I wonder how high A10X can clock in here. An actively cooled high end SoC from Apple in the ATV is what I wanted last time, this looks like it. I hope they really push developers for game support.
I don't think they really have to push much. The ATV is complimentary to iOS gaming, so the barrier to releasing an ATV version is not that high. I think sometimes there are developers that prefer not to release a TV based version for certain market reasons...like 2K or EA sports titles being on iOS but not tvOS.
It's too bad it doesn't automatically switch between video formats, and there's no easy way to switch between them manually. It takes a minimum of 10 steps -- and that's with Siri! -- just to switch from 4K 60Hz HDR to 1080p 60Hz SDR, and back again. I really don't like the idea of TV applying fake HDR and upscaling the majority of the available streaming content to 4K, bypassing the superior capabilities of my Sony 900E. I can't imagine why Apple won't allow the customer to bypass Apples video processing, and simply allow native signal output if desired.
It's too bad it doesn't automatically switch between video formats, and there's no easy way to switch between them manually. It takes a minimum of 10 steps
10 steps?
"To confirm which video mode your Apple TV 4K is using, go to Settings > Video and Audio.From here, you can manually select a display format."
Seriously? They put a fan in a living room device? Steve Jobs would have fired the whole team designing it! I think I will return both devices unjust ordered and wait for a fanless design. What good is 4K video and Dolby atmos if you got a vacuum cleaner in the room !
It's too bad it doesn't automatically switch between video formats, and there's no easy way to switch between them manually. It takes a minimum of 10 steps
10 steps?
"To confirm which video mode your Apple TV 4K is using, go to Settings > Video and Audio.From here, you can manually select a display format."
1) Let's say I'm watching CBS streaming programming in 1080p 60Hz SDR, and I want to watch a movie on iTunes. I press the mic button and ask Siri to take me to Settings. 2) For the sake of brevity, let's say I only go to Settings to change my video format. So it's already on the last mode I selected.** From there, I swipe down to get to the "Other" options, to take me to the second page of format settings. 3) On the second page, I scroll down to 4K 24Hz HDR. 4) Then it asks me to confirm the setting (in the event my TV does not support it). 5) Then I tell Siri to take me to iTunes, where I watch my 4K HDR movie. 6) After the movie I want to go back to CBS, so I ask Siri to go back to Settings. 7) Hopefully Settings is still open to my last selection.** If so, I have to hit the Menu button to take me back to the main video format page. 8) Then I scroll up to the 1080p 60Hz SDR setting and select it. 9) I confirm that setting. 10) I ask Siri to take me to CBS.
**if for some reason the Settings have reverted to the main Settings menu, as sometimes happens for no reason I can correlate, I have to add the following steps: 1) Navigate to the audio/video settings menu and select. 2) Navigate to the Format menu, and select. Then proceed from step 2 above. 3 & 4) Repeat steps 1 & 2 if necessary to revert, and proceed from step 7 above.
So theoretically it may take me as many as 14 steps to change my settings for one program, and back again. If I didn't have Siri to take me to Settings, I'd have to add many more steps.
There's a number of things Apple could do to speed this up and make it more convenient, short of automatic switching for a native source, as it should. For instance, there's no reason I can't just tell the ATV what resolutions my TV accepts after testing, so that they do not require confirmation after each selection. Moreover, I should just be able to tell Siri to: "switch picture format to 4K 25Hz HDR", and have it happen without even leaving the app I'm currently in, or worst case scenario, taking me there so I can visually confirm it. Even better would be to identify my common supported resolutions by category so I could just say "4K HDR movie", or "HD TV show", etc.
That's to do two setting changes, not one. So it actually only takes you five to make a setting change. What's the total time involved there? 20-30 seconds? You're right that it would be more convenient to simply vocalize the setting changes on the fly within apps, but you have to remember that Apple wouldn't be in control of what 3rd parties supported within their own products.
I wonder how high A10X can clock in here. An actively cooled high end SoC from Apple in the ATV is what I wanted last time, this looks like it. I hope they really push developers for game support.
I don't think they really have to push much. The ATV is complimentary to iOS gaming, so the barrier to releasing an ATV version is not that high. I think sometimes there are developers that prefer not to release a TV based version for certain market reasons...like 2K or EA sports titles being on iOS but not tvOS.
That's true, but such a powerful streamer with active cooling and an MFi controller could also house the kinds of experiences iPhones just don't.
It's easily above the T1X especially at Switch clocks, and that got a recent AAA like Doom (at 30fps, but still. And the ATVs processors being twice as powerful could possibly do the full 60).
