Why do I need Apple TV??? (and the horrible remote)

[LarryJoe33]

I prefer appletv over built in apps because they will always get updates. I’ve yet to see a tv continually get consistent updates. I hope that’s starting to change but I will not bet it does.

Plus I like the remote and the picture quality is superb.

Agreed, with the exception of the remote. I just find it horrible and I’m three years into it. The convenience of the built in apps is appealing, but as I’ve answered my own question in this thread, picture and sound quality are the most important to me.

 

[x-evil-x]

For reference, this is the "eArc" cable I am waiting on, I am pretty sure the "e" stands for ethernet:

Zeskit Certified 2.1 8K HDMI Cable 48Gbps 4K120Hz Compatible with Soundbar eARC HDR10 VRR Dolby Vision Atmos HDCP 2.2 & 2.3 Gaming PS5 Xbox Series X Apple TV Roku Monitor (Ultra High Speed Maya 6ft)

The Zeskit MAYA series Ultra High Speed HDMI cables comply with stringent specifications designed to ensure support for high resolution video modes such as 4Kp50/60/100/120 and 8Kp50/60 as well as new features such as eARC and VRR. The cables exceed the requirements of the latest international EM...

www.amazon.com

That cable is fine. My 2012 non 4K certified is fine. they had ethernet in hdmi for a long time I have cables from 2008 that had it.
but No the e in e arc does not stand for Ethernet.
my Sony tv from 2007 xbr4 had arc. E arc is different. The e stands for enhanced.
so it’s just that it will give you higher bandwidth for audio. You can’t get atmos over arc with hdmi it looks like. But e arc you can. It depends on your tv.
most cables will work. You don’t need a super high end one. If it’s less than 15 feet it matters much less. I use active hdmi cables for long runs as it seems to have most the issues past 20 feet.

 

[LarryJoe33]

This is an old question. Did you try a search?

I find old questions get new perspectives as technology changes. I’m finding this thread informative and helpful.

 

[HDFan]

But there is a difference between eArc and Arc right?

HDMI ARC and eARC: Audio Return Channel Explained

HDMI’s ARC, or Audio Return Channel, can make your gear easier to use. Here’s how.

www.cnet.com

Table near the bottom sums it up neatly.

 

[LarryJoe33]

HDMI ARC and eARC: Audio Return Channel Explained

HDMI’s ARC, or Audio Return Channel, can make your gear easier to use. Here’s how.

www.cnet.com

Table near the bottom sums it up neatly.

Yup that’s the exact article I read to find out there is a difference in connection and cables.

Cables all attached. Need to do some Atmos testing but I can say the cable box picture is much better. The sound as well from that source.

 

[Demiles]

I purchased my first ever streaming device a ATV 4K a few weeks ago. Let’s get this out of the way, I love this remote! I’m over 55, have arthritis and carpal tunnel and have no problem with the remote. I have a old airport express setup as airplay receiver to have a remote speaker since I’m hearing impaired as well. All I need to do now is upgrade my TV to get 4K .

 

[bobbmd]

Hello- I purchased an Apple TV 4k to go with my new Sony Bravia 900H(65") Android TV and got a year free of Apple TV+-- is that free year mean I can get it on my older 2nd Gen Apple TV that I use on my older non-smart LG TV or if I want to switch the newer apple tv to the non-smart tv? I also use a 4K amazon FireStick on the new TV which one is the better choice? I don't like the new remote I use the old silver remote for the new 4K apple tv much easier to use!

 

[x-evil-x]

I purchased my first ever streaming device a ATV 4K a few weeks ago. Let’s get this out of the way, I love this remote! I’m over 55, have arthritis and carpal tunnel and have no problem with the remote. I have a old airport express setup as airplay receiver to have a remote speaker since I’m hearing impaired as well. All I need to do now is upgrade my TV to get 4K .

that's what I like to hear. My mom now that's 72 loves her appletv after ive been nagging her to drop the firesticks she has had for while. She likes the remote a lot too and that she doesn't have to change the batteries every few months like on her firestick remotes.

