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Apple TV Gen X, Apple iPod Touch X Generation, and Apple Watch Series X Bands Also Listed in Target Inventory
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I believe Apple really ought to reduce the price of the Apple TV box. If it wants to be a serious competitor, and make a good return in its investment into Apple TV, it needs to increase its market share.
I believe it needs to either bring its Apple TV app to Android TV boxes, Sony and Panasonic televisions, or bring out a cheaper Apple TV box or reduce the current models price.
I don’t believe the mass market is ready for 8K streaming yet, so I’m not sure what a new Apple TV device will offer? I think a Apple TV stick device would be very good, with a better remote control that’s more user friendly and a 50 dollar or more cheaper price tag. If I recall the Apple TV box is the most expensive media streaming box on the market.
I believe it needs to either bring its Apple TV app to Android TV boxes, Sony and Panasonic televisions, or bring out a cheaper Apple TV box or reduce the current models price.
I don’t believe the mass market is ready for 8K streaming yet, so I’m not sure what a new Apple TV device will offer? I think a Apple TV stick device would be very good, with a better remote control that’s more user friendly and a 50 dollar or more cheaper price tag. If I recall the Apple TV box is the most expensive media streaming box on the market.
I'm not really sure what a new Apple TV is supposed to bring? I love new tech and I have 1x Apple TV (4th Gen.) and 2x Apple TV 4K (5th Gen.) and I love them and I'm always looking forward to something new.
But what is a new Apple TV supposed to bring at this point? New SoC doesn't feel necessary at this point in time as there are no performance issues with the current generation.
People seems to hate on the remote but it feels unnecessary to bring a whole new Apple TV just to bring a new remote. And personally besides typing (where I simply use Siri/Dictation or my phone anyways) the touch is really great for scrubbing. Navigating through all the content within Netflix, tv+, Plex, YouTube etc is much more fluid using accelerated touch gestures that is actually tracking pretty good compared to using a regular up/down, left/right type of navigation.
There are three things I feel would improve my Apple TV experience:
- Support for hardware decoding of Google's VP9 Profile 3 codec.
This will be a requirement in order to support 4K and HDR on YouTube. The hardware is capable of doing it through software (that's how Infuse is capable of playing back downloaded VP9 Profile 3 content without dropping frames) but I think Google require it to be done in hardware for it to be supported through the official YouTube app.
- Support for hardware decoding of AV1.
This might actually be a way for Apple to support 4K and HDR on YouTube without supporting Google's own VP9 codec as Google, Netflix, Amazon etc are all planning on adapting AV1 as a successor to VP9 and HEVC. I doubt Apple will start utilising AV1 themselves anytime soon but as most of the other services are showing heavy interest for AV1 it would be bad for Apple to fall behind in-terms of having support for the best quality that the various services has to offer. It also looks like AV1 is going to be the default codec for 8K content for the time being, not that 8K really matters much at this point.
- Support for HDMI2.1.
With HDMI2.1 Apple can get features such as VRR, Content Matching, eARC etc.. using the official standards within the HDMI Alliance instead of having to use their own quirky ways of getting all this to work that may or may not work with various third-parties. This also opens up for Apple to support Dolby Vision IQ.
But for some reason I feel like a Apple TV released in the first half of 2020 is too early for Apple to adopt AV1 and they are not going to adopt VP9 as Google's licensing requirements is just not something Apple will ever agree upon. Making my first two points on my wish-list very unlikely.
A new Apple TV would most likely just give us a new SoC as Apple doesn't want to produce the older SoC used in the current Apple TV no more and hopefully we would get HDMI2.1 but that would be it. And providing HDMI2.1 doesn't mean much as the HDMI Alliance is very liberal so 90% of all the features coming with HDMI2.1 is up to each manufacturer to implement. Apple could go with HDMI2.1 without having any of the known features enabled.
But what is a new Apple TV supposed to bring at this point? New SoC doesn't feel necessary at this point in time as there are no performance issues with the current generation.
People seems to hate on the remote but it feels unnecessary to bring a whole new Apple TV just to bring a new remote. And personally besides typing (where I simply use Siri/Dictation or my phone anyways) the touch is really great for scrubbing. Navigating through all the content within Netflix, tv+, Plex, YouTube etc is much more fluid using accelerated touch gestures that is actually tracking pretty good compared to using a regular up/down, left/right type of navigation.
