Absolutely hate my New Apple TV

[utazdevl]

Wondering if anyone else has serious buyers remorse about the 4th Generation AppleTV. I have had an AppleTV since the beginning (64GB Gen 1, followed by a Gen 3, now a Gen 4). The new one drops connection all the time, Siri NEVER understands what I am saying and even worse, half the time seems disconnected and doesn't process that I am even saying anything. The remote connection drops all the time and I have to restart it at least twice a week. That is on top of all the UI issues, like the white screen backgrounds (hideous) horrible remote interface and stupid app store implementation (why can I only see and get apps when on the AppleTV, not from my phone or desktop)

Have had the box since the 3rd week it came out and am constantly thinking about ripping it out by the wires and replacing it with a 3rd generation box, which worked beautifully for me for 3 years. I don't do that because I feel like I spent $200 on this stupid box and can't return it, so why waste another $70 on another older device to replace it. If Roku or Fire had a decent way to stream my own content via iTunes (I don't like Plex) I would gladly get one of their devices and walk away from this nightmare Apple convinced me to buy.

Anyone else feel similar?

 

[2010mini]

Wondering if anyone else has serious buyers remorse about the 4th Generation AppleTV. I have had an AppleTV since the beginning (64GB Gen 1, followed by a Gen 3, now a Gen 4). The new one drops connection all the time, Siri NEVER understands what I am saying and even worse, half the time seems disconnected and doesn't process that I am even saying anything. The remote connection drops all the time and I have to restart it at least twice a week. That is on top of all the UI issues, like the white screen backgrounds (hideous) horrible remote interface and stupid app store implementation (why can I only see and get apps when on the AppleTV, not from my phone or desktop)

Have had the box since the 3rd week it came out and am constantly thinking about ripping it out by the wires and replacing it with a 3rd generation box, which worked beautifully for me for 3 years. I don't do that because I feel like I spent $200 on this stupid box and can't return it, so why waste another $70 on another older device to replace it. If Roku or Fire had a decent way to stream my own content via iTunes (I don't like Plex) I would gladly get one of their devices and walk away from this nightmare Apple convinced me to buy.

Anyone else feel similar?

Nope. I have never had any issues you report. Maybe you got a bad one? How is yours setup on your network?

 

[utazdevl]

Nope. I have never had any issues you report. Maybe you got a bad one? How is yours setup on your network?

I have an Airport Extreme and a 50MB line. I run a 5GHZ wireless network with about 4 devices (including the AppleTV) running at any given time. I stream from an older pre-intel G5 Tower (the one with the box like the last gen MacPro) that is hardwired to the network and running Leopard and iTunes 10). I would blame it on the old G5, but I also sometimes stream from my Mid-2011 27 inch iMac that is on the latest version of El Cap and iTunes 12.3.3. I also run into issues when not streaming my content and just watching Netflix (I lose internet in brief blips, so it tells me there is an error with Netflix and leaves the show I am watching but can go right back in).

 

[d21mike]

I bought 8 and have no regrets. I replaced all of my FIOS Cable Boxes saving about $60 per month. Using the Channels App with HDHomeRun Prime fir live TV. I also use NETFLIX, Hulu with no commercials. Love having 1 box and remote for each TV. Loving my setup. I would check with Apple about your unique problems. But since you hate the UI not sure why you keep it.

 

[Ray Brady]

Not me. I bought mine on Day 1, and it continues to work flawlessly. I'm constantly amazed at how well Siri understands what I'm saying. No complaints from me.

 

[vintagebob]

Really like mine but I am not a fan of the Roku 4 I bought to watch Amazon Prime and 4K content. I hardly use the Roku.

 

[utazdevl]

I bought 8 and have no regrets. I replaced all of my FIOS Cable Boxes saving about $60 per month. Using the Channels App with HDHomeRun Prime fir live TV. I also use NETFLIX, Hulu with no commercials. Love having 1 box and remote for each TV. Loving my setup. I would check with Apple about your unique problems. But since you hate the UI not sure why you keep it.

