Production of Faster Apple TV 5 Rumored to Begin in Early 2016

[satchmo]

If true, and that's a big IF, then it truly underscores how Apple runs today.
Either greedy or unfocussed and delivering a product that was rushed to market.

I'd love to hear from those who use the AppleTV remote. Personally, I find the swiping gestures creates greater user fatigue and less precise than the previous button remote.

 

[Zimmy68]

Your wrong and you clearly don't own one...

Dude, I hope you are being more sarcastic then he is.
If not, you need to read slower.

 

[freediverx]

Hah, exactly the same setup here. No issues with me either. Agree that there must be other causes. Apple TV with Plex for me is buttery smooth. (but I might be too far away from the screen to notice any hiccups )

When I download or rip a video, the first thing I do is convert it to an Apple-optimized format. I think this goes a long way towards avoiding playback issues. A lot of folks prefer to seek solutions that can transcode any video format on the fly and are then disappointed when the product doesn't live up to its promise. Anyone who thinks that FLV or WMV file is going to play back silky smooth via live transcoding is in for some disappointment.

 

[Armandodj]

I don't this is true, Apple TV-5 naaa! I am not happy either with Apple TV-2 YouTube it's available anymore. Also I do own a 4K 50 inch TV, I am enjoying my new Roku 4 it's fantastic and it looks great also the 4k

 

[tkukoc]

If true, and that's a big IF, then it truly underscores how Apple runs today.
Either greedy or unfocussed and delivering a product that was rushed to market.

I'd love to hear from those who use the AppleTV remote. Personally, I find the swiping gestures creates greater user fatigue and less precise than the previous button remote.

Yes completely agree with you about the swiping gestures, they are kind of all over the place. Sometimes it works perfectly, other not so much.

 

[Rafterman]

DigiTimes? Haha no thanks.



I would consider that the exception not the norm.



Then why did you buy it?

Um, because it was the latest, with a basic understanding that this allegedly new product wouldn't be outdated and replaced in just a couple of months.

How would you like to buy the iPhone 6S, only to find out a just few months later that the 7, with better features, was coming out? We expect products to become "old" at a faster rate these days. But not THIS fast.

 

[nelmat]

AppleTV is just too closed off, it seems like to me that it is just to much "we only made it to get your money" for me.

You don't own one, do you? Between plex and an ever growing selection of home media/NAS streaming solutions, Showtime, Netflix, HBO, CBS, NBC - Amazon prime video on the way, BBC iPlayer in development for the UK - This is an open platform. It is the exact opposite of 'closed off'.

 

[peterdevries]

Completely different product.

The topic was "when did Apple ever release a new product iteration within a one year release cycle". The topic was not "when did apple ever release the Apple TV twice in a year".

 

[Popeye206]

I mean


I meant Roku 4 is better also Amazon Fire Stick Too!

Yeah... I could add my Panasonic Smart TV to that list if I just want to stream video. Heck, I wouldn't even own an AppleTV or any of the streaming boxes if all I wanted to do was stream video. My TV does that through most of the services.

I bought into the new Apple TV for the Apps... and guess what, Apple has a great track record of getting companies to make Apps for their devices. A year from now, AppleTV will be way more than just video streaming.

 

[peterdevries]

When I download or rip a video, the first thing I do is convert it to an Apple-optimized format. I think this goes a long way towards avoiding playback issues. A lot of folks prefer to seek solutions that can transcode any video format on the fly and are then disappointed when the product doesn't live up to tits promise. Anyone who thinks that FLV or WMV file is going to play back silky smooth via live transcoding is in for some disappointment.

I do the same and it works great for me.

 

[bluespark]

The big problem I'd like to see them correct (although with the current version, not just the next one) is audio playback. It does not encode properly for all sources (i.e., stereo audio is not passed through to your receiver, but rather altered to play back through all speakers unless you select "stereo" in System Preferences every single time (and even then, it sounds processed)). DD + also doesn't work properly. A normal audio passthrough option would be a godsend for those of us with receivers than can handle audio processing.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The difference between 720 and 1080 is noticeable on tv screen sizes owned by millions of people. The same cannot be said for the difference between 1080 and 4k.

As others keep saying, you need to go to your local Best Buy or similar and actually take a look at 4K screens. Unless you have very bad eyes, you will definitely see a difference. And it won't require you to look at 93" screens or even 55" screens. Go see for yourself. 4K content on 4K screens- even relatively small screens- is basically Apple's "retina" applied to TV-sized screens. If one could argue "retina" arguments for tiny screens, one should be able to at least consider "retina" arguments for MUCH BIGGER screens.

If you actually go see 4K content on average-size 4K screens, you'll see a difference: close up or farther than implied by "the chart." From too far, human eyes may not be able to resolve individual pixels, but put video in motion and fine details make the visual experience better. Like retina, the goal is to NOT be able to see individual pixels. It's about "crisper, clearer, sharper."

Current bandwidth supports widespread streaming of 1080 content. The same cannot be said for 4k content.

Same argument from pre-"3" days, except then it was applied against 1080p. Some argued the whole internet would crash is Apple rolled out a 1080p-capable TV3. Maybe I slept through that crash?

 

[George Dawes]

Reminds me of Tim Cook's botched reveal of the NEW new iPad leaving people like me who'd just bought the then new iPad with an old new iPad

Thank god I didn't buy this thing , something told me something wasn't quite right...

