Hands-On With the New Apple TV: An Overview of Siri and Search

[Bokes]

Why doesn't the Atv list movies and tv shows in users iTunes?
I have about 100 films burned to a drive in iTunes.
It would be great if they all be organized through the ITunes Movie icon vs going through the computer icon.
Instead they only display the movies purchased from Apple.
It would be nice to have all movie/Tv media under one icon.
This would seem like a simple software fix.

 

[mrklaw]

Well, no surprises here.

Apple TV was always a way to stream you iTunes content to your TV, not a proper network media player. I would repeat the thing about the sheep fence - "curated experience" for some - but I think everyone gets it.

This hasn't changed. They want to push iTunes (Store) content, not your own.

My guess would be that most self ripped or downloaded shows in iTunes don't have suitable metadata, or that Apple TV is not analysing the metadata for Siri search - I'd guess that is all on the backend from Netflix etc. So searching local content in iTunes by voice may never come (although text search should be possible..)

One hope may be third party apps like plex, if they are able to support Siri search. Fingers crossed on that one.

Can the new ATV remote control be used to turn on and off a receiver which is hidden away?

Can you change receiver inputs?

(I am pretty sure the answer is No to both, but maybe someone has figured a way

Via hdmi-CEC it should turn on your receiver and turn it to the Apple TV input. It won't switch inputs to other channels though. And when you shut it down, it may not switch the inout back to what it originally was (my PS4 is the same)

 

[mattopotamus]

No - at least for me (with the HBO Go app, not HBO Next, installed), the search results go to HBO Go. Works perfectly, when you click the HBO Go results button, the app opens to the HBO Go page for the item you searched.

Good to know. Unrelated, but the swiping when multitasking is totally backwards. You swipe right and go right...the exact opposite of an iPhone or Mac.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Lol okay buddy. For all you know they are making a last minute adjustment to the update. Perhaps they are holding back for the weekend so that people get used to the new controller. Does it REALLY matter?

Not to me; I didn't buy one and after reading the reviews, I'm not going to (e.g. What good is Siri if it doesn't work with my own library? I might as well buy the $69 Gen3 AppleTV instead). But gauging by the reviews, I'd say yes, it does matter, both to users and Apple's success at selling this thing. What used to separate Apple from its competitors was ease-of-use. This device seems half-arse at best so far.

Why are you so worked up about something so utterly inconsequential? You had to use an onscreen keyboard to log into Netflix once. BOO HOO. If it's such a terrible thing for you to bear, go buy a Roku and get on with your....life?

I'm worked up? So you get to comment and the rest of us don't? I think having to input your Apple password (yes I've told it to remember on my other devices and iTunes, but it seems to come up fairly often anyway) is going to be a lot more annoying than Netflix.

 

[RockSpider]

Good thing MR is the book of tech law, according to you. If people here aren't happy with an Apple product then it must be crap. Tell the world to come to MR as everybody's opinion here are the only ones that matter, as if nobody else outside of MR uses Apple's products.

Isn't it funny when all the Apple news is good news MR is the best, when the majority is bad news MR isn't up to scratch.
I know you Apple apologists would love to see all good news for Apple, but me I'd rather see the facts, and the facts are Apple is dropping the ball a lot lately, but you can just keep ignoring that and look for sites that only print good Apple news.
Oh, and just a few minutes ago it looks as if I've picked up malware coming to Macrumors on my iPad Mini 4 but that's probably not true either.
Maybe Esoftware24 is legitimate but I doubt it, I'm on my iPad Air at the moment till I find out.

 

[iceperson]

Thought I'd try this one out. It's okay, but just not enough reason to use this over my xbone so it'll probably be going back on Monday.

 

[Gasu E.]

Yes, because Amazon doesn't want our money.

And no Apple-managed app store on iOS or OS X is "open for all". If that was true, there would be no relentless efforts to jailbreak Apple devices (which is pretty much about getting to put apps on them that Apple won't allow).

Apple picks & chooses what gets in and what doesn't... and/or makes the requirements overly onerous so that some apps just can't work well within Apple's guidelines... and/or makes the revenue sharing so onerous that the math can't work for some businesses that would otherwise love to be in there.

Yes, Amazon would rather sell Fire TVs so they can maximize their profits on the products they make and sell... just like Apple.

Apple allows an Amazon Kindle reader app in the iOS App Store. Similarly, Amazon could create a Prime video player app for the tvOS App Store. Amazon doesn't pay Apple a share of Kindle revenue, and would not have to pay Apple a share of Prime video revenue, since media played in either apps would not be bought through Apple or through the app. Your point is not really relevant to an Amazon Prime tvOS app.

 

[ke-iron]

Does it though? I know it is the same content so it appears that way, but the actual links take you to HBO Now app right?

Like I said, it works and in my case it takes me to HBO go since that is what I have.

 

[Roller]

The new Apple TV is a nice upgrade over my old 2nd generation ATV - it's a lot more responsive. But it's still a work-in-progress:

1. It's easy to inadvertently interrupt a program just by picking up the remote. I'd much rather use my iPhone for everything, including activating Siri on the ATV. Apple shouldn't have released it before the Remote app was updated.