There are three things I feel would improve my Apple TV experience:
- Support for hardware decoding of Google's VP9 Profile 3 codec.
This will be a requirement in order to support 4K and HDR on YouTube. The hardware is capable of doing it through software (that's how Infuse is capable of playing back downloaded VP9 Profile 3 content without dropping frames) but I think Google require it to be done in hardware for it to be supported through the official YouTube app.
- Support for hardware decoding of AV1.
This might actually be a way for Apple to support 4K and HDR on YouTube without supporting Google's own VP9 codec as Google, Netflix, Amazon etc are all planning on adapting AV1 as a successor to VP9 and HEVC. I doubt Apple will start utilising AV1 themselves anytime soon but as most of the other services are showing heavy interest for AV1 it would be bad for Apple to fall behind in-terms of having support for the best quality that the various services has to offer. It also looks like AV1 is going to be the default codec for 8K content for the time being, not that 8K really matters much at this point.
- Support for HDMI2.1.
With HDMI2.1 Apple can get features such as VRR, Content Matching, eARC etc.. using the official standards within the HDMI Alliance instead of having to use their own quirky ways of getting all this to work that may or may not work with various third-parties. This also opens up for Apple to support Dolby Vision IQ.
But for some reason I feel like a Apple TV released in the first half of 2020 is too early for Apple to adopt AV1 and they are not going to adopt VP9 as Google's licensing requirements is just not something Apple will ever agree upon. Making my first two points on my wish-list very unlikely.
A new Apple TV would most likely just give us a new SoC as Apple doesn't want to produce the older SoC used in the current Apple TV no more and hopefully we would get HDMI2.1 but that would be it. And providing HDMI2.1 doesn't mean much as the HDMI Alliance is very liberal so 90% of all the features coming with HDMI2.1 is up to each manufacturer to implement. Apple could go with HDMI2.1 without having any of the known features enabled.
Just curious... why do they need to create inventory items so early?
One reason I can think of would be to make sure the info is correct.
Except there's no price, no photo, no description, and even the name is a mystery. So they have to add all those things anyway once the item is actually available.
Plus we know Apple hates when stuff like this gets leaked early.
Do we really need "placeholder" items in this day and age?
I manage just fine as well, and as you said, I do not get the hatred for this remote. It took me less than a day to get used to it.
Oh well, to each his own, but I have zero issues with it, however, my bet is they will make a new remote because so many people complained about this one. Also, it could be a money maker for them if they make it backwards compatible with the AppleTV HD, and AppleTV 4K, since I assume many people who are not looking to upgrade yet, would buy the new remote, unless Apple charges an arm and a leg for it...which is entirely possible with Apple, obviously.
There might not be now, but someone buying an Apple TV HD today is buying 4½ year old tech. Time will catch up with it at some point. You wouldn't get anywhere near the same value out of one you bought now compared to the (exact same thing) bought at launch...
I just bought a second hand Apple TV HD, perfect for in my bedroom. I once bought an ATV4K but returned it, because the output quality was far below what my Smart TV was capable of producing (like same movie streaming from built in Netflix was better than when streaming from Apple TV) and also the colors were far less accurate then when streaming exactly the same clip from the built in youtube/netflix/etc. apps. Yes i checked every setting and used different cables but i was surprised and disappointed that the quality did not seem to be as good as i had hoped. And i'm not the only one saying that.
I like your post, way to layout the different factors of why you think at this point we are just going to get a refreshed SoC on the new Apple TV.
I am just like you...I love new tech, and also own one AppleTV HD and one AppleTV 4K, and neither one of them breaks a sweat throwing what I do at it.
I agree with most of what you say (especially about the codecs, and HDMI 2.1) however, I just do not see Apple releasing a simple SoC refresh, and that is it, I mean that is essentially what they did with the ATV 4K but obviously added a huge feature in 4K/Dolby Atmos/DolbyVision. I feel like they will definitely include HDMI 2.1, but like you said, that may turn out to be not so much, or it could turn out to be everything we want out of HDMI 2.1.
I think Apple will/has too surprise us with some great new features, otherwise what is going to entice anyone, especially those with the AppleTV 4K to upgrade, and those on the AppleTV HD that are looking to upgrade could probably just buy a reduced price AppleTV 4K. Also, those that do not have an Apple TV yet...there has to be something enticing them to buy one, or they can just pick up a reduced price ATV HD or 4K.
