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flimpy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 21, 2015
104
73
So I bought the 64 GB version and can't figure out what to do with it.

Not interested with games, I have Titan X to cover that part. I was looking for some interesting apps and could not find any... Is it just me or there really isn't any good apps for Apple TV 4 yet?

Oh, by the way, I have a feeling that Samsung worked on Apple TV 4, not Apple. When I am swiping to the right in App Store, the "cursor" moves to the right (as expected), but when I am looking at the screenshots in full screen I have to swipe to the left, to switch to the next screenshot to the right. Anybody else noticed this UI nonsense or is it just me?
 
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JBRDiver

macrumors newbie
Nov 13, 2015
19
4
UK
What sort of apps were you hoping to find for your Apple TV? You must surely have had some idea of what you wanted to use the Apple TV for before you bought it?

Personally I love my Apple TV - Infuse Pro is the best DLNA-compatible movie player ever!
 
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flimpy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 21, 2015
104
73
What sort of apps were you hoping to find for your Apple TV? You must surely have had some idea of what you wanted to use the Apple TV for before you bought it?

Personally I love my Apple TV - Infuse Pro is the best DLNA-compatible movie player ever!

Sure, I had an idea of what Apple TV 4 is. What apps I was hoping to find? I do not know...

I understand it has games, which I am not interested in, media center apps (like Infuse you mentioned), which I also have no use for since I am not downloading any content (just buying and renting it on Apple TV).

I discovered awesome TV service - sling.com, but there is no app for Apple TV (hopefully yet...)

Potential is huge, but so far nothing interesting, unfortunately..
 

MacDevil7334

Contributor
Oct 15, 2011
2,552
5,816
Austin TX
Sure, I had an idea of what Apple TV 4 is. What apps I was hoping to find? I do not know...

I understand it has games, which I am not interested in, media center apps (like Infuse you mentioned), which I also have no use for since I am not downloading any content (just buying and renting it on Apple TV).

I discovered awesome TV service - sling.com, but there is no app for Apple TV (hopefully yet...)

Potential is huge, but so far nothing interesting, unfortunately..

Honestly, if all you want to do with your AppleTV is stream and rent movies, you might be better off buying a third generation model and saving yourself some money. Or, if Sling is something you want to use, get a Roku. Right now, owning a fourth generation Apple TV is kind of like owning the iPhone 3G during the first six months of the App Store. Yes, the device does have an App Store. But, most developers have only had a few months to work on apps so the really good stuff isn't here yet. I'm sure over time that will change! But, I suspect a significant percentage of the new apps will be games. So, you may still find yourself disappointed if that's not your thing.

For me, the killer app is Provenance, which lets me play old Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and GameBoy games. That alone justify the upgrade from the third generation Apple TV for me. The better interface and Siri integration were just bonuses. But if all I wanted to do was stream TV and movies, I would've just stuck with the third generation model.
 
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d21mike

macrumors 68040
Jul 11, 2007
3,320
356
Torrance, CA
You need to determine the best apps for you. The App Store will grow quickly like has happened on iOS. My personal favorite which is actually saving me money is Channels Live TV. But again, what is good for me may not be good for you.
 

flimpy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 21, 2015
104
73
Honestly, if all you want to do with your AppleTV is stream and rent movies, you might be better off buying a third generation model and saving yourself some money. Or, if Sling is something you want to use, get a Roku. Right now, owning a fourth generation Apple TV is kind of like owning the iPhone 3G during the first six months of the App Store.

Oooh no, it is so not like the start of the App Store. This is exactly what I had in my mind when I was thinking about buying Apple TV 4 - the mind blowing WOW that I experienced even before the App Store was out - remember Cydia? The Labyrinth app was awesome, the caller ID apps, then there were NES emulators coming to the iPhone and a lot more apps - it was awesome. I expected something similar with Apple TV 4 and so far it has being "meh" rather than "wow".

Yes, the device does have an App Store. But, most developers have only had a few months to work on apps so the really good stuff isn't here yet. I'm sure over time that will change! But, I suspect a significant percentage of the new apps will be games. So, you may still find yourself disappointed if that's not your thing. For me, the killer app is Provenance, which lets me play old Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and GameBoy games. That alone justify the upgrade from the third generation Apple TV for me. The better interface and Siri integration were just bonuses. But if all I wanted to do was stream TV and movies, I would've just stuck with the third generation model.

