Considering Apple TV 4K for the first time

[ColdShadow]

Actually I find fast forwarding is where it shines. Not limited to a fast forward speed, you just scroll to where you want. Same thing for rewinding, 10 second rewind, and frame by frame scroll. But it takes quite a while to learn how to use it.

You can always use another remote with the Apple TV, such as a Harmony, but you give up these features.

I find it very finicky,and almost always unintentionally trigged.
For example if I want to just change a setting inside a app (Youtube,Prime Video,etc) while content is playing,it suddenly fast forwards or rewinds the video.
The touch interface is definitely not great.

 

[Edd70]

The touch interface is definitely not great.

And yet I love it and think it works great. What do you have touch surface tracking set to?

 

[ColdShadow]

And yet I love it and think it works great. What do you have touch surface tracking set to?

Tried the default and then more sensitive.
for tasks like fast forward /rewind / search video It’s really a bad experience. It’s not accurate like a physical button or like slider on iOS etc where you “grab” and move it.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

One of the biggest criticisms when I was considering Apple TV 4K was the remote which is often referred to as being completely pants. That wasn’t what put me off buying it though, it was just the whole experience and I’m very happy with the Fire Cube so far. I think having Siri on yet another device would have driven me around the bend.

 

[HDFan]

For example if I want to just change a setting inside a app (Youtube,Prime Video,etc) while content is playing,it suddenly fast forwards or rewinds the video.

It is true that the remote works better in some apps than others. The YouTube app is horribly designed which results in unwanted things happening when you use the remote. They have 3 "lines" - pay line, extras line, and suggested watching line. I am continually trying to fast forward and end up in another line resulting in unexpected results. It's not just a remote issue, it is just poor app design.

or tasks like fast forward /rewind / search video It’s really a bad experience. It’s not accurate like a physical button or like slider on iOS etc where you “grab” and move it.

Don't understand. A physical remote, such as a harmony, only allows for fast forwards at the given speeds (2x, 3x ..). Selecting a specific frame requires you to fast forward to the frame. Generally you will go past it by the time you cancel the forward, which means a lot of jockeying back and forth to get to the frame. The Apple remote fast forwards as fast as you can scroll on the touch pad. It is very easy to select an individual frame.

 

[Tech198]

Hi,

Hopefully you chaps and lasses can give me some pointers. I’ve never had Apple TV but my wife is keen to invest in a steaming box to manage our subscriptions like Netflix, Amazon etc. We have a FreeSat box but it’s now 4 years old and that about the life limit sadly. We’ve started looking at Apple TV and the Amazon Firebox. Looking at the comparison videos and reviews it seems both have pros and cons over the other. We are both iPhone and iPad users so ATV appeals, but also have 4 Amazon Echos in our home. Am I right in thinking the last ATV was released in 2017 and we are due a new box this year? Some of the differences I picked up for each are based on the reviews I’ve watched:

Amazon Firebox:
- slightly better 4K quality. (a couple of reviews have said this).
- steams YouTube 4K
- lacking child safe option for movies and content
- cheaper of the two
- chunky box
- tv channel voice changing limited to Sky.

Apple TV:
- clean and familiar interface (better of the two)
- no YouTube 4K
- poor remote control unit
- mirrors Apple devices easily
- slimmer box

I really like ATV but there’s a couple of things that put me off at this point. I’m happy to wait until September to see if a revised version is released. Any thoughts and pointers you guys might be able to give? Am I missing anything.

Much appreciated

Just to add toy negatives, once setup, you can use a 3rd gen remote... You'll just loose all the new stuff, (siri, swipe to close etc.)

My parents hate the 4th gen too, thats why she went back. If Apple excells at one things though, it's privacy, and restrictions. (given they are a "walled-garden" and all...)

 

[ColdShadow]

It is true that the remote works better in some apps than others. The YouTube app is horribly designed which results in unwanted things happening when you use the remote. They have 3 "lines" - pay line, extras line, and suggested watching line. I am continually trying to fast forward and end up in another line resulting in unexpected results. It's not just a remote issue, it is just poor app design.



Don't understand. A physical remote, such as a harmony, only allows for fast forwards at the given speeds (2x, 3x ..). Selecting a specific frame requires you to fast forward to the frame. Generally you will go past it by the time you cancel the forward, which means a lot of jockeying back and forth to get to the frame. The Apple remote fast forwards as fast as you can scroll on the touch pad. It is very easy to select an individual frame.

don't know about Harmony, but I also own an Nvidia Shield,the remote has simple physical circle thing for that.(same as Amazon fire TV that I also owned previously).
I'm now testing both Apple TV and Nvidia Shield for video/audio quality side by side. switching between these 2 devices and their remotes,there is no question, the physical button on Shield is just better..musch easier and much more presise.
It's probbaly the first time I see an Apple design product fail ease of use so badly.
Yes Youtube App is poorly made,but the Netflix and Prime Video experience is also much worse with Apple TV remote.

 

[mmomega]

We (my wife, kids and I) have been on AppleTV since the first generation release.
2007'ish if I remember right. Still have it in my desk.

So we have just been using this since before smart tv and app integrations, so while I own several smart tv's. AppleTV is the interface we use throughout the house over 6 TV's.
For us, it is nice and simple because they all sync and the app layout is exactly the same and the interaction is the same from one set to the next.

My nitpicks.
The remote needs a redo. I think I like the older silver aluminum non touch remote better than the Siri remote. If they could give me something similar to LG's magic remote
I would like YouTube 4K, not something I search out or frustrates me but would be a welcome addition.
Pretty much everything else is nice and fluid, I may occasionally have a stutter on the menus, the restarts are very quick if needed and typically fix any stuttering.

I don't purchase the upgraded storage versions. I've never seen the need to, maybe games? Not sure.

I also don't have them where they can be seen. The boxes are 3M double-side taped to the back of the TV's.

I haven't been a fan of any of the assistants yet.
I have had several Alexas since they were limited release to Prime members by invitation. Have several Google mini's and Siri devices. I rarely use any of them. For me they all share the same characteristic, when they work, they work, and the moment I have to repeat myself I am fine manually doing whatever the task was.

I just wish I could still purchase a good quality dumb tv, or 100% disable any smart tv functions outside of essential settings.

Hope you find the proper streaming box for you.