Someone tell me why my iPhone doesn't have an "AppleTV App"? I don't want to be stuck watching crap on a dongled-television! If I choose to airplay it over, that's up to me... yet the entire tvOS could be fit quite nicely into a single app. Why not?
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Developer Excitement for Apple TV Easily Exceeds Interest in watchOS
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I guess Apple is adding features to Apple Watch as kind of "sweating the deal"... They want developers to focus on the Apple watch, or anything new Apple comes out with.
The Apple TV only gains more advantage over a watch u must pair with u'r iOS device to get any meaningful info out of, is because more users would probably spend more time in front of the box, than looking at a small display on their wrist.
I dunno, maybe we all may do that eventually..
Apple probably just like to use iPhone as an extension to everything else.... If your gonna have a personal device in your pocket, why not. Plus it probably sells more AppleTV's otherwise everyone would just get an iPhone to watch movies only.
The Apple TV only gains more advantage over a watch u must pair with u'r iOS device to get any meaningful info out of, is because more users would probably spend more time in front of the box, than looking at a small display on their wrist.
I dunno, maybe we all may do that eventually..
Apple probably just like to use iPhone as an extension to everything else.... If your gonna have a personal device in your pocket, why not. Plus it probably sells more AppleTV's otherwise everyone would just get an iPhone to watch movies only.
We have 3 Apple TVs (gen 2 and 3) and no Apple Watches with no intention of buying one, zero. I have two very nice proper watches and I chose an iPhone 6 as I wanted a large screen. Why use an Apple watch with a tiny screen and terrible battery life which needs my phone to work anyway ?
Can't say that I'm surprised. The size of the display on the watch, coupled with the low powered CPU makes running apps a chore. I think there is a need for apps on the watch, but its very niche, i.e., running apps or anything that can easily operate on such a small form factor.
Both platforms have incredible potential, and I'm sure most developers will be looking to tap into the huge opportunities of both WatchOS and tvOS.
VLC and Plex will let you play MKV files on Apple TV.
I did not buy the new generation as it is not good enough. I was really unhappy when they ditched Optical Audio.
I do have Home cinema setup in basement and so far 2gen works pretty well.
I could see myself buying new Apple tv. ONLY
if new codex are supported. H265 is a must.
MKV would be great, but that will never happen.
The CPU supports H265 but Apple hasn't enabled it for some reason (maybe it's buggy? Maybe they haven't paid necessary patent royalties?) and the CPU isn't fast enough to do software decoding reliably (low bitrate H265 videos can be played in VLC, but complex scenes drop frames).
Your Plex server will automatically converts H265 files to H264, so you they work fine.
$15 buy a HDMI pass-through box that has optical out, the 5V 500mA supplied by the Apple TVs HDMI powers it.
H265, can get 4k at 30fps to play just fine, also h264 4k at 60fps without frames appearing to be dropped. Just to explain it plays just fine. MKVs are fine also, I stream from my Raspberry Pi 3 that sits in a cupboard for 10TB of USB hard drives attached running minidlna. Import discs with a USB bluray player. Lots of DLNA apps for the Apple TV such as Infuse.
I rip my discs in MP4 containers anyway.
H265, can get 4k at 30fps to play just fine, also h264 4k at 60fps without frames appearing to be dropped. Just to explain it plays just fine. MKVs are fine also, I stream from my Raspberry Pi 3 that sits in a cupboard for 10TB of USB hard drives attached running minidlna. Import discs with a USB bluray player. Lots of DLNA apps for the Apple TV such as Infuse.
I rip my discs in MP4 containers anyway.
[doublepost=1464692087][/doublepost]I find VLC to be terrible for performance. Infuse plays h265 and higher bit rate MP4 videos just fine.
Why being that is a bad thing?
At least the notifications are perfect as developers develop on it. With interactive options, and in some apps, like OneFootbal, with custom appearances (shows big high quality emblems for the teams).
Apps on the wrist, besides fitness Apps, there's no need for apps while we need a phone nearby, so it's normal devs won't care, because consumers also won't care about Instagram on the wrist.
After using my watch for a year orso now, the geeky and nerdy fun-stuff of it have worn off a considerable time ago.
I like it, and I use it daily for all the notifications, but I do not love it.
I think that even IF there were so called great apps for the watch, the fact that a watch simply has the physical limitations (on your wrist, tiny screen) it will never be a good platform for using, and there fore developing, apps at all.
It's good for notifications, sure. Just glance at your wrist to find out if your attention is needed on your iPhone.
Maybe Apple can get more sensors into it?
Apple TV 4. Got one the day it came out.
I use it for two things:
- Internet radio
- Plex
Most apps are crap. Lots of fireplaces or apps easily ported over from iOS which seem awkward on a TV. Gaming truly sucks. I had some high hopes for that.
IMHO, this is not really what Apple had in mind. It looks like Apple had nothing really "in mind" when developing the Apple TV 4. Just give the masses the device.
