CES 2019: Sony's Upcoming 4K and 8K TVs to Support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit

[Seoras]

...and another one.
Reminds of Job's "hell freezes over" reluctance to support Windows with the original iPod and iTunes (or it's 3rd party windows predecessor).
Then when he did support his great rival's platform things really took off for him, the iPod and Apple.
Looks like Sony, Samsung et al paid attention there.

 

[iSayuSay]

Even better, Apple could've just licensed tvOS to everyone LOL. I mean make a stripped down version of it for everyone else just so anyone can enjoy Apple TV interface. That'd be a great idea to throw TV market in Apple's ecosystem

 

[HighFlyer001]

I think this is a great evolution by Apple, through would have preferred they make their own TV hardware with FaceTime.

In essence, they are doing the equivalent of CarKit in cars...allowing the manufacturer to enable Apple protocols (such as apps, Siri, location services) and user interfaces to control the device. So, while AirPlay and HomeKit support are great, when is Apple going to offer TVKit for manufacturers to adopt?

 

[fairuz]

Home kit and Siri are so far behind Amazon Alexa it’s a joke. So far, that I feel like Tony Stark walking around my Malibu mansion. Apple completely dropped the ball on both. Sincerely, an Apple fanboy.

I don't care cause AirPlay is far better than anything else, and I have light switches. Glad I'll be able to finally play stuff on most TVs without a cable or an Apple TV.

 

[maxfromdenmark]

Got a 4K camera iPhone, gonna buy 4K AirPlay 2 TV, but will I see my 4K vacation movies on new TV in the highest resolution?

 

[x-evil-x]

It doesn't do anything better.

With a raspberry pi and the npm software you can use just about any home automation device with home kit.

If you like laggness then yes. The way scenes are setup in homekit is way better than Alexa and actually work. Still don’t see how an Alexa is better than homekit or a pi. If you use all homekit things why would it be better? The homekit app is much better than amazons.
Also, there is no quick controls in control center for an Alexa. You can’t use Siri for an Alexa either if I’m in another room that doesn’t have my Alexa. I always have my Apple watch on me it’s easy to use Siri for homekit and quick controls

 

[Mac 128]

I would still choose Apple TV 4k because of the native Dolby Vison and Dolby Atmos support. Airplay 2 doesn't support 4k or HDR I believe.

You mean it doesn’t support it currently, or isn’t capable of ever supporting it?

 

[Eminemdrdre00]

I would still choose Apple TV 4k because of the native Dolby Vison and Dolby Atmos support. Airplay 2 doesn't support 4k or HDR I believe.

There's no need for the Apple TV 4K.

AirPlay 2 supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Just AirPlay a 4K HDR/Atmos movie from your iPhone to your Apple TV 4K right now to see it in action. It's the same experience on TVs with AirPlay 2 built in: https://twitter.com/reckless/status/1082379989478076416

 

[MDF314159265]

Can’t even turn on my TV with HomePod and these TVs will turn on by voice command!? I shouldn’t have boughten all these dang TVs!

And 8k? I’m convinced I should have stuck with 1080p. And I have good eyes!

 

[havenyoung]

There's no need for the Apple TV 4K.

AirPlay 2 supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Just AirPlay a 4K HDR/Atmos movie from your iPhone to your Apple TV 4K right now to see it in action. It's the same experience on TVs with AirPlay 2 built in: https://twitter.com/reckless/status/1082379989478076416

That’s good to know! But then there’re still all the other tvOS apps and things you can’t do by just streaming like games, interactive content, protected content, iTunes Extras, just to name a few.

 

[gavroche]

Home kit and Siri are so far behind Amazon Alexa it’s a joke. So far, that I feel like Tony Stark walking around my Malibu mansion. Apple completely dropped the ball on both. Sincerely, an Apple fanboy.

Agreed. I was at my friends house, and watched him use Alexa... I was amazed how much he could do with it. And whenever I google homekit on amazon, all I get are a ton of light bulbs and wall plug outlets. So disappointing.

 

[BGPL]

8K... at 80-100Mbps for a stream, it doesn't seem reasonable right now. It's pure marketing hype, many will believe they need to have it.

 

[ipedro]

Is Apple not concerned about these new features cannibalizing Apple TV sales? I am all for these additions and I know the Apple TV offers a different experience but for most people having air play streaming from their iPhone to their tv would be enough to pass on buying the Apple TV instead. I’m sure Apple isn’t making these TV manufacturers pay licensing fees equivalent to the price of an Apple TV.

You know which phone people who can now AirPlay to their TV will buy?

 

[Baymowe335]

I don’t know if there is anything worse than Android OS on Sony TVs.

 

[vcboard]

Apple could have just make AirPlay 2 and HomeKit open standards

 

[ipedro]

Home kit and Siri are so far behind Amazon Alexa it’s a joke. So far, that I feel like Tony Stark walking around my Malibu mansion. Apple completely dropped the ball on both. Sincerely, an Apple fanboy.

