dzankizakon
macrumors regular
4K Apple TV would be good for looking at my iCloud Photo Library, though.
Apple Testing 4K Capable Fifth-Generation Apple TV For Possible Release This Year
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skitidetdu
macrumors 6502a
I'm not bitching about it, just don't need it and won't buy a new tv just have it...
IPadNParadise
macrumors 6502a
I agree that the ATV3 was alot better for me than the 4 is. But lightning struck a tree in our yard last summer and knocked out all electronic equipment and the landline phones. I replaced most right away but just this week replaced the ATV. Now I am of the older generation but I had absolutely no problem learning the Mac OS and ipad in the last few years. No problem at all when I got the ATV3 setting up and using. But every simple thing I want to do on this ATV 4, I have to really dig searching the internet for how to. Example, something as simple as using an album from my Photos App as a screensaver required me to search and then use my Mac for some steps. So after researching several simple things I wanted to do on the ATV 4, I am wondering "WHY" and will not upgrade/replace when I see the need to get a 4k tv. Not turned off of Apple yet, anxiously waiting for a new version IPP, just no more apple tv's.
imronburgundy
macrumors regular
So why are you commenting? Just look at the post, say to yourself "huh, not for me", and move on.
WestonHarvey1
macrumors 68030
Oh, certainly not. In fact, the only reason I'm slightly interested in a 4K TV now is for HDR10. I won't be able to see the extra pixels, but I will be able to see the extra dynamic range. Not looking forward to the extra bandwidth consumption, though.
nofear1az
macrumors 6502
I don't see it as pointless, I look at it as investing once rather than let's keep re-buying the AppleTV for $150 (or more) for each gradual feature they add to it.
Again, Apple used to lead into technology rather than follow-up with technology. It shows the new Apple era of profit first - customer second.
If the AppleTV came out with 4K originally on gen4 the same time Roku did and Fire did and other Android versions did the technology would be there when you are ready to upgrade to a 4K TV but now you will need to go and spend another $150 for a new AppleTV with 4K. It's this constant minimalistic upgrading that Apple does and charging a new hefty price to stay in the game that kinda drives me mad.
Actually, I don't care one whit about any "cable TV" bundles. Don't want any bundle at all. I want to pick any "channel" I want a-la-cart, so I can cut out all the crap that's out there. That ship already sailed. I'm happy with iTunes and Netflix. Done.
What I do want from Apple is some decent hardware for AppleTV, instead of them gimping it with 3 generation old CPUs.
What I do want from Apple is some decent hardware for AppleTV, instead of them gimping it with 3 generation old CPUs.
iDento
macrumors 6502a
Which means HEVC x265 support, right? because thats what I really care about, I want to stream my Plex movies in 1080p x265 format without transcoding.
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Amen to all of the above.
richpjr
macrumors 601
Yeah, I'm about to relegate my ATV to the bedroom and pick up a Shield or Roku Ultra so I can watch everything, including Amazon Prime, on one device. Bouncing between an ATV, my BluRay player for Amazon 4K and casting for Netflix 4K is not real convenient. An ATV with 4K will be nice, but would still require using a different device for Amazon.
Abazigal
Contributor
But the problem here is isn't technology, but that Apple can't get the content deals they want. I am not salty about my 4th gen Apple TV not supporting 4K because such content simply isn't widespread. I have a Bluetooth game controller but no good games to play it with. Currently, I am using it primarily to watch YouTube, Netflix, a bit of Apple Music and stream content from my Mac via air video.
The hardware is there. The developers just aren't biting.
Juicy Box
macrumors 604
This reminds me of my parents. My parents use an ATV3 I bought them. It was simple for them to use, and did not have any learning curve. Prior to the ATV4 release, I was planning on giving them the new ATV4 for Christmas that year. After the release, and the pre-order screw up, I used mine for a few days and knew that if I replaced their ATV3 with the 4, that they would stop using it. The setup alone was very time consuming, and would have turned them off to it.
It is not nearly as simple as the ATV3 which just worked. The ATV4 apps are pretty crappy too when compared to the ATV3 version.
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Good post, I agree with all of this.
The lack of 4k was never a deal breaker for me with the ATV4, although it would have been nice for future-proofing, and I am sure that it would have made the ATV4 more appealing when compared to competitors that are using 4k.
What I am mostly disappointed about is the lack of good apps, especially games. I too have a BT controller, but very few good games to play with it.
As for 4k, it would have been nice to have it on the ATV4, but I don't think that is why it is a disappointment.
