You are upset that a nearly 4 year old device is not getting a new feature? Seriously?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
We need the new Apple TV for Apple Music?! WTF!!!!!!
- Thread starter venividivigor
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You are upset that a nearly 4 year old device is not getting a new feature? Seriously?
Apple always chooses the option where they have the least programming to do. Porting Apple Music to ATV3 is a huge undertaking, because they are running different OS versions. tvOS is not available for ATV3, and it never will. Everyone with an ATV3 also has an iPhone or iPad where they can listen to Apple Music, so there's no incentive for them to do add it.
Want Apple Music? Buy the more expensive hardware. That's their moto!
ATV2 does not even properly support regular music since Apple Music launched. All my artwork is gone. iCloud Photos is a mess, but don't expect them to fix that either.
But for ATV3: expect some new channels in the future. Maybe some bug fix releases. And that's it.
You misunderstood what I was trying to say. For one, I don't doubt for a second that many people won't notice problems (hence my remark about the domestic market), I was just trying to add another angle. And second, I wasn't talking about dialects, but about mixed language commands. As in, I talk German to Siri but the movie I want to see has an english title or the album I wanna hear is by a french artist. This is a very common scenario, and Siri fails miserably at it.
Uofmtiger
macrumors 68020
I doubt they are going to require Airplay. It does that already. I think they will add an Apple Music to the AppleTV 3 channel after the new AppleTV is released.
I think you are overrating the amount of trouble it will be to add it. They already have the Beats platform on the Appletv 3 even though it doesn't run tvOS. The Appletv 2 is a different discussion since it isn't still being sold and I don't think it is on their radar at this point.
Why is this a problem? Its completely reasonable for a new product to have new features in order to drive sales.
Not rocket science.
Uofmtiger
macrumors 68020
I think that pretty much shows that it won't be on the 3rd Gen. Surprising, but apparently they think it will be a factor in getting people to bite on the new AppleTV. I can't imagine that very many people will be using this in their decision making process unless they don't own an iOS device, but I guess they feel that it will be a factor.
Not sure how Apple Music could not be on ATV3 when Beats was and still is when no longer is Beats. Truly I do not see the logic here from Apple other than or once again forcing Apple customers buying the ATV device and why bother you can not watch anything in 4k on the new ATV. Once again this is a highway robbery from Apple and less about the customer who really does not want to spend on a new device.
I find it interesting how long anything on Microsoft lasts and that is more than 3 years and yes Microsoft Office is expensive but when there is a new version office it still supports the older one so you don't not to really updated.
I find it interesting how long anything on Microsoft lasts and that is more than 3 years and yes Microsoft Office is expensive but when there is a new version office it still supports the older one so you don't not to really updated.
Cayden
macrumors 6502a
I was really hoping we would get Apple Music on the ATV3, but I don't think it'll happen. Like andreyirra said, the comparison page on the Apple website shows that the old Apple TV does not show explicit support of Apple Music. I was planning on using my old one as a media hub for outdoor music, but cannot anymore.
Attachments
TrueBlou
macrumors 601
Pretty typical behaviour to be fair. There comes a point in every hardware life cycle when the new model releases and support for the previous generation begins to dwindle. The manufacturer needs to have some features available only on the new one to get people to upgrade.
Four years isn't actually too bad for a media streamer and at least with Apple it works well and will continue to do so.
I remember back in the early days when I was buying devices from Netgear and the like for streaming. The only time we got anything really new at all was with the next hardware revision. And often the one it replaced was just abandoned, bugs and all.
Four years isn't actually too bad for a media streamer and at least with Apple it works well and will continue to do so.
I remember back in the early days when I was buying devices from Netgear and the like for streaming. The only time we got anything really new at all was with the next hardware revision. And often the one it replaced was just abandoned, bugs and all.
alexjholland
macrumors 6502a
It's rather frustrating. I was set to pay for an ATV4, but the exclusion of optical means I have to replace my optical-only cinema kit, so it'll cost me ATV4 + new cinema kit = £1,000, to get the new ATV4.
Feature exclusions should, I think, be logical.
I totally get why the app store isn't being added to the ATV3, as it requires hard-drive space. Same goes for running the more graphically demanding games.
But Apple music could easily be included in a firmware updates. Fact is that ATV3 is an active, live product that Apple are continuing to sell. Why can't it include their active, live music service that I pay for every month?
Feature exclusions should, I think, be logical.
I totally get why the app store isn't being added to the ATV3, as it requires hard-drive space. Same goes for running the more graphically demanding games.
But Apple music could easily be included in a firmware updates. Fact is that ATV3 is an active, live product that Apple are continuing to sell. Why can't it include their active, live music service that I pay for every month?
TrueBlou
macrumors 601
You could alternatively buy an HDMI breakout box at a cost of £10 which would give you the optical out you need. A lot cheaper than replacing an entire setup.
