Apple officially announces special event for April 20: ‘Spring Loaded’

Gregor Samsa

I have a Sony Android TV. It doesn’t run the Apple TV + app yet, but it will later in the year.

Aside from ATV+ (which I’ve only watched The Morning Show and Mythic Quest on), I still much prefer to use the Apple TV 4K for everything than the on-TV apps. I much prefer the ATV interface. The kids use Apple Arcade, we all use Apple Music a lot, as well as Apple Photos. There’s apps like Just Dance, Lightroom, All 4 and Zwift that just aren’t available on the Google Play Store for the TV. In fact, the only time we use any of the apps on the Sony TV (Netflix or Disney+) is when we lose the Apple TV remote down the back of the sofa.

I’ve also got one on an older non-smart TV in the bedroom.

I won’t be upgrading to the new ATV 4K, because it doesn’t do enough new stuff over the current one, but I wouldn’t be without it personally.

FourFourRED

murpho999 wrote: »

What is the need for an Apple TV if you have a good Smart TV that even have Apple TV + app?

Only thing I can see is the Apple Music and Podcasts app but don't see the point in the rest?

Am I wrong?

For me I always found the processing power of the apple tv box and the general look and feel of the UI of to be superior to the tv apps.

I’ve a Samsung QLED and it just doesn’t compare - very sluggish. For the sake of €145 which I originally paid for the 32GB 4K box it’s worth it for me as it gets daily usage especially with seamless airplay from my iPad for tv shows and movies (I know the tv app can do it too) - but yeah I think it’s much more convenient and a far more pleasant experience for me than having to use the TV remote and the less than impressive software on a slow processor.

I know that a lot of users wouldn’t care less about that though.

I have Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube, Now TV & Disney+ as my most used apps on a day to day basis and switching between them from the one central hub where it runs fast is important to me I guess. I just couldn’t be dealing with the tv apps because they frustrate me.

Iguarantee

murpho999 wrote: »

What is the need for an Apple TV if you have a good Smart TV that even have Apple TV + app?

Only thing I can see is the Apple Music and Podcasts app but don't see the point in the rest?

Am I wrong?

Integration with iBooks, iPhoto etc. Various other things.

DubDJ

Apple needs to go the HomePod mini route with the Apple TV 4K. A redesigned and smaller box priced at €99. At its current price I think it’s overpriced for most people. Also hasn’t been a lot of change with it over the years other than the software overhaul.

It’s hard to compete with the Fire Sticks and Chromecasts when they’re priced less than the new Apple TV remote.

peteeeed

awec wrote: »

"With iOS 14.5, listeners can access a redesigned Apple Podcasts app featuring an enhanced Search tab that provides quick access to Top Charts and categories."

Huzzah! Long overdue.

i'm looking at it now in the beta , big improvement

Craigels

Definitely ordering the 12.9 inch 256GB WiFi silver iPad Pro with the white magic keyboard. That combination looks amazing.

peteeeed

Craigels wrote: »

Definitely ordering the 12.9 inch 256GB WiFi silver iPad Pro with the white magic keyboard. That combination looks amazing.

pure tech porn

Oafley Jones

DubDJ wrote: »

Apple needs to go the HomePod mini route with the Apple TV 4K. A redesigned and smaller box priced at €99. At its current price I think it’s overpriced for most people. Also hasn’t been a lot of change with it over the years other than the software overhaul.

It’s hard to compete with the Fire Sticks and Chromecasts when they’re priced less than the new Apple TV remote.

It's hugely overpriced for the segment. I've also the latest Fire Stick and its does every single one of the services for the full price of 50 pounds (with a better remote than my 4k) and zero issues. The sky app = zero issue, same for the xbox apps, although the older tv can get crashy with any application.

The game centre is a joke to me. I pay for Apple one and I (nor my kids) have any intention of gaming on the 4K. I've listened to Apple make pronouncements on how they're getting serious into gaming since the powerpc days. I thought maybe with the App Store, maybe with game centre, but no. They're happy just to pocket their cut from developers without any really investment.

