Apple TV is such an embarrassment for Apple.

[lvavila]

It was funny thinking Apple had a great idea for the new device before it launched in 2015, only to realize upon unveiling that they have one of their worst teams working on it, and none of them have a clue. From the remote design to the lack of innumerable features that a group of high school students would have thought of, it was just crazy bad. Now, almost 2 years later they've gotten most of the software features that should've been there at launch, but the terrible remote likely isn't changing anytime soon.

I think their hardware design teams are by far the best, but the remote is the one design that is simply unintelligent. A group of intelligent humans should understand what a remote should be from its design ergonomics to its usability and button layout. This remote is truly their worst design, and I mean I hope Jony's team didn't have anything to do with it, but I'm sure they had everything to do with it. They got it wrong, and that's fine, but when you make a mistake you should fix it, which won't happen of course.

The Amazon remote is ergonomically intelligent design, whereas Apple's is not. It is asymmetrical in grip and therefore simple to grab without the thought required when you use an Apple remote. It's buttons and layout are poor, but those are actually of second importance to the ergonomics. Finally, the touch control is simply too inaccurate and finicky to be intuitive design.

Lastly, Apple remains oblivious to the really massive market they are electively losing and that is gaming. The device could be very good for gaming, but they seem to think that people want this device that does virtually the same exact thing as all TVs do, now. All they have to do is create an Apple designed gaming controller and immediately all developers would start creating games and people would buy it far more. Look at the garbage Nintendo switch...I mean come on it's so simple.

I'm sure your opinion is valued somewhere by someone but your comments are nothing more than thinking that your opinion is fact and represent the cord cutting and streaming community as a whole. But hey, you rant at least got me to comment so there is that.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

But it's not usable. It's only for plugging the tv to a computer.

I am well aware of that. The guy I replied to never stated why he wanted one, just that he wanted one.

 

[s15119]

It was funny thinking Apple had a great idea for the new device before it launched in 2015, only to realize upon unveiling that they have one of their worst teams working on it, and none of them have a clue. From the remote design to the lack of innumerable features that a group of high school students would have thought of, it was just crazy bad. Now, almost 2 years later they've gotten most of the software features that should've been there at launch, but the terrible remote likely isn't changing anytime soon.

I think their hardware design teams are by far the best, but the remote is the one design that is simply unintelligent. A group of intelligent humans should understand what a remote should be from its design ergonomics to its usability and button layout. This remote is truly their worst design, and I mean I hope Jony's team didn't have anything to do with it, but I'm sure they had everything to do with it. They got it wrong, and that's fine, but when you make a mistake you should fix it, which won't happen of course.

The Amazon remote is ergonomically intelligent design, whereas Apple's is not. It is asymmetrical in grip and therefore simple to grab without the thought required when you use an Apple remote. It's buttons and layout are poor, but those are actually of second importance to the ergonomics. Finally, the touch control is simply too inaccurate and finicky to be intuitive design.

Lastly, Apple remains oblivious to the really massive market they are electively losing and that is gaming. The device could be very good for gaming, but they seem to think that people want this device that does virtually the same exact thing as all TVs do, now. All they have to do is create an Apple designed gaming controller and immediately all developers would start creating games and people would buy it far more. Look at the garbage Nintendo switch...I mean come on it's so simple.

Sounds like an Apple TV is not for you. But thanks so much for sharing. I'm not sure how I would have made it through my Monday without knowing.

1. I love the remote, far superior to any of the competitors.
2. "garbage switch" hahahahahaha
3. have a nice day.

 

[9594864]

I'm sure your opinion is valued somewhere by someone but your comments are nothing more than thinking that your opinion is fact and represent the cord cutting and streaming community as a whole. But hey, you rant at least got me to comment so there is that.

It's my opinion, it just also happens to be a fact.

 

[off_piste]

I am well aware of that. The guy I replied to never stated why he wanted one, just that he wanted one.

It seems pretty obvious in his post that he wants to connect hardware to watch his dvds.

 

[AFEPPL]

It seems pretty obvious in his post that he wants to connect hardware to watch his dvds.

I do this by ripping my BRs to MP4s and dropping them into the mess they call iTunes...

 

[danny842003]

Lastly, Apple remains oblivious to the really massive market they are electively losing and that is gaming. The device could be very good for gaming, but they seem to think that people want this device that does virtually the same exact thing as all TVs do, now. All they have to do is create an Apple designed gaming controller and immediately all developers would start creating games and people would buy it far more. Look at the garbage Nintendo switch...I mean come on it's so simple.

