APPLE TV app on Smart TV's

[jwolf6589]

Played with it on my TV but it's not quite the same as owning an actual AppleTV box. For one I get the photos app, the Podcast app, the Music app, and the ability to connect to my AirPods. The ability to have my HomePod turn my ATV on and off, and I sure dont like wasting phone battery and phone usage (when I could be placing calls) when I am air playing from my phone to a smart TV. I also enjoy the apple ecosystem which I dont get with a smart TV. Also the Home kit abilities to turn off lights and such that one gets with smart homes.

Sure some dont want an ATV box and would much rather have a smart TV okay thats your opinion. But as for me I want the ATV and apple's interface which is better than that of the smart TV. I am glad that Apple continues to update the ATV and also another thing I forgot to mention was I really enjoy the new ATV remote as the old one was junk. I wish the remote glowed in the dark or there was a backlight option but that would then waste more battery.

 

[-Gonzo-]

also another thing I forgot to mention was I really enjoy the new ATV remote as the old one was junk.

I beg to differ, prefer the original remote myself and never understood the hate for it.
The new ones far too clicky for a start and no gyro making certain game useless without.
Never had an issue with the original remote on either the ATV4 or the 1st Gen ATV4K, they both just worked flawlessly.

 

[BotchQue]

Thanks for the info. I bought a new Sony Bravia OLED a couple months ago, have used only the Sony/built-in Googlez TV interfaces so far. Very buggy and inconsistent, may pick up an AppleTV next sale and replace Amazoid Prime (which I rarely use) with an Apple music/movie service.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

AppleTV the app is only ONE app much like iPhone the app is the app for telephony on iPhone. Both AppleTV the box and iPhone the hardware can run far more apps than only the single one.

I think AppleTV the app is an unfortunate naming choice that drives this confusion to no end. Too many believe the app and the box are the same thing... that TVs with the AppleTV app have no need for the box because it's already in there. Instead, only one AppleTV (the box) app is in there. Many, MANY other apps are not.

For a while there was an app/service called Playstation Vue from Sony. I don't recall anyone believing that if that app came with their TV, their TV had a Sony Playstation built into it... presumably because- at the time- where does one insert the discs (games)? Same with that app on AppleTV, iPhone or iPad. Nobody seemed confused into thinking the AppleTV or iPhone or iPad was also a Playstation console if they installed that app. But there seems to be plenty of confusion about AppleTV (box), AppleTV+ app and AppleTV+ service, generally revolving around a misconception that all 3 are THE SAME.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Played with it on my TV but it's not quite the same as owning an actual AppleTV box. For one I get the photos app, the Podcast app, the Music app, and the ability to connect to my AirPods. The ability to have my HomePod turn my ATV on and off, and I sure dont like wasting phone battery and phone usage (when I could be placing calls) when I am air playing from my phone to a smart TV. I also enjoy the apple ecosystem which I dont get with a smart TV. Also the Home kit abilities to turn off lights and such that one gets with smart homes.

Sure some dont want an ATV box and would much rather have a smart TV okay thats your opinion. But as for me I want the ATV and apple's interface which is better than that of the smart TV. I am glad that Apple continues to update the ATV and also another thing I forgot to mention was I really enjoy the new ATV remote as the old one was junk. I wish the remote glowed in the dark or there was a backlight option but that would then waste more battery.

Having the ATV box separate also means you can update to the latest and greatest without replacing the entire TV set. There are also mounting kits that can let you place the box out of sight and out of mind as long as you aren't using an IR remote with the ATV. I 100% agree with you on the remote... that older touch one was horrid. I'm a long time fan of Harmony remotes and had been sticking with theirs for the longest time. The new ATV remote actually won me over the Harmony.

BTW... they make glow-in-the-dark skins for the ATV remote.

2 Pack Case Glow in The Dark Compatible with Apple TV 4K/ 4th Gen Remote Light Weight Anti-Slip Shock Proof Silicone Cover for Controller for Apple TV Siri Remote - Green and Blue

2 Pack Case Compatible with Apple TV 4K/ 4th Gen Remote Light Weight Anti-Slip Shock Proof Silicone Cover for Controller for Apple TV Siri Remote

www.amazon.com

 

[jwolf6589]

Having the ATV box separate also means you can update to the latest and greatest without replacing the entire TV set. There are also mounting kits that can let you place the box out of sight and out of mind as long as you aren't using an IR remote with the ATV. I 100% agree with you on the remote... that older touch one was horrid. I'm a long time fan of Harmony remotes and had been sticking with theirs for the longest time. The new ATV remote actually won me over the Harmony.

