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New Apple TV 4K Reviews: A12 Chip is Noticeably Faster, Redesigned Siri Remote is Much Welcomed
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That’s just for more clicks when they make the “wtf I love white 2” bezels now!” Video comes out in2 weeks
It’s probably the easiest money in the world if you can do it though….
I know I know it’s not about money…..but let’s see them give up the grift for their presumed career path before YT shill $……they won’t.
Apple TV is the only product line from Apple that has thoroughly disappointed me.
It seems like it’s good until you consider that basically all the functionality is available from all the competitors for a better price and form factor. Only advantage (yes I’m oversimplifying) is being able to airplay things, but now tvs have that built in
You have to understand that this product isn't for everyone, some people see the value in it though. I sure do. But I also didn't run out and buy 4 of them at once either. It's like anything Apple sells. Do we all need to run out and buy the Hermes Air Tags keychain ring?
I’m SO excited about the remote
that’s a bit sad I know 😆
that’s a bit sad I know 😆
Very true. When I bought my parents a new TV for their anniversary last year, I considered getting them an Apple TV to go along with it, but then I realized that everything they needed to do — even Apple TV+ and Plex — were already available on the Samsung side.
As others have pointed out in this thread, there are also be some privacy advantages to the Apple TV for those who are concerned about such things, but for most people it's just another streaming device in a vast array of alternatives.
The original HomePod began its life as a product only for those very firmly entrenched in the Apple ecosystem. The Apple TV had a lot more potential than that when it debuted, but considering that even Apple is embracing every other smart TV platform with Apple TV+, AirPlay 2, and HomeKit, the Apple TV has become exactly like the HomePod in that regard.
That said, there are other advantages to those who have bought deeply into the Apple world. For example, I've recently ditched my stereo receiver and wired surround speakers (and the rat's nest of wires that goes along with it) in favour of a pair of HomePods, thanks to the new Dolby Atmos features. Plus, Apple Arcade and the ability to run tvOS apps that are basically counterparts of their iPhone/iPad versions (something that was sadly never taken up by developers as well as I had hoped, but still something that's nice to be able to do).
The fact it had no U1 integration - and promotes connecting to HomePod - tells me this was supposed to launch last spring but the pandemic probably delayed everything.
I had the third gen and held on until November and got a refurb 4K - love it on my older 2013 Sony.
I have another LG TV from 2017 that doesn’t have the newer features - debating if I want to add the new AppleTV or wait it out for that rumoured gaming console/sound bar combos.
I had the third gen and held on until November and got a refurb 4K - love it on my older 2013 Sony.
I have another LG TV from 2017 that doesn’t have the newer features - debating if I want to add the new AppleTV or wait it out for that rumoured gaming console/sound bar combos.
I’ve replaced two, so far. One was lost for so long, we decided it had dematerialized. It was found months later when we moved between seams in the frame of our sofa. The other was found in the same sofa (which is an electric reclining sectional) broken and horribly disfigured from getting stuck in the mechanicals and clearly not faring well.
Exactly, I mean I have an apple tv 4k, and enjoy it’s advantages. But would I buy it again? probably not.
That's a really good point. The full-sized HomePod is shown right on the back of the box, although a more cynical person might suggest that Apple has a "HomePod 2" ready to go, but hasn't released it because it wants to clear out its old HomePod stock first rather than being forced to sell it off at a huge discount 😂
I was under the impression that the A12 CPU was around 20% faster than the A10X but its GPU was roughly 20% slower. If this is the case how is using the A12 a real upgrade? You are gaining g in one area while losing in another. Surely they should have at least used the A13 instead?
It isn't.
The ATV4K2 isn't really worth the price to upgrade if one already has the ATV4K1. If one has only the ATV4 (HD), then the ATV4K2 could be worth it.
They could have at least used an A12X/Z too, since they've used that more than the A13, but yeah they should have used a better chip than an A12.
When I was buying HomePod Mini at the Apple Store, several staff at different stores gave me wrong answer - or couldn't answer the questions I had:
1 - Can I control the HomePod Mini with my Apple TV4k1?
2 - Can I have my Apple TV send music to my stereo*, AND to the Home Pod Mini at the same time.
(* My apple TV is daiy chained ATV4k > Stereo > TV (all three have AirPlay2))
I was told I couldn't, but had a weird gut feeling I had to try, and glad I did because it turns out that I can - and the UI (which is from the subside menu where you pick use profiles) is really handy and easy to use. Does easy grouping, and individual volume changing with ATV just like the Phone iOS.