Apple first of all need to overhaul Siri into something half decent and maybe should consider an Apple TV that's a soundbar, or something that'll differentiate it. I can't see that happening with their retreat from the HomePod.

awec

Oafley Jones wrote: »

It's hugely overpriced for the segment. I've also the latest Fire Stick and its does every single one of the services for the full price of 50 pounds (with a better remote than my 4k) and zero issues. The sky app = zero issue, same for the xbox apps, although the older tv can get crashy with any application.

The game centre is a joke to me. I pay for Apple one and I (nor my kids) have any intention of gaming on the 4K. I've listened to Apple make pronouncements on how they're getting serious into gaming since the powerpc days. I thought maybe with the App Store, maybe with game centre, but no. They're happy just to pocket their cut from developers without any really investment.

Apple first of all need to overhaul Siri into something half decent and maybe should consider an Apple TV that's a soundbar, or something that'll differentiate it. I can't see that happening with their retreat from the HomePod.

Apple Arcade is appalling. Genuinely it is not worth paying for. They even had to bring back a load of old games to try boost it. I'm on my second go of it now (3 months free with new device) but I will absolutely not be paying once the time is up.

I've a Samsung Smart TV and it is absolutely excellent. Netflix, AppleTV, Disney+, Amazon Prime all work flawlessly. No slowdowns, can switch between them all instantly. Also have a SkyQ box with all the apps but the Smart TV is far better for it.

200 quid for a box that does practically nothing valuable compared to other significantly cheaper providers does not make much sense to me. The price needs to be halved at least.

Craigels

So where is best to order these new products from? Apple direct, Compu B or Harvy Norman?

Also as apple say order from the 30th is that like 9am it’s live on the apple website in Ireland or more like 6pm here and morning for California?

Oafley Jones

The more I think about the TV, the more that the remote sticks out. The fact that you can buy that separately, and that'll work for the old 4k strikes me as really odd Apple move. I think Apple know how weak the new product is. I'd say that the refresh was primarily driven by a need to swap out the old A10X, as it's probably more cost effective to put an newish A12 (again the A12 should tell you have serious they are on the gaming thing going forward) in there instead.

Apple probably realise the number of people who'll upgrade their original 4K boxes is tiny and they'd at least have a chance of pocketing a few dollars from people who'll want to get rid of that POS remote. There's bound be a decent few original 4k boxes still out there, given that it was a compelling enough product at the time (competing with the original ****ty chromecasts etc)

Creamy Goodness

Apple TV makes a little sense for me. It is overpriced even for apple I think if €50 was knocked off the price I'd upgrade my 1080p one.

I've an LG OLED that has all the apps, plus airplay. I've a Firestick 4k and whilst the tv apps are quite good (i.e. have the same content) the experience is better on the Apple TV box. Anytime I boot up the Firestick 4k, I'm waiting a full minute for it to boot, the menus don't look crisp and can be sluggish depending on what the stick is updating at the time (guessing the CPU is running full tilt). There's sponsored content that is of absolutely zero use to me (this feels so gross to me to be getting crappy ads when I've bought the product).

Apple TV has seamless integration with AirPods which is great if you have children upstairs, and has a much richer ecosystem for kids I find.

If all you care about is content (which is totally fine btw) you can get away with using built-in to the TV apps, or Firestick etc. but there is something to be said (however, tiny) for the nice experience the Apple TV gives you.

--

My thoughts on the event aside from Apple TV.

Apple Card - interesting, but still US only

Podcasts+ - meh, podcasts should be an open platform, this seems odd.

AirTags - Looks good will probably pick up a four pack. Did laugh at people making fun of the Hermès tags, they obviously never seen how much their actual luggage tags can cost.

iPad Pros - Look super, but the hardware is still 5 years ahead of the software, still don't know why I'd use a 1TB, 16gb of ram iPad. Maybe iOS 15 will show me.

iMac - Solid start to a new line, colours are super fun but I don't need a desktop at home anymore therefore the product is not for me but that's ok. Gen 2 of this product will be the one to get.

peteeeed

for the new apple tv i'm intertested to when the reviews come in for this part

"it uses the light sensor in the iPhone to compare the colour balance to "industry-standard specifications used by cinematographers worldwide". The Apple TV 4K then automatically tweaks its picture output to allegedly deliver more accurate colours and better contrast based on the measurements it takes from your TV."