Well, iPhone has a lot of games for it, but also a lot of cool apps too. So I am hoping it will be the same for Apple TV 4 some day... I have had gen 3 for over three years, got tired of it's glitches and slowness, so at least gen 4 can solves these issues. As far as awesome apps - I think you are right... there will be more in future.

You need to determine the best apps for you. The App Store will grow quickly like has happened on iOS. My personal favorite which is actually saving me money is Channels Live TV. But again, what is good for me may not be good for you.

Yeah... I do not understand the whole Channels / HDHomeRun thing. If I could get TV channels out of the air, I would have let my TV process the signal. I do not see what's the point of having HDHomeRun / Channels set up, unless TV does not have HDTV tuner in it.
 

d21mike

macrumors 68040
Jul 11, 2007
3,320
356
Torrance, CA
Yeah... I do not understand the whole Channels / HDHomeRun thing. If I could get TV channels out of the air, I would have let my TV process the signal. I do not see what's the point of having HDHomeRun / Channels set up, unless TV does not have HDTV tuner in it.
Now you understand what I meant. The Channels App is huge for my 8 TV house and we like more the simple OTA Channels. Really important to determine what is best for you.
 

IGI2

macrumors 6502a
May 6, 2015
559
529
So I bought the 64 GB version and can't figure out what to do with it.

Not interested with games, I have Titan X to cover that part. I was looking for some interesting apps and could not find any... Is it just me or there really isn't any good apps for Apple TV 4 yet?

Oh, by the way, I have a feeling that Samsung worked on Apple TV 4, not Apple. When I am swiping to the right in App Store, the "cursor" moves to the right (as expected), but when I am looking at the screenshots in full screen I have to swipe to the left, to switch to the next screenshot to the right. Anybody else noticed this UI nonsense or is it just me?
This! I must agree. This swiping left/right thing is I guess... messed up... so it's not only you.
 
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MacDevil7334

Contributor
Oct 15, 2011
2,552
5,816
Austin TX
Oooh no, it is so not like the start of the App Store. This is exactly what I had in my mind when I was thinking about buying Apple TV 4 - the mind blowing WOW that I experienced even before the App Store was out - remember Cydia? The Labyrinth app was awesome, the caller ID apps, then there were NES emulators coming to the iPhone and a lot more apps - it was awesome. I expected something similar with Apple TV 4 and so far it has being "meh" rather than "wow".

I actually do remember Cydia (and Installer.app before it). Most of the apps you mentioned weren't allowed in the App Store by Apple once it opened. CallerID apps, or anything else that modified how the system worked, were not allowed. Emulators like the NES one you mentioned weren't allowed. When the App Store first opened, it was Super Monkey Ball, and a whole bunch of unit converters and weather apps that all pretty much did the same thing. I distinctly remember being disappointed that I had given up my jailbreak on 1.1.2 to upgrade iOS 2.0 with such lackluster offerings in the App Store. The good stuff came over time as developers were able to explore just what they could do with the iOS SDK (and as more and more APIs were made available).

I would point out that several of the apps you mentioned from the early days of iOS are games. Is there a reason you're not interested in games on the AppleTV? There are several good ones in the App Store and, as I mentioned in my last post, there is already an emulator available that plays not only NES, but also SNES, Game Boy, and SEGA games.
 

flimpy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 21, 2015
104
73
Now you understand what I meant. The Channels App is huge for my 8 TV house and we like more the simple OTA Channels. Really important to determine what is best for you.

wow... 8 TVs, meaning also 8 Apple TVs? Yeah, I can see how channels would be useful in this configuration.. I have only one TV :)

This! I must agree. This swiping left/right thing is I guess... messed up... so it's not only you.

I am glad it is not just me, this UI "feature" drives me nuts :)

I actually do remember Cydia (and Installer.app before it). Most of the apps you mentioned weren't allowed in the App Store by Apple once it opened.

