Apple TV first impressions and questions.....

[nasa25]

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/10/30/how-to-play-classic-nintendo-and-sega-games-on-apple-tv/

I'll be side loading the provenance emulator and playing my favorite nes games in short order. Punch out and blades of steel here i come

 

[AZhappyjack]

Agreed, however, Apple imposes 200 mb and other limits on outside developers apps. Might get some push back if Apple violated their own rules.

Not sure the 200MB limit is accurate... there's a lot of confusion about the whole "app slicing" thing, and that may factor in, as well. I heard somewhere that there's a 200MB limit for the initial d/l, but that the "chunks" that can be d/l'ed later can be up to 2GB. Of course, I could have misunderstood what I heard, as well.

 

[mzo]

I have been playing with mine for an hour and here is what I found:
1) using Logitech Bluetooth headset is awesome. turning off headset, it automatically switch to TV speaker. turn on headset, it switch to headset
2) my Logitech Bluetooth keyboard used to work with ATV 3. but ATV 4 can't find/connect to it.
3) Can't find a way to pair with old ATV3 remote since I program it with my universal remote to control all devices
4) holding down Menu takes you back to home screen (like home button)
5) holding down home button allow to select and put ATV to sleep


you can use (5) above to turn off other devices, like TV and Receiver. pressing any buttons will turn on devices, like TV and receiver. but I don't like this feature since it can turn on your TV by accident when you toss and turn at night and press on a button.

Hi, does the new AppleTV allow you to keep the sound from the tv speakers on when Bluetooth headphones are used? Basically, is there a way to prevent the TV speakers from automatically switching to mute when a Bluetooth listening device is switched on?

 

[sniffies]

Someone, please tell me where the Internat Radio has gone. I used it all the time on the previous Apple TV.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Someone, please tell me where the Internat Radio has gone. I used it all the time on the previous Apple TV.

It's gone... RIP

 

[eric.blair]

Interesting. I know some people are wetting themselves over the potential of games and apps but I would surely give up a few GB of my storage for Photos to work properly. Or at least I'd like the choice. But then Apple aren't usually very good at giving us choice..

Photos is working fine for me - though like others have stated, it's just for Shared Photos / Photostream.

Accessing my entire Photo library is also working very well, and I was extremely skeptical. You turn on home sharing on the Apple TV, and in iTunes (in this case on my Mac Mini which houses my Music & Photos). In iTunes you select the photos you want available through home sharing. In the Computers app on ATV4 you should then see your Library of photos & music etc. Then you browse as usual.

I was initially very unimpressed because loading the library this way for the first time took quite a while (Photo library is as least 100GB). But upon subsequent loading, load time was dramatically less. So the ATV must be caching something. This was after I have put the the ATV to sleep etc.

iTunes needs to be open on your Mac. I have been leaving iTunes open and my Mac Mini is set to wake for admin access. So if it's sleeping and I go to access Computers on ATV, it wakes up the Mac Mini.

It actually works pretty well, and is very fast for me, considering the size of the library.

 

[jlaylor]

My thoughts exactly. I was hoping for some improvements with a local library ( the grouping of the shows is my biggest wish ), but there's nothing. I'd settle for quick way of skipping to each letter, something akin to how it works on iOS where you start scrolling down and the alphabet appears. Hopefully, it's something that coming in a future update.

Tis nice, though, and hopefully Apple will build on it, and not let it languish....

This is the feature I most need and am most upset about. I also have an extensive movie library (ALL of my dvds are now on my iTunes) and siri won't search them. Apple, GET ON THE BALL on this one. seriously.

 

[npmacuser5]

Someone, please tell me where the Internat Radio has gone. I used it all the time on the previous Apple TV.

It's gone... RIP

I do not have the new Apple TV4. Internet radio is still available in iTunes on the Mac. If you have a Mac, remote to iTunes and AirPlay to Apple TV as a workaround. Someone may come up with an app, maybe even Apple.

 

[ecschwarz]

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.

That was about the only place I saw that, so thanks for mentioning that earlier. Nobody at the Apple Store seemed to know, and it seemed kind of odd considering that they had a bunch of Siri Remotes being sold separately (maybe 3 columns by 4 rows?) next to the Apple TVs. Are they anticipating that many lost ones early on? The store had sold out of third-party game controllers (I actually would like the horizontal remote-as-a-controller better, since it reminds me of the NES-era controllers, but I digress).

 

[normanfox]

Hi, does the new AppleTV allow you to keep the sound from the tv speakers on when Bluetooth headphones are used? Basically, is there a way to prevent the TV speakers from automatically switching to mute when a Bluetooth listening device is switched on?

No you have to change to TV manually

 

[leesweet]

That was about the only place I saw that, so thanks for mentioning that earlier. Nobody at the Apple Store seemed to know, and it seemed kind of odd considering that they had a bunch of Siri Remotes being sold separately (maybe 3 columns by 4 rows?) next to the Apple TVs. Are they anticipating that many lost ones early on? The store had sold out of third-party game controllers (I actually would like the horizontal remote-as-a-controller better, since it reminds me of the NES-era controllers, but I digress).

Yeah, I saw everyone was getting extra controllers and read somewhere that someone else noted the one 'real controller' limit. No clue why that's not more clearly stated or why B&M stores are showing them. They should be on a par with the ATV3 silver remote. Unless people expect the loop to break and the Siri remote to go through the window.

 

[fitshaced]

I rewarded myself with an Apple TV 32GB on Friday. What has impressed me the most is that I can power on and off the Apple TV, TV and soundbar all by the Apple remote. Also, the volume control for my soundbar is now done by bluetooth thanks to the Apple tv remote. If it had passthrough hdmi for other devices such as an xbox one, it would really be the best available.

Another observation are the screensaver videos. How beautiful are they?

