Apple TV 4K

TechLarry

TechLarry

RIP [H] Brother - June 1, 2022
Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Messages
30,481
Anyone here have one of the new one's, and use the CBS Now app?

Have you found this app to be extraordinarily buggy?

Half the time I can't get it to launch shows. I watched the start Trek Discovery series this weekend (I loved it), but launching each show was a pain the ass. Half the time I had to reboot the console.

I'm sure it's the app, not the AppleTV box itself.
 
I just have the regular 4.
Did you have the previous model? If so, is the 4k model noticeably better (besides doing 4k video)
 
I'll say this: paired with an LG C7 (one of the 2017 OLED sets), the Apple TV 4K is... pretty nice. Even a gritty show like Narcos looks nicer in 4K HDR.
 
Aurelius said:
I'll say this: paired with an LG C7 (one of the 2017 OLED sets), the Apple TV 4K is... pretty nice. Even a gritty show like Narcos looks nicer in 4K HDR.
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Excuse my ignorance, but are there many benefits in having an Apple TV when most Smart TVs have access to almost all the same streaming services as the Apple TV?

This is a legitimate question because I've been contemplating purchasing it, but can't bring myself to it since my LG B6 pretty much has every streaming service I can think of. The only added benefit I see is AirPlay and gaming (which I wouldn't use it for).
 
exlink said:
Excuse my ignorance, but are there many benefits in having an Apple TV when most Smart TVs have access to almost all the same streaming services as the Apple TV?

This is a legitimate question because I've been contemplating purchasing it, but can't bring myself to it since my LG B6 pretty much has every streaming service I can think of. The only added benefit I see is AirPlay and gaming (which I wouldn't use it for).
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The Apple TV interface is quite snappy and the remote is pretty nifty. I haven't used a newer Smart TV so I am not sure how snappy the interface is on them.
I have a few Apple devices so that is why I decided to get the Apple TV's.
 
exlink said:
Excuse my ignorance, but are there many benefits in having an Apple TV when most Smart TVs have access to almost all the same streaming services as the Apple TV?

This is a legitimate question because I've been contemplating purchasing it, but can't bring myself to it since my LG B6 pretty much has every streaming service I can think of. The only added benefit I see is AirPlay and gaming (which I wouldn't use it for).
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There are, I'd say.

First: there are some services that aren't on modern smart TVs or aren't done as well. I seem to have an easier time finding niche services on Apple TV (say, sports or regional programming) than I do in webOS' store. Twitch doesn't have official webOS or Apple TV apps, for example, but the Apple TV alternative (Twitchy) is considerably better than its webOS counterpart (Gamestreams). You certainly don't have as tight integration for some apps. Siri is definitely better for finding something on Netflix by voice, for instance, while it's nice to have Amazon Prime Video included in a centralized TV viewing app.

Of course, the Apple TV is likely to be the better choice if you want to buy or rent movies, since iTunes is a core part of it.

I'd add that it's a good idea if you're doing the smart home thing, as it can serve as a hub for HomeKit devices for remote access. You have to enable it, but you can do things like shut off your lights while away from home without needing to use device-specific apps.

This isn't to say that it's an easy decision... while it has its quirks, I really like webOS as a TV interface. It feels easy to use (most of the time), slick and loaded with quite a few apps that are at least good enough, if not ideal. It's just that the philosophical differences between the two give Apple an edge. LG is a TV maker that just happens to pay sincere attention to its operating system; Apple is making a dedicated media hub, so the operating system is everything. Apple TV feels more flexible and general-purpose (see: fitness apps, gaming and beyond) where webOS is ultimately there to drive conventional TV-like experiences.
 
I love the AppleTV 4K, but that fucking remote.....
 
Zepher said:
What's wrong with the remote? I love mine.
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Oh, the damn thing is horribly un-egornomic. Always issuing commands by mistake with that stupid slider pad. And, what the hell are all the wacky commands on that thing anyway?
 
Download the Apple remote app (it's free) onto your ipad or iphone and use that instead. Gives you access to a keyboard which makes inputting passwords or search terms (if you’re not dictating a search) a lot easier than swiping back and forth to the letters.
 
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Travolta said:
Download the Apple remote app (it's free) onto your ipad or iphone and use that instead. Gives you access to a keyboard which makes inputting passwords or search terms (if you’re not dictating a search) a lot easier than swiping back and forth to the letters.
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Definitely handy when you loose the real one or can't be bothered to get up (or in another room even). But hands down the old aluminum one is still my favorite. Easy to hold and very responsive. My advice, set up the remote app BEFORE you loose the real one :D

In my case I drilled a hole through the aluminum in the bottom corner and attached a tether, so now the kids can't loose them ($20 a pop ain't fun, especially when you find it 2 months later inside a shoe or something).

apple_remote.jpg
 
I'm really happy with the ATV4K so far. I went from a ATV3 to this. The higher resolution looks much better and doing video comparisions of 4K disc versus 4K iTunes is really nit picking to see a difference (75" TV and I have to stand a foot or 2 away to see the digital noise iTunes has). But the user experience with iTunes 4K is better than disc because it goes straight to a "menu" and you aren't forced to watch any bullshit ads. Plus the price is better on iTunes compared to 4K disc.

The downsides to the ATV4K? Inherently lower quality sound (but not inherently noticeable!). Dolby Digital Plus versus "sky's the limit" on Disc (Dolby Digital Atmos, Dolby True HD, DTS-MA, etc). Also, you MUST stream on iTunes 4K. You can download the movie to your PC, but it will only be the 1080p version. As of now, iTunes will only stream 4K. At 15-25Mbits per second, that's hefty constant bandwidth for a lot of Americans for a 1.5-2 hour span. Especially when other people in the house might be using Netflix or jerking off or something. iTunes will use adaptive bitrate to try and keep up, but the video quality will suffer while it builds up the buffer. Where as a 4K disc will give you 40-50Mbits per second all day long.

I thought long and hard about it and decided to go with both iTunes 4K movies as well as 4K Disc. I'll probably use iTunes for normal movies since it's way easier to use, but for the "reference" movies, I'll get the discs. Movies like Prometheus, etc. But even with Prometheus I got up close and personal to the screen and like I said it's really minimal difference in visual quality. Sound was "louder" on disc for sure for a given sound level on the receiver (-25db for example), but that could be purely a medium or device difference and not indicative of real sound quality differences.

But interface is much upgraded from ATV3 if you live in the Apple Ecosystem. Having access to Music Match and Subscription finally is nice. More content is displayed on the "Computer" section if you are using Home Sharing, and it's clearer (resolution) too. Interface is Apple Snappy™ as usual, which is one of the major appeals for me.
 
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