The "iPhone-as-a-camera" does feel like a kludge, but it has otherwise worked well for us. A real godsend for hour-long visits which would otherwise create real eye fatigue on a small screen.
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Does it still make sense to get an ATV?
- Thread starter Wando64
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The "iPhone-as-a-camera" does feel like a kludge, but it has otherwise worked well for us. A real godsend for hour-long visits which would otherwise create real eye fatigue on a small screen.
So, I’ve had the TV for two days now and I do not see any reason I shouldn’t be using the apps on it.
The user interface (of the apps) is the same as it is on the ATV and the speed is perfectly good.
Also, the new solar Bluetooth remote that came with the TV is in many ways better than the old ATV HD remote (I guess the remote in itself would be a good reason to upgrade to the 4K model).
Anyway, I think that all considered I will mostly use the TV apps, and keep my ATV HD for stuff that can only be done on an ATV (FaceTime, picture and music access, Home control) although I tend to do that stuff mostly from my iPhone and/or iPad.
The user interface (of the apps) is the same as it is on the ATV and the speed is perfectly good.
Also, the new solar Bluetooth remote that came with the TV is in many ways better than the old ATV HD remote (I guess the remote in itself would be a good reason to upgrade to the 4K model).
Anyway, I think that all considered I will mostly use the TV apps, and keep my ATV HD for stuff that can only be done on an ATV (FaceTime, picture and music access, Home control) although I tend to do that stuff mostly from my iPhone and/or iPad.
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I always hated those Apple TV HD remotes with the terrible touchpad. Still use my little aluminum Apple TV 3 remotes with my Apple TV HD's, they work fine for almost everything but "scrubbing" through a video (that used to work with the arrow keys, but was broken by an update a couple years ago).
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
You should know that AppleTV- even the old one you have- can "learn" any remote. If the new remote has "modes"- as many do- allocate one of the modes to AppleTV and then use the "learn remote" feature to make AppleTV respond to the new remote. Then, you can put away the AppleTV remote and use the new remote for both TV and AppleTV. I've been an AppleTV user since the first generation and pretty much always use a master remote instead of the ones Apple packed with AppleTV.
Pretty sure the Samsung TV uses android to drive their OS. Which means the version of the apps that you are running aren't truly native to the system. Add to that, that it is not in Samsung's interest to support said apps over the long haul, and you have your answer.
Unless you are in the habit of buying a new TV every couple of years, I wouldn't rely on Samsung to support any apps (including their own), for very long. They are going to use features like that to nudge you into buying a new TV. My TV is x years old. It no longer supports nearly 90% of what shipped on it. Nothing new comes to it. However, my AppleTV device which is as old as the TV continues to add new features and support for new channels each and every day.
The only thing "smart" about my TV these days is that it has the ability to use a device such as AppleTV to allow it to be "smart".
When buying a tv, spend less time looking at the "smart" features and more at the picture quality et al. After all, you are buying a TV, not a media streaming device. Always have a separate unit for streaming content if you want the very best performance and bang for your buck.
As was discussed in another thread here, I wish these so-called "smart" TV's had a menu option to make them "dumb". It's really annoying to be forced to go through endless menus setting up a new TV when you only want it to be a video monitor. The only thing I use that big, ugly Samsung remote for is turning the TV on and off.
Samsung uses Tizen as the OS for their smart TVs. I think it’s on all of their Smart TVs for the past 5 years or so. It appears to be based on the .NET framework.
Sony and some other manufacturers use Google TV (Android based).
Your TV set has become a digital billboard. And it’s only getting worse.
TV software is getting loaded with ads, changing what it means to own a TV set.
arstechnica.com
Your TV set has become a digital billboard. And it’s only getting worse.
TV software is getting loaded with ads, changing what it means to own a TV set.
Sure, no doubt this is going on, but…
As I said, the Apps are the same as they are on my ATV, with the added bonus that the BBC iPlayer works properly, and the TV automatically sets the best viewing mode when I watch a movie (some king of integration going on).
