Apple TV - what is it, how does it work and what is the set-top box for?

We lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the Apple TV app

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Most of us are spending more and more time (either voluntarily or involuntarily) indoors, and streaming services are taking center stage in our lives and in our living rooms. It's no surprise that Apple is looking to grab as big a piece of the pie as possible, and its own Apple TV app is helping it do that.

It's essentially an all-in-one video management hub where you can buy or rent movies from the iTunes Store, subscribe to premium Apple TV Channels, and access Apple TV+, a Netflix-style branded streaming service offering Apple Original programming.

Next, we will talk about what the Apple TV application is rich in and list the devices that support it - from smartphones to smart TVs and multimedia network players.

So, the most reliable information about the Apple TV application is in our review.

Content:

1 What is Apple TV
2 Technical specifications
3 Apple TV software
4 AirPlay
5 Development vector proposed by Apple TV
6 Apple TV tasks
7 Level of media content quality
8 Access to content and announcement of Apple TV+
9 Gaming capabilities of the console
10 Equipment and types of devices
11 Apple TV Remote

The digital universe is filled with media content, and Apple is a full participant in sharing the revenue that music and video distribution brings. To maximize the range of its users, the company has been developing the Apple TV concept for more than a dozen years.

Advantages and disadvantages of the console

All Apple products are highly reliable. Set-top boxes are no exception. They have built-in memory of 32 and 64 GB. This volume is enough for the most spoiled users.

The basis of this device is the A8 operating system, built on a 64-bit architecture. There's also Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound. The latter will especially appeal to fans of watching spectacular films with special effects.

The set-top box plays video in Full HD resolution. The 4K format is only present on the latest Apple TV models, so there is no point in getting rid of your old TV and buying a new one yet.

Now about the huge advantages of the device and its few disadvantages.

Advantages:

Fast synchronization with other Apple devices.
Easy to connect and configure.
Ergonomic and functional remote control with accelerometer and gyroscope.
Easy to use.
Low cost of content compared to competitors.
Possibility of using AppStore.
Compatible with all TVs.

Flaws:

Decent price.
The most advanced version of 4K only works with new TV models.

What is Apple TV

You can consider any apple products from two perspectives:

As one of the products of a certain market segment;
As a structural part of the “apple ecumene”.

This two-pillar position provides Apple products with extreme sustainability and competitiveness.

If the first Apple TV device, released in the spring of 2007, is compared with modern media players from other manufacturers, then it will take the TOP place in the ranking.

Currently on the market there are only:

Apple TV HD – 4th generation;
Apple TV 4K – 5th generation.

The range of capabilities of these models and their technical characteristics are so superior to the latest media players that Yabloko does not see competitors in this product group.

general information

The set-top box is designed for broadcasting content from any Internet resources, including the iTunes Store, on a television screen. It can turn the simplest TV into a “smart” one, since it will receive full-fledged smart functions.

Connecting Apple TV allows you to:

Watch high quality videos on various resources.
Get access to a huge collection of movies, games, images and libraries.
Display any images from gadgets directly on the TV screen.

Apple TV first appeared in early 2007, and since then it has not left the top positions in the ratings. Today, 4th and 5th generation devices are already available on the market. They have very advanced technical characteristics.

Specifications

The hardware of the devices is standard, but for this group of electronics it seems redundant:

CPU	RAM	Memory	Ports	Price t.r.
Apple TV HD	Apple A8 /2 cores/1.1 GHz	2 GB	32/64 GB	USB-C/HDMI/LAN (10/100 Ethernet)	10-12
Apple TV 4K	Apple A10X Fusion/4 cores/2.37 GHz	3 GB	32/64 GB	HDMI/LAN (Gigabit Ethernet)	12-14

At the same time, the USB-C port in Apple TV HD is used only in service centers for engineering diagnostics. It is impossible to connect any user devices, such as an external drive or flash drive, to it.

