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Even the first generation 4K ATV would still be fine for most people and that one has an Ethernet port on the cheapest one.

This is the thing that bothers me the most. If they are going to take away the Ethernet port, then make it a stick and make it really small and cheap. Taking away the Ethernet port just smacks of the worst kind of product segmentation philosophy.
 
Two upgrades I can think of that would make a worthwhile upgrade to the Apple TV 4K

1. 4k120hz support

2. Wifi 7 support

Other than that, I dont see much else. maybe an A18 + 8gb ram would go long ways to future proof the Apple TV but I feel like Apple would make a Apple TV 4K Pro @$200 if they want to stuff a A18 into that device and market it as a console (stop me if you have heard this one before LOL)
 
4K (or a hypothetical 8K or a 16K) AppleTV will work fine with a 1080p TV. Hardware capable of more works just fine with screens capable of less. If I'm not mistaken, your AppleTV can be hooked to a 720p or even 480i TV and display as good as it can look at 720p or 480i. Similarly, I believe all of the new M4 Macs with TB5 can drive an 8K monitor... but can use a 5K or 4K or lower-res monitor just fine too. I would guess that very, VERY few of the new Macs that have already been purchased are connected to 8K monitors.

What you will get when you buy a new one is faster UI, faster everything else, broader app compatibility (as apps for that one will increasingly be dropped). That's not necessarily a reason to buy a new one until you need to replace it... but just trying to get the concept across that the "4K" reference doesn't force anyone to own a 4K TV too.
I know that. There are no limitations, but there is no need. Don't understand why you need to get that concept across :p

I do expect a faster UI. Some streaming apps seems a bit sluggish. But when the movie or tv show starts it doesn't matter which Apple TV model I have. There is no broader app compatibility with newer models for the apps I care about. Only use it for streaming. No interest in Apple Arcade. I would probably have upgraded if it doesn't get any updates and does drop compatibility for some streamings apps. But it is one of Apple's longest supported devices. Interesting because it uses the same A8 generation chip as the iPhone 6. Of course it would make sense to upgrade to a 4K model when I have a 4K tv.
 
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Two upgrades I can think of that would make a worthwhile upgrade to the Apple TV 4K

1. 4k120hz support

2. Wifi 7 support

Other than that, I dont see much else. maybe an A18 + 8gb ram would go long ways to future proof the Apple TV but I feel like Apple would make a Apple TV 4K Pro @$200 if they want to stuff a A18 into that device and market it as a console (stop me if you have heard this one before LOL)

One word. High. End. Gaming.
 
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This is the thing that bothers me the most. If they are going to take away the Ethernet port, then make it a stick and make it really small and cheap. Taking away the Ethernet port just smacks of the worst kind of product segmentation philosophy.

But it saves them probably 11¢ per unit. What matters more than "another record quarter" 💰💰💰
 
dont most TVs have this an app?

Why even sell it even for $99? I saw 50 inch tvs for $200 on Black Friday. I also bought 3 55 inch Hisense tvs with the Apple TV app for $280. Samsungs are not much more expensive than that.

I think the technology is pointless now unless they make it a video game system somehow.

I have 3 of the latest ones because of a cable promo but even when the $150 one came out it was outdated and way way over priced.
A lot of people - myself included - do not like the smart TV OSes for various reasons. AppleTV keeps us in the ecosystem and have less tracking etc…

I think another commenter clarified that the AppleTV (box) is different from the AppleTV app.
 
The wife and I prefer the Roku interface to Apple's, so that's what we use (TCL Roku TV), plus the Roku App has a ton of streaming channels that aren't anywhere else. Roku is also the only interface my almost 70 year-old parents have found easy enough to use. I do have an Apple TV, but it's being used strictly as hub for HomeKit.

Roku is pretty chatty, though. I have a Firewalla running that blocks all the ads and phone-home logs and messages, including hard-coded dns addresses. Works well.
Glad you mentioned Roku. I have a Roku Streambar - and it drives me nuts.

Initially it seems OK, but if I make a mistake, it keeps dropping into advertising or the Roku channel. And keeps adding apps I don't want - which I then remove. This seems to have worsened a lot recently.

And, at least for BBC iPlayer, I have to choose user and login every time I use it. (I think all other apps that need me to log in remember my details so do not have to do that every time I use them.) Yes, it does remember my login details, but it is ridiculously annoying.

I keep asking myself whether I should get an AppleTV device. Came to the conclusion that I definitely should not at least until the next model is released. (Even if I then chose an older model.) But would it be better for me?

My television is getting on a bit is is not smart. But I'd rather pay for a box than a new television.
 
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dont most TVs have this an app?

Why even sell it even for $99? I saw 50 inch tvs for $200 on Black Friday. I also bought 3 55 inch Hisense tvs with the Apple TV app for $280. Samsungs are not much more expensive than that.

I think the technology is pointless now unless they make it a video game system somehow.