2. Searching for TV shows with Siri is hit-or-miss. For example, I can get it to play episode X of season Y of a particular program, but it can't search by the title of the episode.

3. As others have pointed out, Siri should be able to search for any type of content whether it's in my home library, in iTunes, or elsewhere.

 

[HenryDJP]

Don't call me

Isn't it funny when all the Apple news is good news MR is the best, when the majority is bad news MR isn't up to scratch.
I know you Apple apologists would love to see all good news for Apple, but me I'd rather see the facts, and the facts are Apple is dropping the ball a lot lately, but you can just keep ignoring that and look for sites that only print good Apple news.
Oh, and just a few minutes ago it looks as if I've picked up malware coming to Macrumors on my iPad Mini 4 but that's probably not true either.
Maybe Esoftware24 is legitimate but I doubt it, I'm on my iPad Air at the moment till I find out.

Hey don't call me an Apple apologist. You need to show some respect. You wrote some nonsense earlier which I called you out for it. Posting, suggesting that any negatives posted about Apple products on MR are the only ones that count and speak for everybody. Stop your silly little fit about Apple and quit the name calling. If you can't be civil then either don't post or don't respond.

 

[Keirasplace]

The new Apple TV is a nice upgrade over my old 2nd generation ATV - it's a lot more responsive. But it's still a work-in-progress:

1. It's easy to inadvertently interrupt a program just by picking up the remote. I'd much rather use my iPhone for everything, including activating Siri on the ATV. Apple shouldn't have released it before the Remote app was updated.

2. Searching for TV shows with Siri is hit-or-miss. For example, I can get it to play episode X of season Y of a particular program, but it can't search by the title of the episode.

3. As others have pointed out, Siri should be able to search for any type of content whether it's in my home library, in iTunes, or elsewhere.

But, how would that even work? It relies on metas to search and many home libs have very bad metas, even titles are often messed up. Wonder if that's the reason it doesn't do it. Because it couldn't garantee results and people would be expecting miracles. Possibly it will come in later through software for I expect the Apple API itself can already do it.

 

[coolspot18]

Would love to see Alexa, Siri, and Cortana at a dinner party.

Alexa and Siri are related, so Cortana will be the odd one out at the table.

 

[RockSpider]

Don't call me


Hey don't call me an Apple apologist. You need to show some respect. You wrote some nonsense earlier which I called you out for it. Posting, suggesting that any negatives posted about Apple products on MR are the only ones that count and speak for everybody. Stop your silly little fit about Apple and quit the name calling. If you can't be civil then either don't post or don't respond.

Take it easy Henry, I said Aplogist not Poltergeist.

 

[FarNorth]

Take it easy Henry, I said Aplogist not Poltergeist.

I got a new Roku 4 last week, got a new ATV yesterday, installed both today. The Roku 4 is head and shoulders better. In fact, I'm not sure the new ATV is better than the old one. The remote has a tiny touch screen that doesn't work very well, navigation is tedious, Siri is hit and miss, mostly miss. Worst of all, you can't even work around the remote with your phone because it doesn't work with the iPhone Remote app. The menus seem to be washed out and dull, the unit is not very fast.

I'm an Apple guy but I hate this thing, it goes back tomorrow.

 

[satchmo]

This does seem like a half-baked product. While some of these oversights can be remedied with a software upgrade, it should have been fixed before launch.

How long has it been since ATV3?
They've been sitting on this hobby for years and basic compatibility issues with Bluetooth keyboards and iOS remote app exists?

 

[JimmyHook]

I, and my friends that are Apple fans, will cancel Amazon Prime if they don't develop a tvOS app in 3 months time. They are mistaken if they think I'd pick them over Apple lol.

 

[JimmyHook]

Im so glad I trashed my Roku for this!!! I'm loving some of these games! Galaxy on Fire is amazing

 

[JimmyHook]

Its good to see you're happy but it looks like you're in the minority, I'm happy with the ATV3 seeing as how I only paid $100, judging by the comments I definitely wouldn't be happy with the much more expensive ATV4. When Apple gets their act together with a worthwhile machine I might upgrade from the ATV3.

Minority. Lol. Apple will sell more of these than Roku, Fire, and Android Tv combined. I get that Apple haters come here and pretend to post things they hate in an effort to try to influence sales. Sorry. Your pathetic reach won't even cause the slightest dent. You spent all that time typing and thinking you are hurting Apple, nope. They will still dominate and you failed.

 

[ke-iron]

How do you do this ?

You either go to settings then audio and select your AirPlay speaker there or while watching s show or movie bring up the swip down or up menu, forgot which direction. Then go over to audio and select the AirPlay speaker. That's it, now when you press the volume button on the remote it will adjust the volume and show the level on screen for that AirPlay speaker.

 

[RockSpider]

Minority. Lol. Apple will sell more of these than Roku, Fire, and Android Tv combined. I get that Apple haters come here and pretend to post things they hate in an effort to try to influence sales. Sorry. Your pathetic reach won't even cause the slightest dent. You spent all that time typing and thinking you are hurting Apple, nope. They will still dominate and you failed.

