Hands-On With the New Apple TV: A Closer Look at the Hardware and tvOS

[niw3]

Would love to purchase this if Touch ID was featured.

The outdated way of entering passwords, instead of using Touch ID on the remote itself (as my hope for Apple TV 4 was) is a mistake. Perhaps the Apple Remote app will update to use Touch ID from iPhone, but they had the chance to put it on the actual remote. They added 3 extra buttons, but of course one of them couldn't be Touch ID.

The remote has a 3-axis gyro. So we may see a gesture based authentication in the future.

 

[n-evo]

The remote has a 3-axis gyro. So we may see a gesture based authentication in the future.

Because everyone loves flapping their hands in the air like a lunatic every time iTunes asks for a password.

 

[jkdsteve]

By the way, my other Apple TV 4 is still preparing for shipment.

Yes..gosh darn it Apple, why did you wait until the day after it ws available in the stores to print the label for my gosh-darned pre-order....and I gather I'm not the only one :-/

 

[tillsbury]

Can someone confirm that the new Apple Remote requires using a USB port to charge?

Yes, it does. It's somewhat idiotic that it comes with an old-style USB to Lightning cable and yet there's USB-C on the aTV. Would have been lovely to have received a USB-C to lightning instead, and a lot more logical.

 

[Dater]

no, 4K support? Sorry, but then I wait for the next generation. I already have Siri on my phone. And Netflix and amazon prime instant video run natively on my 4k TV already. So no need there...

Only advantage left for the apple tv is the game support now... i will continue watching that feature closely...

 

[Keane16]

Would love to purchase this if Touch ID was featured.

The outdated way of entering passwords, instead of using Touch ID on the remote itself (as my hope for Apple TV 4 was) is a mistake. Perhaps the Apple Remote app will update to use Touch ID from iPhone, but they had the chance to put it on the actual remote. They added 3 extra buttons, but of course one of them couldn't be Touch ID.

Yeah, I've thought about this but I don't see them adding Touch ID to accessories. I just can't see them sending fingerprint data over bluetooth. So far all Tocuh ID devices store them on the device, and need to be re-entered each time you restore the device.

Same reason Mac keyboards and trackpads won't have them. MacBooks probably will eventually as the sensor can be built directly into the body without the need to transfer anything wirelessly.

There can definitely be improvements - but Touch ID on the remote won't be it.

 

[sshambles]

Yeah, I've thought about this but I don't see them adding Touch ID to accessories. I just can't see them sending fingerprint data over bluetooth. So far all Tocuh ID devices store them on the device, and need to be re-entered each time you restore the device.

Same reason Mac keyboards and trackpads won't have them. MacBooks probably will eventually as the sensor can be built directly into the body without the need to transfer anything wirelessly.

There can definitely be improvements - but Touch ID on the remote won't be it.

I can definitely see your point and I'd imagine there's too many ways to get at that data via Bluetooth. As long as they update the Apple Remote App with Touch ID integration, then I'd be more inclined to purchase it.

 

[i1280]

It comes with a Lightning-to-USB cable (just like the new Magic Keyboard/Trackpad 2/Mouse 2), so you could charge it in any location that you might have charged an iPhone or iPad. The other end of the included cable is regular USB, so you would need to find a place to plug it in to charge. I think Apple assumes that if you're getting an Apple TV, you have a free USB port somewhere that provides power (back of a TV, AV receiver, iPhone charger, Android device charger).

Any idea if you could use an iPhone adapter/"plug" to use as the source of the USB Port?

 

[ecschwarz]

Any idea if you could use an iPhone adapter/"plug" to use as the source of the USB Port?

You mean the little white brick for charging the phone? Yeah, that will work.

 

[topmounter]

It is still annoying, but the text-to-speech technology used for the voice over is steadily improving.

 

[John.B]

Unplugging, repacking, wrapping, organising a return, printing labels off, returning the item and waiting for a refund is easier than entering a few passwords once? Seriously?!

I'm guessing you've never returned anything via Apple.com?