on the Apple TV. By the time the TV is on, everything else is on. There is no fussing around like you are inferring.

Another thing is, if I switch TV brands, I don't have to "re-learn" another TV interface. I just move my Apple TV over, and it is a seamless transition.

 

[mjs916]

Can somebody tell me the point of the Apple TV? Genuine question.

We have a smart TV and it's just simpler to use its own apps for things like Netflix or Amazon Prime, rather than mess around switching HDMI input and booting-up the Apple TV (which we do have, albeit an older one).

If I want to watch Apple TV shows then I do so on my phone, or MacBook.

Just about the only reason I've ever seen anybody use an Apple TV is for beaming photos onto the big TV screen. But that's not exactly an everyday thing.

For me, the built in smart TV software is clunky at best. I even have the latest Flex streaming device from my cable provider and it’s horrible also. I hate the remote too. I know Apple draws ire for the super slim TV remote but its responsiveness is unrivaled by any of the other devices I have. It plays audio through the tv and HomePod simultaneously and the AirPods are neat to hook up as well when the wife is asleep. We also play games every now and then which is fun and offers more than a smart TV typically would if at all.

I also watch OTA TV quite a bit and simply turning on the Apple TV auto-switches the TV to the correct input. There is no fussing with it.

That said, I think the Apple TV has always been overpriced.

 

[citysnaps]

An excellent upgrade and at a significantly lower price. I'll buy one.

But... I'm really steamed at TC for forcing me to wade through a couple of dozen unused USB-C cables rather just providing one in the box. I have no idea how I'm going to get through the day doing that. He definitely needs to be fired.

 

[jostermacedo]

Sure. Hooking up your TV to the internet is one of the most insecure things you can do.

At one time you also got higher quality steams. (Not sure if that’s still the case. Apple was actually hosting content for some third party steaming services to deliver higher bit rate streams for Apple TV users. Again, not sure if this is still the case.)

Also there is a greater number of useful apps on the Apple TV. (Or was, I’ve been using one for so long, I’ve been happy with it, and I don’t fix what isn’t broken.)

For me the best app is Infuse. I have a big library of movies on my NAS that I can watch in the AppleTV through the App.

 

[rileyes]

Can somebody tell me the point of the Apple TV? Genuine question.

We have a smart TV and it's just simpler to use its own apps for things like Netflix or Amazon Prime, rather than mess around switching HDMI input and booting-up the Apple TV (which we do have, albeit an older one).

If I want to watch Apple TV shows then I do so on my phone, or MacBook.

Just about the only reason I've ever seen anybody use an Apple TV is for beaming photos onto the big TV screen. But that's not exactly an everyday thing.

I like how everything is in sync when you have more than one. If I add an app on one TV, the app is added to the Apple TV is all the rooms. I cancel netflix for a while?..I can remove the app and it's removed in every room.

I dont know if something like that exists if you were just using the native OS on your TV, maybe if all your TVs were the latest LG or Samsung or something, but defiintely wouldnt work for me, where one room has a Samsung TV, another room has a Sony tv, another room has an LG, and another room has a really old samsung TV that isn't a 'smart tv' at all. By using Apple TV on all of them, it's basically an identical experience no matter which room you are in.

I think Apple TV also acts as a home hub for homekit stuff.

And the homekit intergration for our video doorbell is really cool. Someone rings the doorbell, it pops up in a little box on all our TVs showing the camera feed from the front door.

I also noticed that Airplay for putting up photos or sharing a video or whatever, seems to work better in my experience when I duplicate to the Apple TV, as opposed to when I duplicate directly to the Samsung TV. I dont know why, but it has been less prone to lagging out on the videos, etc.

 

[code-m]

Can somebody tell me the point of a new iPhone? A new Mac? A new iPad? All of those can be genuine questions too. My old iPhone does everything a new one can do. My older tablet does everything a newer one can do. My older Mac can do everything a newer one can do... and can cover texting and phone calls too. What's the point in buying any of the new stuff?

To overcome the smart TV alternative, all you need is ONE+ app that is available on AppleTV that is not available on the TV. If you want that app, you want something on which to run it. Could there be 2 apps you want to enjoy NOT on your smart TV? 4? More? There's a whole lot of apps in the AppleTV App Store that are not available on my smart TV.

My most used app on my AppleTVs is called Channels DVR. I use it every day. It is not available on my very new, smart TV. It alone makes my AppleTVs get heavily used every day.

My next most used app on AppleTV is Computers, which is exclusive to AppleTV. It brings all of my stored media (music, home movies, movie collection, photos, etc) to the biggest screens and best speakers in the house.