I have already spent the money on it and it is semi-functional. I keep hoping they will update the UI so that I will have a choice for certain UI issues I have. Mostly I hang on because I really do believe in the Apple TV experience in general, and feel like a 4 year old box (Gen 3) is way too outdated to be purchased now (I moved my previous Gen 3 to another TV in the house and don't want to lose that set up).

Maybe I need to do a full factory reset and see if that solves some of my issues.

 

[Dunk the Lunk]

Wondering if anyone else has serious buyers remorse about the 4th Generation AppleTV. I have had an AppleTV since the beginning (64GB Gen 1, followed by a Gen 3, now a Gen 4). The new one drops connection all the time, Siri NEVER understands what I am saying and even worse, half the time seems disconnected and doesn't process that I am even saying anything. The remote connection drops all the time and I have to restart it at least twice a week. That is on top of all the UI issues, like the white screen backgrounds (hideous) horrible remote interface and stupid app store implementation (why can I only see and get apps when on the AppleTV, not from my phone or desktop)

Have had the box since the 3rd week it came out and am constantly thinking about ripping it out by the wires and replacing it with a 3rd generation box, which worked beautifully for me for 3 years. I don't do that because I feel like I spent $200 on this stupid box and can't return it, so why waste another $70 on another older device to replace it. If Roku or Fire had a decent way to stream my own content via iTunes (I don't like Plex) I would gladly get one of their devices and walk away from this nightmare Apple convinced me to buy.

Anyone else feel similar?

Sounds like you either got a bad one or maybe it's picking up some network interference from somewhere. As you say do a factory reset and see if that helps. Also although it may not be ideal long term but you could also try hard wiring it to your network to test if that helps.

 

[tsang2320]

Wondering if anyone else has serious buyers remorse about the 4th Generation AppleTV. I have had an AppleTV since the beginning (64GB Gen 1, followed by a Gen 3, now a Gen 4). The new one drops connection all the time, Siri NEVER understands what I am saying and even worse, half the time seems disconnected and doesn't process that I am even saying anything. The remote connection drops all the time and I have to restart it at least twice a week. That is on top of all the UI issues, like the white screen backgrounds (hideous) horrible remote interface and stupid app store implementation (why can I only see and get apps when on the AppleTV, not from my phone or desktop)

Have had the box since the 3rd week it came out and am constantly thinking about ripping it out by the wires and replacing it with a 3rd generation box, which worked beautifully for me for 3 years. I don't do that because I feel like I spent $200 on this stupid box and can't return it, so why waste another $70 on another older device to replace it. If Roku or Fire had a decent way to stream my own content via iTunes (I don't like Plex) I would gladly get one of their devices and walk away from this nightmare Apple convinced me to buy.

Anyone else feel similar?

Works perfectly here - bought on first day. Remote has never dropped connection on me. Games on it helped entertain visitors every time for kids. (
No going back) Tried reset your connection and remote. There are also a track speed setting (maybe try make it move slower?) and a reduce motion if the graphics is too much.

 

[mrfrosty]

Works perfectly here - bought on first day. Remote has never dropped connection on me. Games on it helped entertain visitors every time for kids. (
No going back) Tried reset your connection and remote. There are also a track speed setting (maybe try make it move slower?) and a reduce motion if the graphics is too much.

I love ours (we have 2), BUT the remote is really crappy...its almost impossible to touch it without something happening. It's way too sensitive and is frankly just annoying.

 

[tsang2320]

I love ours (we have 2), BUT the remote is really crappy...its almost impossible to touch it without something happening. It's way too sensitive and is frankly just annoying.

I am using it only 60-70% of the time. iPhone/iPad remote app the other time. Especially for entering search or password.

 

[seadragon]

No regrets here, especially since Apple has updated the OS and added some sorely missing features back in like Bluetooth keyboard support.

The ATV4 is the best one yet iMO.

 

[nkawal]

No regrets here. I have 2 of them and they work flawlessly. I also have 2 ROKU 4, and 2 Amazon Fire Tv sticks. As well as 2 of the older Apple TV 2's. Only the Apple TV 4's are being used, the rest is back in its boxes. Guess it time to sell them.

