A little disappointed in Apple TV after getting a smart tv

[Ghost31]

Not bashing my Apple TV. I like it a lot and I’ve loved apple tvs since the 3rd gen, but i just got a new 4K smart tv a few days ago and was blown away by how much better apps and interface were for things like Netflix and YouTube. YouTube was SO much better and less buggy than the Apple TV version that i just cant see myself watching it on the Apple TV ever again. And oddly enough, same goes for AirPlay. Well, it might be called something different, but the function is the same. When i wanna display content on my tv from my phone, its far smoother doing it with the smart TV vs the Apple TV and airplay. This part really shocked me considering I’m fully in the apple ecosystem and all the devices should work so well together.

If it weren’t for playing my iTunes library, i probably wouldn’t have an Apple TV at this point

 

[kissfan]

You realize Apple doesn’t write the interface for Netflix or YouTube, right? Apple didn’t design or write those apps.

 

[Tech198]

Not all of the issues are related just to the apps though.. Airplay is controlled by Apple regardless of the app, as long as Netflix supports it correctly.

Playhead/GUI placements are all Apple and function controlled

 

[CjonesHouston]

Not bashing my Apple TV. I like it a lot and I’ve loved apple tvs since the 3rd gen, but i just got a new 4K smart tv a few days ago and was blown away by how much better apps and interface were for things like Netflix and YouTube. YouTube was SO much better and less buggy than the Apple TV version that i just cant see myself watching it on the Apple TV ever again. And oddly enough, same goes for AirPlay. Well, it might be called something different, but the function is the same. When i wanna display content on my tv from my phone, its far smoother doing it with the smart TV vs the Apple TV and airplay. This part really shocked me considering I’m fully in the apple ecosystem and all the devices should work so well together.

If it weren’t for playing my iTunes library, i probably wouldn’t have an Apple TV at this point

I’ve only had my A4K for a couple of days. No buggy apps for me. I own LG and Samsung Smart Tv’s. They are great but limited when it comes to a real app platform. I like webOS the best but I’m loving my new A4K. Playing games with my kids and wife. It’s not a Xbox but it holds its own. iTunes and airplay are reasons to purchase a A4K. If your just using Netflix and YouTube. Then you probably don’t need a A4K.

 

[Ghost31]

You realize Apple doesn’t write the interface for Netflix or YouTube, right? Apple didn’t design or write those apps.

Totally realize that. And you’re talking to an Apple fanboy here. So I’m definitely not bashing the product, but YouTube and Netflix were definitely better on my lg tv and that was a weird feeling. I always expected a dedicated box like my Apple TV to be better at stuff like that.

So right now I’m using my tv for Netflix and YouTube and Apple TV for iTunes and other apps like cbs and HBO.

 

[Rigby]

And oddly enough, same goes for AirPlay. Well, it might be called something different, but the function is the same. When i wanna display content on my tv from my phone, its far smoother doing it with the smart TV vs the Apple TV and airplay. This part really shocked me considering I’m fully in the apple ecosystem and all the devices should work so well together.

I'm assuming by "something different" you mean Chromecast? The performance of Airplay depends very much on what you are trying to play and if the app you are using supports it natively (the same is true for Chromecast, BTW). Compatible video (MP4 container with H.264/H.265 video and AAC/AC3 audio) played with native Airplay should be every bit as smooth as Chromecast. And contrary to many claims, Airplay is capable of handing the playback off to the ATV when streaming from compatible Internet sites (i.e. the stream isn't piped through the phone), just like Chromecast.

 

[bluespark]

Totally realize that. And you’re talking to an Apple fanboy here. So I’m definitely not bashing the product, but YouTube and Netflix were definitely better on my lg tv and that was a weird feeling. I always expected a dedicated box like my Apple TV to be better at stuff like that.

So right now I’m using my tv for Netflix and YouTube and Apple TV for iTunes and other apps like cbs and HBO.

Among TV manufacturers, LG has an unusually good app interface via the webOS platform. It's therefore not too surprising you would find it satisfactory so long as the apps you want exist on that platform. With most other TV manufacturers, the interface kills the app experience.

