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Apple Engineers Reportedly Pessimistic About Apple's Living Room Hardware Strategy
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The people saying generic android boxes are as good only use them for streaming only. They don’t care about these other features and call the appletv expensive because they only use it as a streaming box.
What am i supposed to use the ATV for if not streaming? Apple Arcade does not interest me.
Please tell me what other sorcery this thing does! I need to know!
I read the post, and the post before it. I repeat, quality of what?
My experience with AppleTV have led me to be one of those that has one that has remained unused for the vast majority of the time I've had it.
My other family member use it periodically.
If you don’t use it for anything other than streaming then you won’t notice it. If you don’t notice quality in say the stock apps like the music app in comparison to any other music app on an android device then I don’t know what to say.
I have a shield also. It has its issues. There are no stock apps or apps in the App Store that come close to user experience as the music app on an appletv does.
I tell my friend the same thing. He has both and seems to not care to stare at a blue screen and janky interface for Pandora on his shield. Compared to the music app on appletv theres no contest as you will see the level of decelopment for the app and how good it looks and operates Especially if you have an iPhone and use the remote app.
ive written numerous times about the benefits but people seem to overlook things or don’t care about “niche” features. Infuse app is way beyond the plex app on any device including the appletv. It’s only available on an appletv also. If you dont use a plex server then you won’t notice it or care.
if all you want is a basic streaming app and don’t care about user experience the other boxes are fine.
Go read back on my posts about appletv’s. There’s way more than just a streaming box. But I don’t know your use case. Mine is way different than most. I actually know all the different things it Does and also have an nvidia shield that I mainly only use for its plex server and kodi. It doesn’t seem to like up to 30tb of hard drives plugged into it and has issues here and there. I have to restart it once a week or twice. It’s buggy but it was fine before the hard drives. I don’t feel like going into detail every few weeks for people that don’t read whole posts about the appletv.
I will, (and have), passed on the ATV. The user experience, especially using that crappy remote put me off it. It's an example of Apple putting form before function.
The interface looks pretty but no.
Remember that hockey puck mouse and the Magic Mouse? Same thing.
Looks interesting but try actually using it.
Remember the first iPhone, same thing.
Maybe for you. I never use the standard remote on any device so I don’t know the frustration with it. I mostly use my phone for the remote since I want a full screen keyboard when I need it and it’s just easier to control everything from my phone since my whole place operates from HomeKit and harmony.
my use case for things isn’t the normal type. I get much more out of an appletv than most people I know.
That's fine, each to their own I suppose.
I can use the phone for a number if things but I've always found that even though you may need an additional item hanging around - the one that comes with the device you purchased is almost always better than a phone alternative.
If you alone use it then fine, I find the irritation comes when others also use it; it gets dirty - the dog chews it - it gets lost - somebody steals the batteries etc. etc.
I have not seen anything mentioned that would convince me that it is something more than a streaming/gaming box. You have mentioned several times that your use case is way different than others so maybe you could be helpful and clarify with a few short points on why? Give us less knowledgable a chance to learn and maybe finally unlock the full greatness of this product.
I mean since you obviously know all the different things it does.
Eh even a stick priced at that will not sell well when you have others like the many roku devices and chromecasts. Apple needs to make a real bare-bones stick to compete with the $30-$50 Roku/Chromecast devices and leave the ATV for those wanting the high end.
I started my streaming experience with a first gen Roku, then a later gen, then an Apple TV. When I got the 4K TV I bought a Fire TV Cube to help better control my set-up. But it’s awful. So I recently decided to buy a new streaming box. I debated about getting the Apple TV 4K, but wound up with a Roku Ultra. I got it for $100 less than the Apple TV 4K and I’m very happy with it! Even Air Play works pretty well. I would much rather have an Apple TV, but I can’t justify the price when competitor streaming devices are great.
IMO, the reason Apple doesn't make a simple "AppleTV stick" and differentiate the lineup (Stick and Pro, etc), is that in their heart of hearts, I think they know the value proposition isn't there and almost nobody would end up buying the overpriced "ATV Pro".
They know what people largely do with their devices and it doesn't require $180+ of hardware (and the big margin for Apple) to accomplish it.
They know what people largely do with their devices and it doesn't require $180+ of hardware (and the big margin for Apple) to accomplish it.
I don't have an Nvidia shield for comparison - I'm just saying it can be improved based on some of the AI upscales shown on youtube. E.g. here is a Babylon 5 example.