Oafley Jones

peteeeed wrote: »

for the new apple tv i'm intertested to when the reviews come in for this part

"it uses the light sensor in the iPhone to compare the colour balance to "industry-standard specifications used by cinematographers worldwide". The Apple TV 4K then automatically tweaks its picture output to allegedly deliver more accurate colours and better contrast based on the measurements it takes from your TV."

Given that it can’t control the actual picture settings of the tv, it just sounds like a gimmick. Sure it may be able to drab up the colour profile for a super overblown OLED panel, but it won’t go near the settings that’ll make a real difference.

murpho999

awec wrote: »

Games (but Apple Arcade is rubbish, not worth buying a box for). Fitness+ I think too.

I wouldn't buy one. To be totally honest I have Apple TV+ purely because I got it for free, it is not worth paying for. A chronic lack of decent content.

Yes, I have Apple TV+ free at the moment too and it's content is small but not bad.

Forgot about fitness on TV but I can also do on iPad if happy with smaller screen.


By the way I do wonder why you have an iPhone as you find Music, Maps, Podcasts and now Arcade all to be rubbish.:pac:

murpho999

Iguarantee wrote: »

Integration with iBooks, iPhoto etc. Various other things.

Why would you want Books on your television.

Other ways to get photos on to your TV. Most TVs can do that

murpho999

FourFourRED wrote: »

For me I always found the processing power of the apple tv box and the general look and feel of the UI of to be superior to the tv apps.

I’ve a Samsung QLED and it just doesn’t compare - very sluggish. For the sake of €145 which I originally paid for the 32GB 4K box it’s worth it for me as it gets daily usage especially with seamless airplay from my iPad for tv shows and movies (I know the tv app can do it too) - but yeah I think it’s much more convenient and a far more pleasant experience for me than having to use the TV remote and the less than impressive software on a slow processor.

I know that a lot of users wouldn’t care less about that though.

I have Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube, Now TV & Disney+ as my most used apps on a day to day basis and switching between them from the one central hub where it runs fast is important to me I guess. I just couldn’t be dealing with the tv apps because they frustrate me.

Agree a TV can be sluggish and I use a 4k Amazon firestick for same reason as you and it's a lot cheaper.

Gregor Samsa

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

iMac - Solid start to a new line, colours are super fun but I don't need a desktop at home anymore therefore the product is not for me but that's ok. Gen 2 of this product will be the one to get.

I've been a laptop (MacBook) user for years, and never had any interest in a desktop with a built-in screen (I am considering a Mac Mini), but those new iMacs were the first ones to make me go "Wow!" when I saw them since the original iMac in 1998. I won't be getting one, but they do look really great.

Creamy Goodness

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

I've been a laptop (MacBook) user for years, and never had any interest in a desktop with a built-in screen (I am considering a Mac Mini), but those new iMacs were the first ones to make me go "Wow!" when I saw them since the original iMac in 1998. I won't be getting one, but they do look really great.

There was a podcast I listened to recently where an iMac product designer was on it (totally scripted) but they did share an interesting tidbit, The majority of iMacs sold are sold into location where the iMac is super visible (think hotel/salon check in locations) and that it factors heavily into how the computer looks. In office scenarios (like what I'm in) portability is much more a factor in my purchasing decision.

They're very different products with different users, it's totally cool to feel like trying out different form factors. It's nice to see people not being super dismissive of these right away as the general discourse on tech twitter is currently "ew colours, ew white border, ew chin, ew, ew, ew". As Apple has expanded their product lineup to fit more people's lives the less and less it's required to buy everything they make

dubmick

Oafley Jones wrote: »

New remote for the Apple TV looks like a massive improvement over the previous one and it’s available to buy separately for us original 4K owners. But who the **** is still buying Apple TVs? Mine hasn’t probably been switched on this year because the app is available on the sky boxes, on the TVs besides and also on the consoles. I’m surprised they didn’t do one of their desperate pitches for gaming on it.

I don't think the Apple TV app is available on SkyQ unless I've missed it?

awec

murpho999 wrote: »

Yes, I have Apple TV+ free at the moment too and it's content is small but not bad.

Forgot about fitness on TV but I can also do on iPad if happy with smaller screen.