 

[mallbritton]

Hello- I purchased an Apple TV 4k to go with my new Sony Bravia 900H(65") Android TV and got a year free of Apple TV+-- is that free year mean I can get it on my older 2nd Gen Apple TV that I use on my older non-smart LG TV or if I want to switch the newer apple tv to the non-smart tv? I also use a 4K amazon FireStick on the new TV which one is the better choice? I don't like the new remote I use the old silver remote for the new 4K apple tv much easier to use!

The free year of Apple TV+ is tied to your Apple ID. As long as you are logged into all your devices with the same Apple ID you can access the content in the TV+ Channel.

Keep in mind that the Apple TV app and the Apple TV+ Channel are not synonymous. A subscription to the TV+ Channel does not get you inclusive access to everything you see in the TV app.

Apple TV, Apple TV app & Apple TV+

The Apple TV is a physical device that you connect to your TV with an HDMI cable and install apps on it, such as Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max, Fox Sports, etc. It also has the Apple TV app installed on it.

The TV app is an aggregator app that pulls in content from various providers, like those mentioned above, and is a one-stop-shop for keeping up with what you are watching and discovering new content to enjoy. Through the TV app you can also subscribe to various Channels such CBS All Access, Showtime, AMC+ and Apple TV+. There is no subscription to use the TV app.

Apple TV+ requires a subscription to view the majority of the content and it is billed through your iTunes account. A subscription to TV+ does NOT give you access to everything you can find in the TV app; only to the TV+ content.

 

[bobbmd]

The free year of Apple TV+ is tied to your Apple ID. As long as you are logged into all your devices with the same Apple ID you can access the content in the TV+ Channel.

Keep in mind that the Apple TV app and the Apple TV+ Channel are not synonymous. A subscription to the TV+ Channel does not get you inclusive access to everything you see in the TV app.

Apple TV, Apple TV app & Apple TV+

The Apple TV is a physical device that you connect to your TV with an HDMI cable and install apps on it, such as Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max, Fox Sports, etc. It also has the Apple TV app installed on it.

The TV app is an aggregator app that pulls in content from various providers, like those mentioned above, and is a one-stop-shop for keeping up with what you are watching and discovering new content to enjoy. Through the TV app you can also subscribe to various Channels such CBS All Access, Showtime, AMC+ and Apple TV+. There is no subscription to use the TV app.

Apple TV+ requires a subscription to view the majority of the content and it is billed through your iTunes account. A subscription to TV+ does NOT give you access to everything you can find in the TV app; only to the TV+ content.

@mallbritton thanks for the info it is pretty much what I have found with my 'fiddling around' but didn't realize the difference between the app and actual Apple TV+. Youtube TV gives pretty much all i need especially NFL RedZone and all my local TV channels and then some- thanks again

 

[ot73nl]

I have just bought a Sony A8 tv (android 9) a couple of weeks ago. And while the android part of it works great and does everything I need, I still prefer Apple TV box for one (but a big one for me) reason: PRIVACY. I do not really like a remote of atv, but I have recently discovered that a Sony remote works just fine with atv as well, so it is not an issue.

 

[MBAir2010]

that's what I like to hear. My mom now that's 72 loves her appletv after ive been nagging her to drop the firesticks she has had for while. She likes the remote a lot too and that she doesn't have to change the batteries every few months like on her firestick remotes.

I needed to reset my mom’s firestick every other week, annoying buggers the are!

 

[x-evil-x]

I needed to reset my mom’s firestick every other week, annoying buggers the are!

She was calling me freaking out every 6 months when they freeze and she couldn’t get her stuff to turn on Or the battery issues and it wouldn’t turn on at all. Crap. Can’t expect much for 40$

 

[MBAir2010]

She was calling me freaking out every 6 months when they freeze and she couldn’t get her stuff to turn on Or the battery issues and it wouldn’t turn on at all. Crap. Can’t expect much for 40$

I got the anger demands as well, everything worked for them since 1940 until the late 1990s
which is kinda funny now
cbs app was the worse!

 

[LarryJoe33]

My Samsung remote that came with my “75 frame works with my AppleTV and it works well. It has the circle directional ring and a center thumb button, just like the old silver remote. So I’ve been able to archive the Uber touchy ATV remote thank god. The only thing I miss on the ATV remote is Siri search which by the way is another solid point for using ATV over the TV apps, you can search almost everything but Netflix at once. The Samsung remote is really designed well and ergonomically.