BTW... they make glow-in-the-dark skins for the ATV remote.

2 Pack Case Glow in The Dark Compatible with Apple TV 4K/ 4th Gen Remote Light Weight Anti-Slip Shock Proof Silicone Cover for Controller for Apple TV Siri Remote - Green and Blue

2 Pack Case Compatible with Apple TV 4K/ 4th Gen Remote Light Weight Anti-Slip Shock Proof Silicone Cover for Controller for Apple TV Siri Remote

www.amazon.com

IR remote??? No the ATV remote seems to work when its not directly in a line of sight of the ATV box unlike my other remotes.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

IR remote??? No the ATV remote seems to work when its not directly in a line of sight of the ATV box unlike my other remotes.

Exactly. As long as that is the only remote you are using or need to use with the ATV. My home theater system used to be a bit more complex and at one time the Harmony remote controlled the TV; ATV; AVR; cable box; and BD player. Now that I don't have the latter two and the ATV will turn the others on/off itself over HDMI, I don't need the Harmony except to dive through the other devices' menus if needed.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

If you want to use more than only AppleTV as a source with an IR remote beyond line of sight, there is a simple device called an IR repeater that will support this. The simplest version can take a form like this...

Remote IR signal is picked up by IR send piece of the device (receiver in the pic). Signal converted to "throw it" to the IR receive piece of the device (emitter above), which is positioned to be always in line of sight of IR devices. This works just fine.

A slightly more complicated option involves more "Receive" (emitter) ends, typically on wires that can be taped to the IR input "eyes" on individual devices. This is commonly used in situations where a bunch of components are hidden inside of cabinets/closet that would otherwise block the IR signal from reaching their IR "eye" no matter WHERE the emitter was positioned.

The wire-based approach puts the receive (emitter) ends INSIDE the cabinet/closet with the components. This version comes in many different looks but this image should illustrate the hardware concept pretty well...

If someone is ONLY using AppleTV as a video source, the AppleTV remote may be just fine for all TV watching. However, add ONE more source and you pretty much need another remote. In my case, I use multiple sources, so AppleTV remote is almost never touched. Instead, I "one remote to rule them all" with a Universal Remote (learning remote with macros) that does lean on IR. If I had the need to control any of my AV equip beyond line of sight, I could use either of the IR repeater options above to make it work from anywhere in the home.

 

[Juicy Box]

Played with it on my TV but it's not quite the same as owning an actual AppleTV box.

It is not remotely the same, imo.

That is like saying using the Apple TV app on a Windows PC is "not quite" the same as owning a Mac.

I really enjoy the new ATV remote as the old one was junk.

I beg to differ, prefer the original remote myself and never understood the hate for it.
The new ones far too clicky for a start and no gyro making certain game useless without.

I wouldn't say I love the original Siri Remote, but I like it a lot better than the current design. The hype for the current Siri Remote doesn't come close to reality, at least to me.

It has less functionality, and I find that I accidentally click things that I did not intend way more than I think I should.

I still use the new remote with some of my older ATVs, but my most used ATV, the 2022 ATV4K3, I swapped the new remote for one of the original ones. Much better experience for me.

Not sure what Apple just can't get the remote right. Why put the Siri button on the side? Just silly.

I think AppleTV the app is an unfortunate naming choice that drives this confusion to no end. Too many believe the app and the box are the same thing... that TVs with the AppleTV app have no need for the box because it's already in there. Instead, only one AppleTV (the box) app is in there. Many, MANY other apps are not.

I have been saying this for years. Apple screwed this up bad.

All the time people use the Apple TV 4K, Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ interchangeably. Most non-techies I talk to have no idea what the ATV HW actually is. Many also think they have it already built into their Smart TV.

