Absolutely hate my New Apple TV

[mallbritton]

...but one other bit that concerns me is that some of the TV manufacturers have been caught doing some fairly creepy things with built-in apps (perhaps not so much the apps as having a always-on networked computerized beachhead in your living room), like tracking your TV viewing habits and reporting back to... well, probably whoever offers them the most money for the information.

And this is why I will NEVER own a "smart" TV.

 

[JoeShades]

SMART TVs in theory are a great idea but in reality are not . Manufacturers do not want you keeping your TV for long periods of time so those SMART Tv fucntions get dumb quickly and i don't see that changing anytime soon

 

[-Gonzo-]

but one other bit that concerns me is that some of the TV manufacturers have been caught doing some fairly creepy things with built-in apps (perhaps not so much the apps as having a always-on networked computerized beachhead in your living room), like tracking your TV viewing habits and reporting back to... well, probably whoever offers them the most money for the information.

And this is why I will NEVER own a "smart" TV.

Unlike Apple of course who also know all your buying, playing, listening and viewing habits via AppleTV, iPhone or iPad etc.
If your really that worried about who knows what and when you maybe watching something then it's probably best to stay away from any internet connected devices altogether.

 

[CarlJ]

Unlike Apple of course who also know all your buying, playing, listening and viewing habits via AppleTV, iPhone or iPad etc.
If your really that worried about who knows what and when you maybe watching something then it's probably best to stay away from any internet connected devices altogether.

Apple knows the things I buy or watch from Apple, because they're the ones who sold me that media. They don't track what I buy from, say, Amazon via the Amazon app on my phone, and Apple is not tracking everything I buy online via the Apple-supplied web browser on my Mac. Some of the TV manufacturers have been caught monitoring what you watch on your TV unrelated to them. If your car reported all your driving decisions and actions back to the car manufacturer in real time, would you be okay with that? Because it sounds like you think that wouldn't be a problem.

And I'm pretty well aware of the ways and extent to which one can be tracked online, but thanks for your concern.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Apple knows the things I buy or watch from Apple, because they're the ones who sold me that media. They don't track what I buy from, say, Amazon via the Amazon app on my phone, and Apple is not tracking everything I buy online via the Apple-supplied web browser on my Mac. Some of the TV manufacturers have been caught monitoring what you watch on your TV unrelated to them. If your car reported all your driving decisions and actions back to the car manufacturer in real time, would you be okay with that? Because it sounds like you think that wouldn't be a problem.

And I'm pretty well aware of the ways and extent to which one can be tracked online, but thanks for your concern.

Here is an article that helps people dumb down their Smart TVs:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-dumb-down-your-smart-tv/

Personally, I mainly use Safari with ad blockers, so I am not too worried about targeted ads making their way from my TV to my internet browsing, but I went ahead and disabled everything but voice control. However, my TV only hears you when you hold down a button.

The point about the Smart TVs getting dumber over time may be true. I guess we will see if the apps get updated. Personally, I have more ads thrown in my face by Roku than anything else I use, so the Smart TV is currently a better option. Like I mentioned, I still like my Appletv for the features I mentioned. I want to also mention that I much prefer AirPlay because it is built into the iOS ecosystem and works with pretty much everything while casting only works with certain apps.

Edit: One thing that I forgot to say is that many of us would rather use an Appletv for 4K content ( at least I would), but Apple has forced us to find other sources for the top of the line resolution and to view the 4K we recorded on our phones via our TVs. Too bad, but that is why a lot of people are upset with this version of the Appletv.

 

[mallbritton]

Apple knows the things I buy or watch from Apple, because they're the ones who sold me that media. They don't track what I buy from, say, Amazon via the Amazon app on my phone, and Apple is not tracking everything I buy online via the Apple-supplied web browser on my Mac. Some of the TV manufacturers have been caught monitoring what you watch on your TV unrelated to them. If your car reported all your driving decisions and actions back to the car manufacturer in real time, would you be okay with that? Because it sounds like you think that wouldn't be a problem.

And I'm pretty well aware of the ways and extent to which one can be tracked online, but thanks for your concern.

This.

 

[cynics]

SMART TVs in theory are a great idea but in reality are not . Manufacturers do not want you keeping your TV for long periods of time so those SMART Tv fucntions get dumb quickly and i don't see that changing anytime soon

Goto the tvOS App Store and look at when your favorite apps have last seen an update.

ATV apps aren't getting the support they need. There isnt a single app that both my ATV and Samsung TV offer that isn't clearly better on my smart tv.

Trust me, I hate the idea of it. I want my ATV to be the centerpiece of my entertainment system but it's just not as good at presenting me with the shows or displaying them.

You can't even see ALL shows in the Netflix or Hulu app without a manual search, it's crazy. To subscribe to channels in YouTube you need to manually search the channel....not even sure it's possible to like or dislike videos, adding favorites and watch list completely gone.

Crunchyroll is an exception, although an ugly UI it seems to offer everything the webpage does for the most part.

