Apple Testing 4K Capable Fifth-Generation Apple TV For Possible Release This Year

[anthonymoody]

I will buy this if and only if Apple provides UHD film purchases and rentals via iTunes (and, hopefully, the ability to pay a modest amount...$5? $10? to update previously purchased HD films). If not, then I'll stick with existing 4K streaming options.

 

[Paul Dawkins]

More proof that 98.62% of Internet stats are made-up, on the spot.


Mike

I will tell you a secret. Most are normal people with jobs and better stuff to do than worrying about Apple TV 4K or 4K in general.

 

[JeffPerrin]

I didn't hear anyone complaining about FOX broadcasting the 2017 Super Bowl in 720p. ie. There is no real public demand for 4K content. Most people buy 4K TVs because that's what the big-box stores are pushing nowadays. (very little money in selling 1080p)

Besides, with bandwidth caps fast becoming the norm in the US, 4K would be a painful($) experience for many.

 

[hevaKmaI]

IMHO, Apple missed the boat on this two years ago around the time the fourth gen Apple TV was released. Right around the same time, nVidia released the shield tv which supported hdmi 2.0, 4k@60Hz, and was software upgraded to support HDR. It was priced around the same as the AppleTV but had better specs and an arguably better OS (running AndroidTV) at the time. The hardware is capable of running plex and direct playing any file you through at it, including output of the latest audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Fast forward to now, the almost two year old shield has been updated to support 4k@60Hz 4:4:4 on HDR capable TVs and Android 7. Somehow, NVidia hit the revolutionary cord here and Apple shipped a product that just pales in comparison.

 

[Tinmania]

Just adding to what you said 🙂

There is far more content in 4K than there was in HD this early on. The biggest streaming service release most new content in 4K, and the amount of UHD blu-rays far excepts HD blu-ray at the same stage into its lifecycle.

Also, it is not about 4K and people need to realize that. It is about HDR and the audio formats you get with UHD.

While I definitely agree about HDR being more of an update than 4K, the downside is that most of those entry or even mid-level 4K TVs sold over the last year don't really support HDR, despite bold claims that they do. Sure they can decode HDR. They don't have true 10-bit panels nor can achieve the brightness levels that the HDR standards call for. So a lot of people will be disappointed when all they see is a darker overall picture. That is a shame.

Oh, and about UHD blu-ray.... I don't think it will succeed anywhere near regular blu-ray--which itself hasn't killed DVD. The age of the physical advertisement disc.... I mean physical disc is over.



Mike

 

[JosephAW]

Apple wants to make sure that 4k is popular before spending any money on supporting it. Just like they really really want to make sure people want a newer Mac Mini before creating a new model.

 

[alfonsog]

You know they didn't care much about the Apple TV when they made it thicker!! Maybe this new guy can slim it down 😎. I have had every version of Apple TV but most tv's are smart now and not impossible to use. Maybe Apple should kill the Apple TV hardware and just make it a software app TV makers can install. I just want a box or tv that can access iTunes, Amazon, and UV.

 

[B.K.]

these violent delights have violent ends...

 

[chrisbru]

4k is still a high-end toy for early adopters - the vast majority of people have neither the equipment nor the content to do 4k. But if Apple wants to silence the very noisy minority who actually care about that, by all means. Let them put out a 5th Gen ATV so I can pick up another couple 4th Gen ones at a discount.

The timing makes sense, though. I assume this won't come out until later this year, and 4K TVs are becoming cheaper and more common. Additionally, 4k content is starting to ramp up a bit, with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Youtube leading the charge.

 

[3587]

Sign me up! iPhone can capture 4K, but you can't watch it on anything... I'd love to rent movies in 4K. I've pushed a lot of people to get the AppleTV 4... They all love it. Obviously it could be a lot better... I sure hope Apple is still throwing resources at it.

 

[Tinmania]

The future of TV is apps? Gosh, I hope not. Maybe I'm overly simplistic, but there was not a single compelling reason for me to get a 4th gen ATV. I don't give a rat's arse about apps on my TV, unless they make it easy for me to see/hear stuff. Make it easy for me to watch or listen to my stuff and stream via Netflix AND Amazon Prime. You hear that, Apple? Amazon Prime!! I certainly don't want or need a different 'app' for every network I want to watch and I'm sure as hell not going to pay $10 or more every month for each of them.

Okay so they will wrap all the apps up into a nice and comfy "guide" and you won't know the difference.

What is over is the idea of being tied to an archaic "schedule" to watch programming. The DVR is only a kludge of a solution to being a slave to programming schedules.



Mike

 

[malexandria]

But is there enough 4k content out there?

Yes and this will only help get more.

 

[Tinmania]

I will tell you a secret. Most are normal people with jobs and better stuff to do than worrying about Apple TV 4K or 4K in general.

Oh the "normal people with jobs" don't care nonsense. Cute.

Get this, "normal people with jobs" are the ones buying 4K TVs in droves. Of course they are, since that is about all you can buy since this holiday season. But don't let that get in the way of your own misconceptions...