I have 3 of the latest ones because of a cable promo but even when the $150 one came out it was outdated and way way over priced.
Exactly. People want a cheap/stick version, but the only thing that really makes an Apple TV is the chip inside, and if you find have that there’s no point. A stick version wouldn’t be able to run any games like it can now. All new TVs have access toto Apple TV+, most have airplay, and a good many have access to to purchases.
 
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Why do people mistake APPLE TV + with the Apple TV ?

Huge difference! You may laugh but I want too see that one who has money in the account and all of a sudden the PLus is replaced by minus

Lack of a line can make you go nuts

Pun intended 🤣🤣🤣🤙🏻
 
On January 1st I will be buying an Apple TV 4k with Ethernet port. On 1/1/16 I bought the Apple TV HD and its been going strong ever since. Will put it up when I upgrade or use it for travel.
 
dont most TVs have this an app?

Why even sell it even for $99? I saw 50 inch tvs for $200 on Black Friday. I also bought 3 55 inch Hisense tvs with the Apple TV app for $280. Samsungs are not much more expensive than that.

I think the technology is pointless now unless they make it a video game system somehow.

I have 3 of the latest ones because of a cable promo but even when the $150 one came out it was outdated and way way over priced.

The Apple TV is a hardware device not an app

Televisions have become advertising and tracking machines. You can mitigate this by never connecting your television to the internet and using an Apple TV to connect to your ott services and local media libraries instead of the televisions os
 
I hope it’s an AirPlay stick with minimal apps. I just want a small device I can slide into my bag that I can pull out and use to turn any TV into an Airplay receiver. If it also has a few basic streaming apps that I can control with my iPhone, then that would just be a bonus.
 
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And there have been no sales on the current models… my 2nd gen does everything streaming just fine, so let’s wait and see and I have some duct tape laid away for that rumored stupid camera

What a silly thing to say

I have one so I can say with absolute certainty that there has been more than no sales
 
What a silly thing to say

I have one so I can say with absolute certainty that there has been more than no sales
I thought by "no sales" they just meant no periods of discounted pricing. They were explaining that, since they already have an older model that works fine for them, they're not as enticed by the current one.
 
I thought by "no sales" they just meant no periods of discounted pricing. They were explaining that, since they already have an older model that works fine for them, they're not as enticed by the current one.

Ahhhhh
 
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The camera wasn’t even rumored for the Apple TV, it was rumored for the HomePad speaker thing.
Obviously they aren’t going to put a camera in the tiny box that sitsbelow, behind or inside of an entertainment center near a TV.
What would a camera like that even capture, the inside of a cabinet?

Obviously, the HomePod with a display (or HomePad) will have a camera that you can probably access via the Apple TV.
But a tiny camera in the $99 box? No.
There was a rumor of an Apple TV built into a soundbar with a camera in it also. I’m guessing something like a Cisco Room Bar Pro.
 
dont most TVs have this an app?

Why even sell it even for $99? I saw 50 inch tvs for $200 on Black Friday. I also bought 3 55 inch Hisense tvs with the Apple TV app for $280. Samsungs are not much more expensive than that.

I think the technology is pointless now unless they make it a video game system somehow.

I have 3 of the latest ones because of a cable promo but even when the $150 one came out it was outdated and way way over priced.

While I understand what you're saying, the AppleTV is much more than just streaming. You can download Apps and Games, the current (and previous) Gen AppleTV 4Ks are actually pretty capable gaming devices with Controller Support. So, just the AppleTV app isn't quite the experience Apple is looking to bring overall, I think.
 
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One word. High. End. Gaming.

I've recently bought RE2 remake on AppStore, had a huge discount for it. Played it on iPad Pro M4. It was okay, HDR made all the difference on the horror experience. But I also own RE2 on Steam, played it on my puny, 8 years old potato PC with GTX 1060. You know what? My PC gave a much smoother experience at similar resolution (1440p).

RE2 isn't exactly a graphically demanding game, and yet M4 chip GPU still got underpowered by 8 years old GTX card. Now you can blow high end gaming dream on Apple TV. It's a loooong stretch, knowing Apple.
 
dont most TVs have this an app?

Why even sell it even for $99? I saw 50 inch tvs for $200 on Black Friday. I also bought 3 55 inch Hisense tvs with the Apple TV app for $280. Samsungs are not much more expensive than that.

I think the technology is pointless now unless they make it a video game system somehow.

I have 3 of the latest ones because of a cable promo but even when the $150 one came out it was outdated and way way over priced.
The point of an AppleTV isnt the AppleTV+ app 🤦‍♂️

And I and lots of others vastly prefer a separate streaming box to the built ins on a smart TV because:

1) it’s far faster typically, and can be upgraded more frequently than I need to replace a TV functioning as a dumb display

2) it isnt sending globs of telemetry to every adtech company under the sun so the TV manufacturers can get a cut on every possible piece of data they can grab

3) it is typically supported longer than most smart TVs will get software updates for (and, see 1, I can replace it when it isnt supported without having to replace the TV)

4) In the AppleTV’s case it integrates well with the Apple ecosystem
 
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