Information: the housings of the 4th and 5th models differ in appearance only in the USB-C port, and the remote controls differ in the white rim around the “Menu” button.

Both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules. But in Apple TV 4K the bluetooth specification is 5th generation. The information transfer speed reaches 4 Mb/s. This allows you to simultaneously use wireless accessories with minimal latency, which gives an advantage in gaming mode.

Branded processors in the most severe operation mode work without the slightest delay or freezes.

The Apple TV HD model supports only FullHD resolution, and the 5th generation media set-top box works in UHD 4K video format (2160p).

What is the advantage

Multifunctionality is the main advantage of the application. It allows:

schedule viewing;
record the broadcast into memory.

In addition, Apple TV creates interactive screensavers from movie trailers that can be used as desktop wallpaper. It is possible to order a specific film for wallpaper yourself. The application allows you to fantasize and make the necessary cuts.

Thus, Apple customers, by installing the Apple TV application on their gadget, receive a home theater with video processing and editing functions. That is, it turns out to be a full-fledged workstation for home crafts.

With all this, Apple TV works with other formats, since video and music are automatically converted to the format required for playback. If you have home Internet and a Smart TV, the client has the opportunity to create a home theater and gather friends at home. If the sound is good, it will make a nice romantic evening or candlelit dinner. Apple TV is designed for any occasion.

Apple TV software

Starting from the fourth generation, Apple media centers are controlled by the proprietary tvOS operating system, created on the iOS platform. The latest release, version 10.1, came out this summer.

Since the tvOS operating system was written for a specific product, on the HomeKit base platform, after connecting the set-top box, all Apple devices, without the participation of the owner, form a single information space. A wireless connection is established between all devices and when installing recommended applications (Remote), the iPhone can be used as a joystick or remote control.

Info: HomeKit is an Apple framework that has been integrated into tvOS. It is this platform that regulates the levels of pairing and interaction between all devices operating on this base. With this development, you can create and control the Smart Home system through Apple TV.

The control panel shell is as simple as possible, and is very reminiscent of the old FrontRow media player. There are no deep directories in the settings.

Additional programs are downloaded from the App Store.

It is impossible to give an exact figure, but the number of applications specialized for Apple TV in the App Store catalogs exceeds tens of thousands! Most of them are free, but it takes some effort to find the right utility. The reason for this is the lack of a dedicated catalog “for Apple TV”.

How does the console work?

The multimedia device operates on the iOS OS. It is similar to the operating system of the iPhone or iPad, so it is not difficult to understand. All icons are labeled, and the interface is intuitive.

The only drawback of the device is its control panel, which is not suitable for typing. It just doesn't have a keyboard. The remote control contains only a joystick and a few more buttons, but it’s easy to get used to. You can control the console using your iPhone.

For example, you can find the desired movie or channel on your phone, then display the image on your TV screen. Or use a virtual keyboard by connecting it via Bluetooth. With its help you can launch various toys.

AirPlay

This is a software and hardware option developed by Apple. It allows you to broadcast audio and video streams to connected devices. In many ways it is similar to Miracast, but the functionality of the Apple product is more rich.

The main difference is the ability to control connected equipment from the cloud, using a remote control or even an iPhone.

The latest version of AirPlay allows third-party devices to connect to the network. Why programmers added this loophole, you can guess if you take into account the possibility of equipping the Smart Home system with devices from other companies.

The development vector proposed by Apple TV

The growth dynamics of programs in the App Store and their adaptation to tvOS suggests that the evolution of television development will gradually concentrate on applications. That is, television in the future will work in direct conjunction with various utilities. Fig 1

There are already applications that supply the owner of Apple TV:

News;
Weather information;
TV series;
Cooking recipes;
Results of sports competitions, etc.

Moreover, for each country, programs are written adapted to the local realities of everyday life and life priorities: what is allowed in Europe is prohibited in the Emirates; and what is welcomed in the countries of Southeast Asia is taboo in the USA, etc.