Mike

 

[malexandria]

Sign me up! iPhone can capture 4K, but you can't watch it on anything... I'd love to rent movies in 4K. I've pushed a lot of people to get the AppleTV 4... They all love it. Obviously it could be a lot better... I sure hope Apple is still throwing resources at it.

You can rent 4K Movies. Just found a small service that does it, and UltraFix 4k has an amazing deal right now where you can rent 100 movies for $99. It's all older Paramount films, but you really do see the difference 4K provides in films like The Godfather, Titanic, Beverly Hills Cop, etc.

 

[surfmonkey]

So what are you saying? That Apple should not focus on next gen tech?

In that case why do they push new standards in the mobile and computer space? Why have AC WIFI? Only a minority has good AC WIFI routers?

Ok, i get you want to defend Apple but come! Behind ahead of the tech pack is in their blood.

And 4k for is for early adopters? Yes that was the case 4 years ago, in 2017 90% of the major brands line-ups are 4K panels.

And the lack of content is BS, all blockbusters is done in 2-4k both in Movies and TV.

Absolutely,,, and here is what NOBODY talks about,,,, Upscaling 1080p on a 4K set is MUCH BETTER than viewing 1080p on a 1080p set. Fact not opinion. You can't buy anything new above 50" in a 1080 anymore,,, simply because everyone purchased a HD set years ago and will go strong for many more. They have to dangle some kind of carrot for you to purchase something else...

 

[Brien]

Yes please. Been waiting for a 4K/HDR capable AppleTV.

 

[bbplayer5]

Totally agree. I think the interface is better, and the apps I use are better.

Couldn't agree more - plus I can stream anything (including games) to my TV in 4K at 60fps. Supports Atmos, HDR etc. It is amazing.

 

[freediverx]

But there's not enough content.🙄

-defenders

There isn't.
[doublepost=1487259586][/doublepost]

HOW ABOUT FIX THE APPLE TV APP SIGN IN PROBLEMS?!

Gah, constantly asking me to re-log in with my cable subscriptions.
It never seems to stay!! Annoying AF.

This is the fault of the content owners, not Apple.

 

[Paul Dawkins]

Oh so the "normal people with jobs" nonsense.

Get this, "normal people with jobs" are the ones buying 4K TVs in droves. Of course they are, since that is about all you can buy since this holiday season. But don't let that get in the way of your own misconceptions...

So? eventually people replace their tvs. What does this prove? Please show me evidence of intentionality.

 

[freediverx]

The new Apple TV should have had 4K out of the box. Fire TV released a 4K-capable box around the same time, so you have dropped the ball, Apple!

Nonsense. This would have increased the price without offering any significant benefit for the vast majority of users.

 

[malexandria]

The post you replied to is still true. Sure, people buying a TV in the last year are more likely to go 4K, but most people haven't bought a new TV in the last year. The average TV is probably what, 5 to 10 years old? Those people are still happily using 1080P because that's all their eyes can resolve from the couch anyway. I don't think I know anyone with a 4K TV yet, or least, not anyone who uses it fully. Combined with the lack of content, that makes 4k a high-end early adopter toy to me.

Apple has no excuse to not introduce a 4K-capable Apple TV now, but I don't think anyone is arguing that they shouldn't do it.

Actually a lot of people in this thread ARE arguing Apple shouldn't do it. My question is just because You (the royal YOU) don't have a 4K TV doesn't mean no one else does or wouldn't want a 4K Apple TV. Why would YOU (again the Royal YOU) care?

 

[Tinmania]

So? eventually people replace their tvs. What does this prove? Please show me evidence of intentionality.

Show me evidence that only 1% of people, that in this case would buy an Apple TV, have 4K TVs. You just made it up, so please stop it.



MIke

 

[malexandria]

Nonsense. This would have increased the price without offering any significant benefit for the vast majority of users.

No, it wouldn't have increased the price. Last I checked the Chromecast, Roku, Amazon FireTV, and the list goes on were either the SAME price as the ATV4 or CHEAPER and in some instances if you wanted a better speced box $10 or $20 more (big deal). So adding 4K capabilities wouldn't have increased the price.

 

[freediverx]

I used to think this didn't matter, but i just went to buy a new tv and literally 90% of the options at Costco were 4k UHD. Apple should lead not follow

If you buy a 42" or 55" 4K TV and watch it from 10 feet away or farther, you're not seeing the difference in resolution over 1080p video. Very little quality content is available in 4K, and what little is currently available via online streaming is so heavily compressed that its advantage is lost.

If Apple releases a 4K ATV model this year, it's likely because they anticipate some change in the market that will make it worthwhile. Hopefully it's not just a competitive response to the demands of uninformed consumers.

 

[sleepydinosaur]

If Apple makes the ATV 4k, it would have to signal that 4k iTunes content is on the way. I fully believe that they have resisted because of iTunes content rather than some other conspiracy.