As for the Apple Music situation, it must be frustrating. Technically the ATV 3 should be capable of running the equivalent version of iOS 8.4 as it's basically a crippled (only 1 processor core) iPhone 4s.
But the reality is just simply business, if they were to enable Apple Music on the older device it would be one less reason for some people to upgrade to the Apple TV 4. It's nothing new, every electronics manufacturer has been doing it since the year dot, sadly.
alexjholland
macrumors 6502a
Thanks! What's the performance like? Which model do you recommend?
Hardly elegant, but a lot cheaper than a new cinema kit!
TrueBlou
macrumors 601
Ive never had any issue with them. I used to use significantly more expensive options, until I discovered the cheap ones were more than good enough.
You'll find arguments for both sides of the equation (and I'm not getting into a debate on the subject, so forgive me if I don't argue with anyone who disagrees with this next bit, life's too short lol) but honestly, with a digital signal you need to do a lot to mess it up, so a simple breakout box isn't going to affect the image or sound.
You can get these on eBay, or you'll find the same ones at twice the price and more on Amazon.
They can just give it a facelift and add an Apple Music icon,,,,,then it will work just like iTunes Match works. I don't think Apple will leave the millions of people with Apple tv 3 out in the cold by not allowing Apple Music streaming. An updated Apple TV 3 UI without the bells and whistles of the new one shouldn't be an issue I guess.
TrueBlou
macrumors 601
Could and will are very different things when it comes to Apple unfortunately. I don't doubt for a second the Apple TV 3 could run Apple Music. But as they have already officially announced that it won't be coming to the ATV 3 there's little to no chance of them reversing course.
seanrt
macrumors regular
My 4S can run it and with the number of trial memberships that did not stay, they really need it available on as many devices as they can. Yes, currently I AirPlay Apple Music to my ATV3 but still not as convenient as having it be a native app.
Where has it been officially announced?
If you are referring to the specs on the Apple website, that just says if you buy an ATV3 today it doesn't have Apple Music. But that doesn't mean there won't be a software upgrade soon and that they won't then change the specs on the web page. Where has Apple officially said that we will never see such a software upgrade?
Last edited:
TrueBlou
macrumors 601
True, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that as of yet it's not listed for the Apple TV 3. Don't get me wrong, I hope they do an update for the old box, it makes sense in so many ways and it'll make the old one a bit more useful as a second device for upgraders.
My concern is if the comparison page lists Apple Music for a product that isn't even out yet, I'm sure they would list it for the one that is available if it were coming. There's no particularly good reason for them to have been holding it back all these months. Apple Music alone isn't enough to convince people to buy the newer device over the older surely. It certainly wouldn't sway my decision.
The last Apple TV software update was the same day as iOS 8.3. Yet when iOS 8.4 was released there was nothing for Apple TV. If they wanted it compatible surely they would have updated the Apple TV software before now, barring marketing reasons, albeit odd ones as it hasn't stopped them adding other channels to the Apple TV 3.
d21mike
macrumors 68040
Yes. That is where we are getting the feature list. But you are right they could do anything in the future. I really want them to also add tvOS to the ATV 3. The ATV 3 does have 8gb of storage like the original iPhone and as we all know the iPhone now starts with only 16gb. So with tvOS that would solve a lot. I am encouraged by them adding CBS and NBC yesterday to the ATV 3 so who knows what will happen next week with the release of the ATV 4. Maybe they will follow Roku's lead and continue to update older devices. It is not like the ATV 3 is multiple generations old. It is just the prior release and they are still selling it.
If you are in a habit of purchasing Apple products, you can afford a new $150 device 4 years later.
Get the new Apple TV, stop bellyaching. If you demand 4k, get the Roku 4. If you need an Optical output, get a $10 hub.
The ATV3 was cute for it's generation. The search feature is dreadful now, especially having to manually type letters one by one to search for things. That alone makes it a good upgrade.
Get the new Apple TV, stop bellyaching. If you demand 4k, get the Roku 4. If you need an Optical output, get a $10 hub.
The ATV3 was cute for it's generation. The search feature is dreadful now, especially having to manually type letters one by one to search for things. That alone makes it a good upgrade.
sunapple
macrumors 68040
Aluminum213
macrumors 68040
Apple holding off on software for the latest hardware isn't surprising in the least
Did we forget that Apple held Siri for just the 4S?
Makes no sense on apples part to add all the new Apple TV 4 features to old models when they want to obviously sell the new higher priced hardware
Last edited:
Uofmtiger
macrumors 68020
Unlike Siri, Apple Music isn't a free feature. They are charging for it and putting it on competing platforms because they want people to use it. Seems strange to leave it off of the AppleTV that they are currently selling.
That being said, I also believed the spec page since it would be strange for them not to put "Apple Music (coming)" in the comparison.
Aluminum213
macrumors 68040
It's really not strange at all, current Apple TV will be viewed as the cheap, stripped down model. What do mean "Apple Music coming"? You're talking for the old model in the comparison page?