Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
I WAS SKEPTICAL at first.
About two months ago, I was in the theater in San Francisco where Apple CEO Tim Cook declared the company had cracked the future of TV.
It was the same concept as the iPhone: Apple would invent the hardware and then open the platform up to creative developers who would hopefully untap its true potential with innovative apps.
I wasn’t really blown away by what I saw that day. A lot of it was obvious: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, and some basic games. Nothing we haven’t seen before from rival devices like the Roku or Amazon’s Fire TV. My biggest fear was that developers would start pumping out jumbo-sized versions of their iPhone apps to the TV and call it a day.
But that’s not what happened. After spending over a week with the new Apple TV, which is on sale now starting at €179, I see the potential.
It’s clear that we’re early in the app-centric world of TV watching, but the first crop of apps to hit the Apple TV App Store hint that we’re not far off from the reality that we won’t have to pay for pricey cable packages stuffed with content we don’t want to watch.
Even better, the TV apps I’ve used so far show that TV doesn’t have to be a passive experience. It can also be interactive.
This is going to sound absurd coming from a 30-year-old male, but I think the best app on Apple TV right now is the QVC app. I don’t say that because I love buying junk from infomercials, but because the app is the clearest look at the future of interactive TV.
The QVC app lets you log into your account and then watch a live stream of the channel. There’s no need to authenticate the login using your cable or satellite subscription. It looks exactly the same as the QVC you’re used to, but there’s a handy “buy” button hovering over the video so you can purchase what you see straight from the TV app.
There’s no booting up your computer. No launching an app on your phone. Just a simple click of the remote.
Now imagine that concept stretching to other forms of interactive television. Voting for your favorite singer on The Voice. Engaging in real-time polls during presidential debates. Viewing Instagram photos from celebrities at awards shows.
There’s been a bunch of talk in recent years about engaging users on their ‘second screen’ devices (phones and tablets) during live television, but TV apps take the second screen out of the equation. There’s massive potential to bring everyone back to the most important screen in the living room.
There’s more coming. Next year, Apple is expected to launch a live TV service that’ll let you stream select channels over the internet.
When that happens, Apple TV will be the perfect package: you’ll be able to stream the most popular channels live whenever you want and use apps for everything else. And all you’ll need is an internet connection. No more wrestling with your cable company.
That’s not to say all apps are winners. I’m not a big fan of the casual games like Crossy Road or Alto’s Adventure, but I do realise there probably is an audience for those. I’m more interested in seeing big-name game publishers take a crack at the Apple TV.
Besides the new App Store, the new Apple TV is pretty similar to the last version. The home screen layout has been cleaned up with a fresher look, but the overall concept is the same – a grid of apps. Nothing special.
There are two major changes to the hardware though.
The first is the remote, which includes a touchpad for navigating through menus and volume controls for your TV.
The second, and most important, is Siri, which lets you search for any actor, TV show, or movie across iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, and a few select other services. (More will be added.) It makes finding what you want to watch incredibly easy.
Instead of launching an app like Netflix and poking around for the title you’re looking for, you just speak into the microphone on the Apple TV remote and ask for it. If the video you want is on multiple services, you’ll get the options for where to watch too.
Navigating iPhone-like menus on a TV with just a remote can be a pain, and Siri is able to bring you what you want no matter where you are in an app or Apple TV’s menus.
Unfortunately, Siri is limited to just a few select video services right now. And you can’t use it to search through the Apple Music catalog like you can on the iPhone. (Apple says Apple Music support is coming.) It also doesn’t work with the App Store.
Finally, I was really disappointed that you can’t use Siri to type, so you’re stuck entering login information and search queries one letter at a time on a virtual on-screen keyboard.
I’ve been an Apple TV user for almost five years, and I’ve always enjoyed using the Remote app on iPhone to type on the TV. But the new model doesn’t support the Remote app, and it’s unclear if it ever will. For now, typing is a pain. It’s the single most disappointing thing about the Apple TV.
If the future of TV truly is apps, then Apple is in the best position to make it happen. Yes, Roku and Amazon’s boxes both offer third-party apps, but developers these days still tend to make the best stuff for Apple devices before anything else. It’s the platform the most innovative apps will appear on first.
For that reason alone, the Apple TV is the best streaming box. But if you’re not interested in apps and just want to stream from standard services like Netflix and Hulu, there are plenty of cheaper options like the Roku 3 (€139) or Chromecast (€39) that will get the job done.
The handy “buy” button is part of the problem
A few notes:
This review comes from Steve Kovach of Business Insider and he lives in the US where he has easy access to the desirable services like Hulu, HBO now, Showtime and ESPN which are region locked for licensing reasons. Technically it’s possible for users abroad to access some of these services but it requires a prepaid US credit card.
One of the big advantages to the new Apple TV is Siri integration, but this only officially supported in 8 countries. Ireland as usual with Apple hasn’t been prioritised so Siri will not work out of the box. Again, I believe it’s possible to enable it by changing your region to one that is supported like the UK and setup an iTunes UK account but it’s not optimised for people from Ireland so it probably doesn’t work properly. Apple has said they’re working on expanding supported countries so it will hopefully come next year.
The App Store is the most exciting addition but it’s very limited at the moment. Apps like RTE player and BBC iPlayer are still absent, and it’s not certain when they’ll appear. Developers just haven’t had much time to create impressive apps yet.
4k isn’t supported. 4k adoption rate is still very low, and for most users this will not be an issue, but if you’ve recently bought a TV which has 4k support it’s advisable you purchase a box which supports it, like Amazon Fire TV or a Roku 4. There’s a small chance that Apple could enable 4k output with a software update in the future, but considering their history it’s very probable that only the updated hardware will include 4k.