I've been leaving very critical reviews for ATV apps. I suggest you guys do the same. Devs really need to invest a little more effort into their tvOS apps.

 

[JoeShades]

All but a few have been updated in the last month, MLB, INFUSE, Discovery, ABC, CNNGO,Etc, all have received updates, so please know what you are talking about before you post. And netflix has been updated. you may not like the App, neither do i but some genius at Netflix thinks this is good. There is difference between not getting updated and not getting updated the way you want. The world does not revolve around you

 

[Snoopy4]

Please do. Be nice to see a comparison to ATV use since most everything else online is Xbox vs Playstation.

If I wasn't so deep in Playstation's eco system with games, trophies, friends, peripherals etc etc I definitely would be getting an Xbox One S. Then again I'd probably be waiting for the Scorpio so its kind of a moot point.

Yeah. We're pretty deep into Apples ecosystem, but there is a lot of Vudu overlap as its all digital copy redemption. Disc to digital seems to be our way out for what's left over. If the pattern changes I'll still use Apple mobile devices, but Microsoft may be the way through inside the home. With work I have no choice but to use a PC when home so it puts me into a mixed environment anyway. Apple is a good product, but they are so closed shop that it's become a bit of an irritant when it comes to the home video environment. It's unfortunate.
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Thanks, it's quite interesting to hear the quality comparisons between the two. My TV is old enough to not have any built-in apps, but one other bit that concerns me is that some of the TV manufacturers have been caught doing some fairly creepy things with built-in apps (perhaps not so much the apps as having a always-on networked computerized beachhead in your living room), like tracking your TV viewing habits and reporting back to... well, probably whoever offers them the most money for the information.

If I were to upgrade to a TV that had built-in apps (I'd be upgrading to get a bigger screen, etc., and it's getting harder to find a non-smart TV these days), I'd probably leave its network connection unconnected (I use the current one pretty much as a monitor - on/off and volume, everything else is the AppleTV since I "cut the cord") and still use the AppleTV for most/all content (I've also got a FireTV, but the AppleTV gets all the viewing time - I like the UI better and it meshes well with the Apple ecosystem - the FireTV is basically an Amazon Prime TV viewing device, purchased during one of their sales - if Amazon ever came out with an app for the AppleTV, I'd probably unplug the FireTV as no longer necessary).

Apple may have other failings, but they've made it fairly clear that their business model is, "we charge you a whole bunch of money up-front for hardware, and we don't rely on collecting/selling - and don't want to collect - lots of data about you". I don't trust the motives of the TV manufacturers as much (they're mostly competing on razor-thin margins and thus have more incentive to look for other ways of making money off of you).

I avoid using built in apps like a plague. Your TV only has so much processing power.
[doublepost=1472356151][/doublepost]

All but a few have been updated in the last month, MLB, INFUSE, Discovery, ABC, CNNGO,Etc, all have received updates, so please know what you are talking about before you post. And netflix has been updated. you may not like the App, neither do i but some genius at Netflix thinks this is good. There is difference between not getting updated and not getting updated the way you want. The world does not revolve around you

I have yet to find a version of the Netflix app that I'd give a thumbs up to. I'd just say it plays back most of the time and that's about as good as any of them are. They need help.

 

[JoeShades]

The website every time it gets updated gets worse also.

 

[aced411]

Can the author of this thread just go buy a Roku and move on? Tired of seeing the topic "I hate my Apple TV" every time I come here.

 

[Snoopy4]

Can the author of this thread just go buy a Roku and move on? Tired of seeing the topic "I hate my Apple TV" every time I come here.

If Apple were a bit more responsive to the current state of the home viewing environment this thread wouldn't exist.

 

[cynics]

Can the author of this thread just go buy a Roku and move on? Tired of seeing the topic "I hate my Apple TV" every time I come here.

Wouldnt it be better to avoid/ignore things you are tired of?

It's seem incredibly odd to me you'd actively run into a place you don't like and expect the host there to literally leave because....your feelings? LOL

 

[Snoopy4]

Wouldnt it be better to avoid/ignore things you are tired of?

It's seem incredibly odd to me you'd actively run into a place you don't like and expect the host there to literally leave because....your feelings? LOL

Some people want to ignore the real problem with this device. Apple stepped not into a PC viewing environment, but a home theater environment where 7.1 audio has been the norm for years and they didn't deliver, in fact they had the audacity to declare it the future of television. They are so far off the mark on this single issue that it's not even funny. Their entire catalog should be in 7.1 audio right now. 4K would have been a nice to have, but to fail at delivering the goods on audio is completely laughable and shows how out of touch they are on this.

 

[-Gonzo-]

Some people want to ignore the real problem with this device. Apple stepped not into and PC viewing environment, but a home theater environment where 7.1 audio has been the norm for years and they didn't deliver, in fact they had the audacity to declare it the future of television. They are so far off the mark on this single issue that it's not even funny. Their entire catalog should be in 7.1 audio right now. 4K would have been a nice to have, but to fail at delivering the goods on audio is completely laughable and shows how out of touch they are on this.