Apple shot themselves in the foot with the Siri remote requirement at launch, and it looks like developers just don't care about the ATV4 now.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Where do you see this? Because I don't see it. The closest I see to that is people saying they are not buying
TV4 because it is not 4K or they are waiting for a 4K version. I don't see anyone saying it "absolutely must have 4K in order to be viable."Obviously, I believe 4K on
TV would be great. I wanted it when the "4" launched too. I've bought lots of 4s for my home (and 3s before it, and 2s and the original) and as gifts for close family. It's great. But now there's a 4K TV in my home and no easy way to feed it 4K from my own 4K video shot, edited, rendered, contained and stored all on Apple hardware. And some family has purchased 4K TVs and can't feed their TVs 4K either with this "just works" Apple product. Does that make the 4 useless, or not viable or <pick any other negative tag>? No, but it does make it feel outdated to those of us that care about this topic... as if the page has turned and Apple is a few steps behind with this particular product.Is there still plenty of people with- or even still to buy- 1080p sets that could be moved to buy and be thrilled with
TV4? Yes. I just chatted with a woman the other day thrilled to be buying an TV3 because "it has 1080p but I don't really care about apps other than Netflix."What I see is very different than what you see. Apparently you see the "I want 4K" crowd calling the
TV a failure. I don't see that at all. What I see is the anti-4K crowd going to lots of trouble to tell the pro-4K crowd why THEY don't need 4K... as if it's their job to sell what Apple has for sale right now. Otherwise, why go to so much trouble for something that doesn't affect them in the least even if Apple rolled out a 4KTV today?I also don't see the pro-4K crowd claiming there's no "huge potential market for the device as it stands." On a micro level (in my own case), I've purchased several. However, I'm also not purchasing another unless it has 4K. So the market at this household is completely closed. But if Apple rolls out a 4K version, I'll be in line to replace multiple units ASAP.
It's the same with iPhones, iPads and Macs. The market at this home is already completely sold (and closed). However, when new, updated ones comes out, we're ready to replace multiple things. Does that mean iPhones, iPads and Macs are not viable? No, it just means we're hungry for updated technology to do more than it does now. And this particular piece of Apple technology is no different.
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dampfnudel
macrumors 603
High end who often don't know better. It's Apple and expensive so it has to be the best. I know someone who purchased a new 4K TV and 4th gen. Apple TV in December 2015 around the time I bought my ATV4. At the time I didn't have a 4K TV (I do now). He was very disappointed when he found out that it wasn't 4K capable. He had assumed it was 4K and I told him I hope you learned your lesson about "assuming" that new, shiny Apple device you're interested in is the best. Do your research first.
As for me, as I said I now own a new 4K TV (since November). I don't think I'll get a 4K Apple TV until the price comes down and I have a feeling I'll be happy with the 4K Roku I plan to buy in the next couple of months until then.
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Honestly, it's not the customer's problem to understand how hard this is for Apple. This is what Apple pays their engineers for and why we pay premium prices for Apple gear. In order for me to opt to watch Netflix on Apple TV versus the Netflix smart app on my 4K TV (which supports Dolby Vision HDR), Apple needs to do this right.
Apple doesn't need to support every wacky, nascent HDR format. HDR-10 and Dolby Vision support will cover most cases.
It's crappy experiences like this that add up to Apple TV's failure, and over the long term will destroy Apple's brand. What happened to the Apple that wanted to make only the best? Oh right, it died with Steve Jobs.
nofear1az
macrumors 6502
But there is 4K content on Youtube, Netflix, my photos, my own 4K videos, and many other apps... Apple is just slow about catching up.
Most people don't care their AppleTV does not have 4K.... until they buy a 4K TV.
Buy it again is the Apple way.
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Just because a lot of people own (or might own) a 4K TV is not sufficient justification for supporting 4K in the Apple TV. 4K TVs are commonplace because the prices have come down, not because they provide any real world benefit for most consumers. The content isn't there. The internet bandwidth isn't there. The compression algorithms aren't there.
Even if you resolved all of the above issues, you'd still be faced with the fact that most people are buying 4K TVs with 40-55" screens, which will be viewed from ten feet away or farther, meaning they won't appreciate the difference in resolution over 1080p content.
I suppose it is easier to pull charts and graphs than to see it for yourself and be a believer. You must be a VHS hold-out.
There is a difference and it's not just the 4K it is the 4K with HDR that truly makes it a stand-out. Visit BestBuy to get a taste of what you and Apple are missing.
stubbornapple
macrumors member
Had it not been for the directv now offer, I wouldn't have gotten an Apple TV 4th gen.
djeeyore25
macrumors 6502
I totally agree about the UI on gaming consoles. The Wii U works great, though the apps are limited.
DEMinSoCAL
macrumors 603
So, staring at a $500 4K TV showing 1080i or 720p content doesn't count, you know? Sure you can buy a TV, but where is the content??? There just isn't enough widely available 4K content, period.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
There is not a single app dependent on the advances of iOS 11 or iPhone 8 in the app store yet. So without "widely available" iOS 11 software, no need for Apple to develop the iPhone 8, right?
There is not a single app dependent on the advances of macOS <next> in the Mac app store yet. So without "widely available" macOS <next> software, no need for Apple to develop next generation Macs, right?
Basically, it appears Apple's hardware development can completely cease until a bunch of software for hardware that doesn't exist yet is "widely available" in the various app stores.
See how that works? This is no different. Hardware must lead the way, not follow. Period.
There is not a single app dependent on the advances of macOS <next> in the Mac app store yet. So without "widely available" macOS <next> software, no need for Apple to develop next generation Macs, right?
Basically, it appears Apple's hardware development can completely cease until a bunch of software for hardware that doesn't exist yet is "widely available" in the various app stores.
See how that works? This is no different. Hardware must lead the way, not follow. Period.
-BigMac-
macrumors 68030
I have a 65" Samsung KS8000, which has almost everything inbuilt - except for my Apple Music..
Suggestion on a replacement?