Apple TV is in "don't buy", when is the update?

[Starfia]

Major Apple TV updates have been years apart, and they've never rushed to have the highest resolution for TV content. I'd say it would at least be a surprise if they announced some kind of 4K unit this year.

If you'd really stress about 4K, you could wait to see whether there's a March event and then find a sale for a current-gen model afterwards if nothing was forthcoming.

 

[richpjr]

I am looking to pick up something to replace my ATV4 (it will get delegated to the bedroom). The lack of 4K, HDR, DV and Amazon Prime REALLY puts it way behind the competition. Since 40% of all TVs sold in 2016 were 4K and there is finally starting to be 4k content available, they are really falling behind the competition.

 

[Eduardo1971]

No one knows. Last year there was an event on March 21, 2016. Who knows what this event will have for sure. After that could be around June and then around Oct. I think if you need one get one at one of the discount places. The latest DTV Now promotion would have been a great opportunity. Then when the ATV 5 comes out you can move this one to another room or give away or sell.

I concur. We've been happy with our three ATV3 in our home but then we went with DIRECTV Now/ATV4 promo and we're pleased with the combination.

Now we have two ATV4 in addition to the three ATV3.

We don't have a 4K TV in our home so lack of 4K support is obviously not an issue.

 

[fizzfoo]

Apple TV is not bad UI to use apps what ruins is the horrible remote and no don't tell me to use a IR remote or app as my ATV is hidden so it would not work. I want a all buttons bluetooth not IR remote no touch garbage

I agree! If i had it to do all over again, i wouldn't buy this product because of the remote. How could they put such a POS as this is on the market. The people behind this remote should be fired and Apple should design a new remote and send it to everyone that has this product!

 

[BJMRamage]

dang. I guess i need to re-evaluate why i don't have the big issues with the remote so many on this forum do.

When i had a silicone case for the remote there was never a problem. since i switched to a hard case with no bottom cover i experience a little flipped remote but I have that same issue with a Philips TV remote in our bedroom. it is rectangular without any weight or shape difference and plenty of times i have it flipped and hit the wrong butt and change an input or some other settings rather than just hitting the sleep timer.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I am looking to pick up something to replace my ATV4 (it will get delegated to the bedroom). The lack of 4K, HDR, DV and Amazon Prime REALLY puts it way behind the competition. Since 40% of all TVs sold in 2016 were 4K and there is finally starting to be 4k content available, they are really falling behind the competition.

Since there are 4 (Soon 5) competing HDR standards, I am pretty sure Apple is waiting to see where it goes. Supporting all of them is pointless, and given Apples history, they'll pick one and stick to that.

4K is big, but so is HDR. HFR is also on its way in, and in any case, we need HDMI 2.1 which has only just been revealed to the public, in order to support HDR and HFR content.

No wonder they haven't released a half assed product yet.

 

[richpjr]

Since there are 4 (Soon 5) competing HDR standards, I am pretty sure Apple is waiting to see where it goes. Supporting all of them is pointless, and given Apples history, they'll pick one and stick to that.

4K is big, but so is HDR. HFR is also on its way in, and in any case, we need HDMI 2.1 which has only just been revealed to the public, in order to support HDR and HFR content.

No wonder they haven't released a half assed product yet.

HDR10 and DV seem to be the current standards and supporting one of them would make sense. Since HDMI 2.1 won't ship until later this year, I suppose they could wait. But there will always be something new just around the corner. There is enough content that I want to watch now in those 2 formats for me to look elsewhere.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

HDR10 and DV seem to be the current standards and supporting one of them would make sense. Since HDMI 2.1 won't ship until later this year, I suppose they could wait. But there will always be something new just around the corner. There is enough content that I want to watch now in those 2 formats for me to look elsewhere.

Highly likely. But we will know within the next year, how things develop, and so will Apple.

 

[danieleilertsen]

Since there are 4 (Soon 5) competing HDR standards, I am pretty sure Apple is waiting to see where it goes. Supporting all of them is pointless, and given Apples history, they'll pick one and stick to that.

4K is big, but so is HDR. HFR is also on its way in, and in any case, we need HDMI 2.1 which has only just been revealed to the public, in order to support HDR and HFR content.

No wonder they haven't released a half assed product yet.

I dont follow this. There is always new technology around the corner. Soon there will be something new.

Sometimes you have to jump on the wagon and release a new product when new tech comes.

In regard of the 4k standards. All you need i hdmi 2.0a. Support of hdr10 and dolby vision and you are good to go.

The real change will come with rec2020 standards in 2020. I think you agree apple cant wait this long.

 

[mac.cali]

If apple does release a new model, it'll probably be 4k. However I don't think they'll have a HDR format until there is a single standard. I doubt they'll take the Netflix approach and support both.

 

[mawool01]

I'm looking to get an Apple TV. Does anyone know when the next Apple event at which they're likely to update the current unit is happening? I don't wanna buy one and then find out they've updated it for 4k the next month or so....

I am in the same boat. Just got a new TV and want to get another AppleTV. My TV supports 4k and would love a new ATV with 4K.

 

[tonyr6]

Got rid of my ATV hate the remote. Can't even disable IPv6 which even my cheap $60 Blu-ray player lets me do so Netflix won't work on the ATV and no I am not going to disable it on my router. That is like saying "you got a scratch on your arm so cut it off to fix it".

