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

[bklynpeter]

Just checked the Apple site and there is a whole section about being able to stream your own content. It doesn't say how (Home Sharing vs. Airplay) but I am offically less concerned than I was earlier about being able to watch my own content as I have been able to on all previous AppleTV's.

http://www.apple.com/tv/music-and-photos/

Phew!

I could be mistaken, but when they say you can access "your music", I think they mean access to your Apple Music account, and when they say "your photos and videos", I think they mean access to your content on iCloud. So, if you are looking to access material on your NAS or your other computers, I think it's a no-go. Unless I am misunderstanding, which is quite possible

 

[ErikGrim]

I could be mistaken, but when they say you can access "your music", I think they mean access to your Apple Music account, and when they say "your photos and videos", I think they mean access to your content on iCloud. So, if you are looking to access material on your NAS or your other computers, I think it's a no-go. Unless I am misunderstanding, which is quite possible

If it is in your iTunes library you will be able to access it. Same with your Plex library if you use Plex.

 

[oldmacs]

I don't think 4K streaming is going to go mainstream any time soon. I mean not only do people need a 4K television, but also a fast enough internet connection.

That's no reason not to support it. 4K TVs are getting much cheaper, more people are buying then and not to mention the iPhone 6S recording in 4K.

 

[snowmoon]

so who needs a WiiU?

I've got a Wii and a Roku 3 but am seriously looking at this for the living room ( our only TV ). I had been leaning towards the Wii U as our next "gaming system", but with Nintendo still failing to come to their senses with a reasonable licensing scheme ( DLC is still device, not account, linked and no family sharing ) it's hard to justify buying more into their ecosystem. Looks like the kids may get either an iPad mini or iPod Touch this holiday and I'll get the new aTV. I'll upcycle the Roku somewhere but beside Netflix it's never really come close to the potential that the hardware offered.

 

[bullamakanka]

You seem to be under the impression that the new Apple TV will run existing iPhone/iPad apps. But that is not possible, since the Apple TV does not have a touch display. Of course nobody can force Nintendo to make Apple TV versions of their games (even though they may want to if they decide that they want to become primarily a software company).

Seems to me the touch-remote provides the game-play interaction needed. It wouldn't really make sense to have ANY app available for TV unless the touch-remote did the job of a touch-screen. However, I could see where this might have stumbling blocks, such as trying to determine where your thumb is in relation to the screen (similar to trying to draw onscreen using a Bamboo, which I personally find annoying).

 

[utazdevl]

I could be mistaken, but when they say you can access "your music", I think they mean access to your Apple Music account, and when they say "your photos and videos", I think they mean access to your content on iCloud. So, if you are looking to access material on your NAS or your other computers, I think it's a no-go. Unless I am misunderstanding, which is quite possible

I sure hope you are mistaken. Plus the Tech Spec pages references Home Sharing, which means you can access your content not in the iCloud.

 

[shiseiryu1]

I'm going to buy one immediately!

First, I agree with my wife's assessment: Simplest (yet most powerful) remote ever. Look at typical "universal" remotes...they're terrible with a million buttons. The stinky Android TV add on (Nvidia) comes with a controller by default..not a remote. Nobody wants to navigate TV with a stinking controller. The Roku remote is just for the device itself...not your TV or A/V so you'll have to drag around multiple remotes. FAIL! The AppleTV remote is a beautiful mix of simplicity and power. I'm so excited to ditch my Logitech Harmony remote and use this one remote for everything (including gaming)!

Second, I'm surprised that it doesn't support 4k. Does seem odd. I don't have a 4k TV anyways though (and 4k content is horribly rare still) so that's not a deal-breaker for me.

Third, for all those that want to use an AndroidTV or Roku3...I would not want to play games on those devices. I'm positive that the AppleTV is going to be a superior gaming experience; because of the superior hardware and because of the superior/higher-quality games that will be available on it. Also, Android and Roku interfaces are ugly.