Even on an Apple-centric tech forum, you would think that people would know that the Apple TV 4K, Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ are different things, but you see people confusing the three all the time on MR.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I wouldn't say I love the original Siri Remote, but I like it a lot better than the current design. The hype for the current Siri Remote doesn't come close to reality, at least to me.

It has less functionality, and I find that I accidentally click things that I did not intend way more than I think I should.

There’s an option to turn off the touch capability of the new remote so it functions like a regular button. No accidental taps, if that’s what’s happening in your case.

 

[jwolf6589]

It is not remotely the same, imo.

That is like saying using the Apple TV app on a Windows PC is "not quite" the same as owning a Mac.





I wouldn't say I love the original Siri Remote, but I like it a lot better than the current design. The hype for the current Siri Remote doesn't come close to reality, at least to me.

It has less functionality, and I find that I accidentally click things that I did not intend way more than I think I should.

I still use the new remote with some of my older ATVs, but my most used ATV, the 2022 ATV4K3, I swapped the new remote for one of the original ones. Much better experience for me.

Not sure what Apple just can't get the remote right. Why put the Siri button on the side? Just silly.



I have been saying this for years. Apple screwed this up bad.

All the time people use the Apple TV 4K, Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ interchangeably. Most non-techies I talk to have no idea what the ATV HW actually is. Many also think they have it already built into their Smart TV.

Even on an Apple-centric tech forum, you would think that people would know that the Apple TV 4K, Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ are different things, but you see people confusing the three all the time on MR.

I beg to differ with you. I like the Siri button on the side and do not have the experiences you are having with accidentally clicking things. I guess a few people dont like the new remote but the majority find the new remote superior.

 

[ignatius345]

Having the ATV box separate also means you can update to the latest and greatest without replacing the entire TV set.

If you're in a household with Apple devices in it already, you also get a massive upgrade of your daily user experience for $129. I've held on to my Apple TVs for ~4-5 years on average, so it's just not been much to pay for the benefits.

 

[Ghost31]

Ehhh. Ive been on the Apple TV bandwagon since the very begining and always suggested it to people. Until i got a ps5 and saw the apps were so much better and updated far more often on there. Really surprised me. Got a Sony’s branded $20 remote for it and have used it for most of my streaming ever since. Yes i have the APPLE tv app on my ps5 (which is smoother than my appletv 4k and doesn’t require me to verify on my device before renting) but i also have the Apple Music app on the ps5 which lets me listen to music as i game. Also have my airpods connected while i play my ps5 as well.

Seems at least once a week i get a notification on my ps5 a streaming app has been updated. While i go back to YouTube on apple tv and it’s still an outdated mess that looks like it was made for smart tvs in the early 2010’s. The remote is just so much better too. Cool to have the tv and everything completely off and just press YouTube and it turns everything on and goes straight to youtube

 

[Edd70]

Ehhh. Ive been on the Apple TV bandwagon since the very begining and always suggested it to people. Until i got a ps5 and saw the apps were so much better and updated far more often on there. Really surprised me. Got a Sony’s branded $20 remote for it and have used it for most of my streaming ever since. Yes i have the APPLE tv app on my ps5 (which is smoother than my appletv 4k and doesn’t require me to verify on my device before renting) but i also have the Apple Music app on the ps5 which lets me listen to music as i game. Also have my airpods connected while i play my ps5 as well.

Seems at least once a week i get a notification on my ps5 a streaming app has been updated. While i go back to YouTube on apple tv and it’s still an outdated mess that looks like it was made for smart tvs in the early 2010’s. The remote is just so much better too. Cool to have the tv and everything completely off and just press YouTube and it turns everything on and goes straight to youtube

I’ll just assume all this is true, having no experience with a PS5, but I see it’s several times more expensive than an ATV. For non-gamers, ATV is still a winner.

 

[Ghost31]

I’ll just assume all this is true, having no experience with a PS5, but I see it’s several times more expensive than an ATV. For non-gamers, ATV is still a winner.

Total agreement. Just saying if you already have a game console, consider giving it a try before jumping on the Apple TV bandwagon

 

[Duncan-UK]

The only thing lacking for me when I use the app on my LG TVs is access to iTunes Extras. If I didn’t already own 4k ATV boxes I doubt I’d buy them now. The LG sets are smooth and slick in their handling of apps.