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10 New Features and Changes Introduced With 2022 Apple TV

Not much of an update really unless you play a lot of games. I wish Apple would make a game player for those who care about that and concentrate the ATV on the TV portion. Many of us couldn’t care less about gaming, we just want a good streaming box that can compete against the others like Fire TV, Roku, etc. They should make a gaming box for those who want a premium box similar to the Sony Playstation, and keep the ATV focused on streaming.
 
Apple_Gabe said:
What ever happened to rumors a few years ago saying that Apple was interested in developing an actual TV set? That's something I would like to see happen.
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Margins are far below Apple margins to outsource the screen and then have the source package the same screen in their own frame for considerably less price. Buy the other branded version of the very same screen and attach and AppleTV to get the software and all price justification would have to be made on the frame + stand + logo.

Besides, what size screen is the right size? Or shall Apple carry 2 sizes? What 2 sizes are the right sizes? Or shall Apple carry 3 sizes? Etc.

Lastly, Apple likes to build things that have to be replaced FAST. Well built TVs can easily last 10+ years. An Apple Television would probably be like an iMac 27" screen... (generally) the screen is ready for many more years when Apple obsoletes the tech guts... but no way to continue using that screen.

Personally, I'm glad they didn't. Keep packing smarter TV brains inside cheap little boxes that can be replaced for much less than the same guts thoroughly locked to a screen capable of many more years.
 
w5jck said:
Not much of an update really unless you play a lot of games. I wish Apple would make a game player for those who care about that and concentrate the ATV on the TV portion. Many of us couldn’t care less about gaming, we just want a good streaming box that can compete against the others like Fire TV, Roku, etc. They should make a gaming box for those who want a premium box similar to the Sony Playstation, and keep the ATV focused on streaming.
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In my opinion, make the AppleTV interface a new Front Row 2 app for Mac and Mac Mini could be that gamer AppleTV. M1 Mac Mini will begin to get retired as soon as M2/3 Mini's come around. Instead of selling them or tossing them, they could be AppleTV deluxe for those who want Mac Silicon power & graphics.
 
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On one hand the whole MR comments believe the A15 cost $100 in BOM and at the same time they think the A15 with Apple TV should only be sold for $99.
 
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woolypants said:
Can somebody tell me the point of the Apple TV? Genuine question.
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My TV experience is always the same.

I can take the ATV with me on vacation, HDMI connect to the hotel room's crappy TV, and there's my Netflix, Teleboy, Plex, Infuse... (and with a gl-mifi acting as an openVPN client riding on the hotel WiFi, I also get all my content from my home country without Geoblocks or hotel blocks bothering me).

The ATV is not 'recording' what I'm watching to show me ads. The TV is disconnected from any network and acts as a dumb HDMI monitor.

Never have to dread that the TV manufacturer might fall out of Apple/Netflix/whatever's grace and the apps stop functioning.

Kid threw something at TV. Bought a new one. Up and running within seconds after mounting the TV on the stand.
 
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ksec said:
On one hand the whole MR comments believe the A15 cost $100 in BOM and at the same time they think the A15 with Apple TV should only be sold for $99.
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OR, the bulk of "us" will set our alarms for the wee hours to be the first to buy an A15 + a battery, camera, case and a tiny screen for a thousand+ and post about being lucky to get one or vent about having to wait a few weeks for delivery... but then cut the battery, camera, case and screen in THIS thing with remote control and it's highway robbery for about 12% of that pricing. That must be one AMAZING battery, camera, case and tiny screen to pump up that approx. 88% of perceived value.
 
darkazcura said:
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.
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I love my 2021 AppleTVs.
Works well with original HomePods.
Great picture and sound with the HomePods.
Got LG C2 as main set and A2 in bedroom both with 2021 AppleTV and original HomePods.
Let’s me resume watching in bed after starting on main set.
Can add or remove programmes on watch list on my phone, iPad or on the AppleTV.
Interface is consistent across the boxes.
I wish Netflix would play ball though with the ‘watch next’ feature. That would the cherry on the icing.
This is a good upgrade but not for me as my 2021s work so well.
Good work to make the best streaming box cheaper. The only thing I miss is the optical out. So useful to stream music to my main HiFi system.
Would love ‘find my’ integration into the remote. At least when lost I can use the app on phone or iPad to control unlike a lost tv remote!
 