Last, with such a huge developer community (and customers who aren't poor or cheap) there are going to be some great apps on the AppleTV in no time. It's going to kill what's available on all other platforms. iPhone developers make more money than Android developers and it's going to be the same with the AppleTV. Quality programming will gravitate to it because that's where the money is going to be. Can't wait!

 

[bullamakanka]

I've got a Wii and a Roku 3 but am seriously looking at this for the living room ( our only TV ). I had been leaning towards the Wii U as our next "gaming system", but with Nintendo still failing to come to their senses with a reasonable licensing scheme ( DLC is still device, not account, linked and no family sharing ) it's hard to justify buying more into their ecosystem. Looks like the kids may get either an iPad mini or iPod Touch this holiday and I'll get the new aTV. I'll upcycle the Roku somewhere but beside Netflix it's never really come close to the potential that the hardware offered.

We have a WiiU as well, but I can see where the aTV will take the place of a lot that it offers. As for the WiiU, I have a son who lives and breathes Mario, builds custom tracks using Google's SketchUp and ports them into the WiiU to play on (don't ask me how he does it), so it's around for a while yet. But Daddy's getting an aTV and an iPad Pro for Xmas.

 

[ParanoidDroid]

The new remote is ugly compared to the previous one! I'll totally miss touching the aluminium when watching TV.

 

[jettredmont]

Amid the vitriolic rhetoric, innocent question: what physical connector do [most] 4K displays use? any chance Apple could enable hidden 4K support thru software when iTunes Store is ready?

HDMI, but I believe it needs to b HDMI 2.0, while the ATV connector is HDMI 1.4 compliant only.

What I'm more interested in than 4k is the compression technology that makes it even remotely possible. Will the ATV be able to support H.265 video in 1080p, even if not in 4k? I don't see any reason why not, and that would cut the stream size in about half most of the time with no loss in quality (which is why 4k can be 4x as big but stream in only twice the bandwidth with comparable quality).

 

[macbeta]

No optical out. Bummer.

I wanted to use this with my 27" display, as I don't have a TV. But I'm not going to get a dedicated TV, just to connect an Apple TV to it.

Does anybody know any device that will split HDMI input into picture (HDMI output to display) and sound? Sound output can be anything: optical, analog cinch, I don't care, as long as it's stereo.

Any Decent AV receiver will do it.

 

[HenryDJP]

Didn't read the post I quoted, huh? "Easily over $200 retail" and "Cannot get 4k below $200 a unit" are inaccurate. Why would proving that make me an nvidia employee? This, while sounding like advertising, is just stating fact -> And, the game controller is your remote. You can buy an additional skinny remote for additional money. The box is ugly.

I use an appleTV myself.

Then you didn't understand my post at all. I was just commenting how you're "selling" the idea of the Nvidia console by saying it's "Under $200", when in fact it's $199.99. It was kind of a joke I was making because while $199.99 IS under $200, only a person trying to sell it would say it's "under $200". It's still $200 at the end of the day. The included game controller is BS. Sorry. It's pretty obvious which direction Nvidia truly is marketing this machine towards. Gamers, not necessarily TV couch potatoes.
I have a PS4 and Sony is also offering their TV service, plus playing Spotify. It's maddening using a game controller to do the job of a standard remote control. At the end of the day most people buying a set top box to use it for TV/Movie watching is not going to want to use a game controller to do so. So that Nvidia console ends up being at least $25 more for a real remote.

 

[ulyssesric]

The first thing that catch my eyes is not the new toy from Apple, but Galaxy On Fire 3. I'm eager to know when will it be released. What a shame that Siri can't give me a hint.

 

[prowlmedia]

Why might it be 10mm bigger? Anyone have an idea?

 

[HenryDJP]

if I remember math correctly, $199.99 is less than $200. so the OP is correct. I have many apple devices, including ATV 2/3 for years. but I can tell you that I am using Nvidia shield TV now and it rocks. I don't need to list all features it has that ATV 4 doesn't. and No, I don't play games on it.

Funny how you'd back that nonsense up. Of course, because you have that game console. $199.99 doesn't sit well with people when it's being sold as "Under $200". It's only a penny difference. Let's not play games sir...

