Timing dilemma for Apple TV upgrade - Have to move to new TVision service on Dec 30th

[dborja]

We've been subscribing to TVision with the Layer3 set top box and we've been using a Logitech Harmony remote control for our TV, sound system, TVision set top box, Apple TV (3rd Gen), DVD player and Roku. After next Wednesday, though, we are being migrated to a new TVision. They sent us a hub which appears to be a Google-based device which uses Bluetooth. I pinged Harmony and they said their hub remote, which supports Bluetooth, does not yet support the TVision hub and provided no timeline. This will force us to use two remotes, the Harmony and the TVision hub remotes, which is not ideal.

Fortunately, there is a TVision app which can be downloaded to devices such as a Fire TV and Apple TV. Our bedroom TV is a Fire TV and the TVision app works fine there. However, our family room TV is not a Fire TV but and the Apple TV attached to it is a Gen 3 so I can't download the TVision app. The solution is to upgrade our Apple TV to either the HD or 4K so I can download the TVision app and maintain a one remote control system. With the numerous rumors, lately, of an Apple TV refresh I would like to wait but don't like the two remote control system - especially because the wifey will complain. It doesn't look like I can get the new Apple TV in my grubby hands by Dec 30th and I don't know when the Apple TV refresh will happen.

What to do? What to do? The obvious solution is to get the current Apple TV but I might regret it if the refresh is cheaper and has way more capabilities...

 

[satcomer]

Technology always progress so take from an old man and stay away from wireless security stuff that touch’s the Internet! Live and Learn!

 

[robotica]

I’d say pick up a cheap fire stick for the living room and wait for the new Apple TV

 

[dborja]

I’d say pick up a cheap fire stick for the living room and wait for the new Apple TV

Yes, thanks for the suggestion! I came to that conclusion, too, so I ordered a $30 Android unit since it uses IR for remote control and my Harmony can handle it. The TVision app is also compatible with it. I can move it later to another TV that has no streaming device.

 

[MecPro]

We got some Amazon gift vouchers and I ended up picking up the ATV for about £100.

We got it really got Fitness+ (stupid you can't play it any other way on a TV) and we have MBP's etc that we would like to stream to. Other than that I am buying more digital films on AppleTV over YouTube.

Wish I could have waited, but nothing on the horizon at the minute in terms of news, so it would have been no perfect time to buy it.

 

[dborja]

We got some Amazon gift vouchers and I ended up picking up the ATV for about £100.

We got it really got Fitness+ (stupid you can't play it any other way on a TV) and we have MBP's etc that we would like to stream to. Other than that I am buying more digital films on AppleTV over YouTube.

Wish I could have waited, but nothing on the horizon at the minute in terms of news, so it would have been no perfect time to buy it.

I ended up changing my mind and ordering an ATV 4K last night. I agreed with robotica and was going the route of getting an inexpensive streaming device until the new ATV came out. However, I could not find one as the TVision app supports a limited number of devices at this time such as the Fire Stick and Chromecast with Google TV which are Bluetooth and my Harmony remote only supports IR - I'd end up paying about the same if I also had to get a Harmony hub... I tried some "generic" Android devices and they were no-gos.

I figured the new ATV will come March at the earliest and that's too long to live with two remote controls - I've gotten spoiled by the convenience that Harmony provides. From the rumors, I don't really need more gaming capability that the new ATV will have and I won't be using the ATV remote control that a lot of people are complaining about. I also had a $200 work anniversary gift card so it is basically a free ATV if I ignore the time I put in to earn the gift card.