The one problem with 4K ATV is their Dolby Vision Test which does not work and results in the TV declaring no signal. I selected the Dolby Vision 30 Hz format from the pop down list and verified that it works with my TV confirming the correct cable installation. Why not just leave that setting in place? I have an LG OLED 65E7P and I see no problems. Why would you want to change to 1080 HD?
That's to do two setting changes, not one. So it actually only takes you five to make a setting change. What's the total time involved there? 20-30 seconds? You're right that it would be more convenient to simply vocalize the setting changes on the fly within apps, but you have to remember that Apple wouldn't be in control of what 3rd parties supported within their own products.
Well it's one step to me, since I can't leave one thing to watch another and go back to what I was watching before without doing all 10 to 14 steps.
Fine, so It takes 5 to 7 steps. That's 5 to 7 steps I have to do every time I want to switch to new content if I want the best picture. You know what I do on my smart TV now? Nothing. The apps automatically switch to the proper format without me having to do anything, offering the best picture quality supported by the video source and my TV! You sound like you're apologizing for Apple, when you reduce it to "it would be more convenient to vocalize ...". I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING!
And how exactly does this help control third party apps? Apple controls whether the apps can even be downloaded by the customer. All they have to do is direct them not to offer any content outside of the established video formats, they already tightly control codecs, and they could further restrict the third party apps to provide only native resolution appropriate for the encoded video source, and apple provides the rest. If the third party app doesn't follow those guidelines, they don't get to sell their app on the ATV.
Seriously? They put a fan in a living room device? Steve Jobs would have fired the whole team designing it! I think I will return both devices unjust ordered and wait for a fanless design. What good is 4K video and Dolby atmos if you got a vacuum cleaner in the room !
The "Steve Jobs would" have/never had posts are getting better and better with time.
Comments
"To confirm which video mode your Apple TV 4K is using, go to Settings > Video and Audio. From here, you can manually select a display format."
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208074
1) Let's say I'm watching CBS streaming programming in 1080p 60Hz SDR, and I want to watch a movie on iTunes. I press the mic button and ask Siri to take me to Settings.
2) For the sake of brevity, let's say I only go to Settings to change my video format. So it's already on the last mode I selected.** From there, I swipe down to get to the "Other" options, to take me to the second page of format settings.
3) On the second page, I scroll down to 4K 24Hz HDR.
4) Then it asks me to confirm the setting (in the event my TV does not support it).
5) Then I tell Siri to take me to iTunes, where I watch my 4K HDR movie.
6) After the movie I want to go back to CBS, so I ask Siri to go back to Settings.
7) Hopefully Settings is still open to my last selection.** If so, I have to hit the Menu button to take me back to the main video format page.
8) Then I scroll up to the 1080p 60Hz SDR setting and select it.
9) I confirm that setting.
10) I ask Siri to take me to CBS.
**if for some reason the Settings have reverted to the main Settings menu, as sometimes happens for no reason I can correlate, I have to add the following steps:
1) Navigate to the audio/video settings menu and select.
2) Navigate to the Format menu, and select. Then proceed from step 2 above.
3 & 4) Repeat steps 1 & 2 if necessary to revert, and proceed from step 7 above.
So theoretically it may take me as many as 14 steps to change my settings for one program, and back again. If I didn't have Siri to take me to Settings, I'd have to add many more steps.
There's a number of things Apple could do to speed this up and make it more convenient, short of automatic switching for a native source, as it should. For instance, there's no reason I can't just tell the ATV what resolutions my TV accepts after testing, so that they do not require confirmation after each selection. Moreover, I should just be able to tell Siri to: "switch picture format to 4K 25Hz HDR", and have it happen without even leaving the app I'm currently in, or worst case scenario, taking me there so I can visually confirm it. Even better would be to identify my common supported resolutions by category so I could just say "4K HDR movie", or "HD TV show", etc.
It's easily above the T1X especially at Switch clocks, and that got a recent AAA like Doom (at 30fps, but still. And the ATVs processors being twice as powerful could possibly do the full 60).
Why not just leave that setting in place? I have an LG OLED 65E7P and I see no problems. Why would you want to change to 1080 HD?
Fine, so It takes 5 to 7 steps. That's 5 to 7 steps I have to do every time I want to switch to new content if I want the best picture. You know what I do on my smart TV now? Nothing. The apps automatically switch to the proper format without me having to do anything, offering the best picture quality supported by the video source and my TV! You sound like you're apologizing for Apple, when you reduce it to "it would be more convenient to vocalize ...". I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING!
And how exactly does this help control third party apps? Apple controls whether the apps can even be downloaded by the customer. All they have to do is direct them not to offer any content outside of the established video formats, they already tightly control codecs, and they could further restrict the third party apps to provide only native resolution appropriate for the encoded video source, and apple provides the rest. If the third party app doesn't follow those guidelines, they don't get to sell their app on the ATV.