This is one aspect I don't think that gets sold enough, especially for smart home advocates. For people that have Apple Music, and a good stereo - they can also get home PodMini and pick and choose where music is in the house at a very good price. Comparably, the Yamaha MusiCast speakers are much more expensive - work only with the stereo... and I don't think have Thread). the TVos also works to control different casts if that is going on.
This is huge, cus if it's not just music everywhere but also a sports game on the ATV4k, I can have that in the kitchen and other rooms too so I don't miss a minute. Some apps work - some apps don't - but that comes down to the developer. I've noticed anything dev by Bell Media (I'm in Canada) doesn't work for these functions OR PIP, but most apps do. Bell Media even recently rehauled the TSN app and it still doesn't have these features.
You still can't cast to AirPod Pro + a HomePod mini, it's like it's either or there...
All -in -all , this is a huge sell for me for sports sounds, and not having to blast stereo to hear in every room. I absolutely love it.
Some other things I do notice, sometimes, are the following:
When I airplay2 to from my iPhone (Xr) to my Stereo, Kitchen HomePod Mini, and be the Bedroom HPMini, its syncs perfect - but if I have the apple TV to stereo, (or phone to Apple TV (which is daisy'd to stereo)); there is a slight offset from the main stereo sound and the two HPMini. I notice it most with certain types of dance music, less with sports. Makes sense as there must be a slight processing delay from HDMI wire that isn't on the speakers I guess. I am set for Dolby Vison, so the HDMI bandwidth shouldn't be an issue. --- but I am hoping that Thread in the ATV4k2 resolves this issue. Not sure - my stereo doesn't have Thread. BUT all things considered - it's awesome.
I use my apple TV for100% of my TV watching, and games like Fantasian and MiniMotor Ways have been fun. I have the Fitness+, and I was really disappointed that the new ATV4k2 doesn't allow for two peoples rings to show up on the screen. I do the work outs with my partner and we have to take turns who's ring is on the screen.
1 - Can I control the HomePod Mini with my Apple TV4k1?
2 - Can I have my Apple TV send music to my stereo*, AND to the Home Pod Mini at the same time.
(* My apple TV is daiy chained ATV4k > Stereo > TV (all three have AirPlay2))
I was told I couldn't, but had a weird gut feeling I had to try, and glad I did because it turns out that I can - and the UI (which is from the subside menu where you pick use profiles) is really handy and easy to use. Does easy grouping, and individual volume changing with ATV just like the Phone iOS.
This is one aspect I don't think that gets sold enough, especially for smart home advocates. For people that have Apple Music, and a good stereo - they can also get home PodMini and pick and choose where music is in the house at a very good price. Comparably, the Yamaha MusiCast speakers are much more expensive - work only with the stereo... and I don't think have Thread). the TVos also works to control different casts if that is going on.
This is huge, cus if it's not just music everywhere but also a sports game on the ATV4k, I can have that in the kitchen and other rooms too so I don't miss a minute. Some apps work - some apps don't - but that comes down to the developer. I've noticed anything dev by Bell Media (I'm in Canada) doesn't work for these functions OR PIP, but most apps do. Bell Media even recently rehauled the TSN app and it still doesn't have these features.
You still can't cast to AirPod Pro + a HomePod mini, it's like it's either or there...
All -in -all , this is a huge sell for me for sports sounds, and not having to blast stereo to hear in every room. I absolutely love it.
Some other things I do notice, sometimes, are the following:
When I airplay2 to from my iPhone (Xr) to my Stereo, Kitchen HomePod Mini, and be the Bedroom HPMini, its syncs perfect - but if I have the apple TV to stereo, (or phone to Apple TV (which is daisy'd to stereo)); there is a slight offset from the main stereo sound and the two HPMini. I notice it most with certain types of dance music, less with sports. Makes sense as there must be a slight processing delay from HDMI wire that isn't on the speakers I guess. I am set for Dolby Vison, so the HDMI bandwidth shouldn't be an issue. --- but I am hoping that Thread in the ATV4k2 resolves this issue. Not sure - my stereo doesn't have Thread. BUT all things considered - it's awesome.
I use my apple TV for100% of my TV watching, and games like Fantasian and MiniMotor Ways have been fun. I have the Fitness+, and I was really disappointed that the new ATV4k2 doesn't allow for two peoples rings to show up on the screen. I do the work outs with my partner and we have to take turns who's ring is on the screen.
I've a question of ATV4k1 vs ATV4k2
For Dolby Vison, did I read correctly that the ATV4k1 does Dobly Vision at 4k/30 but the ATV4k2 does it at 4k/60?
I thought the ATV4k1 was already doing 4k/60.
I know the ATV4k2 has the HDMI2.1 for 120Hz - but is the DOLBY VISON technically better on the ATV4k2 ???
