New Apple TV With A12 Chip or Later Uncovered in tvOS 13.4 Beta

[400]

AV1 is much better than the outdated VVC, and Apple being member of that consortium is certainly preparing that switch in 2020.

Whatever is in use, compatible with both or whatever, if the broadcasters go the usual then I wouldn't want to see a re encode to another format on a live stream. At the moment h.264 and 265 for the UK. VVC not out yet?

I think HLG support is there now. Not sure how robust it is. It's not something Apple advertises.

Not seen it on the ATV 4K BBC app, not out in the wild yet?

 

[haydn!]

Wasn't the current Apple TV 4K released in September 2017? So it has already been 28 months without an Apple TV device refresh.

Good spot. I still think it’s 2019. Date correction usually kicks in around April for me 🤣

 

[Oberhorst]

Apple already supports the AV1 codec.

Apple does not officially support AV1 (yet). None of their hardware is ready for it. They are however in the AV1 consortium.

It's just that open-source thing that Google, and only Google, do support, that Apple won't.

Google isn’t supporting AV1 completely yet, either. Heck they’re not even fully supporting their own VP9 on all platforms/devices! The hope however is that they will support AV1 in the future, along with Apple. That would mean 4K YouTube on Apple devices, if new Apple hardware is going to support AV1.

 

[konqerror]

Whatever is in use, compatible with both or whatever, if the broadcasters go the usual then I wouldn't want to see a re encode to another format on a live stream.

Broadcasters already transcode today. The networks or channels distribute a high-bitrate H.264 stream which is transcoded to a lower bitrate MPEG2 or H.264 stream depending on the broadcast method (terrestrial, cable, satellite, streaming).

Broadcast systems also use statistical multiplexing: available bitrate is dynamically allocated between multiple programs on a single carrier/channel/multiplex and that requires a re-encode.

Google isn’t supporting AV1 completely yet, either. Heck they’re not even fully supporting their own VP9 on all platforms/devices! The hope however is that they will support AV1 in the future, along with Apple.

Netflix just started streaming AV1.

Netflix Now Streaming AV1 on Android

By Liwei Guo, Vivian Li, Julie Beckley, Venkatesh Selvaraj, and Jeff Watts

netflixtechblog.com

 

[SaxPlayer]

I think HLG support is there now. Not sure how robust it is. It's not something Apple advertises.

That's interesting! If it is, you're right it's not official as neither Apple or the BBC list the AppleTV as supporting the BBC's 4K UDH HDR content.

Seven Worlds, One Planet is still available on BBC iPlayer and using the LG WebOS iPlayer app it shows in UHD (is also HLG HDR) (see screenshot), so if anyone in the UK has an AppleTV 4K and an HLG compatible television and can check whether Seven Worlds, One Planet is available as UHD on iPlayer then we'll know (especially if you play it and it retains the UHD and shows the HLG logo on your TV when you play it). Anyone want to help out?

 

[Oberhorst]

Netflix just started streaming AV1.

Yeah but Netflix isn’t Google, is it

 

[DeepIn2U]

Same boat as you. 4th generation works perfectly for me. It’s not a must have for me... to watch 4K content on TV. I’ll cross that road when the time comes...

same vote from me as well! Along with the ability to control my TV via Siri in HomeKit and volume

I’m personally not a fan of smart TVs with built in android OS; I’ve far too many get buggy and goto crap after just a year of use.

Lets hope for an upgraded remote that's backwards compatible with 4th Gen Apple TVs

yessirr

 

[unplugme71]

yah, with source material coming to you soon (2025?)

4k isn’t even common yet in 2020. I say 8k in 2035 at the earliest.

 

[deconstruct60]

Bluetooth is antiquated?
[automerge]1581077182[/automerge]

What if the A12 replaces the Apple TV HD model which has an A8 chip?
And an A13X model could replace the 4K A10X model - another process node, more processors, more efficient and let's not forget the new CPU governor that lets the chip use all processors at once.

the A12 and A13 are on the same process node ( 7nm). The A12X would be just as much of as process node shrink as a A13X ( if it exists ) would be (relative to the A10X). If there is a A13X it will be probably incremental adjustment from A12X. A bigger leap in the Neural Processing unit (NPU) more so than anything else.