Etc. Channels DVR and Computers (app) are not available on the Smart TV... as are MANY apps I enjoy on AppleTV.

If I want to watch AppleTV (subscription service) shows, I too can watch them on relatively tiny iDevice or Mac screens. But what if others here at home want to watch and my iDevice is out with me somewhere? How can I make anything I can readily watch/play/hear on my iDevice also be readily available to others back at home too? The "iPod for your television" fills that role very nicely... and is much less expensive than equipping little kiddies with much more expensive iDevices.

If one lives alone, are happy with only the limited quantity of apps that come with a TV or another streaming box and/or is fine with airplaying from their iDevice, they very well may not need one. Not everyone needs everything that Apple makes. But it doesn't take very much to find a reason to own an AppleTV for anyone not living alone. It's a pretty capable device for (now) much less than $200.

Someone seems to be confused with content capture and creation devices compared to a content consumption device. Let me know when you can browse the web, edit a document, send emails, etc on an AppleTV. Now compare that to a Mac, iPhone, iPad, even an AppleWatch captures biometric data. What is an AppleTV doing for the user other than consumption of media and games, even AppleFitness is available on iOS.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Someone seems to be confused with content capture and creation devices compared to a content consumption device. Let me know when you can browse the web, edit a document, send emails, etc on an AppleTV. Now compare that to a Mac, iPhone, iPad, even an AppleWatch captures biometric data. What is an AppleTV doing for the user other than consumption of media and games, even AppleFitness is available on iOS.

No confusion here- just building on the OPs question of "Can someone tell me the point of..."

AppleTV is not trying to be a production device. It is very much a consumption device. Yes, one could consume (only) on any other Apple product too but AppleTV makes that consumption relatively cheap & very easy on what is usually the biggest screen in a home with probably the best speakers in the home.

If I want to edit documents, send emails, etc, I use the other Apple products for that... or even a PC. But if I want to do things that AppleTV offers, I generally want to consume that output on the biggest screen with best sound in the house. AppleTV makes that "just works" easy.

 

[rileyes]

For an Environmentally Conscience company that Apple is trying to market itself as, AppleTV is a wasteful product. Make it software based and license it to other tv manufacturers. Given that most tv’s come with GoogleTV/AndroidTV, Roku or WebOS built-in who is buying this wasteful device. Once iPhone goes USB-C people have the option of a HDMI connection.

I like this idea, along the lines of car play. Get a TV manufacturer to use Apple software instead of Android or whatever in-house OS they have.

 

[boombashi]

Yes, tvOS is a much better experience than those built in Smart TV OSes. But if you don't care, then I guess it doesn't matter to you. Many people care though about things like interface performance, user experience, support for things like HomeKit, Siri, Apple Photos, Apple Music, Air Play, App Store, consistent support for Dolby Vision, now HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, , there are many other features that are very useful that are not available on other platforms. If all you care about is "Does Netflix show up on my TV" then yeah Android TV will get you there.

 

[PlayUltimate]

Can somebody tell me the point of the Apple TV? Genuine question.

We have a smart TV and it's just simpler to use its own apps for things like Netflix or Amazon Prime, rather than mess around switching HDMI input and booting-up the Apple TV (which we do have, albeit an older one).

Basically it allows you to not have your potentially insecure smart TV connect directly to the internet. And not sure what the HDMI switching issue is; ours is just a button on the remote.

 

[Duel]

Can somebody tell me the point of the Apple TV? Genuine question.

We have a smart TV and it's just simpler to use its own apps for things like Netflix or Amazon Prime, rather than mess around switching HDMI input and booting-up the Apple TV (which we do have, albeit an older one).

If I want to watch Apple TV shows then I do so on my phone, or MacBook.

Just about the only reason I've ever seen anybody use an Apple TV is for beaming photos onto the big TV screen. But that's not exactly an everyday thing.

It propably matters which kind of smart TV you have, i have 75" qled, but it's from 2017. So smart experience and the 3rd apps are quite laggy and outdated. With Apple TV i can enjoy the full potential of my big screen, it made it worth because honestly out of the box it was really bad except the TV quality now the smart experience is also very smooth.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

I know this makes me sound like a nutter but....not kidding. This is the second time my existing ATV died just as a new one came out. The last time it was around 3-weeks before they announced a new one. I'm concerned this new one doesn't have a fan. As I've killed a total of two prior ATVs. In just under 2-years for each. I blame heat. The thing is on pretty much 18-hours a day.

In other sort of related whacky news. My 2-year old Apple Watch just died. Won't charge, won't turn on. Just gets warm if you attempt to charge it. APPLE FUN TIMES!!!

