I have my Apple TV so I don’t have to use my androidTV built-in apps which Sony can get rid of a certain app at any time. Apple TV also has 4k menus.
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10 New Features and Changes Introduced With 2022 Apple TV
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I guess to each his own. To me, the Apple TV interface is way nicer and easier to use than the Google TV that comes on my Sony Bravia TV. The GTV interface is clunky, hard to navigate and is dull and looks bad. It's a pain to update apps and the OS. I also don't need to see all these promotions for other TV shows and movies all over the home screen. I will take the ATV interface all day. Also, I don't want to watch premium Apple TV+ shows (or any other shows/movies, for that matter) on a phone or computer screen. I have a big screen TV for a reason and I want to watch everything on it.
I like the integration between the Apple TV, Mac, and Iphone. Also, it's the most smooth streaming device I've seen, with Roku just behind.
To be fair, this is exactly what Roku did (despite still selling their own devices.) They aren't the highest end TVs in the world, but I have one in my bedroom (a TCL) and the UI is a million times better than the Samsung in the living room. It's not slow or clunky at all. It also has perfect integration with your typical TV settings.
Edit: Also worth noting is that it receives all the typical Roku updates, which go on for years.
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what apps even support HDR10+? Have to see if my TV supports it. (LG C8)
If not I'll stick with my current 4k.
If not I'll stick with my current 4k.
Supposedly Apple sells the Apple TV at cost: https://9to5mac.com/2019/02/02/apple-tv-homepod-margins/
A15 is definitely not a cheap chip to make. It's on relatively state of the art 5nm lithography with more transistors than the NVidia GTX 2080
My 2 year old OLED TV's interface is way slower and less responsive than the Apple TV interface. The 6 year old TV interface is archaic.
If you have HDMI-CEC set up, the Apple TV remote turns on the TV and is able to control the volume as well. Telling Siri to turn on and off the TV (through the homepod) is nice when my hands are full with 2 kids at home.
I don't understand why the Apple TV needs so much storage. It is mostly a streaming machine, it should be able to operate with 32 GB (and then by available for less than $100).
Should work great with a 1080p TV. It autodetects the resolution and formats your TV supports.
Everyone has their thoughts and preferences, but this is why I use Apple TV over built-in Smart TV features:
1. Seamless integration with iOS for controlling TV (Remote / Keyboard / AirPlay / FaceID for payments on my phone, iPad, or my wife’s phone). I have no idea where my Living Room Apple TV remote is at the moment and I don’t care since we all have remotes in our pockets.
2. Apple TV ages more gracefully software-wise (IMHO) much like the iPhone
3. I have found that in general, the experience is much smoother (no UI lag/stutter and general navigation and usage) than Roku, Samsung Tizen, and even LG WebOS.
4. I’m less concerned about intrusive ads (sure, they show AppleTV show previews in the background when you have the AppleTV app highlighted on the screen… much less intrusive)
5. My TV experience on Apple TV is independent of the TV manufacturer. So… if I have a LG OLED in my Living Room and a Samsung TV in the bedroom… I‘m not dealing with different interfaces, stores, controls, etc.
Note: I don’t mind the latest Google TV, but I’m not in that ecosystem… but I would totally use that over the above Smart TV OS-es if I were an Android user for many of the same reasons I listed above for Apple TV.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Apple never competes on price. The game Apple seems most interested in is "who makes the most profitable..." and they seem masters at winning that one in all product categories.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Yes, you would simply be buying hardware capable of more. When your 1080p conks and you replace it, if 4K is next, it will step right up to that plate too. Better hardware generally has no problem with lessor tech demands.
You are talking like a geek who doesn't have an Apple TV... cuz you are.
For a TV type content, a Mac mini is not remotely as nice as Apple TV, and yes I own an Apple TV, a Mac mini, and a dedicated NAS for that matter.
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I’ve been holding out for the No more "TV" branding on top: feature. It’s about time! I’m ordering urgently.
For people wondering why you'd buy an Apple TV instead of using your smart TV apps:
App support/development. Apps on Apple's platform are miles ahead of any app on Samsung, LG, Sony etc... They're also updated much quicker.
Also, the snappy and minimalistic UI is a joy to use, compared to most sluggish and cluttered UI on smart TV's. The sound/picture quality is often better also. Some might not notice, but it's definitely better than most (if not all) Smart TV apps.
I have a recent LG OLED tv with all bells and whistles, but I would never trade in my Apple TV for it.
App support/development. Apps on Apple's platform are miles ahead of any app on Samsung, LG, Sony etc... They're also updated much quicker.
Also, the snappy and minimalistic UI is a joy to use, compared to most sluggish and cluttered UI on smart TV's. The sound/picture quality is often better also. Some might not notice, but it's definitely better than most (if not all) Smart TV apps.
I have a recent LG OLED tv with all bells and whistles, but I would never trade in my Apple TV for it.
Not worth an upgrade for anybody with an existing 4K model but at least the entry point is cheaper for those looking to get one anyway.
I did pick one up, I've been wanting another atv for my office TV and was waiting until an update, and for me that's fine because it isn't an upgrade to my existing devices, but I'm a bit underwhelmed at the update. The main things that bug me are:
1)Why does the remote still not have find my? We know they "get it", it just got added to the APP case, but for some reason the most commonly misplaced thing in someone's living room doesnt have it :/
2)What is the extra power, RAM, and space (on the higher end one with ethernet) actually *for*? On the RAM and CPU if I could play some decent games on it that'd be one thing, but that market is nearly nil. On the storage I can't directly use it within current apps since tvos doesnt allow fully persistent storage, and I can't locally store music and such on it, so what is the point? This is kinda like the pattern with the M2 iPPs, where it's got a amazingly fast chip that's very gimped by the software...
Bonus: no thread on the base model means discouraging third parties from making thread based Apple targeted devices
1)Why does the remote still not have find my? We know they "get it", it just got added to the APP case, but for some reason the most commonly misplaced thing in someone's living room doesnt have it :/
2)What is the extra power, RAM, and space (on the higher end one with ethernet) actually *for*? On the RAM and CPU if I could play some decent games on it that'd be one thing, but that market is nearly nil. On the storage I can't directly use it within current apps since tvos doesnt allow fully persistent storage, and I can't locally store music and such on it, so what is the point? This is kinda like the pattern with the M2 iPPs, where it's got a amazingly fast chip that's very gimped by the software...
Bonus: no thread on the base model means discouraging third parties from making thread based Apple targeted devices
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Apple chooses to store all AppleTV apps on device. So if you want a LOT of apps on an AppleTV, you need enough storage for them.
Why does anyone want more than minimal storage on a Mac, iPhone or iPad? The same answer generally applies here too.
I've posted many times in other threads that if AppleTV can stream over a movie or music stored back on the home sharing paired computer, why can't AppleTV apps be stored there too and stream over when needed? Then, the flexible storage of the main computer becomes the archive of all apps you might ever want to run on AppleTV. But Apple simply chooses to use on-board storage for that.
I've seen posts of those who chose the 32GB option in a prior generation getting "full" AppleTVs because they like holding some big games on it. Yes, AppleTV can offload apps to free up space for more apps much like iDevices but re-downloading big games over and over is not always a desirable option.
Personally, I never got close to 64GB on existing AppleTVs but purchased the 128GB anyway, more so for the ethernet port.
It has the A15 chip, like the iPhone 14. I think $99 would send the wrong signal
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Yes, and that seems great too. Many people love Plex. I just haven't chosen to go that way myself.
For me the Infuse app alone is worth the price of the ATV.