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New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Launching This Year With One Thing in Common
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Microsoft Game Pass is on a Firestick? Oh man...Apple is really making me choose their competitors.
News to me also
Makes me even more likely to go with something other than an ATV in the future
I used to think I wanted this, but now I'm not sure I want any integrated products like this.
Most likely the soundbar part would far outlast my desire to have the aging guts of the built in ATV on a product like this
Not sure I need an ATV but I’ll buy one just too see first hand ( no pun intended 🤣🤣) what the fuss is about.
My smart tv is excellent already.
Note to Apple:
Make it below £100, ppl, are you insane?
My smart tv is excellent already.
Note to Apple:
Make it below £100, ppl, are you insane?
Interesting that Apple's silicon only supports Wifi 6E. That pretty much rules out use in the next iPhone since they won't want to downgrade an advertised feature. On the other hand, it explains why the Macs don't have Wifi 7 yet: So they can switch to this chip without looking like a downgrade.
It makes me worry, though, how long it will apple take to adopt Wifi 7 in Macs. Surely they wouldn't make a brand new chip with 6E if their design for 7 was around the corner.
It makes me worry, though, how long it will apple take to adopt Wifi 7 in Macs. Surely they wouldn't make a brand new chip with 6E if their design for 7 was around the corner.
The HomePod mini is the worst Apple product I've ever bought. It's comically bad everything it does, moving from a Gen 1 Alexa to the newest MacMini was a downgrade in every single aspect. I don't know how apple managed to ship a product so bad.
Audio quality is atrocious, voice recognition is 10 years behind the competition, and even connectivity is a major epic fail because apple doesn't know which device to prioritize when multiple devices are in the same room (lets say my HomePod mini and iPhone or iPad).
Audio quality is atrocious, voice recognition is 10 years behind the competition, and even connectivity is a major epic fail because apple doesn't know which device to prioritize when multiple devices are in the same room (lets say my HomePod mini and iPhone or iPad).
Nah, it’ll continue to be offered because these devices aren’t just used in homes. One of the largest target markets is hotels, and like other businesses, the security and improved throughput of wired Ethernet is a must.
Actually, those in congested WiFi areas like apartments, and businesses, including hotels, use Apple TV devices over Ethernet for security and enhanced throughput reasons. It cannot be removed.
No need for external camera support for several reasons. First, continuity camera works, and most people with Apple TVs also have iPhones. Second, having a dedicated external camera on a TV is a bad idea for security and privacy reasons. It would also require Apple to come out with one to plug in there, and I don’t see them being interested in that, as it would not sell well (or at all), and they’d have to equip it with a privacy shade etc.
Strange, mine works really well, especially the voice recognition ever since homepod software 18.
As to device prioritization, the one that heard you the best is the one that responds. If you want a specific device to respond, there are a few things you can do - such as requiring “Hey Siri” on the other devices, but just “Siri” on your preferred device. More information here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/105077
It won’t ever be retired. Might get upgraded, but not retired. It’s a must have for security, congested environments, and businesses like hotels.
These devices, like the Google Streamer they compete with, are sold on the “Kodak” model. For Kodak, the camera was a means of selling film. For smart tv devices, it’s about selling streaming service subscriptions.
$99 is probably as low as they could go, and they’d have to use their WiFi chip to save some royalties. Unlike Amazon, which loses money on every Alexa, Apple needs to make some profit on each device.
If they supported external cameras, then they’d have to make an external camera, and that’s a losing venture.
Same thing with game titles. Forget that - just make the games run on Mac’s and iPhones and iPads and make it easy and high quality to “cast” the game from one of those on the tv screen.
this. Also I dont really want a camera, just a mic, so if they could build that in or support an ext mic I'd be ecstatic. Want it so I dont need to rely on the tenuous link between homepod and appletv to control my atv via voice. It works right now.. mostly. I'd rather it be more seamless
I mean, first of all they have before, and it was excellent. The firewire iSight was amazing at the time, and had a real closable iris as a bonus, something that was super rare and still isnt as common as it should be. But also why would they need to? The only "external camera" they make for macs are the displays, but they support a wide range of third party webcams and the like just fine. So, btw, do iPhones and iPads. No reason an atv cant too.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
There's no "most likely" to it. The "dumb" part of speakers can sound just as good upwards of DECADES after purchase... unless it's dependent on iPhone hardware which then guarantees vintaging after upwards of 7 years... at which point you'll be buying the "dumb" part again if you get on this train.
Anyone wanting quality home theater audio should be thinking center channel speaker, not soundbar. But if it HAS to be a soundbar, get one that won't be on the "buy again" clock as fast as Apple likes to drive those re-purchases. The part of a speaker that actually makes sound can't get "long in tooth" anywhere close to the pace it happens (or is made to happen) for iPhones, etc... unless we choose to buy one that depends on iPhone hardware. "Think different!"
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I mean, unless they're gunning for more hardcore gaming, all the 4k versions are pretty fast for what they need to do, they're pretty powerful little boxes. Even the older HD is fine as long as you dont need 4k, and the 2017 version is still fully supported. I still have my old OG HD running in my guest room hooked up to an old 1080p TV, it's closing on 10 years old and still going strong and I have my oldest 4k on the TV in my garage workshop space, it's also closing on 8 years old and still super fast
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All my content (on the Apple TV) is streamed. I have the Apple TV connected via ethernet. Never trust to radio broadcasting what you can easily do over copper - radios are subject to interference in ways that cables are not. I'd be pretty annoyed if Apple removed ethernet from the Apple TV.
Removing the ethernet port would be a deal breaker for me. Hopefully Apple doesn't have the courage for that
While we're at it, support for common USB ethernet adapters (like iOS and iPadOS already do) would sure make all those people that need ethernet ports happy.
They should offer these for cheaper because it gets people more into the ecosystem, and people are more likely to buy content in Apple TV app, which benefits, Apple, even more
They already removed the network port and thread router from the base model last time around, as well as the fan from both models (leading to overheating/throttling when gaming). Here are some ideas for the bean counters to ponder.
- Leave out the PSU and just include a USB-C cable in the box (you already have to provide your own HDMI cable, so why not provide your own 30 W charger too!)
- No remote - rely on people using the iPhone remote feature