 

[jettredmont]

why would someone wanna use their tv to play music is beyond me. plus with the roku you get a private channel like machtv and get all ppv events, HBO,DISCOVERY CH, A&E,ESPN,SKY SPORTS, ETC... and all NFL,NBA,NHL,MLB games in HD all for about 20.00a month. thanks but no thanks no apple tv for me

You do realize that that "private channel" is ... ummm ... not legal, right? I mean, yes, the guys running it are in a not-going-to-enforce-international-copyright-laws area of the world, but you most likely are not. None of the money you spend on that goes to the content creators, which is about as low a freeloader as you can be; you might as well torrent it all for free and spend that money on a good VPN instead.

 

[2010mini]

Apple said nothing about 4k capability which I fully understand as 4k is still in its infancy. And Maybe it's just me, but don't those Apple TV screen savers look like 4k quality?

 

[utazdevl]

In March, Nintendo announced they'd have the first version of one of their games available for the iPhone/iPad sometime this year. Their stock went up 30% immediately. Today, with the announcement of Apple's revamped TV, they may want to rethink that move. The new Apple TV box can play Apps right on the big screen... games and other apps (including all the streaming services), plus movies, TV shows, photos from your own iPhone, music and much more... so who needs a WiiU?

Cannot wait to hook this up.

It is a bit off topic, but the greatest thing about the WiiU is the handheld console aspect. Now, my 5 year old can play his WiiU games on the console while the 8 year old plays on the PS3 using the TV. Diffuses several arguments about who gets to play what.

 

[Rigby]

Seems to me the touch-remote provides the game-play interaction needed. It wouldn't really make sense to have ANY app available for TV unless the touch-remote did the job of a touch-screen. However, I could see where this might have stumbling blocks, such as trying to determine where your thumb is in relation to the screen (similar to trying to draw onscreen using a Bamboo, which I personally find annoying).

The touchpad is also way too small to map the controls of most existing games (it's only about the size of an Apple Watch display).

 

[gugy]

I am wondering if the USB-C port would allow to connect a HD to keep my media library there.
I hate the fact I need a Mac on to access all my content. My guess this will never happen.

 

[morcutt11]

Shoot 4k Video on your iPhone but you can't watch it on your new Apple TV.

Wow that is super lame.

Percentage of people that will have 4k capable phones vs. number of people that have 4k tvs? Yeah - exactly.

 

[morcutt11]

Why wouldn't they put the A9 in it? That's just dumb. They probably won't be updating it frequently so they should have went with the newest possible chip.

Agreed. While I'm thankfully that Apple has FINALLY updated the AppleTV, I can't see why you wouldn't put in the latest gen processor in it unless you plan another update within a year.

 

[bbeagle]

I've got a Wii and a Roku 3 but am seriously looking at this for the living room ( our only TV ). I had been leaning towards the Wii U as our next "gaming system", but with Nintendo still failing to come to their senses with a reasonable licensing scheme ( DLC is still device, not account, linked and no family sharing ) it's hard to justify buying more into their ecosystem.

I think you need to change your line of thinking. The Wii U is THE game system for pre-10 year olds. The Mario, Yoshi, Disney, Lego games, are all so worth it for kids. It's THE best system right now for kids. The GAMES matter the most.

Lego City: Undercover is made JUST for the Wii U - uses it's controller the best. This, Mario Maker, Mario 3D world, it's all worth it to get the Wii U.

 

[morcutt11]

A8 Chip? 1GB of RAM? The members here will be in revolt.

It has 2GB of RAM

 

[bluespark]

Both Amazon and Netflix offer 4k. Limited at this time but still available. In addition there is a hugh amount of 4K video on Utube.

Exactly. People with capable televisions already have been watching House of Cards in 4k. People are shooting 4k family videos on their phones. Photos are routinely shot in resolutions that would benefit from 4k resolution. Higher-end 4k televisions from nearly every manufacturer have been popping up, some at reasonable price points. And Apple was touting their own very high-resolution screens in the very same keynote. The idea that 4k is some distant fantasy is ludicrous. It's here now, and it's something other devices are going to support.