ATV4 -- a UK review

My daughter bought the new ATV on Saturday and sent it back Sunday. She couldn't believe what a poor product it is compared to her Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

I did warn her that ATV for the UK market is only really Apple lite. She's now had an iPad and returned it within two weeks, purchasing an Android Tablet instead and now the ATV. She has vowed not to get burnt a third time with any more Apple products.
 
Lankyman said:
My daughter bought the new ATV on Saturday and sent it back Sunday. She couldn't believe what a poor product it is compared to her Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

I did warn her that ATV for the UK market is only really Apple lite. She's now had an iPad and returned it within two weeks, purchasing an Android Tablet instead and now the ATV. She has vowed not to get burnt a third time with any more Apple products.
Click to expand...
I find this sort of post strange and a little confusing. Having a Roku and Fire, I find the AppleTV by far and away the best product.

The UI is excellent. The Apps are good and improving both in numbers and quality all the time. Plex is fantastic. Not a single problem. My whole family are enjoying using it.

The ATV is exactly what Apple advertise it as being, so I simply don't understand...
 
page3 said:
I find this sort of post strange and a little confusing. Having a Roku and Fire, I find the AppleTV by far and away the best product.

The UI is excellent. The Apps are good and improving both in numbers and quality all the time. Plex is fantastic. Not a single problem. My whole family are enjoying using it.

The ATV is exactly what Apple advertise it as being, so I simply don't understand...
Click to expand...

As is the iPad...which has been out for years...maybe more research is needed into the products to make sure they do what you want them to do before buying them??
 
page3 said:
I find this sort of post strange and a little confusing. Having a Roku and Fire, I find the AppleTV by far and away the best product.

The UI is excellent. The Apps are good and improving both in numbers and quality all the time. Plex is fantastic. Not a single problem. My whole family are enjoying using it.

The ATV is exactly what Apple advertise it as being, so I simply don't understand...
Click to expand...

Agreed. In pretty much every way - user experience, quality of third party apps (despite it being early days) - the ATV beats the Fire TV.

The range of apps isn't quite there yet, particularly for UK catch up, but there are ways around that. And it's not like the Fire TV had an exhaustive UK catch up selection. From memory there was no 4OD or ITV. Suspect there's more chance of them showing up on the Apple TV than on the Fire TV.
 
DougieB said:
Agreed. In pretty much every way - user experience, quality of third party apps (despite it being early days) - the ATV beats the Fire TV.

The range of apps isn't quite there yet, particularly for UK catch up, but there are ways around that. And it's not like the Fire TV had an exhaustive UK catch up selection. From memory there was no 4OD or ITV. Suspect there's more chance of them showing up on the Apple TV than on the Fire TV.
Click to expand...

This is it - I've got a Fire Stick in my bedroom and it only has iPlayer and 5 on demand, so it's not exactly bursting with options either. One download of TV Player would have given her the 5 terrestrial channels at least.

But I do agree it the UK market does let the ATV down, especially if you're not verse in switching app stores or have multiple accounts. This is partly down to the terrestrial channels not having catchup apps available, and the stranglehold Sky and Virgin have over the UK when it comes to watching TV here.
 
It was the same for the 3rd Gen ATV, with a huge lack of apps compared to what was on offer in the US. With the app store for this new gen, we should see more apps (fingers crossed) becoming available, especially if the device proves popular.

I do like how you can display apps from all different iTunes regions that you have downloaded on the same home screen.

Using a DNS/VPN service really opens this device up, I appreciate that this isn't for everyone but its possible should you wish to go down this route.

I'm chuffed to bits with mine, especially since the Plex app was launched. Now I can stream all my BR rips from my NAS instead of using the DLNA client on my Sony BR player.
 
Zari said:
It was the same for the 3rd Gen ATV, with a huge lack of apps compared to what was on offer in the US. With the app store for this new gen, we should see more apps (fingers crossed) becoming available, especially if the device proves popular.

I do like how you can display apps from all different iTunes regions that you have downloaded on the same home screen.

Using a DNS/VPN service really opens this device up, I appreciate that this isn't for everyone but its possible should you wish to go down this route.

I'm chuffed to bits with mine, especially since the Plex app was launched. Now I can stream all my BR rips from my NAS instead of using the DLNA client on my Sony BR player.
Click to expand...

Can you set a VPN on the device itself or does it need to be through your Router?
 
I suppose some users are more easily suited than others. I only use my ATV2 now for Airplay from my iMac. Chromecast plus my Smart TV has far more possibilities. I'm afraid with ATV UK it is always a promise of Jam tomorrow. This was one of the reasons I ditched my iPad for an Android tablet. Apple poorly serves its non U.S. customers.
 
StuMcBill said:
Can you set a VPN on the device itself or does it need to be through your Router?
Click to expand...

You have to set the VPN connection up on a compatible router for the Apple TV as there are no VPN settings on the device itself.
DNS is much easier as you just enter the DNS manually within the Network settings on the device itself.
 
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