 

[code-m]

No confusion here- just building on the OPs question of "Can someone tell me the point of..."

AppleTV is not trying to be a production device. It is very much a consumption device. Yes, one could consume (only) on any other Apple product too but AppleTV makes that consumption very easy on what is usually the biggest screen in a home with probably the best speakers in the home.

If I want to edit documents, send emails, etc, I use the other Apple products for that... or even a PC. But if I want to do things that AppleTV offers, I generally want to view them on the biggest screen with best sound in the house. AppleTV makes that "just works" easy.

Don’t dismiss ShieldTV and to some extent Roku.

 

[bodonnell202]

TVOS is limiting why would anyone get this instead of a refurb M1 MacMini.

Uh cost... I'm in Canada - the ATV starts at $179, there aren't currently any refurbished Mac Minis available, so the new ones start at $899. I'm not spending $899 for a streaming device, but $179 to replace the slow, terrible streaming interface that comes with my TV with a fast easy to use interface? Yeah that sounds good.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Not sure what 128 GB of storage is for. You could download every app in the library and still have space left over. It would be nice if the Apple TV could store downloaded music and movies and be an actual media hub.

 

[Passels]

The Apple TV needs HDMI pass through. It needs to overlay your existing cable service and be as seamless as the internal smart tv features. I have a 2017 Apple TV 4K and there is no need to upgrade.

 

[jimimac71]

What else you want to store there? I have 32Gb model and it has plenty of space left.

Movies. Music. Photos. Why pay for storage you can't use?

 

[code-m]

Uh cost... I'm in Canada - the ATV starts at $179, there aren't currently any refurbished Mac Minis available, so the new ones start at $899. I'm not spending $899 for a streaming device, but $179 to replace the slow, terrible streaming interface that comes with my TV with a fast easy to use interface? Yeah that sounds good.

You are spending more on a capable device not a locked in only streaming device. A M1 MacMini will last you 8-10 years and can be used as a dedicated NAS, remote Mac to be used on an iPhone or iPad. Can this be done on an AppleTV.

 

[code-m]

I like this idea, along the lines of car play. Get a TV manufacturer to use Apple software instead of Android or whatever in-house OS they have.

If these tv manufacturers provided the ability to switch between GoogleTV, AppleTV, Roku then we not need a so many standalone dongle and boxes to muck around with. We care about the environment *cough* BS *cough*

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Don’t dismiss ShieldTV and to some extent Roku.

Where did I dismiss it?

There are many good STBs out there. I also have Roku and think it is quite good too.

OP didn't ask about ShieldTV or Roku. The question was what's the point of AppleTV? If he said, "I have shieldTv and/or Roku and/or Firestick and/or <others>, what's the point of AppleTV," my reply would have been different.

Enjoy what you have. Nobody is telling you you must buy an AppleTV. If what you have scratches this kind of itch, enjoy it.

I gave away an older AppleTV recently and just happily purchased this newest model to replace it. I'm very happy with this particular STB for my purposes... and use them every day.

 

[DenverLett]

"No more "TV" branding on top"
Without TV spelled out on top how will I tell it apart from my Mac Mini?

 

[vmistery]

Bit of an impulse but picking one up to replace my 4K v1, they really are decent pieces of kit and miles better than my Roku on my spare TV. Yes they’re more but you really do get more for your money.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

I don’t consider this a minor update. It’s a new form factor for the ATV itself, the jump from A12 to A15 is not minor IMO, and removing the fan. Just that alone in my book is more of a major update. And the remote got the full redesign treatment last year. It’s a great combo

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I know this makes me sound like a nutter but....not kidding. This is the second time my existing ATV died just as a new one came out. The last time it was around 3-weeks before they announced a new one. I'm concerned this new one doesn't have a fan. As I've killed a total of two prior ATVs. In just under 2-years for each. I blame heat. The thing is on pretty much 18-hours a day.

In other sort of related whacky news. My 2-year old Apple Watch just died. Won't charge, won't turn on. Just gets warm if you attempt to charge it. APPLE FUN TIMES!!!

Clearly Apple is out to get you*.

Send them some email telling them you are broke with no credit, so they can turn their kill switch marketing tactic on to those who still have some cash or credit.

*or the new cash in your wallet.

 

[mi7chy]

Still lacking AV1 and VP9 hardware decode, browser support, external USB storage support, app sideloading, etc. that a $40 Fire TV Stick 4K has. Apple TV 4K is heavily locked down for consuming Apple paid content that it should be heavily subsidized to half the price. Storage is so cheap these days that Micro Center is giving out 256GB SSD for free.