 

[JoeShades]

Got rid of my ATV hate the remote.

Yeah that makes perfect sense since YOU CAN USE ANY REMOTE YOU WANT!

 

[tonyr6]

Yeah that makes perfect sense since YOU CAN USE ANY REMOTE YOU WANT!

Line of sight IR remotes are useless. I like hiding all my streaming boxes they are distracting. I hate my Roku Premier with its IR remote. Only wasted my money on it thinking that I can pair any radio Roku remote but it does not work or even show up to pair. $10 more I should have gotten the Premier+.

Also don't tell me to us a smartphone app. Have to unlock your phone to use a remote and the battery drains. That is another reason why I hated the Chromecast.

 

[Beerstalker]

I hate multiple remotes for multiple devices, so that pretty much means using IR remotes (I like Harmony remotes and have them in every room). If you want to hide devices look into IR repeaters. I'm using them in a couple places and have them working well.

 

[fwilers]

Since there are 4 (Soon 5) competing HDR standards, I am pretty sure Apple is waiting to see where it goes. Supporting all of them is pointless, and given Apples history, they'll pick one and stick to that.

4K is big, but so is HDR. HFR is also on its way in, and in any case, we need HDMI 2.1 which has only just been revealed to the public, in order to support HDR and HFR content.

No wonder they haven't released a half assed product yet.

You don't really have to "support it". You just have to pass the stream to the TV. That's why many products with software updates can do it now when they previously couldn't.
Considering so many things do now, it makes me wonder why Apple won't. We have Roku, FireTV, nVidia shield, Chromcast, Xbox, Playstation, and about every manufacturer has inexpensive HDR tv's.

I think the real issue is 4k, as most content that has HDR is only streamed in 4k.

 

[GizmoDVD]

I am looking to pick up something to replace my ATV4 (it will get delegated to the bedroom). The lack of 4K, HDR, DV and Amazon Prime REALLY puts it way behind the competition. Since 40% of all TVs sold in 2016 were 4K and there is finally starting to be 4k content available, they are really falling behind the competition.

and 80% of those 4K TVs sold are of poor quality and 4k is not really noticable.

 

[richpjr]

and 80% of those 4K TVs sold are of poor quality and 4k is not really noticable.

That is certainly subjective. I can easily notice the difference even on a lower grade model.

 

[Hawkeye16]

Line of sight IR remotes are useless. I like hiding all my streaming boxes they are distracting. I hate my Roku Premier with its IR remote. Only wasted my money on it thinking that I can pair any radio Roku remote but it does not work or even show up to pair. $10 more I should have gotten the Premier+.

Also don't tell me to us a smartphone app. Have to unlock your phone to use a remote and the battery drains. That is another reason why I hated the Chromecast.

You can also use the remote from your Apple Watch... pretty simple.

 

[SigEp265]

i love the new apple TV ... i hate the remote with the swipe feature. I miss knowing how many spaces it would move over on the previous remote.

 

[Beerstalker]

i love the new apple TV ... i hate the remote with the swipe feature. I miss knowing how many spaces it would move over on the previous remote.

You can just use the old remote if you want, or use a programmable remote like I do (Harmony). I think I used the new SIRI remote for about 10 minutes when I got my first AppleTV4 and then I put it in a drawer and haven't touched it since. When I bought my second AppleTV4 the remote went straight into the same drawer without being used at all. I have no desire to talk to my remote to do something, I'm much more comfortable using my Harmony remotes to scroll/type to do what I want.

 

[SigEp265]

You can just use the old remote if you want, or use a programmable remote like I do (Harmony). I think I used the new SIRI remote for about 10 minutes when I got my first AppleTV4 and then I put it in a drawer and haven't touched it since. When I bought my second AppleTV4 the remote went straight into the same drawer without being used at all. I have no desire to talk to my remote to do something, I'm much more comfortable using my Harmony remotes to scroll/type to do what I want.

I was aware of the old remote but unfortunately my apple tv is behind my television so the IR blaster wont work. Are you able to use harmony remote APP?

 

[Gasu E.]

i love the new apple TV ... i hate the remote with the swipe feature. I miss knowing how many spaces it would move over on the previous remote.

I find the opposite. "Swoop-swoop-click" is a lot faster for me than click-click-click-click-click-click-click. Maybe you just need to get used to it.

 

[Led-zep]

They must launch a 4K apple TV this year.

It is a joke that they sell iPhones + iPads that shoot in 4K yet have nowhere to display the videos!?

Don't say a iMac 4K because that is on a 27" display at max...what about those of us who have 75" 4K TVs at home with an apple tv connected to it? How am i supposed to watch that 4K video i shot of my family on my TV

Its a real shame no journalist has the balls to ask Tim Cook etc why they released iPhone with 4K video recording yet no way to watch it at home...oh but we can all crowd around a 21" 4K imac :/

 

[SigEp265]

I find the opposite. "Swoop-swoop-click" is a lot faster for me than click-click-click-click-click-click-click. Maybe you just need to get used to it.

Yeah I have only used it a handful of times now .. Swipe Swipe ... crap it went too many spaces.

Also I noticed that it is somewhat difficult so see what selection you are on ... I know the selected option gets larger but I guess I am used to having it highlighted like xbone.