So to me, there has to be something Apple is going to add hardware and feature wise to make this a product worth upgrading to, or for buying your first Apple TV.
Obviously just my opinion, however, I do agree with everything you said about VP9 and AV1. It would be awesome if this new Apple TV had support for AV1, but like you said...not likely at all. Maybe they will put some great hardware in there, capable of AV1, and once they adopt AV1 (or if they are working on it now and it is just not ready) a simple software update could "unlock it" sort of speak...simply guessing now???
Apple TV Pro. £999 and let’s you watch live TV like only the pros can do.
And it is now so thin it comes without Ethernet.
And it is now so thin it comes without Ethernet.
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If they made an Apple TV you have to navigate with a mouse pointer I would drive to Cupertino and throw it through Tim Cook's office window.
My ATV4K slows to a crawl when swiping through titles in the Netflix app. It gets very laggy sometimes, I have no idea why or what this is but it’s incredibly frustrating. I’m all for a new more powerful ATV that fixes this.
Anyone else have that odd laggy slowdown on Netflix?
Anyone else have that odd laggy slowdown on Netflix?
Haha, I would be right with you!
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I do not experience this on either of my Apple TV's, one being an AppleTV HD and the other being an AppleTV 4K. Both of mine work absolutely flawlessly.
Honestly, if it were going to effect either of my ATV's, I would expect it to be the ATV HD, but as I said earlier in this thread, it easily handles everything I throw at it, and that is using a dual-core Apple A8 w/ 2GB RAM vs. the 4K that is using a three core Apple A10X Fusion processor, which has 3GB RAM!
Maybe a fresh install of tvOS will help things out, I have seen that work miracles before on slow systems or systems that are just acting all sorts of weird. I would honestly give that a try, it will most likely fix it.
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Mine does this too. I’ve tried restoring it multiple times but it doesn’t help.
Overpriced for what you really get in my opinion my Sony wireless put these to shame
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A new iPod touch has my attention
Apple need to get the pricing of the Apple TV to some sense of sanity if they want it to have any kind of market share. The price took a massive leap from the 3rd Gen to 4th.
Shocking that people are posting about performance issues that wouldn't happen with a $30 Roku aswell.
Shocking that people are posting about performance issues that wouldn't happen with a $30 Roku aswell.
That C9 mouse pointer magic remote thing needs to be killed. With fire. It’s awful. Waving my arms around trying to get the damned pointer to go where i am pointing is really frustrating. And just picking up the remote to move it out of the way, the pointer shows up over whatever we are watching - the worst.
I’ve hidden the remote and use a universal remote, but the pointer still rears its ugly head from time to time. I would love it if the C9 had a “never show me any dialog box for any reason, just shut up and display whatever you are receiving on HDMI1” toggle.
I have owned every iteration of Apple TV and I am really curious as to what a new model may bring.
I would like to see a few new features such as email notifications and iMessages. I have always thought Maps would look great on the big screen as well.
This is great news for an already great platform and ecosystem.
I would like to see a few new features such as email notifications and iMessages. I have always thought Maps would look great on the big screen as well.
This is great news for an already great platform and ecosystem.
Console games would be nice. I’m still waiting for call if duty mobile to be playable on Apple TV with a remote
From what I've heard, companies will give pricing information to Target but without final release names. Assuming that's correct, the "x" would be a placeholder -- i.e., to differentiate this offering from current product. I wouldn't read anything more into the name than that.
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If I were Apple and planning to release "premium" over-the-ear headphones, I'd call them "AirPods Studio." My guess is that the final name will be something along those lines.
my issue with Apple TV is my LG C9's built in apps are more than sufficient and Apple TV really offers me nothing. All I need is a 4X BluRay player and Apple will never go that route. Hell the Roku built in the silly cheap 55 Sharp 4k we have in the exercise room is as good as the Apple TV but better because it is 4k native; same as C9 which uses WebOS
The C9 apps work reasonably well but there aren’t enough of them for me, and the interface is pretty much garbage. If I never have to use the “magic remote” again it will be too soon.
ARC is also not a good idea in a home theater setting, so realistically in those scenarios one has to run an optical cable back to the amp to use the C9s apps, meaning the cabling for using Apple TV 4K is a little simpler (admittedly in an uncommon scenario).