Similarly since the A12 and A13 are about the same process node wise, tossing A13 into the HD model would make more sense if the AI/ML/Tensor capabilities were going to be pushed (smarter devices ... so more talking to remote with limited set of buttons. And far more local smarts processing; so quicker and more private.. ). The NPU of the A12 should be good enough for the verbal space though ( no FaceID improvements needed here) . If looking for lower cost then a

HD : A12
4K : A12X

would make sense if dropped down the costs more so than the processors. If trying to make it simpler on developers targeting the platform though.

4K 32GB at $139 : A12X
4K 64GB at $169 : A12X
4K 128GB at $199 : A12X

would make far more sense. "Big picture wise" , there isn't really a good reason to split the "HD" version from the 4K version. The product as a whole sells at a limited enough volume that consolidating the target specs into one line up varying on storage capacity would help.

The "HD" model is only there in the line up to be more affordable at this point ( same dimensions, same remove as the 4K version... just kneecapped. ) . If they make the 4K models affordable the 'need' for the HD model evaporates. ( would be in even better shape if lower to $149 and $119 , but doubtful Apple would limbo that low. )

Highly budget limited customers with a $49 Roku Streaming Stick have the Apple TV app at this point. The "customer on a budget" segment is largely a bust for Apple branded hardware with the app available on other platforms ( at least for the primary purpose of streaming. Supercharged HD gaming scope is probably pretty narrow. ) .


P.S. on Bluetooth in the remote it probably wouldn't hurt to move to BT5 and the U1 to find "lost stuff" might help with a smallish remote.

 

[mi7chy]

Hardware is already adequate but they need to focus more on the software and policy side to make it less oppressive. It needs VP9 YouTube 4K+ decoding, AV1, ability to run emulators like Retroarch to tap whatever performance gain, Kodi, etc.

 

[BMox81]

As soon as it's announced, i'll be putting an order in and moving our current 4K ATV upstairs.

Best streaming device by a considerable distance and well worth the investment.

 

[ksec]

AV1 is much better than the outdated VVC, and Apple being member of that consortium is certainly preparing that switch in 2020.

Outdated?

It seems 99% of people in the thread dont know a thing about Video Codec.

 

[JoeShades]

Outdated?

It seems 99% of people in the thread dont know a thing about Video Codec.

To most people these days anything older than a week is outdated

 

[Abazigal]

Wasn't the current Apple TV 4K released in September 2017? So it has already been 28 months without an Apple TV device refresh.

3gb ram and A10x chip is still plenty of horsepower for the stuff you would expect to do on an Apple TV, and I don't see the Apple TV gaining anything in terms of other hardware or features.

Apple might want to consolidate their ATV offerings by offering just a single model (maybe 4gb ram and A12X processor) at a slightly more affordable price, since the 4th gen (2gb, A8) seems to be struggling under the latest tvOS update. Oceanhorn barely runs for me, and apps take noticeably longer to load.

I disagree that Apple needs to lower the price drastically though. That's the whole point of making the TV app accessible to other smart TV platforms, to make TV+ accessible to more consumers without Apple necessarily having to lower the price of their own products.

 

[Z3man]

Definitely need a new remote control with more buttons to make it more user friendly, i hate the stupid touch remote control.

 

[John.B]

So this means my current TVs will be getting “throttled” soon....

Surprisingly, an old TV2 (720p) that we still have kicking around got an update to support the TV+ service; the update interface is actually pretty snappy. So, no, I don't think the currently models will be throttled, because Apple's goals these days seem to be more aligned with that sweet services subscription revenue.

In a perfect word, I would like to be able to visit my friends with my in tvOS preloaded film library on my Apple TV. I would then simply connect my HomePods at their place via P2P (similar to iOS). As of now this is not possible.

Your Apple ID can be linked to any TV4 or later, to watch any movies in your iTunes* library. Or you could always take your TV with you and connect it to an available HDMI port. Not preloaded like with an iPhone/iPad or Amazon Prime, to be sure, but still good enough to download content on the fly with really any middling-level broadband service.

*Is it still called an iTunes library if I'm not on Catalina yet?

