Review: Apple TV 4th Gen – A (Tele)Vision of the Future?
Here’s a review of the fourth-generation Apple TV available in India. Find out what’s new about the product.
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“The future of TV is here.”
Even if you’re Apple, when you launch a product with such bombastic tagline, especially one that is finally seeing its coming of age moment after years of being a “hobby” project, you’d better be right. With the Apple TV 4th generation, has Apple cracked the living room experience that everyone, from Microsoft to Sony to Google, haven’t? We’ve used the Apple TV for a couple of months now to find out!
What is it?
The new Apple TV looks like the old Apple TV went on a weight-gain program – it’s twice the size, but still inconspicuous enough to fit into any living room or entertainment setup. It’s pricier than before, but the extra cash gets you a complete makeover – a faster iPhone 6-spec A8 processor, 32/64 GB of internal storage, Bluetooth accessory support and that gorgeous new remote.
What’s underneath it all is the big deal – this thing runs tvOS, a new Apple OS that’s essential iOS reworked for the big screen. Most importantly, tvOS brings support for the App Store to the Apple TV, which means app developers can create apps for Apple TV just like they have for iOS and Mac OS. Think about it – this little box is is basically a computer for your TV – apps, games and all. The potential for this is massive.
Key Specifications: Apple TV 4th Gen
Processor: A8 chip with 64-bit architecture- Ports: HDMI 1.4, 802.11ac Wi‑Fi with MIMO, 10/100BASE‑T Ethernet, IR receiver, USB‑C for service and support, Built‑in power supply
- Remote: Bluetooth 4.0 , IR transmitter
- Price: Rs 13,500 (32GB), Rs 17,900 (64GB)
What’s Good?
iOS-style apps on your TV! Right out of the gate, you had the usual media apps – Netflix, HBO, Youtube and the like. And then gaming companies came on board, and you can play Asphalt-8 or Crossy Road and use the new Remote to steer cars (or your character) in games.
Each day, I’m seeing new apps get added to the store and developers are finding new ways to use the extra screen space (check out VLC, Galaxy on Fire - Manticore Rising, Fidelity, Plex and Carrot Weather for some great examples). Sure, some apps are questionable – do I want to shop or book an Airbnb room on my TV? Not really, but there are many interesting apps out there already, and more on the way.
The interface is gorgeous, and has the characteristic Apple visual flair – refined 3D effects and the whole iOS-style experience translated into a TV-screen scale. The interface feels polished and futuristic...and very usable. As always, there are the little touches that are typical of Apple interface design, like the way the screen dims after a while, leaving the app you have selected highlighted, or the impressive new aerial view screensavers.
Pair the interface with the new Remote, and the combination just sings! Bear in mind, though, if you’re considering the Apple TV to see how Siri works on the big screen, think again. If you set up the Apple TV with an India iTunes account, you’re not getting the Siri functionality just yet. Set it up with a US account, and you can talk to the TV, asking Siri to pull up movies and shows from iTunes, Netflix and a few other apps by asking questions like “Show me movies with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore”. The execution is just spot-on.
And even if you don’t have the Siri capabilities, the diminutive aluminium and glass remote offers a terrific touchpad to navigate the tvOS interface, it also includes an accelerometer and gyroscope that turn it into a neat little game controller.
The swiping takes a little getting used to, but it feels great in the hand and while it’s not perfect, it’s the best media box remote I’ve used. The only big complaint initially – that of having to type using this remote – has been resolved by Apple upgrading the Remote app on iOS to support the new Apple TV.
What’s Bad?
No surprises there – this is an Apple product in the iOS-mindset, so you’re getting the walled garden of the App Store and iTunes. So if you’re someone with a lot of digital media purchases on Google or Amazon, think long and hard about picking up an Apple TV.
Then there’s 4K…or the lack of it. The Apple outputs at 1080p, which is about par for the course, given most of us haven’t bought 4K TVs yet, plus there isn’t much 4K content out there right now. Even so, for something that staked claim to the future of TV, missing 4K support is a letdown. Oh, and for those of you with fancy entertainment setups, know this – the latest Apple TV lacks an optical audio port – only HDMI.
Why Buy it?
So, was the wait worth it? After spending two months playing games and devouring content – whether it’s on Netflix or local media via VLC and Plex – this thing is the centrepiece of my entertainment setup, so, I’d say yes. If you buy a lot of stuff on iTunes or have a couple of iPhones and Macs around the house, the Apple TV is a great choice. To be fair, though, this isn’t another media box – this is the way apps we’ve grown to love on our mobile will make their way onto our TVs.
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