New AppleTV

FastEddieB

FastEddieB

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Messages
11,542
Location
Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA
Display Name
Display name:
Fast Eddie B
Karen and I cut the cord about 2 years ago and watch the vast majority of our TV via the internet via our AppleTV. Also handy is watching content from our iPads and iPhones - on in the background on our 47" Vizio is yesterday's "Meet The Press" playing on my iPad through the AppleTV, for instance.

The new one, with Siri and app capability just went on sale today for $149-$199, depending on storage.

apple-tv-4th-gen.jpg


We just ordered the larger one, so as to "future proof" it. Delivery in 3-5 days.

Will report on it when it arrives. Looking forward to the Siri interface...

"Bring up the first episode of "The Last Man On Earth" that we haven't seen on Hulu".

With our fading hearing, the "What did he say?" function should prove invaluable. If you miss a line of dialog, say "What did he say?" and the AppleTV rewinds and plays you the last 15 seconds again, complete with temporary subtitles(!).

Anyone else have one on order?

As an aside, I'll stipulate that the Roku and other devices are worthy set top devices as well. But if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem, the AppleTV seems the logical choice.
 
I have three of them (Apple TVs). I am thinking about replacing at least the one in the living room with the new model. I cut the cord about a year ago, but I still haven't figured out an easy way to get Big Bang Theory. Last Man on Earth is a good show, but you have to get through the first couple of episodes for it to grow on you.
 
I have several Apple TV units and use them as often as satellite TV if not more. I may try one new box to see it there's a performance improvement but it isn't a priority right now. I would be interested in some feedback after you get one up and running.
 
Now I have to look it up. I'm assuming it's like Netflix? Or like cable?
 
Have Apple TV but hardly use it,don't watch that much TV anymore.
 
I get my Internet access from the cable company, but Google has been in my Austin neighborhood putting in fiber. As soon as it's hooked up to the house, all ties to the cable company will be severed.
 
Gerhardt said:
Now I have to look it up. I'm assuming it's like Netflix? Or like cable?
Click to expand...

It lets you watch Netflix and Hulu, as well as others, using an Internet connection. It also has "Airplay" which lets you push anything on your iPhone or iPad to the TV (like Amazon's show, Suits, which is available through the Prime Video app on the iPhone). I watch about 3 or 4 hours of TV a week. Not enough to pay $100 a month to DirecTV or Dish, but enough to justify the Apple TV and $7.99/mo each for Hulu and Netflix.
 
And all your iTunes stuff is available on the Apple TV. I have a surround sound system on my big TV. I use Apple TV to access my iTunes music and it serves as my primary home stereo. It's especially handy with the new Apple Music.

Word of warning, if your service is slow and Internet TV is sluggish on your computer it'll be worse on Apple TV.
 
Last edited:
For family night, we put together a small presentation in PowerPoint or Keynote, and use Airplay for it. I also told Mrs. thequick that we're not buying any more game machines that require DVD/CD/Cartridges (yeah, I know...). I'm just sick and tired of scratched CD rendering $60 useless, and yes, I know there are remedies, but I really don't have time for that.

Looking forward to the new Apple TV in a couple of weeks!
 
I run an HDMI cable from my ASUS ZenBook to the TV and use a remote keyboard on the coffee table, cost me about twenty bucks total. With Remote desktop I can work on any computer in the house from the living room couch. So if you're not into the Apple universe this is easily doable otherwise.
 
Silvaire said:
I run an HDMI cable from my ASUS ZenBook to the TV and use a remote keyboard on the coffee table, cost me about twenty bucks total. With Remote desktop I can work on any computer in the house from the living room couch. So if you're not into the Apple universe this is easily doable otherwise.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on who else in your household is using it and how technically savvy they are. My girlfriend would probably string me up, if I made it that hard to watch TV. The last Apple TV I bought only cost about $65, so it was wasn't terrible and it works well when I am not there to assist.
 
I have an AppleTV now and plan to get the newest one soon. I think apps on the AppleTV will be a game changer and some of the new features (such as the "what did you say?") are pretty cool. I can't cut the cord from satellite TV just yet. I keep it mainly for sports and there's no way to watch the NFL games I want without DirecTV.
 
I haven't looked at the Apple TV. What does it do that Google Chromecast doesn't or vice/versa?
 
Gucci Pilot said:
I haven't looked at the Apple TV. What does it do that Google Chromecast doesn't or vice/versa?
Click to expand...


Well... I doubt that it sells your viewing habits to the highest bidder as well as Chromecast does.

Other than that, save for the interoperability with other Apple devices / services, I doubt that there's a heck of a lot of difference.

Rich
 
Gucci Pilot said:
I haven't looked at the Apple TV. What does it do that Google Chromecast doesn't or vice/versa?
Click to expand...

They are pretty similar, but my mobile devices are all Apple, so the Airplay feature is what made it an easy choice for me. You can't get Amazon Prime directly to the Apple TV and I think you can with Chromecast, but the work around is to play it on the phone and just use Airplay.
 
My questions:

Does it do Amazon Video?

Does it do Netflix

Does it present content from my non-Apple file server?
 
