Apple TV first impressions and questions.....

[Rigby]

Also for all the criticism it has had its hardly been out and changed are happening. Categories has been added to the App Store as has charts.

It now has 2(!) categories. I'm glad they are working on it, but this doesn't help a whole lot.

The keyboard has changed from one line back to the square structure.

It hasn't. Actually both types of keyboards are available. When you use the touch remote to navigate to the text input field, it'll show the "long line" keyboard. If you use a traditional "clicker" remote (old Apple or universal remote) it'll show the square layout. It makes sense.

 

[dotnet]

Do I have to manually type in all my "cable" information for each APP on the atv4, or does it remember that for ONE App and use for it all.....i would really really suck to have to type in that I am "Xfin..."customer on every single app.

Who uses the same username and password for all online services? Will people never learn?

Anyway, this is likely a one-off thing to do. I entered my iTunes, Plex and Netflix credentials once and that's it.

 

[dotnet]

It would be nice if I can easily browse the 500 titles of apps. If anyone can show me, please let me know.

I went to the search tab, entered "a" and browsed all the apps starting with "a". Then I proceeded to "b". And so on 😀

There are actually quite a large number of apps already. But yes, the app store interface needs work. From recent additions it looks like most of that can be done server-side like with the Mac iTunes store. The recently added categories obviously didn't require a watchOS update.

 

[dotnet]

The only crash I got was with Hulu, it froze. I tried selecting other options and did nothing. I could exit to the home screen but I had to restart the ATV4. It seems it has multitasking like IOS since I could leave the Hulu app and come back to it and it was still frozen.

You can also kill an app like in iOS, by flicking it up.

Anyway the ATV3 had an option that I'm really missing in the ATV4, the video skip. When playing a video I clicked up on the directional pad and I could skip the video by intervals, now it shows a useless info screen (I know what I'm watching, I chose it!). Anyone know how to do it with the new ATV?

Using the bar at the bottom you can scrub (by swiping) and skip in 10s intervals (by clicking the touch pad left or right).

 

[dotnet]

Question for you guys. Apologies if this has been discussed before - I've just read through many a forum in search of this answer, this thread included, and my eyes are starting to hurt 😕 Anyway, when listening to music in the Music app (Apple Music Radio specifically), I can't for the life of me figure out how to skip a song. Has anyone figured this out yet?

You can skip tracks back and forth by clicking the touch pad on the left or right.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Who uses the same username and password for all online services? Will people never learn?

It's not that he's using the same user name and password for every site. The issue is that you have to validate your cable/satellite subscription for each channel that you add - and it requires you to enter that information over and over and over and over.

 

[airbagmoments]

The issue is that you have to validate your cable/satellite subscription for each channel that you and - and it requires you to enter that information over and over and over and over.

And on my ATV3 minor OS updates required me to re-credential each channel. I hope it isn't that way on ATV4.

 

[powerbook911]

I notice some funny video moments when watching video. It doesn't always look as smooth as the ATV3. I see a processor type hiccup from time to time. Anyone else?

 

[Uofmtiger]

I am disappointed with this new AppleTV. The lack of 4k support, I don't mind, but the 1080p upscaling is horrible on my 4k TV.

I wonder why your TV does such a bad job of scaling compared to the FireTV? You would think that makers of 4K TVs would realize that it will be receiving a 1080p signal more often than not.

 

[PaulRustad007]

Who uses the same username and password for all online services? Will people never learn?

Anyway, this is likely a one-off thing to do. I entered my iTunes, Plex and Netflix credentials once and that's it.

and when you have to do this for every Channel, er, I mean App, that is out there that requires the same info all the time from my cable company , it would seem that Apple could do a better job at authentication.

 

[scapegoat81]

The one feature I love about this device is when you're in the middle of watching something in app & press the home button, whenever you decide to go back to that said app picks up right where you left off without navigating through the menus again. This feature alone might make me buy a second unit to replace my 3rd gen that's now in my bedroom.

 

[johntechwriter]

Nice to know. I was initially thinking of going for 64gb, but not sure I would actually store content and more than likely stream it. That being said, $50 for double the storage isn't a bad deal. The question is would I even use the extra storage. 🙁

When a device can't be upgraded later, generally it's a good idea to max out on the memory when purchasing. As you say, the price is reasonable. But more important, there's a good chance you'll need that extra memory for purposes none of us are even aware of at this point. I say that because this "Apple TV" is actually an entirely new product. It's an iOS device that can do a LOT more than stream Netflix. Over the next year or two we'll see what Apple have up their sleeve.

 

[dawindmg08]

Regarding the cable channel apps (HBOGO, Showtime Anywhere, Lifetime, FOXNOW, etc.):

Most, if not all of them, do not require you to enter your cable login credentials. They give you a code, and then you use your phone or laptop or whatever to go to the page listed (*/activate) where you select your cable company and type in the code. It's a bit of work but at least you're NOT entering your cable login for every damned app.

It would be nice if Apple implemented a universal login in the system settings for your cable provider, so that every TV app would automatically authorize; not sure if that's even possible with how paranoid all the networks are about access.

 

[dotnet]

and when you have to do this for every Channel, er, I mean App, that is out there that requires the same info all the time from my cable company , it would seem that Apple could do a better job at authentication.

Ah, ok, I'm obviously not familiar with the cable situation in the US. So you get an account from your cable company and use that to authenticate to apps from all kinds of vendors?