As its 'the future of television' some 3D options would've been nice too.

 

[Uofmtiger]

I avoid using built in apps like a plague. Your TV only has so much processing power.

My TV has plenty of power (quad core) to run apps. I haven't seen any noticeable lag on anything other than the horrible web browsing app. Samsung uses an external box to house the processor and it (theoretically) can be replaced in the future rather than replacing the whole TV if it starts to lag.

 

[slapppy]

Playback still sucks and no AC3 Passthrough.

 

[mallbritton]

Playback still sucks and no AC3 Passthrough.

Are you talking about the 4th generation Apple TV? Because is does support AC3 Passthrough:

http://www.apple.com/tv/specs/
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Unless you mean something else? As long as the video file being watched is encoded correctly, with the appropriate audio tracks the ATV will pass it through to an AV Receiver. I was doing it for years with a 2nd/3rd generation Apple TV.

 

[slapppy]

Are you talking about the 4th generation Apple TV? Because is does support AC3 Passthrough:

http://www.apple.com/tv/specs/
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Unless you mean something else? As long as the video file being watched is encoded correctly, with the appropriate audio tracks the ATV will pass it through to an AV Receiver. I was doing it for years with a 2nd/3rd generation Apple TV.

Specs says it but I haven't seen any content on iTunes that plays back 7.1 on ATV4. So it's not true 7.1.

 

[Crichton333]

SMART TVs in theory are a great idea but in reality are not . Manufacturers do not want you keeping your TV for long periods of time so those SMART Tv fucntions get dumb quickly and i don't see that changing anytime soon

Or in some cases they just straight up announce they are shutting down the service thats instrumental for the SMART TV to work, thanks Samsung some 5+ years ago.

 

[QuarterSwede]

I have yet to find a version of the Netflix app that I'd give a thumbs up to. I'd just say it plays back most of the time and that's about as good as any of them are. They need help.

Bingo. Try the Roku Netflix app. It's not any better. Netflix is the reason their apps "suck." Everyone wants their currently watching list to be the first thing that shows up but Netflix has the nasty habit of moving it around to put your face into new content. As long as my content streams without buffering I really don't care honestly.

I've got a bunch of tv boxes and the Apple TV isn't any worse than the rest. Personally I like the Roku the least. It's ugly and puts ads on the home screen. But what do I know?; Siri actually works fine for me.

 

[Snoopy4]

Specs says it but I haven't seen any content on iTunes that plays back 7.1 on ATV4. So it's not true 7.1.

Disney titles do, but the signal remains compressed as it was with 5.1. I really don't understand what they are doing to the signal that causes this. It's at least a 10dB reduction compared with other sources.
[doublepost=1472418311][/doublepost]

Bingo. Try the Roku Netflix app. It's not any better. Netflix is the reason their apps "suck." Everyone wants their currently watching list to be the first thing that shows up but Netflix has the nasty habit of moving it around to put your face into new content. As long as my content streams without buffering I really don't care honestly.

I've got a bunch of tv boxes and the Apple TV isn't any worse than the rest. Personally I like the Roku the least. It's ugly and puts ads on the home screen. But what do I know?; Siri actually works fine for me.

Drives me nuts when the damn thing locks up and I have to unplug the ATV. Can't wait for the new Xbox to arrive. I doubt said app will be much better, but I don't believe they drop adds all over you on the Xbox like they do on the Roku.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Disney titles do, but the signal remains compressed as it was with 5.1. I really don't understand what they are doing to the signal that causes this. It's at least a 10dB reduction compared with other sources.
[doublepost=1472418311][/doublepost]

Drives me nuts when the damn thing locks up and I have to unplug the ATV. Can't wait for the new Xbox to arrive. I doubt said app will be much better, but I don't believe they drop adds all over you on the Xbox like they do on the Roku.

I guess I don't have many issues wth it locking up. The only time I can remember it doing so was when my wife was live streaming some channel. It's never frozen on me during a recorded stream in any app.

Over the years I've found that the wifi router causes most of the issues. I had one where nothing would stream reliably. Changed it out for an Airport Extreme ac router and all my issues on all my tv boxes disappeared.

 

[Snoopy4]

I guess I don't have many issues wth it locking up. The only time I can remember it doing so was when my wife was live streaming some channel. It's never frozen on me during a recorded stream in any app.

Over the years I've found that the wifi router causes most of the issues. I had one where nothing would stream reliably. Changed it out for an Airport Extreme ac router and all my issues on all my tv boxes disappeared.

Don't use wifi. The app itself locks up.

 

[aced411]

Wouldnt it be better to avoid/ignore things you are tired of?

It's seem incredibly odd to me you'd actively run into a place you don't like and expect the host there to literally leave because....your feelings? LOL

LOL no just swinging by to view other topics. Believe it or not some of us love the Apple TV as it is.