 

[Buadhai]

I have three Samsung "smart" TVs, all of which were purchased about the same time five or six years ago. I hate them. The ARC doesn't work properly on any of them. (This is a long standing problem on which there are massive threads on the Samsung support forum.) On two of the TVs I gave up on ARC and use an optical cable and a universal remote to make sure everything turns on and is set up correctly. On the TV where the ARC still works sometimes I use the Samsung remote to control the TV and the Apple TV. This works fine and means I don't have to hunt down or use the ATV remote. When the ARC fails on this TV the only way to get it to work again is to unplug the TV, wait 30 seconds, plug it in, turn it on and pray to the technology gods. Sometimes it works the first time and sometimes not.

I don't use the "smart" part of any of these TVs. I find the interface to be clunky and the apps not very easy to use. I have Apple TVs for all three. Just the other day I thought I'd have a look at the Samsung apps on one of the TVs (the one where the ARC works sometimes). None of the apps I'd downloaded were visible. Just a blank screen with the "suggested" apps shown along the bottom. I ended up having to completely reset and reconfigure the TV in order to get the apps to appear.

After this experience I'm pretty sure I'll avoid Samsung in the future.

 

[x-evil-x]

I got the anger demands as well, everything worked for them since 1940 until the late 1990s
which is kinda funny now
cbs app was the worse!

Yep totally true. new tech brings new glitches. At least now I never get calls about her tv not working with the appletv.

My Samsung remote that came with my “75 frame works with my AppleTV and it works well. It has the circle directional ring and a center thumb button, just like the old silver remote. So I’ve been able to archive the Uber touchy ATV remote thank god. The only thing I miss on the ATV remote is Siri search which by the way is another solid point for using ATV over the TV apps, you can search almost everything but Netflix at once. The Samsung remote is really designed well and ergonomically.

Never tried using the phone app? I use it most alway. I have a harmony elite but programmed everything into HomeKit for Siri to control all my devices and tv’s now and use my phone mostly for the controller.

 

[x-evil-x]

My Samsung remote that came with my “75 frame works with my AppleTV and it works well. It has the circle directional ring and a center thumb button, just like the old silver remote. So I’ve been able to archive the Uber touchy ATV remote thank god. The only thing I miss on the ATV remote is Siri search which by the way is another solid point for using ATV over the TV apps, you can search almost everything but Netflix at once. The Samsung remote is really designed well and ergonomically.

Also, if you want a physical remote the best feeling remote I think is the harmony companion. The first one in the picture. I like it more than the elite. Buttons are excellent. Back is shaped for your hand.

 

[LarryJoe33]

I have three Samsung "smart" TVs, all of which were purchased about the same time five or six years ago. I hate them. The ARC doesn't work properly on any of them. (This is a long standing problem on which there are massive threads on the Samsung support forum.) On two of the TVs I gave up on ARC and use an optical cable and a universal remote to make sure everything turns on and is set up correctly. On the TV where the ARC still works sometimes I use the Samsung remote to control the TV and the Apple TV. This works fine and means I don't have to hunt down or use the ATV remote. When the ARC fails on this TV the only way to get it to work again is to unplug the TV, wait 30 seconds, plug it in, turn it on and pray to the technology gods. Sometimes it works the first time and sometimes not.

I don't use the "smart" part of any of these TVs. I find the interface to be clunky and the apps not very easy to use. I have Apple TVs for all three. Just the other day I thought I'd have a look at the Samsung apps on one of the TVs (the one where the ARC works sometimes). None of the apps I'd downloaded were visible. Just a blank screen with the "suggested" apps shown along the bottom. I ended up having to completely reset and reconfigure the TV in order to get the apps to appear.

After this experience I'm pretty sure I'll avoid Samsung in the future.

I hear you on the Arc issues and in my case eArc. My Soundbar fails to put out sound 1 out of every five turn ons even though it turns on. However my work around is through an Alexa routine where I power cycle the Soundbar with every turn on.

I almost gave up and went optical but I really wanted Atmos.

