bradford_kirby

AppleInsider said:

Early reviews of the Apple TV 4K are in, with most reviewers having a generally positive impression of the device -- but all point out that other than future-proofing there is no reason to invest in the device if you have no interest in the Apple iTunes ecosystem, or don't have a 4K television.

Engadget briefly examined the device, and published its examination of first impressions. Devindra Hardawar called it the "streaming box I've been waiting for" and trumpeted the device's easy setup with an iPhone. Hardawar also noted that the set automatically enabled Dolby Vision, as well as keeping HDR enabled all the time to prevent the television from switching between modes.

Films downloaded from Apple were "stunning" with videos playing within a second from selecting the title.

Nilay Patel from The Verge criticized the device for forces mostly out of Apple's control -- the lack of Disney-produced movies and YouTube in 4K HDR. Additionally, Patel noted that any sub-4K content you own is upscaled on the device with what the Apple TV picks for settings as a default, and processed into 4K HDR regardless of source, at 60Hz. The upscaling apparently works fine for Apple-provided content, but fell down with a HBO Go viewing of "The Dark Knight" in HD.

"The Apple TV 4K HDR processing blew out all the contrast in the image, sharpened everything to hell, and turned the film grain into noise," Wrote Patel. "The same movie looked fine on iTunes, but it just looked bad from HBO Go."

Patel later checked the same video on the fourth-generation Apple TV, and called it "fine" with "work to be done" on content from other apps -- but who is responsible for that work wasn't made clear.

Overall, Patel's review was positive, with several of his concerns about the device addressed by Apple during the course of the examination. He appears to have hope for the future with software upgrades to the Apple TV 4K over time.

David Katzmaier from cnet also generally praised the device with caveats, nothing that it had the "most polished streaming experience today" with the "best remote on the market."

Katzmaier also noted that while Apple's pricing for 4K content significiantly undercuts the other streaming players, that 4K and HDR content is scarce, and the device costs more than twice as much as a similar Roku device.

"Unless you're an Apple die-hard with extra cash, it's worth waiting a bit," write Katzmaier. "Stay tuned."

USA Today also briefly assessed the device from a user perspective, and less as a deep-dive into the technology. Mike Snider watched "Wonder Woman" on a compatible Samsung 4K television, and called it "as wonderful as in the theater."

"Apple is notable for the panache its products deliver," wrote Snider. "Apple devotees who have already embraced 4K -- or plan to do so soon -- will certainly want to give the new Apple TV a look."

Key takeaways

All of the reviewers noted that surround sound options peak at Dolby 7.1 -- with no inclusion of Atmos. Also, there remains to be no television content from Apple available in 4K.

In short, it appears that the Apple TV 4K is squarely aimed at those who benefitted from prior purchases, and the free update to 4K HDR versions, where available.

AppleInsider evaluation is forthcoming

AppleInsider staffers have a variety of setups integrating the Apple TV. In a series of examinations of the device, we will be looking at not only streaming to the device from the Internet, but also the device performs across a local area network in conjunction with how the iTunes and Apple TV 4K combination deals with user-supplied 4K content.

Additionally, we will examine the device in an assortment of environments ranging from a small office to a home theater set up in a living room.

4K is 5 years away. If it happens... it’s the least explained gimmick ever.

4k is a differentiating function the nearly profitless television set makers have forced on us early to explain away the strange pricing of a flat panel monitor in 2017.

 I could go even deeper on this but I feel like I’m gonna lose people if I explain it but the bottom line is that 4K TVs will not happen until 4K monitors (computer monitors) are known and used as equals and the coalesce around a common codec. FYI there’s no money in content creation created for YouTube so this open source nonsense is as usual underunformed. Patel sucks.  

for example a 65 inch uhd tv is about 1k at Best Buy today and provided the content played on it is native 4K that’s a great deal. But the 300$ 1080p one next to it is the real steal because it’s 300$ and plays all ur stuff.

comparatively if I booted my pc to play gtav in 4K I would be told to buy a 4k monitor that per pixel would cost thousands for an equally sized unit (they don’t exist) but we’re I to ignore that and  hook my 4K gaming rig to that same tv - the 1000$ Tv would display the game in full 4K (after messing in settings a bit)

the industry literally doesn’t know what to sell and that’s doing nothing for pushing the content creators to pick a flipping codec for sound or video. We still are being told that there different things when the singles both digital and using the same hdmi cord. 

 Until a 4K OTA signal is pumped through for free (which would require gov’t mandate just like the HD conversion did) there’s very little reason to heavily invest in the format when you have a lifetime sized collection of awesome hd stuff.

Can’t help but notice that a whole lot of “coming soon” tech was added after the products were released... Way more than usual. 

Also I only consume I have no idea how complex it is to promise, invent, market and release a perfect product... 

im concerned that they lean to heavy on my trust and yours when they fall short - even for the best reasons. 