 

[landlsf]

Nice improvements overall, but very disappointed that the interface to local iTunes library is virtually the same as before, and Siri won't search it. At least group shows first by name, then season, then episode. The list of tv shows I have in my library is so long it takes forever to scroll by flicking the touch pad. At least before I could hold down the button.

Totally agree. The video on Apple's website made it seem like Siri would be universal, meaning you would be able to browse your movies and TV shows, similar to the way you can ask Siri to look for content on your iPhone. Very disappointing that Siri only shows you movies and TV shows that you can buy or rent on iTunes. (Surprise!) Another disappointing thing about the new Apple TV is that they got rid of Chapter Search, so you can't forward via chapters? Why would they get rid of that feature? Also, they got rid of summaries for TV shows you own. Weird. They still thankfully have summaries for movies you own. I'll probably send mine back and stick with the third gen until they make some basic improvements. To end on a positive note, the aerial video screensaver is quite impressive.

 

[leesweet]

Ah, ok, I'm obviously not familiar with the cable situation in the US. So you get an account from your cable company and use that to authenticate to apps from all kinds of vendors?

In order to 'prove' that you are entitled to view the app/channels for say Showtime you have to show that you have a valid cable/FiOS/whatever subscription. (If you aren't paying for a standalone subscription like HBO or Showtime, those are different.) The network apps and ESPN and others use this sort of authorization.

Some have you login on screen with cable login/password. Some pop up a five character code and you take that to your 'real' device browser and login there to your account for this company using the cable creds and enter the code and the ATV is then activated.

Obviously the first is much more a pain on the ATV if you have a good long complex password!

 

[Uofmtiger]

Obviously the first is much more a pain on the ATV if you have a good long complex password!

It is why I was surprised that Bluetooth Pairing and/or the Remote app did not work at launch. This is something you have to do when you first download apps, so it doesn't help nearly as much if they add it later.

 

[koa]

Totally agree. The video on Apple's website made it seem like Siri would be universal, meaning you would be able to browse your movies and TV shows, similar to the way you can ask Siri to look for content on your iPhone. Very disappointing that Siri only shows you movies and TV shows that you can buy or rent on iTunes. (Surprise!) Another disappointing thing about the new Apple TV is that they got rid of Chapter Search, so you can't forward via chapters? Why would they get rid of that feature? Also, they got rid of summaries for TV shows you own. Weird. They still thankfully have summaries for movies you own. I'll probably send mine back and stick with the third gen until they make some basic improvements. To end on a positive note, the aerial video screensaver is quite impressive.

On my purchased movies when I click on one and it starts up, the chapters are shown and I can start from any chapter.

Also, when movie is playing, swiping down brings up info menu with all the chapters which I can click on.

 

[digitalberg]

Can you please all tell me all over experience regarding Apple TV 4? shall i buy or leave it?

 

[AJsAWiz]

Has anyone tried multiple Siri Remotes for game control and such? I'm debating about picking up an extra for multiplayer games, but curious how it's handled.

Good question!
I'll be looking for an answer to that one as well. I'd like to know how ATV handles multiple devices. I'm thinking about getting an IOS game controller but would like to use both (Srir remote and game controller) and be able to switch between the two seemlessly.

 

[AJsAWiz]

Sorry, you can't. Only one 'main' (Siri) remote at a time. Other ones need to be iOS/3rd party. Even says so on the Siri remote page at the Apple Store.

Great! I was wondering about this.

 

[AJsAWiz]

I have a couple of Best Buy gift cards and a Reward Zone certificate I would like to use on this instead of paying full cash for it. Which I did yesterday ($212 to be exact). I bought the Siri Remote Loop with it. Now I just want to return and buy it at Best Buy.

So should I just reset ALL settings and then repackage everything to return? I'm heading to the Apple Store anyway.

That sounds like something I would do! In fact I've done that numerous times to save money. LOL

 

[deivydas]

Lads, my main reason why i'm thinking about possibility to buy Apple Tv 4, it's to stream Sopcast app from macbook pro to TV without cables (via airplay). So my question is: do it's works fine for my needs? Sorry for noob question, but i'm new to all these Apple tv things 🙂

 

[TrueBlou]

The only crash I got was with Hulu, it froze. I tried selecting other options and did nothing. I could exit to the home screen but I had to restart the ATV4. It seems it has multitasking like IOS since I could leave the Hulu app and come back to it and it was still frozen.

Anyway the ATV3 had an option that I'm really missing in the ATV4, the video skip. When playing a video I clicked up on the directional pad and I could skip the video by intervals, now it shows a useless info screen (I know what I'm watching, I chose it!). Anyone know how to do it with the new ATV?

Use Siri, just tell it to skip forward, or backward by however much you want. It works great, very precise and it also works in Plex, I was using it last night. So much more fun than clicking a button 😀

 

[tmoenter]

Not sure of this has been brought up, but if you had a universal remote (harmony for example), to operate an atv3, that can also be used for the atv4. Of course, you cannot access the siri features, but my harmony works with all other commands on the atv4.

Thank God the Harmony still works! I played with the Siri remote enough to be annoyed by its shortcomings. Went back to my Harmony remote and am happy again. If they don't improve the crappy Siri support soon, I will just sell off the remote and pocket the money. For me, at least, the Harmony is better.