 

[gugy]

Wow, that was fast. Well, at least the device is $150 so it is not a huge amount to replace.
Sure faster is always nice but I am pretty satisfied with the speed of the current one so I don't see much reason to buy it and if there is 4K, great but I don't have a 4K TV. I'll keep mine.

What I would love to see at some point but I think it will never happen is a way to hook up a external drive or NAS/Time Capsule to be able to access my media without having a Mac on at all times with iTunes running.

 

[freediverx]

Let me guess - you can't tell the difference between Netflix and Blu-Ray either?

I can definitely tell the difference, but I've reached the point where convenience trumps quality. I mostly watch TV shows on Netflix. If I like a movie I will typically obtain a high quality 1080p version and store in in my local media library.

The funny thing is that there are so many people obsessing over the quality of 4K video who boast of Netflix's support for the format oblivious to the fact that they downgrade it to 30fps and compress it to a very low bitrate with lots of artifacts that kill the quality.

 

[scoobydoo99]

I've just bought this!! It's brand new. At least I only payed 111 dollars at target for it. Let's hope for 4K!

$106 after Target card 5% discount

 

[Asclepio]

8 ****ing K
beta testers enjoy your 1080p that looks 480p upscaled, i will enjoy the new gen 8k which is gonna be a true 1080p upscaled.
suckers.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

If it's released in 2016, I doubt the next Apple TV will support 4K.
All the factors working against wider 4K adoption today will remain in place in 2016...

• 4K resolution requires a very large (80"+) screen or very close viewing distance to be appreciated

That's complete nonsense.

 

[nt5672]

Can you explain that? The Apple TV is now just as open as other boxes and Apple even confirmed that they would allow other content providers on it (and they have). By now there is no difference to other boxes in terms of content availability and any absent provider is only absent because they haven't gotten round to creating an app yet.

Compared to other video boxes, maybe? I haven't used other boxes. We've been using various Mac Minis for 10 years as an audio/video server. "Closed" means you can only install apps approved by Apple. That means that freedom is at Apple's discretion. Not that I watch porn, but will Apple seriously approve porn apps (or other media protected by free speech, but not considered politically correct)? Nope, didn't think so. While today, Apple's limitations of freedom seem ok (at least to me), that does not mean that I want to install technology that is not open for me to use legally as I see fit. Tell me I will always be able to install any app I want on the Apple TV and I'm good to go. Tell me I have to live in Apple's politically correct world and I'm not.

The "walled garden" limitations were acceptable with phones because of the impact on the carrier network and the phone was never meant to be a general media device, having these limitation on my home TV is not acceptable. It is just like Samsung saying they have installed video analysis software that prevents naked bodies from being displayed, since it might damage their corporate image (Ok bad example, because it is impossible to damage Samsung's corporate image, but I think you get the point).

Now it may be convenient and it may be cost effective, but only if you are willing to ignore how the technology can be used in the future to control your behavior. I want openness and freedom and am willing to vote with my pocketbook. Our forefathers voted for freedom with their lives and here we are giving up our freedom bit by bit just because its free, cheap or convenient.

 

[naeS1Sean]

Man...Apple is great at doing that nonsense.

 

[deaglecat]

LoL. Pure comedy.

Apple TV hardware... like buses... nothing for ages then two in short succession.

I can't believe this rumour - it would show a staggering level of incompetence/disregard for the existing customer base. I call BS.

 

[naeS1Sean]

LoL. Pure comedy.

Apple TV hardware... like buses... nothing for ages then two in short succession.

I can't believe this rumour - it would show a staggering level of incompetence/disregard for the existing customer base. I call BS.

Or it's just Apple being Apple. Let's hope for BS. lol

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I stopped buying physical media a long time ago. For me the convenience of digital content stored on hard drives, SSDs, and streamed online trumps marginal differences in quality available on little plastic BR discs loaded with DRM and FBI warnings. I'm never going back to buying content on physical media.

Yeah, well I typically buy Blu-Rays for $4-10 on average for movies two years or older and rip them myself (Memorex 8x/16x/50x USB3 external BD Drive I bought on sale in 2013 for $50) and encode them and put them on my hard drive. It's not exactly hard and the quality is better than anything you'd get from Apple which is encrypted and worthless on any player other than Apple's (although I found a way to decrypt them also but it involves using VMWare and Snow Leopard Server) both of which means I'm not locked into Apple's system.

The point is I don't WATCH off Blu-Rays. I purchase and rip/encode them. I do have a free BD player program (Mac Blu-Ray Player FREE), but I've never actually watched anything other than to test it out, really, but it does work fine with all commercial movies I've tested it with on the Mac, even so.

 

[MrMoore]

I find it hilarious when people on these forums get mad at Apple based on a rumor that might happen. Can people wait until something happens to express their outrage?

 

[scoobydoo99]

If true, and that's a big IF, then it truly underscores how Apple runs today.
Either greedy or unfocussed and delivering a product that was rushed to market.

I'd love to hear from those who use the AppleTV remote. Personally, I find the swiping gestures creates greater user fatigue and less precise than the previous button remote.

Yes completely agree with you about the swiping gestures, they are kind of all over the place. Sometimes it works perfectly, other not so much.

Agree about poor swiping performance. My other problem is that the remote is too thin and light (duh. big surprise coming from Apple) - when holding it and trying to press the swipe pad with my thumb, it is hard to get leverage, because the remote just tilts away from my thumb.

Final problem is Bluetooth reconnection time. Many times, I pick up the remote and press a button or hold the Siri button, but instead of doing what I want, the remote just "wakes up" and gives the "Remote Connected" message - I have to re-do my input.