Does Anyone Else Think the New Apple TV will Be HUGE?

[MICHAELSD]

Yes, you can read that "HUGE" in a Seinfeld voice.

I think Apple has prided itself in secrecy over the new Apple TV for a reason: they're done playing around. Apple TV was never a true part of the Apple lineup. This is the Apple TV that becomes:

Deeply integrated with Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad and Apple apps, such as reminders, calendar, etc.

As the main Siri, the hub of the home, making an even better case for having a fully-connected home.

A true gaming console, with performance superior to even full-blown consoles such as the Wii U. (Although capable, not quite up to par with the latest Xbox or PS4.)

Ready for Apple's On Demand TV service, assuming deals are still being worked out. I believe this is the wild card that could cause Apple to announce the Apple TV today but launch it later than the other product announcements.

A real Apple product. Not just an afterthought of an accessory.

 

[Liam Steven]

Doubt it. Siri is so unpredictable on iPhone--iPad, so I can't see it being much better on a TV.

Still reliant on purchasing or renting from iTunes OR being subscribed to a relevant streaming service.

I'll stick to my current set up.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I do think this is going to be far more successful than Roku or Amazon Fire TV. Not because of the features, but because of the power and numbers of the iOS app developers.

 

[RealPhone]

No optical output, put's me off.

 

[Hankster]

I was hoping for live streaming. Without it I have little use for the device. I can already watch Hulu and Netflix on my iPad and easily stream to my television via Chromecast.

 

[mic j]

Universal search...nowhere to be found. Very disappointing. But I will admit, at least the ability to search the 4 basic content providers (iTunes, Hulu, HBO...) is a start. I am hoping that the list will grow a lot as apps are introduced.

 

[Snoopy4]

All but H.265 and 4K on the video side, so it will do. Siri is a gimmick. It looks like cross platform search will only apply to certain apps developed in conjunction with Apple (like current Netflix and Hulu apps) vs. iPad type apps, but we'll see. Didn't see anything on the TV service front. Not sure what all that was about now. I could see Apple blocking Vudu or other services from cross app search, but it sounds like we'll have apps for these services as some point so I'm good with that.

They got the audio right. Hopefully 7.1 audio starts showing up on the iTunes movies without repurchase. That might set me off a bit if its like the SD to HD, buy a full copy route. Not sold on gaming yet, but something like the new Star Wars Battlefront might change that up. They needed a much better game for the demo. That was a mess. Good to see an X-Box/Playstation type remote will work.

 

[Snoopy4]

Universal search...nowhere to be found. Very disappointing. But I will admit, at least the ability to search the 4 basic content providers (iTunes, Hulu, HBO...) is a start. I am hoping that the list will grow a lot as apps are introduced.

Universal search is there, but it looks like it will only work for fixed Apps vs. any app you can get from the store. That could hurt it a bit.

 

[devinthomas]

Universal search is there, but it looks like it will only work for fixed Apps vs. any app you can get from the store. That could hurt it a bit.

I would think if it's based on iOS 9 and all it's new search features 3rd party apps could easily make their content searchable?

 

[Snoopy4]

I would think if it's based on iOS 9 and all it's new search features 3rd party apps could easily make their content searchable?

You'd think, but they took time in the presentation to show how only certain apps will work this way. Could be an "at this time" thing, or a way for them to dumb down the competitor functionality. I hope its open, but who knows.

 

[Jimmy James]

I do think it's going to be huge. It's becoming a new convergence device.

The iPhone was a very limited device until the App Store arrived and the hardware became sufficiently fast. That made all of the difference. I think this will have a similar effect on the ATV, perhaps on a smaller scale. We'll see.

I have little interest in potential streaming deals. I have a great interest in Apps & hardware. I've been hoping for Air Video for quite some time. Games. Educational apps for the kids. Exercise related apps. Medical apps. Weather. Homekit. Google Earth. Unlimited possibilities. I think a lot of what we now do on our phones will shift to the big screen as well.

 

[Noble Actual]

A true gaming console, with performance superior to even full-blown consoles such as the Wii U. (Although capable, not quite up to par with the latest Xbox or PS4.)

Funniest thing I read on here so far today. Just another example of people who have no idea what they're talking about.

1. It is not a true gaming console.

2. You boast how it has better performance than then the Wii U which came out in 2012. The Wii U was never about its performance but about its exclusive games.

3. It is no where in the same league as the Xbox or PS4.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Universal search is there, but it looks like it will only work for fixed Apps vs. any app you can get from the store. That could hurt it a bit.

I would think if it's based on iOS 9 and all it's new search features 3rd party apps could easily make their content searchable?

You'd think, but they took time in the presentation to show how only certain apps will work this way. Could be an "at this time" thing, or a way for them to dumb down the competitor functionality. I hope its open, but who knows.

I don't think we know enough to say one way or the other. Once developers get their hands on the hardware and begin testing apps, we should know for sure.

 

[Scion142]

No support for 4K video???I think Apple blew it on this one. Gee, it's 2015 and you can't not buy a 4K set at the larger screen sizes that are now preferred. Don't get me wrong, I'm a great fan of Apple and its products and have two Apple TV's in my mix at home (1080p ATV hooked up to a Samsung UHD 8550 and an older 720p hooked up to a bedroom TV). Since it is getting harder and harder to actually find a local video store to rent Blue ray discs from, I have had to rely on iTunes movies for a Saturday night flick lately. Sure, it's quick and easy and the Samsung does a great job of up-converting the ATV 1080p signal to 4K. But no native 4K from ATV in the future? That sucks. It also means that NONE of the iTunes movie library will be streamed from iTunes in 4K. That sucks double.....