Lol this part of your comment is the best.
People who want something for gaming don't care about a streaming box and ****** mobile type apps it is going to play.
If people truely care about gaming they will buy a dedicated gaming device. Sure if they had a remote they may get some
extra customers but it's hardly going to be a game changer.
As for your comments on the switch I don't think you understand what has made the switch successful, Nintendo haven't worried about hardware specs for close to two decades. Nintendo have relied solely on their library of 1st party game franchises to drive sales for a long time. Apple even with their wealth cannot just recreate what Nintendo have.

 

[Robnsn2015]

Lol this part of your comment is the best.
People who want something for gaming don't care about a streaming box and ****** mobile type apps it is going to play.
If people truely care about gaming they will buy a dedicated gaming device. Sure if they had a remote they may get some
extra customers but it's hardly going to be a game changer.
As for your comments on the switch I don't think you understand what has made the switch successful, Nintendo haven't worried about hardware specs for close to two decades. Nintendo have relied solely on their library of 1st party game franchises to drive sales for a long time. Apple even with their wealth cannot just recreate what Nintendo have.

I don't think Apple wants to re-create what Nintendo has. If Apple wanted a Nintendo-like product, they could buy Nintendo. And the most popular handheld gaming device isn't anything Nintendo makes, it's the iPhone.

My guess is Apple wanted to re-create the much bigger mobile gaming market as opposed to Nintindo's comparatively small market. I don't know if Apple succeeded, though.

 

[danny842003]

I don't think Apple wants to re-create what Nintendo has. If Apple wanted a Nintendo-like product, they could buy Nintendo. And the most popular handheld gaming device isn't anything Nintendo makes, it's the iPhone.

My guess is Apple wanted to re-create the much bigger mobile gaming market as opposed to Nintindo's comparatively small market. I don't know if Apple succeeded, though.

What does mobile gaming have to do with the Apple TV? An Apple TV would be competing against consoles not mobile phones, but it would be doing so with mobile type games.

 

[WarDialer]

I remember a few years back when there was a kerfuffle over Hardware Keyboard support for AppleTV devices. It HAD TO BE added, it was WORLD ENDING if it wasn't there, no one would buy an AppleTV if you couldn't plug in a hardware keyboard.

Turns out, according to tracking data Apple collects, the number of hardware keyboards used by AppleTV dropped to virtually zero when WWDC (the Developer's Conference) started. Ergo the people publicly DEMANDING hardware keyboard support OR ELSE were almost exclusively developers on the platform.

So whenever someone rants about Apple losing some market because of some specific niche feature I pretty much take that rant as being of the same self-entitled whining, foot stomping or breath-holding typically seen amongst small children who don't get their way.

If a market is viable it will exist, otherwise there's no point in pursuing it. And there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[fpnc]

Yes, the Siri remote is terrible in many ways. Unfortunately it will probably not be changed because companies don't like to admit to mistakes. That is, unless it is a whopper of a error and the Siri remote is perhaps just a notch or two short of being that (meaning that it is pretty bad, but not THAT bad).

As for the remainder of the Apple TV, is't at least okay or maybe even better than that. Siri (voice control) is currently a mixed bag, but still a long way from being truly useful.

 

[9594864]

What does mobile gaming have to do with the Apple TV? An Apple TV would be competing against consoles not mobile phones, but it would be doing so with mobile type games.

No. It competes with mobile games because it has no first party controller.

Give it an Apple Controller and there is a 100% chance that a myriad of console-quality games flood the App Store.

By the way, by far the most downloaded apps, especially on the Apple TV, are games, and that's straight from Apple's statements. Their problem is they don't have a first party controller to break the flood gates. Presently the App Store is filled with purely causal style games which are designed with mobile, short-term gameplay in mind. The problem there is that the device sits in a living room plugged into a TV.

 

[danny842003]

No. It competes with mobile games because it has no first party controller.

Give it an Apple Controller and there is a 100% chance that a myriad of console-quality games flood the App Store.

By the way, by far the most downloaded apps, especially on the Apple TV, are games, and that's straight from Apple's statements. Their problem is they don't have a first party controller to break the flood gates. Presently the App Store is filled with purely causal style games which are designed with mobile, short-term gameplay in mind. The problem there is that the device sits in a living room plugged into a TV.

