Apple Announces New Apple TV With Siri, App Store, New User Interface and Remote

[Robstevo]

That's EXACTLY the problem. Apple has stopped INNOVATING and LEADING with cutting edge products and instead now plays CATCH UP to the competition instead and then often charges premium prices to boot. For what? Steve Jobs released the iPhone when no such phone existed. He released the original AppleTV when no such thing existed. WTF is Apple releasing EVERYTHING now 2-3 years after everyone else already has a similar product out? That includes the Apple Watch (which is NOT the first smart watch by a long shot and isn't very useful or popular even so). This isn't how Steve ran Apple!

That's EXACTLY the problem. Apple has stopped INNOVATING and LEADING with cutting edge products and instead now plays CATCH UP to the competition instead and then often charges premium prices to boot. For what? Steve Jobs released the iPhone when no such phone existed. He released the original AppleTV when no such thing existed. WTF is Apple releasing EVERYTHING now 2-3 years after everyone else already has a similar product out? That includes the Apple Watch (which is NOT the first smart watch by a long shot and isn't very useful or popular even so). This isn't how Steve ran Apple!

Indeed. Look at the iphone 4 as well, immense build quality compared to the competition, best screen and camera on the market etc

You look at the iphone screen and it's basically average compared to its competition. The note 5/4/s6 has vastly better screen quality. In fact the screen in the note 5 is 40 percent more power efficient compared to the iphone 6 plus.

Apples hardware is comparable with phones that came out a year ago.

 

[Edd.Dantes]

I can't for the life of me understand why people like YOU don't get it. WTF should I have to buy ANOTHER AppleTV three years from now to get what this one SHOULD have had today? The new iPhone records 4K, but I can't watch it on my brand spanking new AppleTV??? WHY NOT? I don't have a 4K set at the moment, but I'm planning to replace my projector for my 93" home theatre (and thinking about a 2:35-1 replacement screen for the same height, but to fill the width of the room for ultra-wide movies and a 4K projector would be PERFECT for that. Even line-doubled, it would be better than 1080P at that size. Now if/when I get that projector later this year or next year, why on earth would I want to buy a media playback box that CANNOT AND WILL NOT play ANY 4K content when Roku is planning a 4K model and clearly will beat Apple to the market by 2-3 YEARS? How much extra effort would have it cost Apple to make a 4K playback model? The tech sites all claim the A8 is capable of 4K video already so you'd think they'd at least support 4K Netflix, but no, they want you to take your business to ROKU. Hello ROKU, you clearly want my business more than Crapple.

Wait for Roku, Fire TV or just get an Nvidia Shield TV now. No reason to get upset.

Apple will always be far too closed of an ecosystem anyway. Better to just relax and move to a company that must innovate to stay alive.

 

[nebo1ss]

I'm disappointed about this too. I have 2 apple TVs one in living room hDMI'd to TV and optically connected to stereo and one connected via AV amp to a projector by HDMI and optical. In the living room you can airplay music to stereo without telly on and my AV amp only supports video over HDMI.

The lack of Optical out and 4K capability shows they still do not understand the market.

 

[haganah]

I should be able to go in and say I want to watch a tv show. Maybe comedy, maybe browse, maybe search, whatever and it shows me all the shows and when I click on them i can then choose whether iTunes, hbo, netflix, amazon, etc. I really hope this isn't the other way around - that you go through the apps to find the shows. In fact I don't understand the point of the apps. I care about content, not who serves it to me. 4K isn't as bothersome as 8K tv's are around the corner and apple can simply have the next version do 8K and be done with it.

 

[CFreymarc]

Wow, lots of FUD going on. Here we go.

First, it's absolutely inexcusable that this doesn't have HDMI 2.0. Inexcusable. Tons of TVs, AVRs, etc have HDMI 2.0 now. We've waited (what has it been, three years?) for the Apple TV to be updated and they can't even offer the latest in HDMI?

If you wanted HDMI 2.0, it would have been easily over $200 retail. Quit the highchair spoon banging. This design is optimized for volume distribution worldwide.

Second, 4K is neither expensive nor niche. Have people been to a Best Buy or such store recently? That's all you find are 4K TVs. Netflix offers 4K content, so do other services. I just bought a Samsung JU7100 for $900 over Labor Day weekend and I've been watching House of Cards (Netflix). It's glorious. And so is 1080p content. I'd rather watch the content through an Apple TV, though.