 

[satcomer]

I have an Airport Extreme and a 50MB line. I run a 5GHZ wireless network with about 4 devices (including the AppleTV) running at any given time. I stream from an older pre-intel G5 Tower (the one with the box like the last gen MacPro) that is hardwired to the network and running Leopard and iTunes 10). I would blame it on the old G5, but I also sometimes stream from my Mid-2011 27 inch iMac that is on the latest version of El Cap and iTunes 12.3.3. I also run into issues when not streaming my content and just watching Netflix (I lose internet in brief blips, so it tells me there is an error with Netflix and leaves the show I am watching but can go right back in).

You need to get an AC router for the best speeds to the new Apple TV!

 

[John_Hagan]

I agree that a good AC router would help. My ATV4 is connected via AC and there has not been any disconnects and rarely any buffering at all. I am currently using a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 and I highly recommend it.

 

[jaw04005]

I love mine. It's like Apple fulfilled my entire wishlist for the Apple TV (Apps, iTunes Extras, Fast Switching, Siri, Dictation, etc.).

TV OS is new and there are some bugs (I frequently have issues with the iTunes apps, Hulu app is buggy, CNN app is buggy, etc.), but compared to what we had before this one is amazing.

I just noticed you have an AirPort Extreme. Is it AC? I've had hell with mine dropping my cable connection spontaneously. I'm hoping Apple updates the firmware for it soon.

 

[Rigby]

I have an Airport Extreme and a 50MB line.

Try changing the wireless channel on the Airport. Perhaps there is interference from a neighbor or something. If that doesn't help there may be something wrong (e.g. a bad antenna connection inside of the device).

I share your criticisms of some aspects of the ATV4's UI, but I never had any connectivity issues on mine.

 

[utazdevl]

You need to get an AC router for the best speeds to the new Apple TV!

I don't mean to sound stupid on these things, but I thought the Airport Extreme was 802.11ac? I have the "tower" one, not the thinner box one (which I used to have). Is there something I am missing? Is the fact I went with the Airport Extreme my issue here, you think?

 

[IndianBird]

Why didn't you swap it out when it was having these problems you are reporting. Sounds like it's a defective unit.

 

[utazdevl]

Why didn't you swap it out when it was having these problems you are reporting. Sounds like it's a defective unit.

I bought the new one because it was "new" and I thought it would function better than my 3rd Gen, which worked fine but was "limited" by not having an app store and all the other stuff that was added for the 4th gen. I basically bought something what works worse than its predecessor (IMO) because Apple told me to (no sense in pretending that's not the case).

I only started to get really frustrated and take note of these issue a few weeks after I hooked up the new unit. I never liked the interface but always felt like that was the price I paid for better technology, as well as assumed apple would fix some of the bugs with subsequent updates. I still hold out hope that the UI will improve with each update but the disconnect and Siri issues are annoying AF.

 

[fpnc]

Other than the touch pad on the Siri remote (which I do not like), my 4th generation unit seems to work fairly well. The Music app sometimes fails to open (hangs with white screen, need to force quit and then re-open) and the unit's graphical interface seems to reboot itself about every week (video distorts, goes off, but comes back in a second or two) but other than those two issues it seems fairly stable.

 

[off_piste]

No problem with my two units. Also love the remotes. I'm happy they added dictation. Not sure why that wasn't a feature at release.

 

[boast]

Really like mine but I am not a fan of the Roku 4 I bought to watch Amazon Prime and 4K content. I hardly use the Roku.

Why not? I am about to buy a Roku 4 for 4k youtube (which is about 70% of what I watch)

 

[utazdevl]

Seriously considering bad unit (less likely) or bad network (more likely) as my issue.

 

[kagharaht]

It's a little bit better now with recent release. The stuttering has lessened and random crashing of apps and screen has lessened. The Surroynd issue is still messed up. Unsure if Apple will ever fix that problem.