What I’d appreciate more is a whole lot less of reading about the Verges or Patel’s opinions on Apple insider’s website as opposed to me going there and reading it for myself which I wouldn’t do

 there could not be a more biased blog

 Having said all that the problem with 4K is that there is not enough original 4K content made by the content creators not the Streamers not the publishers - anyone but the firms and studios themselves that put it out there unless it is in 4K to begin with it’s essentially upscaled

 Upscaled always means less. The benefit is they’re providing you the best version of what they could give you but it’s never going to be the full version if it wasnt it filmed in 4K

It gets even more complicated if you start factoring in where in the stream of their upscaling it is happening,  on the streamer ? is it happening on the television?  is it happening at the studio ?

all of those things matter

so basically unless it’s in 4K to begin with it’s upscaled on some level and therefore not what they’re selling nor should we be expecting that it will come that way

they can’t magically turn content 1080p into 4K

 Cd players cannot play tapes
tape players could not play VHS tapes and eight tracks should have never happened

they’re doing us a favor it’s not something to review or not review it’s a favor they simply cannot make 4K out of not 4K content. 

use your brains friends. HBO has no money to make by offering its free for subscribers streaming service HBOGo (which it no longer makes people pay for because they have HBO now) in 4K - that makes no sense

it it makes me crazy that he’s using HBO as an example of a “con” when it’s clearly an iTunes device is just ridiculous and that it’s quoted here is even more ridiculous

Also the whole sticker idea that someone said...  about putting a sticker on the bottom 👊

im not gonna put a sticker on the bottom of my $200 remote when I can just flip it over 

Hannah dropping the ball with the apps on the television because frankly it should be just a giant iPhone and you letting that you can use for stuff that’s more graphically intensive say I’m looking at your stupid  6 inch phone

They should build it out and make it the iOS Mac Mini that’s what it is anyway

 theyd probably sell more

filled with ideas today lol

Hypraktiv said:

The presenter really needs to work on his intonation/reading skills. The diction sounds unnatural. 

Keep the kid doing videos. He's learning fast and I think he's either writing for you already or wants too because he conveys facts and screams fanboy in the perfect proportion for me. Not dismissive nor ignorant of Apple choices and his tone is fine.

The fact you wrote 'reading skills' is an indication of your knowledge and professional experience in the field... very few people can "wing" on camera TelePrompTer and look natural (perhaps AI uses cue cards but that's unlikely) 

and hes cute. 

Wheres your our professionally edited and reviewed apple review ? Is it hiding in your 2 shares of Apple stock grandpa?

be nice they do a good job here. Other places are rarely as fair 

As a Personal Trainer I can't count how many times this comes up. 

Equinox and Lifetime have in house solutions but mostly even Trainers prefer paper it's just quicker.

i moved to iPad as soon as it came out and my friend went in develop the Pump One app that lived in the last iPod and then evolved into Fitness Builder - but again that's manual. 

The UnderArmor 39 was a good stab but illicited more respiration data, the Atlas watch is garbage ...

the problem is basic... the best laid plans stray and the recording needs to somehow know the weight, force and number of reps and sets and without SOME setup I can't see how that happens...

but its not a small problem. Rebook Crossfit is struggling with this as welll... they pass the WOD in email blasts and on cork boards and they cost 250 a month. 

Equinox and Lifetime track on thier apps but again its major manual entry and in a serious workout typing s correction is not wanted... 

it's just silly. More people lift weight more than 3x per week in America than all the swimmers - swimming and all the triathletes that the Fenix or Polar are made for.

I could get get into this even further but this step counting garbage is stupid nonsense. You have to lift and sweat to lose weight, get lean or get big... that's the recipe... no one step counting and checking thier heart rate is likely healthy.

thier needs to be apps for people who aren't obese, blah blah blah 

and perhaps America should stop shoving every gross thing into thier face and go to the gym app or not... 

but its it's a huge problem and I suggest FitnessBuilder or Gym Fit Pro and Nike running (thier train app is garbage) to those like minded folks 

SpamSandwich said:

saniat said:

What about the danger to passersby of the laser guidance system. This is a real issue. LIDR cannot simply be assumed to be "safe". We do not need a nation of vision impaire, inlicted by unregulated new technology. 

These aren't visible light lasers.

robin huber said:

Curious to see what vehicle they will choose for shuttle. Closed loop a great idea for testing. Also good that all guinea pig riders are Apple employees--less liability. 

And also a nod to the smart efforts of Mountain Views success. Without question- Googles effort both its current state and the road they took to get there was the most conservative but ultimately consumer facing in just "miles logged." 

