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Not a failure, but it's a dying breed. It was more popular 5-10 years ago when streaming started taking off and streaming devices were relatively new. Nowadays, most people just use the built-in apps on their TV or get a Roku. Like others have said, these already can do Apple TV+ and AirPlay. The recent MLB deal isn't exclusive to the Apple TV device either, we can watch baseball within the Apple TV app on our TVs/Rokus. What does an Apple TV provide these days? Basically a better experience and the ability to play Apple Arcade games on the TV. So the question is, is it worth $150-$200 for that? For the average user...probably not. Unless Apple's gaming business picks up, I really don't see this going anywhere.
You forget we can also view our photo and video library on the appleTV.
 
Literally every other streaming device sucks compared to the Apple TV. I’ve tried them all. The PlayStation 5 is also good, but the Apple TV is in my main living room. I can’t recommend anything else.

This thread also doesn’t make sense. “I bought the 4K Apple TV and it solved all my worries and helped me achieve all my heart’s desires and dreams and ended world hunger. Is it a failure?”

Extra steps extra steps….
Yes because literally pressing a button on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is such a difficult task.
 
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Extra steps extra steps….
Not necessarily. Pull up a picture or video on your phone and tap a couple buttons to AirPlay it; the TV does the rest. I get where you're coming from though and it is slightly more convenient. I've grown to prefer the AirPlay method because you can show a picture or video, then go back and scroll through the library on your phone to find what you want to show next. It doesn't mirror your phone, so the last picture/video you showed remains fullscreen on the TV while you are looking for the next thing to show. Friends and family don't get to see you scrolling through your entire photo library compared to when doing it directly on the Apple TV.

Just to be clear, this isn't Screen Mirroring. View a photo/video on your phone, tap the share button, and then AirPlay. (Do not do Screen Mirroring through the Control Panel.) Hopefully that makes sense. If not, maybe experiment with it sometime so you are aware of alternate ways to show off your favorite pictures. :)
 
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Not a failure, but it's a dying breed. It was more popular 5-10 years ago when streaming started taking off and streaming devices were relatively new. Nowadays, most people just use the built-in apps on their TV or get a Roku. Like others have said, these already can do Apple TV+ and AirPlay. The recent MLB deal isn't exclusive to the Apple TV device either, we can watch baseball within the Apple TV app on our TVs/Rokus. What does an Apple TV provide these days? Basically a better experience and the ability to play Apple Arcade games on the TV. So the question is, is it worth $150-$200 for that? For the average user...probably not. Unless Apple's gaming business picks up, I really don't see this going anywhere.
Your only looking at this from the most basic perspective that as alternative to the free apps on your 4K TV using Android, Tizen, or WebOS as examples. They are all separate apps there is nothing that makes it easier to manage their usage. Your omitting the role of where a source lies with a home theater setup, the TV is the last of the chain rather then the first. You don't need to worry about that your TV supports eARC, instead its a source that goes to the AVR where the audio is best decoded and makes use of the Room EQ/Calibration while the video goes to the TV. There are a lot of people that hardly use the built in TV apps because of this changed role of what the Apple TV 4K is about. Of course it can act as a airplay device, but its more about its ability to correctly output HDR10 and Dolby Vision streaming content in the bast manner.

One of things I most like about the ATV 4K , is it supports all the mainstream hosts, not get in contract battles like Roku where streaming hosts drop their app agreements.

The chief difference between Apple TV 4K and anything out there is that its doesn't become obsolete with time, I have a older HD and the various App developers continue to keep modernizing their interfaces as tvOS gets new releases. Comparably using Samsung as a bad example your 4K set gets older and they stop supporting apps for older models.

The last three models are still quite actively supported, I daresay you find any Roku that reeks both hardware or software quality comparably. Yes I am a past Roku owner. :D
 
Your only looking at this from the most basic perspective that as alternative to the free apps on your 4K TV using Android, Tizen, or WebOS as examples. They are all separate apps there is nothing that makes it easier to manage their usage. Your omitting the role of where a source lies with a home theater setup, the TV is the last of the chain rather then the first. You don't need to worry about that your TV supports eARC, instead its a source that goes to the AVR where the audio is best decoded and makes use of the Room EQ/Calibration while the video goes to the TV. There are a lot of people that hardly use the built in TV apps because of this changed role of what the Apple TV 4K is about. Of course it can act as a airplay device, but its more about its ability to correctly output HDR10 and Dolby Vision streaming content in the bast manner.