 

[Beerstalker]

I disagree. Apple made the right move by skipping out on 4K right now. There is still too much up in the air with 4K when it comes to frame rates, color gamut, etc. Not to mention the required HDMI 2.0/HDCP2.2 hardware is still pretty costly and hard to come by at this time. The majority of 4K TVs sold so far would not have been able to take advantage of a 4K AppleTV if it came out right now anyway since most of them don't have HDMI2.0/HDCP2.2.

Update the Apple TV now at 1080p60, and the app store. Let customers and developers get used to it and figure out new and exciting ways to use it. Then come out with a new one again in a year or so when 4K stuff has really been standardized. People can move their Apple TV4 into the bedroom or kids room and put the Apple TV 5 in the living room/theater on their new 4K TV. Then developers can update their existing apps to support 4K or come out with new versions.

 

[QWERTYMac7]

Huge?

I can't say, but it is approximately 40% thicker than the previous version and the remote is larger, judging from the photos, as well.

Clearly, it did not go on a diet...

 

[maxsix]

Apple and their worshippers vacillate between staunchly taking the position that specs don't matter... when competing products are better, then when Apple has an advantage on specs, their hypocrisy prevails and they brag about Apples specs.

The old TV wasn't much, it was decent but not fantastic, the new one is obviously better. But will that be enough?

It's hard to say. Everyone I know that has an Apple TV is an Apple enthusiast... not just a mainstream customer that may have an iPhone.

 

[ashe777]

I think Apple TV will be awesome and industry changing. Channels will now be apps, purchasable, or subscription based. Thus the fall of traditional cable TV service providers. However, it only comes with an A8 chip, eh mediocre. I'll wait for 2nd gen.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Funniest thing I read on here so far today. Just another example of people who have no idea what they're talking about.

1. It is not a true gaming console.

2. You boast how it has better performance than then the Wii U which came out in 2012. The Wii U was never about its performance but about its exclusive games.

3. It is no where in the same league as the Xbox or PS4.

That wasn't the point. By "true gaming console" I mean it has the potential to perform as one, merely using the Wii U as a point of reference. I don't expect Apple TV at this time to be a real Wii U competitor.

Frankly I was expecting Apple to put an A9 or A9X chip in. Unless the Apple TV is about to be refreshed more often, they would make better chips for the long-term. The A9X on paper is quite capable.

 

[dumastudetto]

I think demand for these new Apple TV's will be insane. Most people will be lucky to get their hands on one before Christmas. So yes, the new Apple TV will be a huge hit and will lead to Apple owning the market.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I think Apple TV will be awesome and industry changing. Channels will now be apps, purchasable, or subscription based. Thus the fall of traditional cable TV service providers. However, it only comes with an A8 chip, eh mediocre. I'll wait for 2nd gen.

I do admit Apple TV has opened me up to the idea of cutting my TiVo out of my life when I drop cable. Hulu, Netflix, HBO, and Showtime at a price of around $40 is really all I need and Apple TV has the best interface I've seen for cutting the cord.

 

[MICHAELSD]

At the same time though, Apple didn't go all in enough for me.

For it to be really revolutionary, they should've been much more aggressive with content. Perhaps snag more impressive games. Release a "revolutionary gaming controller." Although Apple did state that Apple TV was getting the full console version of Disney Infinity, which is a first step to showing it's more than just Angry Birds casual.

There's also no new way to fill in the gaps. Give us a service with the channels Netflix and Hulu don't provide, along with live local channels.

There, Tim Cook, those two ideas alone could disrupt the industry much more so.

 

[Michael CM1]

I was hoping for live streaming. Without it I have little use for the device. I can already watch Hulu and Netflix on my iPad and easily stream to my television via Chromecast.

You can already do that through Watch ESPN. It all depends on the providers/developers. The OS looks like it'll make everything much easier, perhaps pushing providers to realize A WHOLE LOTTA US DON'T WANT TO USE THEM OLD-FASHIONED CABLE AND SATELLITE BOXES NO MO.

Also, I'm guessing Sling TV will have an app on there at some point quickly. There's more live streaming for ya.

 

[whtrbt7]

I hate to be a Debbie downer but I didn't see an icon for connecting your iTunes library on local network. I'm a little freaked out that they might only allow the real iTunes Store stuff and not anything on local network. Anyone see any images that look like the Computers icon on the older apple TV?

 

[Noble Actual]

That wasn't the point. By "true gaming console" I mean it has the potential to perform as one, merely using the Wii U as a point of reference. I don't expect Apple TV at this time to be a real Wii U competitor.

Frankly I was expecting Apple to put an A9 or A9X chip in. Unless the Apple TV is about to be refreshed more often, they would make better chips for the long-term. The A9X on paper is quite capable.

Even if that's somehow now what you meant and your referring to potential, that still isn't a good comparison.

A9X and A8X make little difference it terms of games. Will some iOS game run a lot better? Probably.

Neither has enough power needed to run anything close to what any of the current three consoles are capable of.