YES, I was not sure what came first, Cydia or Installer. Thanks for reminding, I remember now it was Installer - good old times... though I am not missing the Jailbreak... man, what a pain in the a$$ it was in early days - lots and lots of steps... also it did not work abroad, so I had to learn how to mess with programmable SIM cards to make it work - it was fun, I am glad it is all in the past though :)

I would point out that several of the apps you mentioned from the early days of iOS are games. Is there a reason you're not interested in games on the AppleTV? There are several good ones in the App Store and, as I mentioned in my last post, there is already an emulator available that plays not only NES, but also SNES, Game Boy, and SEGA games.

I have PS4 (collecting dust) and also a gaming PC with Titan X inside, so if Apple TV wants to get me interested in it's games - it has to be something special.


So I had to buy Amazon Fire TV, for Sling (cable is cut for over a year now) and it turns to be a pretty nice device. The most hilarious part is that Amazon Fire TV works with my Apple Bluetooth keyboard, which I used with Apple TV 3. Apple TV 4 does not want to work with this keyboard. At least I am glad that Steve Jobs did not see this mess. :)
 

d21mike

macrumors 68040
Jul 11, 2007
3,320
356
Torrance, CA
wow... 8 TVs, meaning also 8 Apple TVs? Yeah, I can see how channels would be useful in this configuration.. I have only one TV :)
Yes. 8 TV's and 8 ATV 4's. Very happy with my setup. And, I only expect it to get better as new App's become available.
 

DesertDog

macrumors member
Jun 22, 2004
70
18
Yeah... I do not understand the whole Channels / HDHomeRun thing. If I could get TV channels out of the air, I would have let my TV process the signal. I do not see what's the point of having HDHomeRun / Channels set up, unless TV does not have HDTV tuner in it.

For me it's convenience/ease of use. It's so much nicer to just have the app to jump into while using the ATV then finding the TV remote, switching to the antenna, and then having to do the reverse to go back. The main thing I use my OTA for is sports. So on a Saturday with college football I'm mainly switching between CBS, ABC, Fox, and ESPN, with the last being the sore spot since it's not OTA. Before ATV4 I was juggling the inputs going between the ESPN app and the TV tuner. Now it's a simple home button press and quick swipe (apps are next to each other). Much less friction. I switch constantly now whereas before I'd get lazy and stick with either ESPN or the OTA channels.
 

ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Sep 21, 2010
9,612
6,909
then there were NES emulators coming to the iPhone and a lot more apps
...
I do not see what's the point of having HDHomeRun / Channels set up, unless TV does not have HDTV tuner in it.

If you have a Mac, you can sideload an emulator; see this thread. Sideloading is not as easy as the app store though. I suspect it's at least a half hour process. I'm going to give it a try some time this week.

HDHomeRun/Channels is definitely a very niche product, but if you are in that niche like me, it's a huge deal. If you're not, it's completely useless. I don't have a tuner in my TV, so it's quite useful to me for the living room TV. It's also useful for the bedroom TV because that TV isn't near the antenna connection.
 

flimpy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 21, 2015
104
73
For me it's convenience/ease of use. It's so much nicer to just have the app to jump into while using the ATV then finding the TV remote, switching to the antenna, and then having to do the reverse to go back.

Oh, I use Logitech Harmony Ultimate remote for that (a newer version of this remote came out recently - Harmony Elite) - it controls all devices I have, with exception of PS4. One click on this remote and all necessary devices will turn on and switch to required HDMI inputs, while all unnecessary devices will switch off. This remote retired 6 remotes for me (TV, receiver, BD player, Apple TV 4, Amazon Fire TV, HTPC in Monueal case). The only exception may be the Apple TV 4 remote, if I would have to use it's accelerometers.

If you have a Mac, you can sideload an emulator; see this thread. Sideloading is not as easy as the app store though. I suspect it's at least a half hour process. I'm going to give it a try some time this week.

Thanks, I saw the description of how to upload emulators to Apple TV 4, may try it some day... the only downside is the necessity to buy controller for Apple TV 4. It would be nice if I could connect PS4 controller to Apple TV, but I doubt Apple will allow this... hell, they did not even bother allowing to connect their own keyboard to it :)

Haha. 5 bedrooms. LR, Kitchen, Master Bath.

Easy target for Big Brother, with 8 TVs in the house, lol :)
 
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