Homepod has failed, though - and the price of this would put even a highend soundbar like Sonos Arc to shame. This would mean it would be a very small niche, and Apple doesn't really go for niches.
yes apps to control smart devices are usually bad when they aren't apple... IF you haven't used the remote app and understand how convenient it is then I don't know. Try it?
The other smart streamers apps are garbage and not thought out. The remote app on your phone doesn't need you to look at your phone because the buttons are laid in way that makes it easy to navigate and go back or home. Has built in Siri to control all your home automation stuff.
On the Lock Screen it gives you quick controls and what's playing on your tv. What other remote app for other devices do that? I can control the volume for my receiver on my Lock Screen, skip ahead or back 10 seconds or scrub ahead or back very easily.
I can have a full screen keyboard if I need to type in something and don't want to use Siri but that also works when the popup comes up on your phone.
I use the remote app most always or sometimes Ill use it on my watch. Try it. Its much better than remote that comes with any device ive ever bought or installed.
Hullo.
So I've used the remote app and I'm still unimpressed with the whole ATV experiencer really. To me it's like touchscreen in a car.
The feedback you get, (which I suppose they could replicate to some degree with haptic feedback), isn't as good. I can find buttons in the dark to by feel.
We'll disagree on the which remote is better thing but it's almost like the people that make remote for TVs know what they are doing with regard to size, weight and feel. Though I will concede some have gotten a little crazy with the number of functions.
it’s better no doubt, but double the price is the point. My entire point was is it worth double the price to the 99%, and that is a firm, no.
ive never really used remotes for my devices since ive had a harmony universal since 2006 or so. Apps never where and still aren't that great but I really do like the remote app for the reasons I said. Ill use my shield remote also but they, like other companies, don't understand larger buttons for no looking control like what I do on the remote app and they aren't well thought out and simple.
The majority of remotes that come with devices are horrible. I also don't want 15 remotes laying around. I have a ton of different devices that I want to be controlled within one or two remotes.
Having HomeKit being controlled from my phone and now I use HomeKit with the harmony(harmony bridge on Mac) I barely use the harmony elite remote I have anymore.
Logitechs app is bad though I never use that just like I don't use many android based apps as they just aren't polished and user friendly.
under 200$ for 5 years of a device is downright cheap to me. Especially with these resale value off 50% of when reselling these for new ones. Its not expensive.
Instead they seem to find a way to "create them" by overpricing and underspeccing some of their own offerings.
I love my Apple TV — having long ago cut the cord, it's the center of my entertainment hub, which on its own lacks a built in streaming interface. I think the real issue is twofold — if anything lacks a cohesive strategy, it's Apple TV+. Netflix responded to the streaming wars by investing in as much original content as possible. Amazon did it by buying as much extant content as possible and packaging it with a shopping service that many people were already paying for. But Apple's streaming strategy, much like its services in general, just seem to be a little of everything, adding up to nothing much at all. Apple knows that they would very much like you to give them your money, but unlike their hardware offerings, they've had a much harder time explaining why. Their traditional model has been to do it later, but do it better. That worked like gangbusters for things like the iPhone and iOS. But when their services have arrived, they have been, not only late to the game, but no better than competing offerings, and in some cases, worse. It's no wonder, then, that people aren't investing more heavily in their hardware gateway.
And hardware is their second issue, namely Siri. Though I suppose she is technically software, she is nevertheless dumb as rocks and continues to lack robust support. Apple has totally dropped the ball on their digital assistant and, as a consequence, it's holding all the connected products back. A Facetime-able Apple TV with HomePod support would be a welcome addition — FT is the one thing my living room can't do with its dedicated hardware and I would love to be able to switch seamlessly from a film or event to a video call, which is something iOS already does well. But until Siri gets a whole lot smarter, she will continue to be the weak link in Apple's ecosystem.
And hardware is their second issue, namely Siri. Though I suppose she is technically software, she is nevertheless dumb as rocks and continues to lack robust support. Apple has totally dropped the ball on their digital assistant and, as a consequence, it's holding all the connected products back. A Facetime-able Apple TV with HomePod support would be a welcome addition — FT is the one thing my living room can't do with its dedicated hardware and I would love to be able to switch seamlessly from a film or event to a video call, which is something iOS already does well. But until Siri gets a whole lot smarter, she will continue to be the weak link in Apple's ecosystem.
I agree with all that, but...
I will admit that Siri has been mostly "fine" for how I use it on AppleTV.
Siri seems ok when it's not asked to do too much..
I will admit that Siri has been mostly "fine" for how I use it on AppleTV.
Siri seems ok when it's not asked to do too much..