Totally agree with this. The Apple TV is one of my favorite devices, and now I can’t really imagine a TV experience without it.
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Has the AppleTV been a failure?
- Thread starter jwolf6589
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Totally agree with this. The Apple TV is one of my favorite devices, and now I can’t really imagine a TV experience without it.
Oh, this thread got weird.
Why ask people if they think the Apple TV is a failure (and not define failure, leaving it up to the people responding to interpret), and then dismiss any constructive criticism of the Apple TV or Apple?
It sounds strange, or maybe @kiranmk2 was spot on with this:
@jwolf6589 I like Apple and the Apple TV, but to act like the Apple TV is a cross-the-board success if either delusional, or just ignorant.
It is one of, if not, the best streaming box on the market, but it just has not been successful is many way due to the many things mentioned in this thread.
About AirPlay, a lot of non-Apple devices can do AirPlay now, so not an exclusive feature for the Apple TV anymore.
We get it...you love the Apple TV. That doesn't mean everyone else has to too. Be glad that there are other alternatives, otherwise it would probably cost more than it already is. I like the Apple TV too, but it's just not on my list of priorities when my TV can already do everything but Apple Arcade. The built-in streaming apps on my TV can do 4K, HDR, and all that jazz. Yes, it may be a little slower to navigate, but it doesn't bother me to take a few extra seconds to find a movie that I'll watching for the next two hours...or bingeing a TV show and have the next episodes auto-play.
For the phone setup, it was breeze setting up the Apple TV & Music apps on my TV too. Scanned a QR code, my phone authenticated me, and presto...I was in. But like someone else said, it's a one-time thing.
I'm still definitely interested in Apple TV news and rumors. I'm curious if Apple will expand and improve upon it, or if it'll go the way of the iPod. Apple still sells the iPod, but does not get much attention. The iPod was popular back in the day, it was pretty much one of the only ways to listen to music easily. Nowadays, we can use Apple Music on our iPhones, iPads, in the browser, and even on Android. Lots of similarities with the Apple TV...it was one of the few ways to stream and watch Apple TV+ content when no one had smart TVs yet...nowadays, streaming is much more accessible on other devices, especially considering Apple isn't restricting Apple TV+ and AirPlay to their own hardware anymore.
Using the apps on the TV still puts you at a disadvantage because of audio. If you are using a AVR you are making use of ARC or eARC to a AVR or like.
Most prefer the audio quality a external player or source such as 4K BD or BD on a player to the AVR then to the TV, or using a Digital Streaming receiver like Roku, or Apple TV to the AVR.
There's an Apple Music app for smart TVs and game consoles. It's on my TV. The interface looks exactly the same as if it were on an Apple TV.
Get the Apple Music app on your smart TV, game console, or streaming device - Apple Support
Learn how to download and set up the Apple Music app on your smart TV, game console, or streaming device.
Even if there wasn't, music can be AirPlayed. Podcasts and photos can be AirPlayed too. I don't want to listen to podcasts on my TV anyway. So again, a smart TV already does everything I need. For me, it's not worth spending $180-200 to get a Podcast app that I won't use and a Photos app that I don't need.
Fine… have it your way. Don’t use a ATV.There's an Apple Music app for smart TVs and game consoles. It's on my TV. The interface looks exactly the same as if it were on an Apple TV.
Get the Apple Music app on your smart TV, game console, or streaming device - Apple Support
Learn how to download and set up the Apple Music app on your smart TV, game console, or streaming device.support.apple.com
Even if there wasn't, music can be AirPlayed. Podcasts and photos can be AirPlayed too. I don't want to listen to podcasts on my TV anyway. So again, a smart TV already does everything I need. For me, it's not worth spending $180-200 to get a Podcast app that I won't use and a Photos app that I don't need.
I luv my Apple TV but if Apple states it does 2.1, then it should do 2.1 not a watered down version of 2.1 or any other version of word salad.
Apple TV is one of the devices allowing you to output lossless Apple Music over HDMI. Your TV Apple Music app can't do that.There's an Apple Music app for smart TVs and game consoles. It's on my TV. The interface looks exactly the same as if it were on an Apple TV.
Get the Apple Music app on your smart TV, game console, or streaming device - Apple Support
Learn how to download and set up the Apple Music app on your smart TV, game console, or streaming device.
Even if there wasn't, music can be AirPlayed. Podcasts and photos can be AirPlayed too. I don't want to listen to podcasts on my TV anyway. So again, a smart TV already does everything I need. For me, it's not worth spending $180-200 to get a Podcast app that I won't use and a Photos app that I don't need.
AppleTV (the device itself) has always been categorized by Apple as a "hobby", not a full blown product with active dedicated development.
Hence, why we see AppleTV at times lags in hardware. If it were a failure, Apple would have discontinued making it long ago.
Don't worry...the built-in speakers on my other Apple devices have me covered.Apple TV is one of the devices allowing you to output lossless Apple Music. Your TV Apple Music app can't do that.
Kidding aside, you're absolutely correct. I cannot hear the difference though...my ears are broken, unfortunately.
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What is lossless music?Don't worry...the built-in speakers on my MBP has me covered.