You have no idea about the volume commitments needed to secure a 4K chip set these days with the IP licenses involved. Again, you cannot get 4K below $200 a unit retail.

Third, bandwidth is not a real limitation, not in 2015. I'm paying around $60 a month for 50Mbps. Netflix recommends 25Mbps for 4K. Getting a 25Mbps service is not exactly a hardship.

Bottom line is, there is no excuse *not* to offer HDMI 2.0. I'm putting my money back in my wallet. Disappointing is an understatement.

In your neighborhood, perhaps, but this device is aimed at both international and domestic sales. Overseas, there are still ISPs with metered, hardwired service plans.

You may see your dream Apple TV on 5th generation but not now. Enjoy the apps for tvOS when they come out and I'm sure you will have a lot to complain about them when it doesn't have the same graphics performance as an XBox One.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The computers menu has been a seperate App, you access your photos and music through the computers app since Apple tv 2

I guess we're splitting hairs. By "main menu", I mean it's always locked up at the top with "Movies", "TV Shows", "Music" etc, not mixed into the long list of apps that now exist below the "main menu". The picture of the orange icon that is probably "computers" in the new UI appears to be mixed in and dropped off of the "main menu".

Here's a photo of the original UI that I think came with your TV 2...

Now yes, the green icon for "computers" in the photo can be viewed as a "separate app" much like the trailers or WSJ apps below it. But try to move it off the main menu row.

On TV3 (and probably your own TV3 updated to the latest UI), "Computers" is still on the main row and is an orange icon. It also can't be moved off the main row.

Looking at the one picture shown of the new TV4 UI, it appears that if that icon is the "Computers" app icon, our own media is no longer important enough to be locked at the top (or perhaps NO icon is important enough to be locked at the top)? We'll see in upcoming reviews.

 

[bommai]

This new ATV won't work with your logitech unless you have their bluetooth adapter. Another negative point about the new ATV.

Logitech's new Smart Remotes are Bluetooth and Wifi based. This will be perfect for that.

 

[sandmanfvr]

Monoprice HDMI Switcher:
Mode: MD-415ARC
HDMI 3D-ARC-CEC supported
4 HDMI Inputs
1 Optical out.
1 HDMI out
* remote for switching inputs/modes

I have it hooked up in my office to:
* Input: Mac Mini Mid-2011 server,
* Input: Apple TV 3,
* Input: Chromecast,
* Input: extra HDMI cable for Laptop.
* Opt Out: Old 2.1 LG Receiver
* HDMI Out: Old Samsung 24" 1080p monitor

Only problem I have is with the mac mini, The Mini has a hard time recognizing the monitor unless another HDMI device detected it fine. turns out it is a known Mac Mini Issue for that model.

Ok I have seen this one. The audio come out hdmi and optical same time? Any issues with the box needing powers off?

 

[BobF4321]

No 7.1 audio or 4k video makes this one a deal breaker.

It has Dolby Digital 7.1 output according to the tech specs...

 

[thecb4]

Looking at the RAM on the Dev website. It's a significant bump over the 512MB it was running. It is not however, a PS4. Still will be getting on.

 

[trip1ex]

Kinda cool. I wish they put the TVoS on Tivo though.

AS of now though, an ATV can't replace my cable subscription. AT the very least ATV needs your local OTA network channels.

Remote was interesting but it all depends on how well it works in the real world.

Not sure on the gaming. Remote looks limited for gaming. But the app store model and unlocked creativity on a tv screen could bring some fun new casual games.

 

[Karma*Police]

They barely caught up with competition; very underwhelming update.

But! That's the market. Speak with your money and enjoy it if you buy into it.

It's not revolutionary but it looks to me like they leapfrogged it.

 

[netwalker]

While an iPhone is usually being used by one person, a family will be using the ATV. How is that being handled regarding app store, renting movies, buying items in apps etc.?

 

[dgalvan123]

All you need is a HDHomeRun App on the AppleTV. I already have HDHomeRun. However, the problem is this. One hour of recording takes about 13GB in MPEG2 OTA. Unless AppleTV has a way to connect to a storage system, this app is useless. I believe HDHomeRun is coming out with their own DVR.