For Dolby Vison, did I read correctly that the ATV4k1 does Dobly Vision at 4k/30 but the ATV4k2 does it at 4k/60?
I thought the ATV4k1 was already doing 4k/60.
I know the ATV4k2 has the HDMI2.1 for 120Hz - but is the DOLBY VISON technically better on the ATV4k2 ???
Glad you perservered..
Honestly, the Apple store staff is so so so far removed from the passionate nerds that knew everything back in yesteryear. Almost always I hear them staff there giving out incorrect or at least incomplete information to guests.
I can only imagine the downstream impact on "customer sat" when folks eventually figure out they got bad info from Apple staff themselves.
To be fair, they're probably thinking of the Home Theatre Audio feature and the ability to use the HomePod as a Default Audio Output. This is significantly better than just using one or two HomePod minis... both in terms of the overall audio quality (you get Dolby Atmos) and the fact that they effectively replace the internal speaker channel entirely. They're effectively always connected so you don't have to switch back to them each time you turn your Apple TV on.
The HomePod mini, on the other hand, is really just an AirPlay 2 device as far as the Apple TV is concerned, so you can stream to it just like you can any other AirPlay 2 speaker or receiver.
Still, Apple really does need to educate their staff better on how this all works. Since every recent support document on the new Apple TV 4K and tvOS 14 audio features explicitly says "HomePod mini not supported," I can understand their confusion, but there's still no excuse for somebody who works at an Apple Store not to be better informed.
Yup, and that's been a great feature for the Apple TV ever since AirPlay 2 made its debut in 2017. I've been using it with my Apple TV HD for a while — in both directions.
Mind you, it's also arguably just as easy to play music on the HomePod mini from the Music app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even just by calling it up with Siri. It's about the same no matter what the source device is — except of course you can also play direct audio from the Apple TV to your AV receiver.
Further, you can also simply AirPlay TO the Apple TV as if it's a receiver on your own. This is what I did far more often. In other words, start playing something on my iPhone and then AirPlay it to the HomePod in the dining room, the HomePod mini in the kitchen, and the Apple TV in the living room (where it played through the connected speakers on my AV receiver).
Yeah, I'm in Canada too and I've been down the same road. Bell Media rolls their own media players as they're more paranoid about copy protection.
Apps that use the built-in tvOS media playback frameworks will all work fine, while others like Plex and YouTube are at least using the right playback APIs so that audio gets routed properly. Bell and Rogers are just weird this way.
Yup, same with AirPods Max. That's actually a Bluetooth thing — you can't use both Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 at the same time. I suspect Apple just can't be bothered dealing with the sync/latency issues to make that work properly.
That's interesting, as I've never had that problem on my Apple TV HD connected to my Denon receiver (an AVR-X2000), and it's something I've used on an almost daily basis over the past three years. You might have success with tweaking some of the Apple TV audio output settings to make sure it's sending the best quality audio stream out over HDMI.
That's correct. The 2017 Apple TV 4K did 60fps over SDR, but only 30fps for all HDR formats. This is a limitation of the HDMI 2.0 spec, and the first-gen model only had an HDMI 2.0 port.
HDMI 2.1 is also required to handle Dolby Vision and HDR10 at 60fps. The new Apple TV 4K can handle sending it out, but you won't get it unless your TV also has an HDMI 2.1 port.
It's better in terms of getting a 60fps frame rate when viewing HDR content, although this may not be a big deal if you only watch traditional TV and movie content, since most of that still plays at 24 or 30 fps.
Also note that the 120Hz refresh rate hasn't (yet) been implemented. HDMI 2.1 allows for it, but tvOS still has to support it. Not everything in a given HDMI spec is mandatory.
Sweet thank you, I have the Sony x900h that will do 120Hz and has 2 HDMI 2.1 port (one with eArch); so I am sold - even if the ATV4k doesn't do the 120 yet--- it sounds like I am getting this new one asap then. Cheers.
Haha, yeah… I went the other way… just picked up an LG 65CX to take full advantage of the new Apple TV 😄
Not true. HDMI 2.0 is absolutely able to play 4K with HDR @ 60 Hz, as long as you use 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 chroma subsampling (which all consumer video formats do anyway). UHD Blu-ray players have done that for years (there are a few UHD BD movies that use 60 fps). Whatever limitation the old ATV4K has, it's caused by something else.
Ah, fair enough. I stand corrected. I’d actually always thought it could, but I wasn’t sure and several reviewers seem to be touting that as the reason the 2017 model didn’t. That’ll teach me to do my own research to double-check these things 😄