Finally, Siri search needs to be able to detect when i am using Netflix Australia and when I'm using Netflix US. I alternate between them and don't find switching region in Apple TV settings too convenient.

But, it is a bigger improvement than you'll first notice.

More apps please.

PS, maybe others might not see the point, but i think Apple Maps would be excellent on this.

 

[paulvee]

PS, maybe others might not see the point, but i think Apple Maps would be excellent on this.

I agree on the Apple Maps idea. Also, I read somewhere that someone was complaining about the linear alphabet, as opposed to the grid. I had been worried about that. Honestly, if you use the trackpad's "right" and "left" scrolling functions, it's faster than the old grid-based method. Not even close.

 

[patseguin]

I connected my iPad via Bluetooth for setup but I can't add it nor my iPhone to see a remotes/controllers. Anyone else have this problem? I'd hoped to at least be able to use the remote app.

 

[Apollonian]

I bought Simplex because Plex is stuck in the approval process and it has been working extremely well, $3 well spent until Plex gets it together.

On a side note I decided to put the AppleTV in the bedroom and I keep setting off the remote or tapping it because it is so sensitive.

I really see potential in this device, we just need some great developers to get to work.

 

[johnothy]

I'm liking the new Apple TV so far. I wasn't sure about the remote but so far I really like it. I was impressed how simple it was to setup with my Vizio soundbar. I wasn't able to do the Bluetooth setup option it offered.

On previous TV show and movies, is there a way to download them onto the device itself with the amount of storage space? I didn't notice the option to download it.

 

[mzo]

No you have to change to TV manually

Ok, thanks, but can you listen through the headphones without muting the TV speakers? I like to use the headphone for louder volume, but people next to me have still to hear the program through the TV speakers. Is this possible?

 

[linrey]

Sorry, folks, this one is going back to Apple.

Exactly my reaction. The remote made it unusable, and an iOS device is NOT a remote, even with an updated app.

Mine is boxed and ready to be shipped back on Monday, and the Apple TV 3 is back in service.

 

[mdmt619]

Yup, also seen when trying Airplay. Thought it was my old ATV3 still in the Bonjour database somewhere. Might be discoveryd playing up as well.

I was thinking it might be my old ATV3 as well, and might disappear after a day or so, but since it doesn't show up in all apps, I'm more suspicious that it's a bug

 

[leesweet]

I'm thinking it's a bug. From what I can see and I need to test further, if you use the preset names for ATV3 and 4, 3 shows up as 'Bedroom Apple TV' and ATV4 shows up as 'Bedroom' in AirPlay.

Let me check again but if that's so you can see which is which that way. I saw two 'Bedroom's also and thought as you did but then in the Remote app the old ones show as '... Apple TV'.

 

[AppleWes]

Sorry, folks, this one is going back to Apple.

Exactly my reaction. The remote made it unusable, and an iOS device is NOT a remote, even with an updated app.

Mine is boxed and ready to be shipped back on Monday, and the Apple TV 3 is back in service.

Same here- bought two and both going back to Apple Store today since retail locations are selling them now.

I know others love it; however, I'm not a fan of the new remote and missing some of my favorite apps [podcasts/remote/radio/bluetooth keyboard/etc]. I know I can Air Play everything that's missing but that's just not for me. Thankfully my previous Apple TV v3 is back up and running now.

Sorry Apple, maybe I'll try again with software updates and more apps. Some of the current apps have even more lag and app switcher is really jumpy. It doesn't feel like a better processor (at least for what I use it for). I guess for games it's fine.

Based on a lot of reviews and posts here it seems like Apple does zero beta testing with "real world" users. All of our issues were brought up within minutes of people receiving the first units. Family and friends prefer the old version too, even being non Apple fans as much as I am.

 

[leesweet]

I agree on the Apple Maps idea. Also, I read somewhere that someone was complaining about the linear alphabet, as opposed to the grid. I had been worried about that. Honestly, if you use the trackpad's "right" and "left" scrolling functions, it's faster than the old grid-based method. Not even close.

I have to agree. If you HAVE to use the onscreen entry, the linear is pretty good, swiping from side to side. Note that the play button will toggle upper/lowercase more quickly than going to the 'other alphabet' picker.

Still need a way to copy/paste real passwords of course.

 

[bergert]

So, I asked Siri to find "Kate Beckinsale" films and she pulled up all of her films....Even more strange is the fact that if I go to iTunes instead of push the play button, it shows that I have to purchase it...which makes since if it's not in my purchased section.

Is it possible that iTunes remembers pass purchases on this new Apple TV even if I don't have the film selected in my purchase section any longer?.

This has to do with the rights (lawyers!). I noticed after Winehouse's death much of what I purchased is doing this - the items I purchased are no longer available. Instead there are identical albums (same songs, same length) which have another owner (the album has another AppleID). These (new) songs don't show that I've purchased them (because they have another AppleID).

If you login to iTunes, under Purchased you can see all your purchased items, unless you hid them. Under account info; there is a link to un-hide all purchases (I usually hide intro trailers to TVshows, because they don't interest me and I don't want ever to download these): https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201322

 

[mic j]

I agree on the Apple Maps idea. Also, I read somewhere that someone was complaining about the linear alphabet, as opposed to the grid. I had been worried about that. Honestly, if you use the trackpad's "right" and "left" scrolling functions, it's faster than the old grid-based method. Not even close.

I would like to see a Delete key at both ends, also a Clear, key so I don't have to press the Delete key multiple times.

 

[burgman]

Anyone else grabbing the remote trying to use the touch pad for a few seconds and only then realizing it's upside down!?

It keeps happening!!

You would think since many people use it in a darkened room the top of the remote would have a light color or something else to easily identify the top. Fashion over function doesn't always work.