John221us said:
They are pretty similar, but my mobile devices are all Apple, so the Airplay feature is what made it an easy choice for me. You can't get Amazon Prime directly to the Apple TV and I think you can with Chromecast, but the work around is to play it on the phone and just use Airplay.
Click to expand...
Have they fixed the resolution issues with AirPlay? I remember there being an issue with AirPlay where the frame rate was a lot slower when you tried to use it.
 
LevelWing said:
Have they fixed the resolution issues with AirPlay? I remember there being an issue with AirPlay where the frame rate was a lot slower when you tried to use it.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware of it, but the frame rate looks fine to me. I watch HD shows using it.
 
The Roku 3/4 have the same capability (and more) as the ATV. So unless you are locked into the Apple universe, there are better options. Plex/etc make great media servers if you already have a lot of downloaded media.
 
At $35, Chromecast is a no-brainier and we have one as well.

Does not get used much, but that's likely because the AppleTV handles 99% of our needs. When we want Amazon content, our Vizio TV has the Amazon app built in, but the interface is godawful.

Mainly use the Chromecast if and when the AppleTV is having trouble streaming YouTube, which happens on rare occasion.

BTW, the video podcast "Cordkillers" is all about cord cutting, and has a segment called "Gear Up" which discusses and compares set top boxes. Watch it weekly and get a lot of good ideas about things to watch there as well.
 
Not that anyone has asked, but in lieu of AppleTV and ChromeCast, I prefer to use Roku. I personally have the Roku 3, and its fantastic. For those that like the appletv and chromecast size, Roku also makes a smaller "stick" sized model as well. However, the 3 allows you more options.

If you haven't taken a look at the Roku, it's worth the 5 minutes. Truth be told, though, unlike the Chromecast, its about 100 for the Roku 3....the "stick" sized versions are more comparable in price to the Chromecast.
 
vkhosid said:
Not that anyone has asked, but in lieu of AppleTV and ChromeCast, I prefer to use Roku.
Click to expand...

I mentioned the Roku in the very first post, and they're great - I hear the latest ones surpass the current AppleTV, which was getting very long in the tooth.

It's a giant game of leapfrog - competition improves the breed.
 
FastEddieB said:
Netflix and Hulu and many others.

Open API so I imagine Amazon will field an app.

The Apple site has a lot of info on channels and features.
Click to expand...

Actually Amazon announced a couple weeks ago that they would not be selling either the Apple TV or the Chromecast in the future. They claim it was due to lack of compatibility with Amazon services, but oddly enough both AppleTV and Chromecast use open API's.

Oh, it also happened to coincide with the launch of the new Fire TV stick.

We use a Chromecast for most things in our house. It's simple, cheap, and does everything we need it to. We have the Amazon app on our TV as well, and while the interface does suck it's basically our only option at this point since Amazon's being a PITA.

I think the advantage to Chromecast is it's a completely open API, whereas I believe Apple still takes a cut of the sales made through Apple TV. I could be wrong there so don't quote me.
 
FastEddieB said:
I mentioned the Roku in the very first post, and they're great - I hear the latest ones surpass the current AppleTV, which was getting very long in the tooth.

It's a giant game of leapfrog - competition improves the breed.
Click to expand...

Fair enough...I just skimmed through most of the posts. But, I can't say enough good things about the Roku....not because its THAT good, but because I just have a dislike of Apple. Plus, with Roku, I can play Angry Birds if I so choose. :yes:
 
FastEddieB said:
. . . When we want Amazon content, our Vizio TV has the Amazon app built in, but the interface is godawful.
. . .
Click to expand...
I have the Apple TV and got tired of using my phone to airplay Amazon prime to the TV. I bought a Panasonic Blue Ray with Amazon app built in thinking I would use it when I wanted to watch Prime video. That Panasonic interface has to be the worst ever written.
 
Not Apple TV but an apparently similar product: http://viewpro.net/
Other than the website, I have found virtually nothing about it anywhere. Probably too good to be true.

Anybody heard of it?

Dave
 
Well for my money it's a giant piece of SH*T !!! It sees my home wifi. It wants to connect to it. When I type in the password for it all it says is "Unable to connect, please check your settings". Check my settings ???? WTF ! WTF ! Could it be any more vague ? I think I'm just gonna throw it out.
 
Art VanDelay said:
Well for my money it's a giant piece of SH*T !!! It sees my home wifi. It wants to connect to it. When I type in the password for it all it says is "Unable to connect, please check your settings". Check my settings ???? WTF ! WTF ! Could it be any more vague ? I think I'm just gonna throw it out.
Click to expand...

Unplug the Apple TV unit at the back, wait a few seconds, and reconnect it. When mine acts stupid that sets it right.
 
Art VanDelay said:
Well for my money it's a giant piece of SH*T !!! It sees my home wifi. It wants to connect to it. When I type in the password for it all it says is "Unable to connect, please check your settings". Check my settings ???? WTF ! WTF ! Could it be any more vague ? I think I'm just gonna throw it out.
Click to expand...


Older 802.11n? Using TKIP instead of AES?

I had some problems long long ago that were related to that.