 

[class77]

The most important change needed on Apple TV to not have to log back in every few months on most of the apps. It's frustrating to have used the same app the day before and when you try to the next day, you have to go reactivate the darn thing. It happens over and over on ATV 3 and ATV 4k. Once activated, it should work until your credentials no longer work for that channel

 

[JoeShades]

The most important change needed on Apple TV to not have to log back in every few months on most of the apps. It's frustrating to have used the same app the day before and when you try to the next day, you have to go reactivate the darn thing. It happens over and over on ATV 3 and ATV 4k. Once activated, it should work until your credentials no longer work for that channel

Tahts up to the networks.On apps like Plex you don't have to always log back in, but other apps like HBO and NBC for example that is not up to Apple.

 

[Wolfpup]

About freaking time! I guess I'll keep waiting on a streaming box.

And yeah ditch that remote.

Normal batteries, no touch, and let you use multiple remotes

 

[MandiMac]

Will get the best version as soon as it‘s available.

 

[acblue94]

Praying that it will include a redesigned remote.

People pray for food the next day. People pray they will make rent the next month. People pray their cancer won’t return.......and you pray for a new Apple TV remote.

 

[MauiPa]

People pray for food the next day. People pray they will make rent the next month. People pray their cancer won’t return.......and you pray for a new Apple TV remote.

With all going on, seems like low on the priority list

 

[edhudley]

A refreshed Apple TV with an A12 Bionic chip or newer appears to be in development, according to 9to5Mac, which uncovered an unreleased model with the codename "T1125" in the tvOS 13.4 beta seeded yesterday.

Details about the new Apple TV are slim beyond the faster chip and its maximum supported resolution remaining 4K with HDR.

Rumors of a new Apple TV with an A12 chip began swirling last fall, but with a different codename of "J305." The device has typically been updated once every two years, with the first tvOS-based ?model launching in September 2015 and the ?Apple TV? 4K arriving in September 2017.

A faster Apple TV would certainly benefit Apple Arcade gaming and overall perArticle Link: New Apple TV With A12 Chip or Later Uncovered in tvOS 13.4 Beta

Ive had the TV4K since it’s release. With Apple including most of the devices functionality in the Apple TV+ app that free for install on MANY other devices, much cheaper streaming devices with just about the same hardware functionality, what am I missing in the motivation in spending $200+ on a new Apple TV? Some are saying it will be 8K. Let’s say it will be, how natively produced 8K content is there ready to be shoved down an internet pipe? I’m sure other streaming devices will be adding 8K at a much lower price over the next couple of years. Gaming, if it’s not going to compete head to head with an XBox or PlayStation, I still fail to see the premium. But I’m open to see what Apple will announce.

 

[MauiPa]

Ive had the TV4K since it’s release. With Apple including most of the devices functionality in the Apple TV+ app that free for install on MANY other devices, much cheaper streaming devices with just about the same hardware functionality, what am I missing in the motivation in spending $200+ on a new Apple TV? Some are saying it will be 8K. Let’s say it will be, how natively produced 8K content is there ready to be shoved down an internet pipe? I’m sure other streaming devices will be adding 8K at a much lower price over the next couple of years. Gaming, if it’s not going to compete head to head with an XBox or PlayStation, I still fail to see the premium. But I’m open to see what Apple will announce.

Sales taxes must be pretty high for you:

But seriously, I can't get that stupid chromecast to work with Airplay,, or much else, nor does it connect to my Homepod stereo pair and send sound in Atmos (which is awesome). I can see not wanting to get one, but to pretend they are all the same is just not right

 

[MauiPa]

About freaking time! I guess I'll keep waiting on a streaming box.

And yeah ditch that remote.

Normal batteries, no touch, and let you use multiple remotes

hmmm, it does let you use your own remote. Personally I hate all those tiny little buttons in different places with every remote (and try to see them in the dark), and prefer the simple, elegant approach with the Apple remote, but, I can see people (like my daughter who has impaired use of her fingers), might not like it.

But what I don't get, is all this false anger at it, it is what it is, and if you don't like it, use your favorite remote. What am I missing? 1) Like it - Use it 2) don't like it - use the one you do like.