Apple TV tasks

By the time Apple multimedia consoles appeared, iTunes had existed and been functioning successfully for 4 years. However, the distributed media content was not available for playback on television receivers. And they are in every home!

Considering the strategic decision of Apple analysts in the light of the changes that have taken place, we can confidently assume that the Apple TV set-top box was designed specifically for the widest possible reach of users. Any owner of an Apple gadget, while at home, could watch their favorite movie on the big screen, or join an online game. Fig 10

In general, Apple TV is a home platform for connecting a modern TV to a limitless iTunes collection.

If you look at the sales statistics of the iTunes portal, you will notice a sharp increase in downloads after 07-08. Apple claims that after 2010, Apple TV users accounted for up to 20% of the volume of downloaded content. Of course, the size of one file affects this, for example, one musical composition “weighs” about 15 MB, and an HD quality film is 1000 times more massive. But there are far fewer Apple TV set-top boxes on hand than other Apple devices.

IMPORTANT: the set-top box is equipped with only one wired connection method – HDMI. This means that older TVs that do not have this port cannot be connected to Apple TV.

At a superficial glance, media players from other manufacturers do the same, and the amount of content in various online stores even exceeds iTunes. But here the factor of the apple universe intervenes.

What is in the box

If ordinary TV set-top boxes are embarrassing to put on public display because of their unsightly design, and flash drives like Google Chromecast that are connected directly to the HDMI port are modestly hidden behind the TV itself, then Apple TV - a small black box, more reminiscent of a box than a minicomputer - can should be placed in the foreground of the living room. Firstly, it’s beautiful, and secondly, it will be able to pick up infrared radiation from the remote control if necessary (usually it works on Bluetooth).

The kit includes little: the Apple TV itself, a remote control, a power cable, a cord with a Lightning connector for charging the remote control, a manual, stickers and other related papers.

For example, there is no HDMI cable in the box, without which the Apple TV is just a silent decorative element. It is, of course, sold on the Apple website, but for 1,590 rubles. In any case, you will have to buy it separately or use an existing cable from other devices - for example, from a game console or other set-top box.

Apple TV doesn't have a separate power button: it automatically starts when you connect power, after which the light comes on. Next you have to go through the setup procedure: connect the remote control, use an iPhone or iPad with iOS older than version 9.1 to automatically configure Apple ID, network and other settings, accept the user agreement and skip optional items like sending statistical information to Apple. This takes about five minutes.

You can't take screenshots on Apple TV: the only workaround is to use a USB-C to USB cable and capture the screen via QuickTime Movie on Mac OS X. However, this cable, like the HDMI cable, is not included in the standard package.

Media content quality level

One of the most powerful magnets that attracts consumers to Apple products is the highest quality. But in this combination several conditions came together:

Productive hardware for the media center.
High quality content.
Full software.
Innovative technologies introduced into tvOS.

As a result, the user receives video of the highest quality, with elaboration of the smallest details, and this is surrounded by Dolby Atmos sound!

The Dolby Atmos sound system was developed in 2012 for cinemas. It provides for the use of up to 128 channels of audio stream, with software distribution and adjustment of the volume of each individual sound to a specific audio speaker.

To improve image quality, the Apple TV firmware integrates the HDR (Dynamic Range) function.

The HDR function makes it possible to change the brightness of individual elements within one picture. Dark areas become darker, light areas become lighter. The same applies to the color palette. As a result, the clarity of the image increases so much that all the characters on the screen that were previously blurry become readable.

All this splendor, Apple TV can broadcast to the local network for reception by third-party devices.

And what is especially important is that the media center can play files of absolutely all current formats. Regular software updates are responsible for this.