One of things I most like about the ATV 4K , is it supports all the mainstream hosts, not get in contract battles like Roku where streaming hosts drop their app agreements.

The chief difference between Apple TV 4K and anything out there is that its doesn't become obsolete with time, I have a older HD and the various App developers continue to keep modernizing their interfaces as tvOS gets new releases. Comparably using Samsung as a bad example your 4K set gets older and they stop supporting apps for older models.

The last three models are still quite actively supported, I daresay you find any Roku that reeks both hardware or software quality comparably. Yes I am a past Roku owner. :D
Yep, I totally get it. That's why I said it provides a better experience, but at a price that some might not care for. The average user doesn't have a home theater setup or are audio/videophiles. For those that do/are, it is a great product for them.
 
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Yep, I totally get it. That's why I said it provides a better experience, but at a price that some might not care for. The average user doesn't have a home theater setup or are audio/videophiles. For those that do/are, it is a great product for them.
Oh come on who can’t afford $200 for a streaming device????? People pay thousands for TV’s.
 
Not necessarily. Pull up a picture or video on your phone and tap a couple buttons to AirPlay it; the TV does the rest. I get where you're coming from though and it is slightly more convenient. I've grown to prefer the AirPlay method because you can show a picture or video, then go back and scroll through the library on your phone to find what you want to show next. It doesn't mirror your phone, so the last picture/video you showed remains fullscreen on the TV while you are looking for the next thing to show. Friends and family don't get to see you scrolling through your entire photo library compared to when doing it directly on the Apple TV.

Just to be clear, this isn't Screen Mirroring. View a photo/video on your phone, tap the share button, and then AirPlay. (Do not do Screen Mirroring through the Control Panel.) Hopefully that makes sense. If not, maybe experiment with it sometime so you are aware of alternate ways to show off your favorite pictures. :)
You do it then. As for me I like using the photos app on my ATV. So much simpler.
 
Oh come on who can’t afford $200 for a streaming device????? People pay thousands for TV’s.
Can't agree with this. This reminds me of rich people telling the peasants that if they don't like the price of fuel, go buy an electric car.

$200 is a lot for some people.

There are many Smart TVs out there that cost less than $200.

If one has a medium size family, it is not uncommon to have 4-6 TVs in the home. This would be $1000+ just for the streaming boxes if someone went with all ATVs instead of the built-in streaming, or a much cheaper streaming device.

Again, I love the Apple TV, but it is not a cheap device, especially when it is just used for streaming.
 
Can't agree with this. This reminds me of rich people telling the peasants that if they don't like the price of fuel, go buy an electric car.

$200 is a lot for some people.

There are many Smart TVs out there that cost less than $200.

If one has a medium size family, it is not uncommon to have 4-6 TVs in the home. This would be $1000+ just for the streaming boxes if someone went with all ATVs instead of the built-in streaming, or a much cheaper streaming device.

Again, I love the Apple TV, but it is not a cheap device, especially when it is just used for streaming.
Okay if you can’t afford $200 then open a Best Buy or Apple Credit Card.
 
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Okay if you can’t afford $200 then open a Best Buy or Apple Credit Card.
I am not talking about myself, as I said I have many Apple TVs, also many expensive Apple devices.

Not everyone can afford $200, cash or credit, and even if they could, many people do not see the value of purchasing a $200 device, or $1000 if one wanted to get one for each of their TVs, when a much cheaper device does basically the same thing.

I could afford a Tesla Model S if I wanted to get it. But, if it is just for commuting, why spend $100k, when my 2019 Jetta S, that cost me $15,900 new, could pretty much do the same exact job (commute). Yes, not as nice as the Tesla in many ways, but it cost the fraction of the price.

Same thing with streaming boxes, people just don't see the value of an Apple TV over the much cheaper, and almost as capable competition.
 
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I suppose Apple tv isn't a failure, being updated and all. But personally using it for 4 years+ daily, I'm not sure I'm gonna be buying a successor. It's OK, but for that price, I'd rather buy a better TV. Streaming via Airplay from (any) Mac to TV never worked smoothly as I had hoped (tried all sorts of things, everything connected on good cable,.. no change, choppy frame-rate issues).