They are. Like all other HD Homerun products, I suspect it will be only of interest to a niche portion of the population.
(I have an HD Homerun Transcoding tuner. I stopped using it once I bought a Channelmaster DVR that is much simpler/easier to use.)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1275320038/hdhomerun-dvr-the-dvr-re-imagined

 

[Manderby]

I may write a Zapping app which turns the Play/Pause button into a random channel switcher.

I will make millions!

 

[Dub1ous]

I own three AppleTVs and two Macs and three iPod Touches. That's why I'm here. You seem to be here to drink Apple juice and then lecture us for not doing the same.

Seriously, how is complaining on this forum accomplishing anything other than annoying the people who would rather not hear constant complaining about every minute way a product doesn't live up to their personal expectations? Are you expecting people to see your posts and say "Oh, I guess you're right, this is a crappy product and we'll all not buy it" and Apple will cave and give you the feature you want?

 

[z31fanatic]

It has Dolby Digital 7.1 output according to the tech specs...

There is no such thing as Dolby Digital 7.1.

 

[netwalker]

Not sure on the gaming. Remote looks limited for gaming.

I was wondering if you can use multiple remotes at the same time for multi-player games but I guess the answer is no as we saw that in those demos they had to use extra iOS devices.

 

[driceman]

It's called "shareholders". Tim Cook, the bean counter. Maximize profit, limp by. Steve was going this way, before he died, as well. Tim just galvanized and perfected it. Vote with your wallet.

Agreed that Tim is allowing lower-quality products on the market, but I don't think Steve was. His health was pretty bad the last couple years of his life (source: Becoming Steve Jobs- he was lying in bed half the time in 2010-2011) and I don't think he was entirely running Apple at that point. The biggest thing that irritates me about the Apple we have right now is them selling two or three-year-old devices as "new," which as far as I'm aware didn't happen under Steve.

Apple, your greed is showing.

 

[z31fanatic]

Seriously, how is complaining on this forum accomplishing anything other than annoying the people who would rather not hear constant complaining about every minute way a product doesn't live up to their personal expectations?

So we should only join a forum to post only the good things about a product and just ignore the shortcomings?

I swear religions got nothing on Apple drones.

 

[Corrode]

While an iPhone is usually being used by one person, a family will be using the ATV. How is that being handled regarding app store, renting movies, buying items in apps etc.?

Easy. Family Sharing. http://www.apple.com/ca/icloud/family-sharing/

 

[apps1991]

Siri integration is a good add. Look forward to playing with Apple TV.

 

[/dev/toaster]

I can't for the life of me understand why people like YOU don't get it. WTF should I have to buy ANOTHER AppleTV three years from now to get what this one SHOULD have had today? The new iPhone records 4K, but I can't watch it on my brand spanking new AppleTV??? WHY NOT? I don't have a 4K set at the moment, but I'm planning to replace my projector for my 93" home theatre (and thinking about a 2:35-1 replacement screen for the same height, but to fill the width of the room for ultra-wide movies and a 4K projector would be PERFECT for that. Even line-doubled, it would be better than 1080P at that size. Now if/when I get that projector later this year or next year, why on earth would I want to buy a media playback box that CANNOT AND WILL NOT play ANY 4K content when Roku is planning a 4K model and clearly will beat Apple to the market by 2-3 YEARS? How much extra effort would have it cost Apple to make a 4K playback model? The tech sites all claim the A8 is capable of 4K video already so you'd think they'd at least support 4K Netflix, but no, they want you to take your business to ROKU. Hello ROKU, you clearly want my business more than Crapple.

So, don't buy the new AppleTV wait for the next one. Apple has never been about getting to market first. They were not the first to get to market with 4k. They weren't the first with an optical stabilizer or slow mo. They are about being the best.

Maybe the hardware can support 4k, but maybe not as smooth as Apple would like.

4k AppleTV will happen when it's ready. Sounds to me like the AppleTV isn't for you.

 

[MacBH928]

what is the cheapest option for me to use Airplay?

I dont want all those features to watch my itune purchases on my tv. I wish Airplay can work on chromecast

 

[Jett0516]

Is this the best they can do? What ever happened to all those rumours for a decade or more that the Apple Tv would be the best thing since... TV? is this it? Seriously? Is it?

There is now an app store for the Apple TV. That's a huge deal.

Hopefully a dev will make an app that will pull in all of your favorite clips and autoplay it like live tv instead of having to go in and out of apps just to watch one clip.