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for what is AppleTV ?

we can watch all we want using the Netflix and AmazonTV apps (both with 4k enabled) inside our TV !
 
I disagree. They need a cheaper option for those that just want to use it for AirPlay, and now that option is no longer available.

That is all we use ours for. Why don't they just release a cheap box or dongle that only allows AirPlay to a tv?
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for what is AppleTV ?

we can watch all we want using the Netflix and AmazonTV apps (both with 4k enabled) inside our TV !

That's a very limited range of content. Just have an old jailbroken device and stream all the movies or shows you want for free.
 
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The Chromecast is the only product I have ever returned. What a POS.

I just bought a Chromecast to watch the new season of Big Brother because CBS is only airing it live and only online. CBS' AppleTV and iPhone Apps don't support skipping back in time to watch important events, which you can do on a computer.

I've never been more confused by a product than the Chromecast. I just don't even understand how it works. I tell it to mirror a tab in Chrome on my PC, then CBS' whole website changes into a gimped app with super low resolution and none of the features the website had a second before. I'm left with the same crap I had on my AppleTV but at half the resolution, even though it's streaming from a higher than 1080p MS Surface.

I hate the stupid thing. I tried streaming something from my iPhone and that sucked too. But I can AirPlay to my AppleTV3 for better quality, I really just wanted to duplicate a chrome tab without the site taking over.

I don't even use the AppleTV anymore really either... I have a TiVo Bolt and that has Netflix, Amazon, and HBO GO alongside my DVR recordings. Unlike previous DVRs with apps, the speed doesn't suck!
 
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This is probably an indication that the current AppleTV will move to the lower price point which in turn indicates that a new one is going to be announced soon. An October event is coming together.
New Macs, iPad Pro 12.9" refreshed to match the 9.7", new Apple displays with tvOS built in, AppleTV refreshed with new A10 chip and support for 4K UI and apps for now, with 4K video on iTunes or a new video service announced early next year.
 
I'm seriously patting myself on the back for buying an extra 3rd-gen Apple TV three months ago for the bedroom! :)

I suspected they were gonna phase it out, but I'm all set for the foreseeable future.
 
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I went to the genius bar last month because my old gen3 had wi-fi broken. They don't repair it anymore and didn't have refurbished units available in store. They had some new models available but I didn't want to spend money on an old model and I solved by connecting ATV via ethernet to an access point.
It is still a good device to watch Netflix and Youtube and enjoy the photo stream, but $69 was too much
 
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I ditched this useless lump ages ago. Did anyone make a jail break in the end?
 
The big surprise for me was that they were still making it. Good riddance, pretty much, but I still miss its Netflix app where you could browse by category. The ATV4 version lacks this key feature. At first I thought this was due to some makeshift version having been rushed out in time for the ATV4 introduction, but here we are one year later and all the content is still in a giant unsorted pile. I sure hope grocery stores don't adapt the ATV4 Netflix model and have some guy stop you at the entrance and go
- Hi! We think you want this Ben & Jerry's because yesterday, you bought some Häagen-Dazs.
- Right, which is why I definitely don't want ice cream today. I have a shopping list so if you don't mind, I'd like to-
- How about this lovely shampoo? You did buy soap last month, so we know you're into hygiene.
- Umm... no thanks, I was actually headed for the dairy aisle.
- I'm sorry, we don't have product categories, let alone these "aisles" you speak of. Would you like these bananas? You should, seeing as you bought some pears in July.
- Can't I just go in and browse?
- No. How about these cornflakes? They're trending now.
- Bye.
 
What Apple needs to do to stop the whole concept of AirPlay becoming obsolete...

1. Introduce an audio only AirPlay device that can plug into stereo systems by way of 3.5mm audio jack. This would compete directly against the Chromecast audio

2. Introduce a basic video streaming stick. Basically all the dumb parts of the apple TV such as airplay mirroring and sending a stream to the device. No complex UI and menu system, just a receiver.

3. Lower the price of the Apple TV4 to £99

4. Introduce a 4K Apple TV5 to placate the spec chasers. Also all of Netflix and Amazon original content will be available in 4K

5. Introduce some sort of Echo/Google Home competitor that can live on the living room table or kitchen or bedroom etc. This can be linked into the Apple ecosystem allowing Siri to control the AppleTVs in the house as well as all the fancy Home.app stuff

Lastly... and not part of Airplay so not included in this list above. Introduce a new cheaper Airport with mesh compatibility. Perhaps you need to have one master airport Extreme and then you can buy mini airport Express devices to build a mesh in your home/office.