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woolypants said:
Can somebody tell me the point of the Apple TV? Genuine question.
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When I bought mine, I had a 10 year-old 1080p Samsung TV which was perfectly good picture-wise but didn't support the latest streaming apps. Adding a streaming box to add those features made sense. Apple TV vs. cheaper Amazon Fire, Roku etc. is another question, but that's the usual "Apple is somewhat nicer if you don't mind paying the tax" argument,

Since then, I've upgraded to a substantially larger 4k TV (which also involved a major room re-arrangement) and, yes, it can do most things itself (including Airplay) so I probably wouldn't buy one today.

I'm running MrMC (the App Store friendly Kodi fork) on the ATV, which isn't available for my TV, but Plex is supported on a lot of Smart TVs which would be a viable alternative.

The one not-available-elsewhere feature is the "computers" app that lets you play media from Music etc. on a Mac - which is probably the best implementation if that's what you want to do - but you can always stream from a Mac to any Airplay device.
 
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JonnyCB said:
Good work to make the best streaming box cheaper. The only thing I miss is the optical out. So useful to stream music to my main HiFi system.
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I fixed this by making sure my receiver is downstream of my TV. Sound output goes AppleTV--hdmi-->TV--optical-output raw-->receiver

Mapped the volume buttons on the aTV remote to the receiver and the mute button to power it on and off since there isnt another way to handle that
 
If you can't tell the difference between AppleTV and tvOS vs webOS/Roku/Fire, just remember there are tons of people that couldn't tell the difference during the switch to HD. ;)

I have webOS on my LG C1 OLED and everything about webOS makes my teeth hurt.
 
Wow when was the last time Apple made a price reduction?

Granted they removed the cable, but they reduced the price by even more than the cable cost that they now sell on the side. Unusual. For any company, really.
 
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Fiona FTW said:
Smart TV has a more limited # of channel apps and zero privacy protection
Smart TV may or may not have Airplay 2 but if it does it also may or may not work that great
Smart TV definitely doesn't act as a Homekit or Thread hub
Smart TV doesn't allow (plug and play) Home Sharing with content on your Mac. Sure, there are ways to configure similar, but that's more work and time.

My Apple TV is my sole way of watching TV - DirecTV Stream, HBO Max, Hulu, etc. That is the HDMI port my TV is always on. No need to switch. My Apple TV is also set up with the CEC turn on so when I press the "on" button on my remote it turns on the TV and the ATV. There is no need to have to turn on both devices separately or use separate remotes.
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Don't know what CEC is but know I don't have it.
A lot of what you are saying, Roku can do. Control TV power, volume and mute. The side mounted buttons are a pain and ATV got that right. The sides of the remote are for holding and I think ATV only has a Siri button on the right side.
Roku has Apple Play and Homekit. I suspect Home Sharing is not a Roku option. Can't have everything.
I can mirror my Android tablets and iPad to Roku. I have not attempted casting.
 
code-m said:
Apple’s love affair with dongles and I am surprised the one product that needs to be is not.
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You are correct. The logic board would be smaller & lighter than the 2016 iPhone SE and yet the thing's that big and heavy.

wl4Cu73.png
 
woolypants said:
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.
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For me it’s an app called Infuse. Only on apple devices. Fantastic app
 
code-m said:
Apple’s love affair with dongles and I am surprised the one product that needs to be is not.
Click to expand...

sam_dean said:
You are correct. The logic board would be smaller & lighter than the 2016 iPhone SE and yet the thing's that big and heavy.

wl4Cu73.png
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It's very strange one of the only benefits to the 'box' form factor is that it can easily accommodate an ethernet port. So they put a new model out without one..
 
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woolypants said:
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.
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I prefer to have all of my content available on a single TV input, and the Apple TV provides that. I haven't switched inputs in years, because the Apple TV provides all this:
• Apple TV+
• iTunes Movies & TV Shows
• Netflix
• Amazon
• Disney
• Hulu
• Paramount+
• Local cable channels using HDHomeRun Prime
• Content stored on my Mac Server
• High-res arial screensavers

Plus you get home automation features:
• HomeKit hub
• HomeKit camera support (so I can see who is at the front door)
• HomeKit Secure Video storage and processing
• Siri remote
• Thread support
 
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Matter - why doesn't anyone mention support for Matter or thread? If you use Apple Home aka HomeKit, this is big!
 
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contacos said:
I am surprised they still sell them at those price points considering most TVs have all of it built in nowadays. Mine is collecting dust since the new TV runs Android TV
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There are some compelling reasons to have a standalone Apple TV box. This article sums it up well:

www.gearpatrol.com

All the Reasons to Still Buy an Apple TV In 2025

We round up all the reasons why you should still consider buying an Apple TV 4K, Apple's streaming box, in 2025.
www.gearpatrol.com www.gearpatrol.com
 
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