-giant campus requiring multiple shuttles
-potential Designation as POI for Apple Park drawing tourists and curiosity (circa Monorail in the 50s at Disneyland)
-large vehicle that hides this sensor array 
-conscripted employee use 
-quick mileage gain and word of mouth (provides its successful)
-great marketing tool not bound to a car company

Ultimately I believe that Apple has no choice but to build a branded car - whether it is buyable or shareable is the actual internal debate. To build a car on the scale - say Didi might require would require the aqusistion of an already successful car builder - the Foxconn of automobiles - Commonwealth for example or Bosch - a car parts business... My guess is they probably wanted to aquire someone like Maclaren but realized the timeline and scale and autonomous experimentation weren't working in concert. Before the iPod was something everyone had and Apple was innovating in the dessert with pink plastic iMacs and transitioning towards Flash iPods (2005?) they partnered with a company called Honhai and in two years had cornered the worlds supply of Flash memory until Toshiba caught up and got wise to the business available... 

Apple will follow this same playbook. Slow and steady wins the race. The Car adventure will run its own iOS, ARkit and the devs embrace of it will be foundational and the silicon will be designed in house.

This doesn't happen in 2020 but there were 4 iPhones before Verizon and 2 before an App Store... 

its gonna take take a minute but they are by no means behind. 

Waymo will make mistakes (why oh why Fiat...) because it's new and Apple will then Avoid those mistakes developing their own solutions before they become consumer facing. Just like Lyft has done to Uber... only without the stupid drama.

Tesla built a super car to build an SUV to pay for a sedan... Maclaren builds 200 custom built Super car that would require retooling but wouldn't be bound to the brand. And they're the hottest cars in the world.

Lastly as the owner of a semi autonomous SUV I must tell you, the future of these cars simply isn't compatible with the old Dealership model - people will need long term acceptance before they sell them off a lot to say nothing of the wide variance between The car companies say the difference between Acurawatch or idrive or the Ford parking system  light years ahead of even Toyota who's had a parking system since the early 2000's

there are wildly different semis out there already some conservative some are very ambitious it's just an unknown at this point. Autopilot just isn't the whole story. But Super Cruise might be... 

it will take a serious conversation with both the American public and the media that reports on every single dramatic death that happens because of the cars will crash and that's the point the cars are going to crash and kill people but they will save lives long-term because you know 100 people die every day in a Ford or Chevy and two people die in a Tesla and it makes the news for two weeks

So that would have to stop and that's not gonna happen in 2020

Americans are stupid, the demographic wealthy enough to afford vehicles over 50k is ancient and filled with fear, and a bunch of grandpas are gonna die in Model 3s and let's let Teslas Brand take the hit instead of Apple.

the tortoise and the hare.

patchythepirate said:

Sounds like the future. And if all the face recognition, listening for the "hey siri" command, and home settings are able to be managed locally, there shouldn't be any significant privacy concerns. [Thankfully Apple is a trustworthy company that's been very consistent regarding making privacy a top priority, unlike some others, who go out of their way to circumvent privacy, and receive record setting fines for doing so..] I could easily see how you could just come home and wave 'hi' to the Apple TV and it will reply "hi john/jane, glad your're home" (in background air conditioning, lights, shades adjust, message is sent to sig other, etc).

If we have to wait until 2017, please Apple, ffs, at least release an integrated Apple Home iOS app in the meantime (i.e with iOS 10).

As an aside, it's going to be strange having a generation of kids that will grow up thinking that tech objects can be sentient. It'll actually probably be quite a shock when they grow up and realize that they're just machines, kind of like finding out santa clause doesn't exist. ..oops, spoiler alert!


This fits in very well with my thoughts from the previous thread:
Great thought! And with primesense not only will gestures be a possibility, but also face tracking and autorfocus for the camera. Also, if combined with a microphone array it could localize voices, which would improve communication with the hub in an environment with multiple people, or with background TV noise, etc. This could be supplemented by using your watch or phone to interact with the home hub when out of earshot, or possibly also API enabled 3rd party speakers as has been mentioned.

This rumor makes sense. The TV is the literal hub of the home, and it makes sense for the AI to be based there (not wherever someone happens to leave the speaker). These type of products should be about a shared experience in the home, it should bring people together (whereas the iPhone functions as your personal hub). This way you don't have people fighting over who gets to have the hub next to them. At a surface level, anchoring the home hub at the TV may seem limiting, but in reality this setup enables better organization and facilitates the connected home, especially if there are multiple people, and especially if some of those people are chronologically challenged.

tl;dr: While iPhone is your personal hub, the Apple TV/siri will be the (shared) hub of the home.

Obviously they will not be releasing an Echo. They are however late with about 100 atv features that were promised or rumored prior to its handicapped release. Im not sure what to think about how the apple tv is being managed. It was clearly designed for greater capability. Its not relevant without a non alacarte best use - niche user base. It simply has to do a "have to" thing. Like stream your tv, or turn on the appliances and lights and..." otherwise its the mid range streamer that you will never use word on or edit pictures... You know apps There may very well be a FaceTime camera on the apple tv someday. FaceTime on the TV will be a priority and a pillar of all the functionality and 1st Class apps on every OS device someday. Including the watch.