Note, though, that there aren't that many apps on webOS and they may not be updated as frequently. But beyond that, you're right: many of the major apps such as Netflix and Amazon are as good on webOS as they are on ATV, and YouTube is better (because ATV doesn't support its current 4K streaming technology) -- especially if it seems less buggy to you. I prefer AirPlay and like some of the ATV-specific apps, but you aren't wrong to prefer what is actually a good smart TV experience.

 

[Michelasso]

YouTube and Netflix were definitely better on my lg tv and that was a weird feeling. I always expected a dedicated box like my Apple TV to be better at stuff like that.

If it makes you feeling any better you should know that Android TV, the OS made by Google, has been the last one to get the YouTube app v2, with the videos going up to 4K and the standard interface. I think it was last October. And still HDR doesn't work on Android TV televisions (Bravia with Android TV 7.0) with hardware supporting vp9.2 (the Google's proprietary format for HDR in YouTube).

I am surprised about Netflix, though. The interface in my Bravia and PS4 is about the same. With the PS4 app having a bit more features (like the preview on real time, absent in my TV probably due to the crap HW). But I don't know about the one for Apple TV (yet).

 

[400]

On my TV, Netflix app is no where near as good. Same for all the other devices that have Netflix app and that include the app on the Apple TV. Since LG and Netflix seemed to have made a mess of the app on my version, I steer clear of it anyway.

I have 4k via another ISP box and that knocks spots off Netflix but is on par with Apple. Both are delivering good bit rates and compression versions.

I also think that my TV will lose support for certain apps if it lasts long enough, having an external source is sort of future proofing

Suppose it is a "depends on the model" scenario for all the users?

 

[RichardMZhlubb]

iTunes has always been the primary selling point for the AppleTV. Most people can get most other steaming services from other devices (I prefer YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon on my Tivo). That’s why it has surprised me that Apple has agreed to participate in the Movies Anywhere service, since I can now watch most of my iTunes purchased movies on Amazon (i.e., on my Tivo without using my AppleTV).

 

[Juicy Box]

i just got a new 4K smart tv a few days ago and was blown away by how much better apps and interface were for things like Netflix and YouTube.

Yea, many of the apps on tvOS really such, especially Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. The UI was much better on the ATV3's apps than the tvOS'.

The thing is, if there is something wrong with an app on your smart TV, either bugs or UI, it is a lot less likely to be corrected than the tvOS imo and experience.

You realize Apple doesn’t write the interface for Netflix or YouTube, right? Apple didn’t design or write those apps.

Apple's defense force.....

I think the OP realizes that.

But, that doesn't change the fact that the UI of apps suck on the tvOS. Apple could have the most powerful, nicest, prettiest, cheapest tv box ever, but if the apps on it are turds, the device itself is a turd.

 

[aristobrat]

i just got a new 4K smart tv a few days ago and was blown away by how much better apps and interface were for things like Netflix and YouTube. YouTube was SO much better and less buggy than the Apple TV version that i just cant see myself watching it on the Apple TV ever again.

I'm not sure what LG's track record for maintaining their apps is, but I have two higher-end Samsung TVs that are 4-5 years old. Seems like Samsung stopped updating the apps a year or so after I bought them. Many don't work, and most of the ones that do work look exactly like they did when I originally bought the TV.

Thus, I really really really like my AppleTV. lol

 

[archer75]

LG's have the best smart tv interface and performance from any TV i've owned or seen. And they update the apps very often. All the main apps are there and a few extras but nowhere near as many as dedicated streaming devices.

 

[Juicy Box]

I have been a long time fan of Apple and especially the ATV. But, I will say that the ATV4 has not been the revolutionary device that Apple promised it would be.

Sadly, I think there was major missteps at the launch of the ATV4 and tvOS, and it slowed or stopped any momentum that was building. If you look at the rumors in early to mid 2015, the ATV4 could have been a revolutionary device, but then Apple gimped it by giving it an old A8, added the Siri Remote requirement to all apps, and limited the size of apps.

Fast forward to now, tvOS has the random bugs, inconsistent user experiences, lack of app/developer support, not family friendly, and more expensive than the competitors. If you have an older ATV, there is not too much incentive to upgrade. Many of the major apps, including Prime Video are on the ATV3, and the ATV's version of apps are much better imo.

I am hoping that things turn around, but for now, I can understand why some people would want to stick with their TV's apps.