You're the one trying to influence sales not me, I couldn't care less about those other products, I would have bought the Apple TV4 gladly but judging by the real people who have bought it, there's no way I'll be spending $269 on this minor upgrade to the ATV 3, while I have that plus the Mac Mini.

Go and preach in some church.

 

[DempaX]

Hum, I read quite a bit a disappointment from  fans. Well, I have not ordered the TV4 yet since I am travelling but now I might just as well wait until some shortcomings are fixed like the remote app getting back in the game. Siri is not quite there yet. Otherwise, I was looking forward to apps and games. But then I also hoped a bluetooth keyboard would be allowed.

I wonder how well the new TV works with bluetooth headphones. Can I pair/use more than one at a time? Thanks! That would be a huge selling point for me. Sadly the sound bar will have to stay with the TV3 it seems.

 

[RockSpider]

I, and my friends that are Apple fans, will cancel Amazon Prime if they don't develop a tvOS app in 3 months time. They are mistaken if they think I'd pick them over Apple lol.

Amazon must be shaking in their boots Captain Hook, hahahaha.

 

[mrklaw]

Thought I'd try this one out. It's okay, but just not enough reason to use this over my xbone so it'll probably be going back on Monday.

Xbox one is great as if we are watching TV, the DVR runs through it so it is already on. Firing up plex or Netflix is easy with Kinect. But there it stops because Xbox doesn't do good universal search, and controlling apps once you're in them is horrible (except for play/pause etc)

So I hope Siri improves, and especially gets universal search in plex. That plus the convenience of AirPlay would be enough to get me to buy one I think. Youtube can 'cast' to Xbox one but Netflix/Amazon/plex can't.

Main downside is switching HDMI inputs when used which is a big benefit of the Xbox. fine when starting as CEC will switch automatically to Apple TV, but in my experience and with my receiver, it doesn't switch back to the previous input afterwards. Also you can't 'hey siri' - you have to pic up the remote? Might seem like a heck of a first world problem, but I like the Xbox not needing a remote for simple tasks, especially for play/pause/mute while watching something. Sometimes the remote simply isn't at hand.

 

[mrklaw]

But, how would that even work? It relies on metas to search and many home libs have very bad metas, even titles are often messed up. Wonder if that's the reason it doesn't do it. Because it couldn't garantee results and people would be expecting miracles. Possibly it will come in later through software for I expect the Apple API itself can already do it.

Even if metadata is perfect, Siri may smoky not be able to search it. Perhaps Netflix and iTunes provide specially formatted metadata to Apple who crunch it into a Siri-searchable format stored in the cloud. That may not be practical to do for your local library, especially if you're trying to blend those results with results for services.

 

[jayen-aitch]

I am really happy with mine so far, especially being able to stream audio to my bluetooth headset, and having an HBO Nordics app (since I am in Sweden), so that I am not always air playing things across. Both of these are a big step forward for me. I think the app store is going to be a big a deal on the apple TV as it was with the iPhone, lovely potential.

So my gripes don't make me regret my purchase, but they do detract from the overall experience.

I am another person frustrated by Siri's universal search, and I hope that this will improve in time. I was playing around with it, asking it to find me things that I know are available in my Netflix or HBO Nordics subscriptions. Of the ten or so shows I tried it picked up just one for Netflix and none for HBO Nordics (so maybe that isn't supported yet, fingers crossed the release of the API will solve that). In all cases it just suggested I buy the content from iTunes, but I know it is there already in my subscription services.

This is an issue for me for a couple of reasons:

• It is much faster to search through siri, particularly when the remote app on my phone doesn't work, and when you can't use siri/voice functionality to perform the search from within the search window of netflix - essentially I find myself scrolling through the alphabet a lot and that dents my experience.
• I don't tryst universal search to find me the content which is within my subscriptions, which I don't know about. I find myself suspicious that it is trying to get me to buy more from iTunes, when I already have the legal right to watch this content through my paid for subscriptions.

Siri can't tell me what the weather forecast is because she doesn't know my location, although I am not sure why.

Siri didn't seem able to tell me any sport scores, maybe I am using the wrong commands... then again siri has never been able to understand the name of the team I cheer for on any device. The team in Hull City, which she always interprets as Whole City, and then gets confused about.

Anyone else having similar issues with Siri? Is it a lack of support in Europe thing? Do we think it might improve in time?

EDIT: Actually, you know what, today she is doing a lot better than yesterday - she knows where I am and could find more stuff on Netflix, but it seems to be the stuff which is available on US netflix, which is fine when their content matches up here in Sweden, but less useful when it doesn't... for example all three Hobbit movies are apparently available in the US, but here I can only get the second one. Obviously on the one hand it would be nice if Netflix here was more complete, but as it isn't it would be nice if Siri knew which Netflix titles are available here.

The weather works today too... so I guess this is just one of those things about siri being better sometimes than others.

Still nothing from the HBO Nordics app, and still can't understand Hull City... apparently if I supported Tottenham it would be a non-issue, but that isn't really going to happen.