What are your settings for your wifi on your router/access point?
 
vkhosid said:
Fair enough...I just skimmed through most of the posts. But, I can't say enough good things about the Roku....not because its THAT good, but because I just have a dislike of Apple. Plus, with Roku, I can play Angry Birds if I so choose. :yes:
Click to expand...

What I don't like about Roku is that they require the user to open an account, register the device, and save a payment method. Pretty much everyone who has ever saved one of my payment methods (or almost any other information about me, for that matter) has been hacked, and it long ago got very tiresome to have to deal with the aftermath. So no Roku for me.

What I use is a Samsung Blu-Ray player with streaming capability built in. It doesn't offer much variety, but it doesn't require registration, an account, or a payment method. Samsung may (and most likely does) spy on me in other ways, but at least I don't have to worry about my PII or payment methods being stolen. They don't have any of that information.

Rich
 
RJM62 said:
What I don't like about Roku is that they require the user to open an account, register the device, and save a payment method. Pretty much everyone who has ever saved one of my payment methods (or almost any other information about me, for that matter) has been hacked, and it long ago got very tiresome to have to deal with the aftermath. So no Roku for me.

What I use is a Samsung Blu-Ray player with streaming capability built in. It doesn't offer much variety, but it doesn't require registration, an account, or a payment method. Samsung may (and most likely does) spy on me in other ways, but at least I don't have to worry about my PII or payment methods being stolen. They don't have any of that information.

Rich
Click to expand...

Well, you can register with very little information submitted, and if you use a credit card, you are protected from fraudulent purchases. Also, if you don't purchase anything, it never uses the CC info. Sure, Roku could get hacked and they steal the CC info, so what. Get a new CC and go on with life, it's not like they'd be doing all-out identity theft. You info is more likely to be stolen from your everyday POS locations. Just my .02.
 
SoonerAviator said:
Well, you can register with very little information submitted, and if you use a credit card, you are protected from fraudulent purchases. Also, if you don't purchase anything, it never uses the CC info. Sure, Roku could get hacked and they steal the CC info, so what. Get a new CC and go on with life, it's not like they'd be doing all-out identity theft. You info is more likely to be stolen from your everyday POS locations. Just my .02.
Click to expand...

Go through it seven times, and then get back to me on that.

Rich
 
RJM62 said:
What I don't like about Roku is that they require the user to open an account, register the device, and save a payment method. Pretty much everyone who has ever saved one of my payment methods (or almost any other information about me, for that matter) has been hacked, and it long ago got very tiresome to have to deal with the aftermath. So no Roku for me.

What I use is a Samsung Blu-Ray player with streaming capability built in. It doesn't offer much variety, but it doesn't require registration, an account, or a payment method. Samsung may (and most likely does) spy on me in other ways, but at least I don't have to worry about my PII or payment methods being stolen. They don't have any of that information.

Rich
Click to expand...

Which actually brings up another question that's peripherally related to this thread...

I sometimes ponder buying an actual smart TV. Right now I'm using a wide-screen computer monitor coming off the Blu-Ray player. But I'd like something a little bigger.

Do any of the companies that make Smart TVs allow them to be used without having to register them with the TV manufacturer or provide a payment method? In other words, I'm looking for one that I can just plug in, connect to my Netflix (or whatever) account, and use, without having to create a new account. Are there any such Smart TVs out there?

Thanks.

Rich
 
^^^ every smart TV I've owned (two Sony and one Samsung) allows you to launch and install apps without any registration process.

That said, I've also found the apps for smart devices to be vastly inferior to the same apps made for the AppleTV and Roku.
 
kayoh190 said:
^^^ every smart TV I've owned (two Sony and one Samsung) allows you to launch and install apps without any registration process.

That said, I've also found the apps for smart devices to be vastly inferior to the same apps made for the AppleTV and Roku.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I just want to watch movies and don't especially care about the "apps" they're wrapped in, so your information is very helpful.

Rich
 
RJM62 said:
Which actually brings up another question that's peripherally related to this thread...

I sometimes ponder buying an actual smart TV. Right now I'm using a wide-screen computer monitor coming off the Blu-Ray player. But I'd like something a little bigger.

Do any of the companies that make Smart TVs allow them to be used without having to register them with the TV manufacturer or provide a payment method? In other words, I'm looking for one that I can just plug in, connect to my Netflix (or whatever) account, and use, without having to create a new account. Are there any such Smart TVs out there?

Thanks.

Rich
Click to expand...
The TV I currently have is smart capable. You have to buy a dongle, which I bought and after trying it, promptly returned. I'm not sure how the new ones are, but it was very slow and the functionality of the app was not on the same level as the AppleTV (I've never tried the others so I can't speak to them). But from what I remember, there was no registration required for the TV to use the apps, you just login to Netflix or whatever using your account and it worked.

kayoh190 said:
^^^ every smart TV I've owned (two Sony and one Samsung) allows you to launch and install apps without any registration process.

That said, I've also found the apps for smart devices to be vastly inferior to the same apps made for the AppleTV and Roku.
Click to expand...
That was my experience as well, though this was a few years ago. It doesn't appear it has gotten any better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top