As for the main TV Home Screen, first it is unavoidable even when I use my ATV, second I haven’t seen any Ad whatsoever, and third I’ve spent much time and attention in ensuring my privacy settings are giving away as little as possible (for what it’s worth).
GoogleTV is based TVs offer that option when you set the TV up.
Most TV's let you set them up without connecting to the internet. Also, why do you have to use your original remote to turn the TV on?
As mentioned above, I still prefer my AppleTV 3 remotes. Small and simple. But it doesn't have power or volume buttons.
It's a personal choice. Does the AppleTV interface make it worthwhile for you?
My choice is yes and all of our TVs have ATV and "One Home Screen" enabled which gives us the exact sync'd layout on all 3 TVs.
Best.
I have experienced this firsthand. I got a 4k Phillips TV with Google TV in March, but have an TV HD. Here’s my take: although I do like to watch 4k shows through the tv’s TV app, the “supposedly” 5.1 Bluetooth often gets staticky with my AirPods Pro 2(USB-C.) So when I’m watching a YouTube video and it’s only in 1080p, I’ll sometimes use the TV HD because the Bluetooth connection is perfect. But it’s kinda clunky to have that workaround, so I’m thinking of buying an TV 4k, probably not the newest version, but the most recent previous version. So hopefully they’ll release a new 4k TV at the iPhone even and I can get the current version for cheaper after it’s superseded. So I’d say it will have some benefits. Good luck!
While a new TV may give you adequate app performance and features now the manufacturer won't be updating the system to support new features for more than a few years. They want to sell you a new TV. Just keep the Apple TV in mind for the future for when that happens if its superior quality, integration and interface isn't of use to you now.
In all honesty, I haven’t felt the need to use my ATV since I received the new TV set.
In fact everything works better on the new TV (keeping in mind my ATV is the older HD model).
Obviously the world will keep on spinning and in a few years time I might have to reassess the situation, and by that point the ATV might have changed beyond recognition anyway.
Even if you can find every setting which exposes your personal info, TV manufacturers have had their hand caught in the cookie jar so many times. I wouldn't trust a smart TV any further than I could throw it...
I install a lot of new TVs for clients, typically a dozen a week or more, and I have yet to find any SmartTV interface that works as well as the ATV interface. Clean, fast, responsive, uncluttered, and can use the (now) great ATV remote and not the janky zillion-button jobs that come with today's TVs.
And I am here to tell you... some companies pretty much don't care about their SmartTV integration interfaces. And those that do (Samsung, Sony, a few others) seem to have completely onerous Terms of Use including tracking and even ownership of interface and customer data. Completely unacceptable to me and most clients who read the T&C's. And others (I'm looking at you, LG) have good interfaces and unbelievably poor remotes, weird pointer options that are hard to turn off, or invasive Home screens that force you to change inputs or navigate through a mess to get to where you are going - all while the apps "go live" and shout at you while you navigate.
Naw... I like the clean, easy, simple approach of the ATV interface... and in most cases you can use eARC to set up the TV to switch on and off with the ATV remote as well as go to the correct input, output audio to a sound bar or audio system, etc. Just use good HDMI cables that have top-shelf connectivity and pass-thru (try some Monoprice 8k certified cables maybe) and you are all set.
And I am here to tell you... some companies pretty much don't care about their SmartTV integration interfaces. And those that do (Samsung, Sony, a few others) seem to have completely onerous Terms of Use including tracking and even ownership of interface and customer data. Completely unacceptable to me and most clients who read the T&C's. And others (I'm looking at you, LG) have good interfaces and unbelievably poor remotes, weird pointer options that are hard to turn off, or invasive Home screens that force you to change inputs or navigate through a mess to get to where you are going - all while the apps "go live" and shout at you while you navigate.
Naw... I like the clean, easy, simple approach of the ATV interface... and in most cases you can use eARC to set up the TV to switch on and off with the ATV remote as well as go to the correct input, output audio to a sound bar or audio system, etc. Just use good HDMI cables that have top-shelf connectivity and pass-thru (try some Monoprice 8k certified cables maybe) and you are all set.