By the way I do wonder why you have an iPhone as you find Music, Maps, Podcasts and now Arcade all to be rubbish.:pac:

Apple do a lot of excellent stuff and a lot of poor stuff. The poor stuff tends to be the peripheral services like TV, maps, games, music (though in music a lot of it is down to the lack of decent support on non-apple devices). They are lightyears behind the competition in these spaces which is a bit of a shame.

Siri is another one. The difference between Siri and Alexa is stark.

Where Apple really excel is the things like the Air Tags, which you know will just work with no faffing around.

Their hardware is top notch. Software and services have a ways to go. As someone said earlier, why would I buy a really nice, high spec machine to run iOS on it?

Oafley Jones

dubmick wrote: »

I don't think the Apple TV app is available on SkyQ unless I've missed it?

Apologies. It isn’t. I’ve so many devices hooked up I’m lost myself.

whippet

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

I've been a laptop (MacBook) user for years, and never had any interest in a desktop with a built-in screen (I am considering a Mac Mini), but those new iMacs were the first ones to make me go "Wow!" when I saw them since the original iMac in 1998. I won't be getting one, but they do look really great.

I use both - I've a 13" MBP for portability and always had a 27" iMac on the desk at home. I used to work 50/50 between office and home.

Last year I swapped the old 27" iMac for a Surface Studio and couldn't be happier ... the tilt and touch screen is a game changer depending on what I am doing.

I'm now using the 12" iPad Pro more than the MBP for work with the Smart Keyboard.

I really like the look of the new 24" iMacs but I couldn't go back to a fixed desktop without touch

dubmick

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Apologies. It isn’t. I’ve so many devices hooked up I’m lost myself.

No probs, would be handy if it was for one of the bedrooms. Incidentally, a brand new Philips TV we have does not have the Apple TV app for some reason. Annoying.

DubDJ

peteeeed wrote: »

for the new apple tv i'm intertested to when the reviews come in for this part

"it uses the light sensor in the iPhone to compare the colour balance to "industry-standard specifications used by cinematographers worldwide". The Apple TV 4K then automatically tweaks its picture output to allegedly deliver more accurate colours and better contrast based on the measurements it takes from your TV."

I think I saw that this feature was coming to the older gen version so the update next week might enable it for older devices.

peteeeed

DubDJ wrote: »

I think I saw that this feature was coming to the older gen version so the update next week might enable it for older devices.

saw that (nice of them haha)


https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1618987304

murpho999

awec wrote: »

Apple do a lot of excellent stuff and a lot of poor stuff. The poor stuff tends to be the peripheral services like TV, maps, games, music (though in music a lot of it is down to the lack of decent support on non-apple devices). They are lightyears behind the competition in these spaces which is a bit of a shame.

Siri is another one. The difference between Siri and Alexa is stark.

Where Apple really excel is the things like the Air Tags, which you know will just work with no faffing around.

Their hardware is top notch. Software and services have a ways to go. As someone said earlier, why would I buy a really nice, high spec machine to run iOS on it?

I agree with some of what you say.
I don't think the TV is a bad device and I'm sure it works very well I just think it's expensive for what it is.
Games, I don't bother with so can't comment.
Maps have definitely improved over the years and I don't thing it's as bad as you have said here.

I really like the Music App, much prefer it to Spotify so I don't see how it's lightyears behind. I agree it should be on more devices though like Spotify is as I'm sure that would get them more subs.

As for Siri, it's improving but as you say it's nowhere near as smart as Alexa and I think people are foolish to buy the new Homepods as they're nowhere as smart as an Echo device and have less connectivity. An echo can run a smart home much much better and is cheaper.

murpho999

dubmick wrote: »

No probs, would be handy if it was for one of the bedrooms. Incidentally, a brand new Philips TV we have does not have the Apple TV app for some reason. Annoying.

You mightn't have them but Xbox and Amazon Firestick have the Apple TV+ app.

DubDJ

Who's picking up an AirTag? Or a purple iPhone :rolleyes:

Creamy Goodness

DubDJ wrote: »

Who's picking up an AirTag? Or a purple iPhone :rolleyes:

picking up airtag, not sure why the :rolleyes:? iPhone's often have had a mid cycle colour refresh i.e. product red but that was in the launch window so...