You honestly believe Apple TV hardware can handle console level games? Console games are now fairly often 40gb downloads the standard Apple TV is 32gb.

 

[Robnsn2015]

No. It competes with mobile games because it has no first party controller.

Give it an Apple Controller and there is a 100% chance that a myriad of console-quality games flood the App Store.

By the way, by far the most downloaded apps, especially on the Apple TV, are games, and that's straight from Apple's statements. Their problem is they don't have a first party controller to break the flood gates. Presently the App Store is filled with purely causal style games which are designed with mobile, short-term gameplay in mind. The problem there is that the device sits in a living room plugged into a TV.

Also, the Apple TV is running a variation of a mobile OS on top of a mobile hardware architecture. That makes it more similar to mobile gaming than console gaming.

The option of a first-party controller would be GREAT, though.

 

[E.Lizardo]

It's my opinion, it just also happens to be a fact.

LOL just keep telling yourself that.

 

[mmomega]

Remote design could definitely be better.

I disagree with the overall embarrassment.
It's good. It just could be better, which can be said about pretty much anything.

 

[vipergts2207]

You honestly believe Apple TV hardware can handle console level games? Console games are now fairly often 40gb downloads the standard Apple TV is 32gb.

Good point. Most consoles are shipping with 1TB HDD's to store downloaded games on.

 

[9594864]

You honestly believe Apple TV hardware can handle console level games? Console games are now fairly often 40gb downloads the standard Apple TV is 32gb.

I'm not referring to PS4 and Xbox One graphics. I'm referring to something along the lines of the Nintendo Switch. By console-quality I mean games which are played at home and are not cheap casual mobile games.

 

[AFEPPL]

People are reluctant to pay 2.99 for a mobile game so regardless of the architecture and performance of the A8 it's a limited market. The ATV is not a games console and apple don't see it as such, that's clear.

 

[9594864]

People are reluctant to pay 2.99 for a mobile game so regardless of the architecture and performance of the A8 it's a limited market. The ATV is not a games console and apple don't see it as such, that's clear.

Keyword. (Mobile) game

 

[E.Lizardo]

You honestly believe Apple TV hardware can handle console level games? Console games are now fairly often 40gb downloads the standard Apple TV is 32gb.

He doesn't "believe" anything. He has "facts".

 

[AFEPPL]

Yep, and that mean ATV doesn't make sense, it's not mobile with an ability to use on the go.
Youre beating a dead horse and wanting it to race in a grandprix with sports cars. (IMO)..

 

[danny842003]

I'm not referring to PS4 and Xbox One graphics. I'm referring to something along the lines of the Nintendo Switch. By console-quality I mean games which are played at home and are not cheap casual mobile games.

But people wouldn't be interested in that. As I explained people but a switch for the catalog of franchises, Nintendo have something nobody else does and that's what sells.
If any other company released a games device as far behind Sony and microsoft it would fail.

 

[KUKitch]

As somebody who went from a 2/3 gen to a 4th gen - it was a huge improvement, and as mentioned, the Plex app alone makes it worth it! I will agree with criticism on the remote, while I do like it better than the old one, it is finnicky and can be quite annoying. The UI, however, is leaps and bounds better than competitors, my FireTV stick doesn't get much use (as it's in the guest room so they can also use Plex) but every time I'm in there to update it or make sure that it works, it just seems rougher by comparison and I don't like it. Similarly with the Roku UI - my parents have multiple sticks and the 4K and it just feels like going back in time on the interface.

Both Fire and Roku somehow feel like they're flash-based and just not very responsive or clean, a throwback to the bad old days if you will. Of course that's just my own experience and opinion, but I feel that tvOS will continue to make strides and "catch up" if 4K/HDR is the big innovation they're missing

 

[9594864]

But people wouldn't be interested in that. As I explained people but a switch for the catalog of franchises, Nintendo have something nobody else does and that's what sells.
If any other company released a games device as far behind Sony and microsoft it would fail.

The Nintendo has 2 games. It will fail as well (starting in 2018 sales will decline massively). But anyway, you're wrong, people do want that, as I told you games are by a factor of like 10, the most downloaded apps, and people want actual games and kids want actual games, but they can't have them due to lack of a controller, and no one buys MFi controllers. A first party Apple controller = massive developer resurgence and increased sales.

See, parents would be all over it if it offered that to kids because Apple could put an A11 in it, charge $249 with a controller and parents would flock to it for their kids. Anyway, you clearly don't get this so there is no reason for further discussion on it.