Or you could just buy and android box and not have to worry about all that hassle. Plug in your favourite files no matter what format and sit back and enjoy
Stephen can you recommend an android box?
Jarvisbox…hands down the best
There’s tons out there, last one I bought was a mk808b its a wifi version… €30 delivered and another €10 for a remote
Stephen can u use a vpn with them? Thanks
Look for M8 android box, same spec as Jarvisbox €50
Yes, I use it all the time
VPN no problem
One last question do u need an android phone? Thanks a bunch.
No need for any phone
I hope the Journal were paid handsomely for this blatant advertising, masquerading as an article.
“Voting for your favourite singer on the voice” did it for me, give me 5 quick,
They are easy to Jail Break too. It only takes a couple of minutes.
Apple = Limited choice. An android box opens up a whole different world.
I heard about these android boxes Trevor. Apart from endless movie and TV shows, can you get live sport like Premier League football on these boxes?
Yes you can watch IPTV links of live TV .. Look for “insert channel name here” IPTV link or else use the apps (look up KODI)
I’ve just got geek goosebumps
You both need to get out more …
Theres better value out there than apple tv
Chromecast for £29.99. An absolute no brainer.
The Google Nexus Box has all of the above and more and has been out for 12 months or so. And is approx 1/3 of the price!!
Yes but it’s linked to google play we’ll leave it there so or I can write a thesis in what’s wrong with it
has it ethernet? No,
1GB ram–that’s crap to run android.
No optical audio..most other devices have that.
Again .. No USB or Micro SD card slots – no 4k, just a rehash of ios8 with crap hardware specs for big bucks.. Joke
2 major hardware changes.. Which only part of one works here and that’s a remote control.. Good grief ..
So its like KODI on android Internet boxes. Except it’s Apple, so the box will look good but the rest of it will be crap and you’ll be unable to change any of it.
Kodi isn’t paid for by stealing all your personal data
Enjoy
Not trying to burst Apples bubble, but…. nVidia Shield Android TV has a lot more potential, and horse-power.
256 core GPU, MicroSD storage up to 200GB, access to 50+ good looking free games and 4K streaming from Amazon and Netflix (when it arrives).
It does all the TV stuff too, and has ChromeCast hardware already built inside.
Cons:
The marketplace is a bit lacking, not all your pre-purchased games on your phone will be supported.
Web browser is basic, at best.
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse reliability is a bit flaky.
Remote is a separate purchase (but kinda necessary).
But if you have an iPhone already, why not get the new Apple TV?
love the way nvidia compare cpu performance against the 2012 apple tv. Plex is also available too on the atv. Android is more of a hog than ios so usually requires more ram and cpu. I do like the so called private listening..very handy at night time .
Jay that comparison link is to the 2015 version
170 yo yos for a Apple icon, no thank you. Android nexus boxes 80-100 tops! They do same thing apple suckers
Apple suckers ? how old are you
Apple do it again. I know alot about televisions but I am not sure this will work..Like for one there is no screen?
You stick a cable up your nose that connects to your brain. You dont need a screen. Close your eyes and see everything in 3d.
You use the existing screen that’s in the corner of your sitting room, you weirdo!
I’m getting getting one!! Said nobody ever…
Amazon Fire 4k TV with Prime. Sideload PLP, Vudu, Violet, Hulu, Netflix, iPlayer, ITV Player, Demand 5, STV Player, Pluto, Kodi, TVMC, UKTV Play, Hopster and Laola 1.
+
Teamed up with an E2 box with CCC and a good image for FTA, Saorview (via USB DVBT2) and softcam.
+
Smart DNS and VPN.
=
Job well and truly done. :)
Nice one Ian, if only I had a clue what your talking about. If I get the stuff will you come round and install it for me?
Sloop. I am sure you know more than muggins here. I was with my darling husband when he was buying his Apple TV yoke a few years back in Currys. Himself and the salesman were very excited showing me all the stuff on it, Netflix, You Tube, Vevo etc etc. He said “all of this for €129″.. I said “well that’s pretty impressive, a 32″ tv for €129. We’ll take it!!.. Obviously I know now it’s just the little box. But you should’ve seen their faces!! I felt like Fred Flintstones grandmother…
Surprised they just didn’t call it the iShop. Another overpriced money racket for apple to profit off silly people. Anyway I don’t mind those with lots of disposable income but there’s nothing worse than to see someone on the dole with an iPhone.
Joan..? … Is that you?
Apple tv works really well for me, All the channels one needs and more.. So long cable subscriptions. You won’t be missed!
Important fact for anyone considering buying one for Christmas is you will need a good broadband connection , I have the old Apple TV box and it’s useless for anything online, i only use it to display photos & videos from the iPhone …
Love mine. I’ve it set up with 4 Apple Store regions so full Hulu from the states and TV Player from the UK giving me stream of all freeview channels. The Danish DR TV app is available globally and worth trying out to see what a multi channel TV network can do.
You don’t spell sceptical with a K. How can a media outlet be credible with such an obvious error in its headline?
I’ve been saving Tesco loyalty points with the intention of getting a free Apple TV, but I doubt they’ll keep them free now that they’re selling for more than €79, damnit!
I bought an MX 3 android box for less than €50, loaded Kodi onto it and have all the TV I could ever want. Who needs overpriced Apple?
What’s that got to do with what I said?
nerd central….. after WebSummit there are all on Journal now. Interesting mix with AAA and ShinnerBots
Is there a firstrowsports app? If so I’m in!
have your say