TCL, LG under pressure from customers about AirPlay 2 compatibility
With the news that Apple's AirPlay 2 is coming to several major TV brands, some people have begun pressuring more companies to support the technology, or for those that are onboard to update older sets.
TCL is "currently committed to Roku," according one spokesperson. A key feature of its TVs is the integration of Roku OS, one of the most popular streaming platforms. It has access to hundreds of apps, and on TVs treats built-in inputs the same way, for instance making it easy to switch between Netflix, a cable box, and a game console. Mobile apps with Google Cast support can push audio and video to Roku devices.
Neither TCL nor Roku have explicitly denied the possibility of adding AirPlay. Roku simply doesn't "have anything to share regarding this now," a spokesperson told MacRumors.
An online petition is meanwhile calling on LG to bring AirPlay 2 to OLED sets going as far back as 2016. Apple's official roster of AirPlay 2 TVs mentions only LG's 2019 OLED, UHD UM7X, and NanoCell SM8X and SM9X models.
That contrasts with Samsung, which is backing both 2018 and 2019 TVs, and Vizio, which is updating sets reaching back to 2017. Sony is joining LG in restricting compatibility to 2019 hardware.
Samsung's compatible hardware is all based on Tizen. Visio's televisions have Android operating systems, and WebOS devices are also theoretically compatible in software. A possible limitation is the system-on-a-chip that is in older gear -- or it may just be a corporate decision to force users to buy a new television if they want the Apple compatibility.
AirPlay 2 will let people with Apple products push photos, video, and audio to TVs, including through Siri commands like "Play 'Blade Runner 2049' in the Living Room." In most cases it also means HomeKit integration for purposes like automation, and controlling some TV functions through the Apple Home app. Samsung TVs appear to be missing HomeKit.
TCL is "currently committed to Roku," according one spokesperson. A key feature of its TVs is the integration of Roku OS, one of the most popular streaming platforms. It has access to hundreds of apps, and on TVs treats built-in inputs the same way, for instance making it easy to switch between Netflix, a cable box, and a game console. Mobile apps with Google Cast support can push audio and video to Roku devices.
Neither TCL nor Roku have explicitly denied the possibility of adding AirPlay. Roku simply doesn't "have anything to share regarding this now," a spokesperson told MacRumors.
An online petition is meanwhile calling on LG to bring AirPlay 2 to OLED sets going as far back as 2016. Apple's official roster of AirPlay 2 TVs mentions only LG's 2019 OLED, UHD UM7X, and NanoCell SM8X and SM9X models.
That contrasts with Samsung, which is backing both 2018 and 2019 TVs, and Vizio, which is updating sets reaching back to 2017. Sony is joining LG in restricting compatibility to 2019 hardware.
Samsung's compatible hardware is all based on Tizen. Visio's televisions have Android operating systems, and WebOS devices are also theoretically compatible in software. A possible limitation is the system-on-a-chip that is in older gear -- or it may just be a corporate decision to force users to buy a new television if they want the Apple compatibility.
AirPlay 2 will let people with Apple products push photos, video, and audio to TVs, including through Siri commands like "Play 'Blade Runner 2049' in the Living Room." In most cases it also means HomeKit integration for purposes like automation, and controlling some TV functions through the Apple Home app. Samsung TVs appear to be missing HomeKit.
Comments
DAMN!
Apple licenses AirPlay to a few companies and it causes a storm!!
Airplay is the new MUST HAVE feature. Time to capitalize on this.
Tizen is a negative. LG’s WebOS is a positive.
Visio having AirPlay is compelling.
I didn’t know about the TCL/Roku. That’s an interesting option at the lower end, and would probably make a good bedroom TV.
TCL is only "budget" in price. Their TVs are ahead of the game supporting Dolby Vision. A beauty for Apple TV.
Roku is a nightmare though!!!
The way Apple devices handle wireless lag is by buffering the video to compensate for whatever audio device is connected to it. When you connect the device to the TV instead of the ATV, then tvOS only knows to synchronize with the TV, and isn’t aware of the wireless device attached to the TV. The only way to avoid lag then is to connect directly to the Apple device. Apple doesn’t have a low latency protocol, like aptX, which your TV doesn’t likely have either. I solve this issue by plugging an aptX LL transmitter into my TV headphone jack, then plug my wired headphones into an aptX LL receiver. No lag. There are headphones that support aptX LL as well, but none of Apples do. Nor does your TV.
Sony uses Android TV OS, which I view as a negative. AirPlay would be a definite positive, but Sony will not likely make it available on recent TVs, especially if they have to pay a license fee to do it. They also tend to withhold features they could update older sets with if it makes a currently selling, or more expensive TV more desirable.
https://www.cnet.com/news/vizio-unveils-scads-of-tvs-with-quantum-dots-and-apple-airplay-at-ces-2019/
My Sony is definitely not a budget TV, but even it has an BG app called Samba which evendently reports to Sony everything I do and watch with my TV. I only found this out while seeking to disable it because it slowed down my UI. It was also brought to my attention that in the EULA, I was agreeing to give away a ton of user data by enabling auto software updates. I believe TLC is a Chinese company as well.
My TCL isn't sending my personal information anywhere AFAICT. Leave the factory defaults as is and yes every company will use them to their advantage. Why wouldn't they? They aren't in it for the charity.
https://www.imore.com/how-change-privacy-settings-apple-tv