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Apple Engineers Reportedly Pessimistic About Apple's Living Room Hardware Strategy
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For the life of me, I don't know why Apple hasn't added support for video conferencing (that is, FaceTime). It'd be darn near trivial to either release a camera/mic accessory, or add the requisite functionality to use an iPhone or iPad front camera and mic as the input.
I mean, yes, you can do this with screen mirroring, but it could be so much better as built-in functionality.
I mean, yes, you can do this with screen mirroring, but it could be so much better as built-in functionality.
I love the Apple TV. I just upgraded to the newest 4K version. It's great that it works with AirPods. Siri integration is good. Video quality is good. I know that I'll get upgrades for years. In ten years our Sony has never gotten a firmware upgrade. I never connect my TV to the internet because I don't want it reporting back my viewing habits and it would probably be the least secure portal on our network.
I am not blaming Apple here. The TV industry is boring. Other than large diagonal, I feel there is not much innovation left and I feel people don't really care about software.
Sending contents from devices to a TV set is probably a more interesting avenue for a company like Apple.
Sending contents from devices to a TV set is probably a more interesting avenue for a company like Apple.
If Apple wants to really invade the marketplace they start by selling a line of M1 or better Macs that replace the usual 4k TVs out there. All its takes is something better then Mac mini with HDMI 2.1 interface to 4K to 8K displays w/stand or wall mounts. Considering the prices of some large quality TVs, its not a stretch to envision that.
Just looking at the petite 24" iMac playing 4K HDR content illustrates how most small TVs (under 48") are junk and Apple has a consumer opening if they so wish it.
Yes reinvent the TV industry taking what they have learned by marketing both Macs and Apple TV 4k's.
Just looking at the petite 24" iMac playing 4K HDR content illustrates how most small TVs (under 48") are junk and Apple has a consumer opening if they so wish it.
Yes reinvent the TV industry taking what they have learned by marketing both Macs and Apple TV 4k's.
Agreed. I have two Roku Ultras. They're just as good as my Apple TV with most apps/services and far superior on some, such as AT&T TV Now. The Ultra remote (physical and app) blows away Apple TV's.
720p was an exaggeration but you only get HD, not 4K, from videos in iCloud via the Apple TV Photos app.
To play in original 4K resolution you need to download it to your phone then AirPlay 2 it to your Apple TV. At which point the Apple TV is pointless because you can do that straight to your TV if it’s new enough. And you’re browsing via your phone not the Apple TV remote that cost best part of $100 on its own.
They need to make Sonos-type home entertainment audio equipment. The Apple TV should just be built into a HomeBar type product that competes against the Sonos Arc.
I just asked my Apple TV’s Siri to “play some music.” She started playing music. A few songs later, I said, “skip this song,” to which she replied, “I can’t skip this.” So then I said, “stop the music,” to which she said, “there’s nothing playing.” When I held down the TV button to bring up the side panel, Now Playing said “not playing”. Music was still coming out of the speakers. When I manually went into the Music app and then over to the Now Playing tab, there was the album artwork and track name! Finally, telling Siri to stop got her to stop the music. This is the FOURTEENTH major tvOS release, and the SEVENTH update to it. How are basic things like this going so wrong?
Steve Jobs wanted to do this actually
Seriously; or at least try to compete with Roku by integrating the Apple TV os into 3rd party TVs; I would love a TCL 8k TV with built-in Apple TV, instead of Roku.
For me it's a no-brainer bargain to not have a direct network/internet connection to my TV.
I've used everything else. Amazon Fire. Roku. Google (on the Nvidia Shield)....and I kept going back to Apple. No ads built in for one.
Agreed for the most part.
we do NOT NEED Gurman to comment on the obvious here.
ATV4 and ATV4 4K has been around in 2 iterations. Apples latest push for ATV+ on any smart TV and home game console really is showing us … unless you’re a holdout for ATV hardware on non SmartTV like myself there will be nothing left. So it seems
My confusion stems from ATV+ on PS4/5/XBox X/S can they vía the sw be paired to a HomePod for stereo sound out?!
if not this is we’re an Amp for real speakers or a Wi-Fi hub to homepods or any airplay2 speaker should’ve been thought up of 7+ yrs ago
Can you even tell the difference between TrueHD Atmos and lossy Atmos? I can’t. All of Disney+ is basically in Atmos and sounds great through my Yamaha TSR-700 receiver.
'Refusing to move', or being unable to move. They put a heck of a lot into both products you mention. Appe can't give them away. The big homePod is very nearly over-designed for the market they were targeting. Abandoning it just hurts.
Apple TV + Soundbar combo with virtual surround sound/Dolby Atmos, thats priced no more than $250 (preferably $200) will be a winner.
Speed, fluidity, functionality, features, ease of use, interface, etc.. I've tried every other streaming box and "stick" and they feel archaic in comparison.
Maybe.
I used to sell home audio, and people would, with a straight face, tell me that they could definitely tell the difference between a transistor and a tube based amplifier. I could too, the price! People would tell me that they could tell the difference between LP's and CD's. Sure... Is it possible, yes, but that requires a lot of the venue that it's being experienced in. I'd LOVE to have Atmos. I'd love to have 7.2. I've got 5.1, and it's plenty enough for me.
I did see a home listed that had a 'certified' home theater. Cool...
I used to travel a lot, and was ripped by people when I said that I really loved my iPod. 'But it's *crap* audio, and you are missing nearly all of it!' Yeah, well, I have Bose QC-somethings, and I can listen to *music* and not the kid screaming a few aisles away. I'm good...
If you can afford it, you do you. I custom installed the 5 speakers for my 5.1 system. It really is awesome when I get something that pushes all channels. Love it! Many people think that's a luxury.
Oh, on the career selling home audio? I wasn't very good at it. (I sucked!
) I felt bad selling people equipment they already had because it was 'new', not because it was better. *shrug*
Absolutely. It’s been clear Apple has no clue where to go. The peanut gallery here has been saying this for years. They could have easily dominated the living experience with a decent Apple TV offering with a lot more to offer long ago, but instead ignored it. So much potential and head start, but they just had no clue and wasted great opportunities.
The engineering staff know what they are talking about.
The engineering staff know what they are talking about.
It stared out as a hobby. It might have been hard for Apple to take that hobby more seriously.
Kept waiting for a reasonable HomePod or Soundbar with integrated AppleTV type device at a reasonable price. Finally gave up and got the Roku Soundbar. I still have my AppleTV HD with a new remote hooked to it, but rarely use it as the Roku is good enough to not have to deal with the multiple remotes.
I confess, I wasn't willing to read through 10 pages of posts to see if this had already been said; but, although it took a lot longer than I expected, I think we are finally seeing the impact of Jobs' death. There's simply no vision in this arena, and the lead has been squandered. It's a shame. Apple TV 2 got me into the ecosystem (subsequently bought countless iPhones, 2 macs, 3 iPads, 2 iPods, etc), but I would go Roku today. As for performance, yes, the $20 Roku is sluggish as hell, but the one built into my TCL TV is just as snappy as my Apple TV was.