Tried newer TVs with built-in Apps, and the UX seems just fine. Probably the only thing I'd miss would be "typing via iPhone" option, that I don't even use that often.
 
There is this thing called poverty…
And I am in it and still could afford a ATV. I make only 40K a year in Denver. I am low income.
You realize that people have different priorities, right? You place a higher priority on your streaming device. Maybe others would rather spend that extra money on bills, a video game for their kid, or even food.

With inflation going crazy in the US since last summer, $200 might be the difference between buying food and paying rent for some.

Many people just don't see the value of the Apple TV. Actually, I think most people have no idea what an Apple TV is.

Both, I blame on Apple.
 
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This thread also doesn’t make sense. “I bought the 4K Apple TV and it solved all my worries and helped me achieve all my heart’s desires and dreams and ended world hunger. Is it a failure?”

You should check out this one, it has a similar theme:
 
You realize that people have different priorities, right? You place a higher priority on your streaming device. Maybe others would rather spend that extra money on bills, a video game for their kid, or even food.

With inflation going crazy in the US since last summer, $200 might be the difference between buying food and paying rent for some.

Many people just don't see the value of the Apple TV. Actually, I think most people have no idea what an Apple TV is.

Both, I blame on Apple.
Apple is indeed dumb in one regard, naming a digital streaming receiver aka Apple TV 4K, and then not bothering to differentiate their Apple TV app in marketing efforts hyping that app with being available on several different manufacturers 4K TV products. Yes people get them mixed up, and some even think they offer the same benefits. Believe it or not.
 
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Well Steve Jobs did say the Apple TV was a hobby. On more serious note, the Apple TV will always struggle to compete against the £20/£30 streaming devices. Just as bargain basement android phones outsell the iPhone. Personally I’ve always loved the Apple TV. I got the first generation Apple TV in 2010 and have used an Apple TV since then with my latest model being the 5th generation. I’ve tried the chromecast, fire TVs tick and Roku stick just to see what they were like. Even having tried them all I still prefer the Apple TV.
 
I don't think Apple TV has sold particularly well, but I personally think it's a great device and have two of them in the house. I'm sure most people consider it expensive when you stack it against pure streaming devices like Roku or FireTV. But I like the Apple ecosystem it brings to my living room and bedroom (Podcasts, Photos, Music, synced Radio stations, HomeKit, settings, iPhone as a remote and keyboard). Also the App Store, which could use a lot more apps, does have some useful ones like allowing me to watch my security cameras. I think the UI is clean and functional too, with most of the other devices being kind of a mess (Roku was fine though).

I think there is some product confusion (Apple TV, Apple TV app, Apple TV+) that doesn't help either.
 
I recently got a 4K Applet TV and really like it. I would never get a Roku or Amazon gadget if only for privacy concerns. The quality of the Apple TV is great. The remote is pretty good. I like that it automatically senses my AirPods Pro when I put them in. I mostly watch things on Apple TV+ so this is a plus.
 
I recently got a 4K Applet TV and really like it. I would never get a Roku or Amazon gadget if only for privacy concerns. The quality of the Apple TV is great. The remote is pretty good. I like that it automatically senses my AirPods Pro when I put them in. I mostly watch things on Apple TV+ so this is a plus.
I agree.
 
Oh come on who can’t afford $200 for a streaming device????? People pay thousands for TV’s.
You're wrong about most people. Very few pay that much for the huge OLED screens. Most people spend under $1000 for a perfectly good 4K TV. My 50" Vizio was about $500.

That's the challenge - if you've spend $700 or so on an actual TV, $200 feels like it's over-priced when a) You can get all of the basic apps most people care about (Netflix, Hulu, Prime etc) in that TV for free or in a $50 streaming stick if you want. So it's not even "can I afford $200" but "The built in apps are free, why should i spend $200 more?"
 
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You're wrong about most people. Very few pay that much for the huge OLED screens. Most people spend under $1000 for a perfectly good 4K TV. My 50" Vizio was about $500.

That's the challenge - if you've spend $700 or so on an actual TV, $200 feels like it's over-priced when a) You can get all of the basic apps most people care about (Netflix, Hulu, Prime etc) in that TV for free or in a $50 streaming stick if you want. So it's not even "can I afford $200" but "The built in apps are free, why should i spend $200 more?"
For the airpod compatibility among other things the ATV provides? AirPods are a game changer.
 
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