Apple make great devices but there's more to our lives now than smartphones and tablets.
 
Yeah. I'm pretty mad that the Apple TV and iTunes no longer displays subtitles on my ripped files. Even though earlier versions of the OS did. I bought Infuse 4... it was $10 but is supposed to play pretty much anything. It claims mkv support. I haven't checked it out in full yet. But it would be a good alternative to Kodi, it seems. I just wish they'd let kodi on the App Store and be done with it.

I use infuse too, it's great and has a great interface. Yes, only problem is the AC3 codec often seen in MKV files, which requires users to pay the $10. (I haven't, yet...)

Yeah for sure, enough people want to use Kodi so they really should allow it. (but I think products like the Applt TV are for old people who only use netflix / hbo )
 
i stil have my appleTv3 the only thing it's useful for is Netflix (for me) al the other things i don't use. IF i wanted to buy something similar (in formfactor) and be able to play video's from my nas. What should i buy?
 
I appreciate your viewpoint, but I couldn't disagree more. Vast majority of consumers want to watch Apple content, download apps such as Netflix and Hulu and generally enjoy the good life within the walled garden. Very few people want to side-load anything. I never even considered it for a minute. Love the Apple TV. It's the best stream box out there.

Fair, I can't argue with your personal preference. It's just very frustrating for me (in Canada too, without the luxury of hulu, etc.) to watch content outside of netflix.

Kodi for example has become such a staple in smart TV's now that it's pretty rude forApple not to exclude it from the app store.
 
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I disagree. They need a cheaper option for those that just want to use it for AirPlay, and now that option is no longer available.
Ironically my Amazon Fire Stick works well for that. Got it for €20 back when it got introduced and I thought I'd give it a shot.

Don't care too much about the Apple TV anymore, especially considering their low effort shot at homeshared media on it.

Yes Apple, great idea: keep showing me how staying in your ecosystem isn't a no-brainer anymore.
Have me reconsider my options more strongly when a device upgrade comes around.
I'm sure that's your best interest.

Glassed Silver:ios
 
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As a technical person, I understand where you're coming from. But 90% of people likely have no idea what you just said. Of that remaining 10%, 5% don't know how to do what you just said, and roughly 4% (myself included) know how to but honestly don't feel like messing with it. That leaves about 1% of people who would do this out of the millions of people with Apple TVs.

To be completely frank, most of those people have probably set up a Linux or Windows box in a closet somewhere to stream their patched together media library. These people are enthusiasts, and enjoy the thrill of rolling their own system. They won't be hampered by this closed box with a 10/100 Ethernet connection. They're the type of people who attend their local Maker Club, own a 3D printer and/or CNC, and tinker with Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards. They embody DIY. These people are important to our society, but Apple gives absolutely zero craps about pleasing them and never will.

Apple will, however, put a great deal of effort into designing a user experience that is as easy and frictionless as possible. That does not involve browsing different file types in a bunch of folders over a local area network. No disrespect whatsoever, as I said I have an appreciation for such things as I used to build my own PCs back in the day and programming is a big part of my job, but I really do whole heartedly recommend that you jump ship to something that better suits your needs.

Great point, and I couldn't agree more with you.

You're right, and I should have just got a RasPi, or used my TV as the monitor like usual. It's just convenient to surf with a remote in the kitchen lol
 
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I have no such problems using VLC. When I have to download something -- only when a legal way in which the rights holders would get compensation for my viewing isn't available -- I find the file in a group online and copy its link to VLC via the app or the Apple TV remote app on my iPhone. If I get it via torrent or another means, I just AirPlay it. You can also stream and copy files from your computer to the VLC app on the Apple TV.

Yeah, VLC is ok. few issues when it was first released, haven't used it since. Also the lake of support for codecs like AC3 was really the deal breaker for me. Not sure if they offer a paid account to unlock that feature...
 
Glad we bought 12 Apple TV3's 2 weeks ago! . We only use them as Airplay receivers. So the price point is good as we don't need anything Apple TV 4 offers.
 
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