Totally the wrong thread for this but I’ll bite: what can you do with Alexa that can’t be done with Shortcuts, HomePod and a collection of HomeKit devices around the home? Because, frankly when I have people over, I suddenly become aware of how normal living in a future home has become and I’ve just stopped noticing it.

 

[cuencap]

Would you prefer a 15% slice of a huge watermelon or 100% of a grape?

Depends on if the grape can make wine!

Kidding aside, it came up in conversation the other day about Sony and other TV manufacturers having a dedicated Netflix button on their TV remotes. If/when Apple comes out with a movie/tv service, they will be playing in this money making space.

 

[Kaibelf]

Even better, Apple could've just licensed tvOS to everyone LOL. I mean make a stripped down version of it for everyone else just so anyone can enjoy Apple TV interface. That'd be a great idea to throw TV market in Apple's ecosystem

Negative. Then the very worst cheapo TV manufacturers will fail to provide good enough power to run it smoothly, won't supply timely updates, etc. Look at the difference between an ultra-cheap PC and a more expensive one when you run any modern game or large app. If they ruin the experience, who will get the blame? Apple will, not sucky TCL.

 

[vipergts2207]

Ok SONY, now please ditch AndroidTV software on your TV sets and bring out an updated AV Receiver with Airplay 2 support.

Why? Sony makes some of the best, if not the best, TVs on the market. But if you want a good receiver get a Denon. Sony’s receiver’s leave much to be desired, whereas Denon’s are great and loaded with features.

 

[SDJim]

Is Apple not concerned about these new features cannibalizing Apple TV sales? I am all for these additions and I know the Apple TV offers a different experience but for most people having air play streaming from their iPhone to their tv would be enough to pass on buying the Apple TV instead. I’m sure Apple isn’t making these TV manufacturers pay licensing fees equivalent to the price of an Apple TV.

My thoughts exactly. Especially since this major addition may lead to further development both of and on SmartTV platforms such as LG's webOS. If these platforms improve and the apps for them stop sucking, the addition of AirPlay capability pretty much removes the ATV's value proposition. In the meantime, I love my Apple TV 4k on my 4yr-old 4k Vizio.

 

[unplugme71]

So it seems while most TV manufacturers will support Airplay 2 and HomeKit, only Samsung TVs will have an app to watch iTunes video content? I suppose playing on my iPad and sending to the TV with Airplay 2 is an acceptable work around, but would be nice to have iTunes directly on the TV. Almost makes me wonder why only Samsung has this feature.

Me too. I just wish it had Siri and HomeKit support.

 

[Donar]

Why? Sony makes some of the best, if not the best, TVs on the market.

I assume that is more due to the picture processor SONY develops in house than due to Android.

See i just don‘t want something running on Android at my home, maybe it is irrational but that‘s how it is. Call it a „Personal policy“.

But if you want a good receiver get a Denon. Sony’s receiver’s leave much to be desired, whereas Denon’s are great and loaded with features.

I heard good things about the SONY STR-DN1080 but it does not Support Airplay 2.

Maybe i should give Denon a shot. They already updated several older receivers with Airplay2 and quality wise they seem to be recommended.

 

[ChrisMoBro]

8K TVs make me laugh. Producing 4K content is demanding enough let alone 8K. Render times would go through the roof.

 

[Henrar]

Why? Sony makes some of the best, if not the best, TVs on the market. But if you want a good receiver get a Denon. Sony’s receiver’s leave much to be desired, whereas Denon’s are great and loaded with features.

I have one of their high-end OLED models from 2018 (AF8) and while the picture quality is great, software, or rather its performance, absolutely sucks.

And they won't update it with Airplay 2 support.

 

[vipergts2207]

I assume that is more due to the picture processor SONY develops in house than due to Android.

See i just don‘t want something running on Android at my home, maybe it is irrational but that‘s how it is. Call it a „Personal policy“.

I heard good things about the SONY STR-DN1080 but it does not Support Airplay 2.

Maybe i should give Denon a shot. They already updated several older receivers with Airplay2 and quality wise they seem to be recommended.

I have the 2017 Sony X900E. It runs Android, but I don’t use it because I have an Apple TV. Unless I’m going into the settings, which is rare, I wouldn’t even know it runs Android. I basically get Sony PQ with an Apple interface. And yes, Sony’s processing chips and software are top-notch. The chip that runs the Android OS is actually not great, though like I said it doesn’t matter with my ATV.

I have one of their high-end OLED models from 2018 (AF8) and while the picture quality is great, software, or rather its performance, absolutely sucks.

And they won't update it with Airplay 2 support.

Yeah the chip running Android is underpowered, just another reason to use an ATV 4K instead. Lack of updates is another reason to use an ATV. It’s almost universal with TV manufacturers that you’ll get maybe a year of updates, two of you’re really lucky, and then if you want new features get ready to pony up and buy a new one. For all the crap Apple does wrong, top-notch support and updates years after purchase is one of their bright spots.