View attachment 1997653
Again, why ask a question if you get offended by the answer.
It is looking more and more like:
What Is HDMI 2.1?: An Overview
HDMI 2.1 is arguably one of the most significant upgrades to the HDMI standard. Originally announced in November 2017, HDMI 2.1 significantly increases the maximum bandwidth capability of HDMI up to 48Gbps, and even more when compression is used.
www.rtings.com
ENHANCED AUDIO RETURN CHANNEL (EARC)
The Audio Return Channel, or ARC, has been a part of the HDMI standard since version 1.4. ARC allows you to connect all of your devices (Blu-ray, game console, etc) directly to either your TV or to the receiver, and have a single HDMI cable connecting to the other device. This enables bi-directional communication between your receiver and TV; audio is sent from the TV to the receiver, or the receiver sends video back to the TV, with only one cable. This is great for a wall-mounted TV as it helps keep your setup clean.The current implementation of ARC has some limitations, though; the low bandwidth (~1 Mbps) limits the quality of the audio that can be sent over the return channel, making it impossible to send high quality, uncompressed audio to your receiver. eARC solves these issues, as long as you have a compatible receiver as well. It vastly increases the amount of bandwidth that the ARC channel can use, up to an impressive 37 Mbps. This extra bandwidth makes it possible to send uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio, like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA, which are often the carrier signals for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
From another article
The Apple TV can’t passthrough DTS-HD MA or TrueHD...
The compression method that the Apple TV uses is very good but if Apple is going to state 2.1 then it should be 2.1. Other than that I have nothing but luv for the unit. I hope, maybe the next version will be able to passthrough uncompressed audio.
It's a higher-resolution/quality audio. Most cannot tell the difference though, which Apple even acknowledges.
Apple Music boss says 98 percent of people can't identify lossless audio
Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior VP of Internet Software and Services, told Billboard that only those with “incredible ears” can tell the difference between compressed and lossless audio, but that this requires “very, very high-quality stereo equipment”
audiomediainternational.com
My post was just poking fun that Apple says you can listen to lossless/higher quality audio on the ("crappy") built-in speakers. You typically need a very good pair of headphones or good sound system if you want a chance at being able to distinguish the difference.
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As you can see with all of the quick replies the subject of lossless music is controversial. Search the forums. Tthere are hundreds of posts discussing whether you can actually notice the difference, whether you can hear with airpods or need better quality equipment, etc.
support.apple.com
About lossless audio in Apple Music - Apple Support
Learn about lossless audio in Apple Music and how to turn it on or off for your device.
For the record, I value my apple TV very highly. I get it that most of the apps I use can be run on a modern smart TV, but my experience with smart TV interfaces is that they are (for the most part) terrible. There are some apps that are pretty terrible on the apple TV - but for the most part they are good.
I like the fact that I can control my whole setup from one simple remote (the new one - the old one was terrible)
There are a few other things that I like that have been covered by other posters already - suffice just to say that overall these are worth the price of the hardware (to me).
What frustrates me the most about the apple TV - and always has - is the missed opportunity. There are countless things that you could improve on the apple TV with almost comically little effort.
I like the fact that I can control my whole setup from one simple remote (the new one - the old one was terrible)
There are a few other things that I like that have been covered by other posters already - suffice just to say that overall these are worth the price of the hardware (to me).
What frustrates me the most about the apple TV - and always has - is the missed opportunity. There are countless things that you could improve on the apple TV with almost comically little effort.
What are some of these things? To me the ATV is great but there are some bugs in TVOS as there are in Mac and WatchOS.
My understanding of lossless audio is that it's stereo. A song would have to be mastered in Dolby Atmos to be in true surround sound. Now, if your receiver is set for multichannel stereo or some sort of surround setting, then you'd hear multichannel sound. Dolby Atmos can also be downmixed to stereo.
Yes Apple has never furnished its Apple Music that I know of in anything but stereo or that 360 degree spatial stereo aka virtualized surround sound for 2.0 ch products that support that.
Pretty sure I have owned every generation and they have been solid devices. The hardware has finally caught up with the services. I can't say I have any complaints about the latest 4K except a rare instance of the volume going away.
As to it not bing updated frequently, a device that is single purpose (streaming) should not need updating more than every few years. Even phones are just updated for the sake of sales not needs.
I also agree with those mentioning HDMI2.1. This is an issue being made by you tubers needing something to cry about. Almost no one is doing high refresh rate gaming or 8K on a Mac using HDMI. It's kinda like all the ones fussing about a lack of ports or upgrades on laptops, less than 10% of users will ever plug their MacBook into anything except a charge and less than that will ever upgrade their PC's much less laptops.
As to it not bing updated frequently, a device that is single purpose (streaming) should not need updating more than every few years. Even phones are just updated for the sake of sales not needs.
I also agree with those mentioning HDMI2.1. This is an issue being made by you tubers needing something to cry about. Almost no one is doing high refresh rate gaming or 8K on a Mac using HDMI. It's kinda like all the ones fussing about a lack of ports or upgrades on laptops, less than 10% of users will ever plug their MacBook into anything except a charge and less than that will ever upgrade their PC's much less laptops.