I like it, and I use it daily for all the notifications, but I do not love it.
I think that even IF there were so called great apps for the watch, the fact that a watch simply has the physical limitations (on your wrist, tiny screen) it will never be a good platform for using, and there fore developing, apps at all.
It's good for notifications, sure. Just glance at your wrist to find out if your attention is needed on your iPhone.
Maybe Apple can get more sensors into it?
Apple TV 4. Got one the day it came out.
I use it for two things:
- Internet radio
- Plex
Most apps are crap. Lots of fireplaces or apps easily ported over from iOS which seem awkward on a TV. Gaming truly sucks. I had some high hopes for that.
IMHO, this is not really what Apple had in mind. It looks like Apple had nothing really "in mind" when developing the Apple TV 4. Just give the masses the device.
It happens already. I don't get 'freaked out'.
I get ads on my Apple Watch, because they're simply notifications of the same apps I get from my phone. When I see this, I simply remove that app from talking to my Apple Watch anymore. I want as few distractions as possible from my watch, and only ones that are completely necessary. The Apple Watch settings allows this narrowing and eliminating of unnecessary distractions perfectly.
Apart from Hulu and Netflix all the other apps I use daily I sideloaded Or AirPlay them.
I'm just wondering if it would have the ability to block out native ads? I know Apple shut down its iAds but I would assume that overtime Apple would follow the footsteps of MS and introduce OS native ads. I'm sure they are trying to figure out how to spin it so it sounds like a useful feature saving peoples lives.
Having used my AW for a year now, I think Apple bit off more than it could chew with v1.0. It should have been more like the Fitbit Surge -- in function, not design. No 3rd party apps, just as iPhone 1.0 didn't. Keep it simple with health, notifications, Siri and added GPS. Entry price point $249. Would have given Fitbit a run for its money. I'm not sure there is time now to fix AW before the Smartwatch and fitness band fad winds down and goes back to being a niche item similar to a dedicated sport watch.
I do think that with the Watch, the Watch just has to be good without third party apps. Given that I have an Android Phone - I had a few Android Wear watches for a short while. I always ended up returning them because they just tried too hard to be too much (no opinion on the Apple Watch, since I don't have one).
I got a Pebble Time Round, and was very satisfied - it gives me notifications, it has music controls for my phone, shows me my calendar, and ... that's about all I need on my wrist. I don't need to play games on it, etc.
For a nice watch when I have meetings with clients, etc. - I have a Tag Heuer Chronograph. Not super expensive (Swiss watch snobs won't care for it since it is a Quartz) but still nicer to look at than any smart watch IMO.
I got a Pebble Time Round, and was very satisfied - it gives me notifications, it has music controls for my phone, shows me my calendar, and ... that's about all I need on my wrist. I don't need to play games on it, etc.
For a nice watch when I have meetings with clients, etc. - I have a Tag Heuer Chronograph. Not super expensive (Swiss watch snobs won't care for it since it is a Quartz) but still nicer to look at than any smart watch IMO.
It gets interesting as one big eco-system. iOS devices in a household, OS X computers, iWatches and AppleTV plus more and more connected devices in a household. While iOS devices come and go, AppleTV is always there, so it can play a central role in this system. And obviously a slightly improved AppleTV could do the same as Amazon Echo. A different name would be nice, as TV sounds like something from the last century.
Currently the Apple Watch software and hardware is very restrictive, which prevents a lot of applications from being implemented. Even when developers have a great idea for an app they will often find out that it is impossible to build with the current software, or runs too slowly with the current hardware.
These limitations are not surprising given that the hardware and software are so new, but hopefully things will change with WatchOS 3 and the Watch 2. We should find out a lot more at WWDC in a couple of weeks.
These limitations are not surprising given that the hardware and software are so new, but hopefully things will change with WatchOS 3 and the Watch 2. We should find out a lot more at WWDC in a couple of weeks.
I used to think the same until I discovered the Chromecast Audio.
I now have 2 of these (they are only cheap) and I listen to Spotify exclusively with them.
By the way I also have the ATV4 and I love it for what it does.
That is a great question to ask those companies. tvOS is open to whomever wants to create an app. Apple even allows separate stores on the Apple TV that compete with iTunes. So ask them what's their excuse?
You make it sound like the act of using a watch is a difficult and laborious experience.
Because the best use for a smart watch isn't anything that involves heavy interaction or length of time. Notifications and light interactions like checking off a to do list, etc. That's what makes sense on a wrist. At least in my opinion. Less is more. Anecdotal, but my peers/colleagues and I don't want to "compute" on our wrist. We just want access to quick information.
Also - perhaps interest in the Apple Watch has waned because the marketing engine has died down a lot. I see ads for the iPhone quite a bit. I can't remember when the last time I saw an ad about the watch.
Is anyone surprised by this? I just wish Zillow would fix its ATV app, all of the pics look zoomed in amongst other issues. It's probably my favorite app. I should probably be a realtor.