Apple TV (Fourth Generation) First Impressions

[Robnsn2015]

I got a fourth-generation Apple TV and set it up on Christmas Eve 2015. The following are my first impressions from that first night.

I'm glad Apple TV comes with minimal apps on their home screen during initial setup. I'd rather add my own apps than deal with all that clutter in previous versions.

I like the grey background on the home screen better than the black one in the previous generations. More pleasant somehow.

The 4th Generation Apple TV comes with the new Apple Music. The sound quality is so much improved. There is a very noticeable difference, especially with jazz music. I feel like my 15-year-old home theater speakers are being fully utilized for music again. Also, Apple TV Remote's Siri + Apple Music = Convenient!

About the Siri Remote, why are there no fast forward or rewind buttons on the damned remote? And could Apple please add a back button instead of having to use the Menu button to go back? And could they put some thought into the ergonomics of the thing? Using Siri is convenient, but being able to use Apple TV Siri through the iPhone would be even more convenient.

The San Francisco screen saver is gorgeous! Makes me want a bigger TV.

Apple hasn't released their own podcast app for Apple TV yet. Considering what a mess it is on iOS 9, I hope Apple takes their time.

The Infuse app alone may have rendered my WD TV obsolete. It's nice having DLNA streaming from my NAS without having to use Plex.

I'm not a real gamer, but Apple TV and iPad Pro might cause me to get my first game controller ever.

Movies download from iTunes much faster with this new fourth generation than with the third generation.

YouTube app needs LOTS of work! There is no way to "thumbs up" or save a video. Of course the menu button is useless.

Apps I really want to see:
· Spotify (especially with their highest bit rate setting)
· Amazon Prime
· An app that supports Digital HD/Ultraviolet

 

[benjitek]

I got a fourth-generation Apple TV and set it up on Christmas Eve 2015. The following are my first impressions from that first night...

Skim through the topics here, pretty much all of your impressions have been touched on. If you want an ergonomic remote, you'll need to buy a case. Here's a recent review on Griffin Technology's product: http://appadvice.com/appnn/2015/12/protect-your-siri-remote-with-the-griffin-survivor-play

 

[winstars]

Skim through the topics here, pretty much all of your impressions have been touched on. If you want an ergonomic remote, you'll need to buy a case. Here's a recent review on Griffin Technology's product: http://appadvice.com/appnn/2015/12/protect-your-siri-remote-with-the-griffin-survivor-play

A case really helps. It makes the remote it bigger and now you can tell which end is up. I have the Griffin case noted above and also ordered the one in the link below in black. And since the white Griffin case and the new black case seem to disappear in my couch, I have now ordered the bright green one below:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018JXPHS4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

Sort of the same thing but with the loop. Other colors available.

Freaking cases for a remote, my Grandmother bless her soul, is shaking her head at me!!!

 

[benjitek]

...I have now ordered the bright green one...

Maybe harder to misplace -- but it covers too much of the touchpad, and is too close to the physical buttons. In a perfect world, the Siri Remote would be among the devices you could add to Find My iPhone

 

[winstars]

Maybe harder to misplace -- but it covers too much of the touchpad, and is too close to the physical buttons. In a perfect world, the Siri Remote would be among the devices you could add to Find My iPhone

View attachment 608467​

Yes it does cover up the edges a bit on the touchpad, for sure.

I am guessing that more of the covers will come out eventually, maybe not was many as the iPhone but someone will hopefully get it right.

Find My iPhone/Remote, that would be cool!!!

 

[Creek0512]

You FWD & RWD using the touchpad, which I think is lightyears better than previous Apple TVs. You just scrub to the point you want and then click.

 

[jeevestobs]

About the Siri Remote, why are there no fast forward or rewind buttons on the damned remote?

You can actually fast forward or rewind by pressing left or right and holding on the touch surface.

 

[benjitek]

You can actually fast forward or rewind by pressing left or right and holding on the touch surface.

If I click left/right I forward/advance in 10 second increments, but if I press 'n hold left/right the video exits.

 

[jeevestobs]

If I click left/right I forward/advance in 10 second increments, but if I press 'n hold left/right the video exits.

Are you using Plex, by any chance? It works flawlessly with Home Sharing and BBC iPlayer app for me, but not with Plex.

 

[benjitek]

Are you using Plex, by any chance? It works flawlessly with Home Sharing and BBC iPlayer app for me, but not with Plex.

OK -- that must be it, I mostly use Plex and that's what I tried it in. I just tried it in HaystackTV, Hulu & Netflix and it works in all of those. Wow -- that's a nice feature, much better than repetitive clicking for 10 second increments. Fingers-crossed that Plex will add that soon

 

[3rdiguy]

I bought my 64gb 4th Gen TV on New Years Day and must say that I'm very impressed. Everything looks so smooth. I don't know if Hulu is running at a higher framerate but it sure seems silky. Asphalt 8 is awesome and really delivers for me(using Horipad Ultimate controller) and I'm coming from using a 3rd gen TV. I even mirrored GTS San Andreas with no issues whatsoever except not filling up the entire screen. I hope they can port this to the new TV. The aerial screensaver are beautiful and I'm so glad I can turn on/off my TV with Siri remote. Had to order Griffin case for it because I'm going to need a more substantial grip. So far, I really enjoy it.

 

[Juicy Box]

The San Francisco screen saver is gorgeous! Makes me want a bigger TV.

I like the Hawaii one a lot better. It is so beautiful it does not look real.
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YouTube app needs LOTS of work!

This is so true. The ATV3 one was okay, but the ATV4 is horrible to use. It seems like a bare bones version.
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I like the grey background on the home screen better than the black one in the previous generations. More pleasant somehow.

I miss the black. I use my ATV3 regularly and enjoy most things about it, including the black background. The ATV4, I wish I could say the same, but there are too many annoying things about it. Luckily, the home screen background is not being displayed most of the time, and most apps have a dark or black background.

About the Siri Remote, why are there no fast forward or rewind buttons on the damned remote?

Both the Siri remote, and an IR remote have inconsistent button responses in the video apps. So that might be why there is such confusion related to the FF and RW controls.

I personally hate the new remote, and wished the IR remote worked similarly to the ATV3.