 

[G5isAlive]

I wrestled with the same question last week, I just bought a new LG CX and it has a ton of Apps on it, including Apple TV. As there are HDMI limits I questioned why I was still using my 4k Apple TV. I did find a) it is faster, b) like you, it sounds better most of the time (not all), and c) I am convinced it even streams better. I have not tested this for all the Apps, but they seem to run in lower resolution off the built in Apps versus the Apple TV. Even my wife who is not terribly picky noticed this and prefers to use the Apple TV device. Plus yeah, I am also in the minority camp (you say) that prefers the Apple remote over the huge do it all with a 100 button remotes that come with most tvs.

 

[LarryJoe33]

I wrestled with the same question last week, I just bought a new LG CX and it has a ton of Apps on it, including Apple TV. As there are HDMI limits I questioned why I was still using my 4k Apple TV. I did find a) it is faster, b) like you, it sounds better most of the time (not all), and c) I am convinced it even streams better. I have not tested this for all the Apps, but they seem to run in lower resolution off the built in Apps versus the Apple TV. Even my wife who is not terribly picky noticed this and prefers to use the Apple TV device. Plus yeah, I am also in the minority camp (you say) that prefers the Apple remote over the huge do it all with a 100 button remotes that come with most tvs.

Thanks. I’m still testing and switching back and forth, but I haven’t noticed and picture quality or speed differences between the TV apps and ATV. I will say, it’s definitely more convenient using the TV apps vs switching inputs and needing the ATV remote to wake it up. On the remote, I don’t prefer a 100 button remote, I would prefer the ATV remote be designed better.

It’s funny, my new Samsung remote (which controls my ATV nicely) looks like something Apple could have and should have designed and it’s not 100 buttons.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Also, if you want a physical remote the best feeling remote I think is the harmony companion. The first one in the picture. I like it more than the elite. Buttons are excellent. Back is shaped for your hand.

Big fan of Harmony, I used to use one back in the day with my 85" DLP Rear Projection Mitsubishi. Boy what a dinosaur. Haven't checked these out in a while, I assume they are bluetooth now and programmed with a phone app. Back in the day it was plugging in and out of my PC to program.

 

[x-evil-x]

Big fan of Harmony, I used to use one back in the day with my 85" DLP Rear Projection Mitsubishi. Boy what a dinosaur. Haven't checked these out in a while, I assume they are bluetooth now and programmed with a phone app. Back in the day it was plugging in and out of my PC to program.

yes, they do bluetooth now. You can get an app on your Mac called harmony bridge and link it to your HomeKit so you can add your scenes into HomeKit and control it with Siri its been nice.
I still have my harmony 890 from 2007 and it works good still. Dont use it as much anymore since these new ones though.

 

[LarryJoe33]

yes, they do bluetooth now. You can get an app on your Mac called harmony bridge and link it to your HomeKit so you can add your scenes into HomeKit and control it with Siri its been nice.
I still have my harmony 890 from 2007 and it works good still. Dont use it as much anymore since these new ones though.

Ahh, I had a few 890's. Back then each TV setup was elaborate with multiple inputs - HT Receiver, BluRay/DVD, VHS, Game Console 2X, Cablebox. Had two setups in the house. Funny, hooking up this new Samsung, the only inputs are the cable box and the ATV4K. Really no need for physical media anymore and my kids are grown and out (so no gaming consoles).

 

[x-evil-x]

Ahh, I had a few 890's. Back then each TV setup was elaborate with multiple inputs - HT Receiver, BluRay/DVD, VHS, Game Console 2X, Cablebox. Had two setups in the house. Funny, hooking up this new Samsung, the only inputs are the cable box and the ATV4K. Really no need for physical media anymore and my kids are grown and out (so no gaming consoles).

The 890 still today is a great remote And does do things the new ones don’t with z-wave. I got rid of all my z-wave stuff a while ago and moved into HomeKit things(hue/Lutron ect...).
It is nice that the new ones the elite and companion remote have smart home control you can program an activity and change the lights all in the same scene. Then the little buttons it has you can do a lot with lighting.
you can also do that with harmony bridge and adding the activities into homekit along with the lighting and other things you want for that activity. I’d try out a harmony hub at least you can do a lot with it and an iPhone If you have HomeKit devices.