Generational differences

Different versions vary greatly. The main rule: the newer the model, the wider the functionality. The first appeared in 2007 and was very technologically advanced for its time. A 40 gigabyte hard drive was enough for connoisseurs of downloading movies and TV series. Later a version with 160 gigabytes appeared.

2010 was marked by the appearance of the second generation device. Apple TV 2 had a number of advantages compared to its predecessor:

It is based on the Apple A4 ARM processor.
Fundamentally different software with great capabilities.
A player appeared that made it possible to rent television programs or play streaming media from a PC or from the World Wide Web.

Apple TV 3 was released in 2012. The updated model now uses the Apple A5 processor. The interface has been improved, much of it has been taken from iOS. Unlike its predecessor, it has become possible to play streaming video in 1080p.

In 2015, the fourth generation saw the light. It is distinguished by new OS firmware and an A8 processor. The four are not much different from their predecessor, except for greater performance and slightly better quality of playable content, thanks to new software and hardware.

Another thing is that Apple TV 4K, essentially the fifth generation of the famous device, not only supports 4K video, but also displays HDR (high dynamic range). The latter is possible thanks to the A10X chip. In addition, the updated tvOS is installed here.

For most users, it is the last two models that will be of interest, which are much newer and more advanced than the first three. But what to choose from the two options? To solve the dilemma, you need to compare their functionality.

The four already have games, TV series and films that can easily be found in applications like Amazon Prime Video. However, there is a caveat - there is only a version with 32 gigabytes. Is this not enough? Depends on the way of use. The characteristics will be enough to satisfy the needs of a TV series lover who is not too picky about picture quality.

4K (five) allows you to enjoy the new HDR technology both when watching a video and when displaying a picture from an iPhone on a wide TV screen (while the fourth had HD). And the modern 4K format makes itself felt.

Access to content and announcement of Apple TV+

In the iTunes store, the conditions for accessing files are standard for all Apple devices. But for more than 10 years, it has been possible not to buy films, but only to rent them “for temporary use” for a couple of days. Rental is much cheaper and therefore more popular among users.

But to expand the audience, the Yabloko corporation announced the launch of the “Apple TV+” project from November 1, 2022. Subscription is paid 2388 rubles per year. But when purchasing any branded gadget, the owner gets free access to catalogs for a period of 1 year.

Apple's new streaming service cannot compete with domestic online cinemas in terms of the number of films offered. After all, Apple TV+ is planned to be filled with film products of its own production!

Almost all streaming platforms in the world, except Russian ones, produce their own films and TV series. Domestic platforms acquire a license to display these products.

This may explain the fairly low subscription cost. In this direction, Russian streaming portals cannot compete with the Western giant.

Everything about the Apple TV+ service: what to watch and what to watch on

On November 1, the Apple TV+ video streaming service began operating with several exclusive series. All of them are available under a single and, moreover, inexpensive subscription: 199 rubles per month. And owners of iPhone 11 (any version) will be able to use Apple TV+ for free for a whole year. We don’t know whether it will become a serious competitor to Netflix, but we answer the main questions about the service itself.

Where and how to watch

Overview of the Apple macOS Catalina operating system
The most important thing: to access the service, you must install the latest version of the Apple operating system. In the case of iPhone this is iOS 13, on iPad - iPadOS, on computers - macOS Catalina, on Apple TV - tvOS 13. Unfortunately, nothing will work without updating.

In our review of macOS Catalina, we told you that instead of the previous iTunes application, there are now three applications, one of which is Apple TV. This is where you need to subscribe. Likewise on all other devices.

However, it's important to understand that this app isn't just for Apple TV+, but for all video content from the former iTunes store. Therefore, in addition to subscription series, there are individual movies for a fee, and your library, which includes past movie purchases on iTunes. The screenshot below shows several Apple TV+ projects (they have corresponding icons), but there is also “The Lion King” (it has nothing to do with the service, you need to buy it) and “Mad Max” (it has already been purchased and is also not associated with Apple TV+). The “Up Next” menu is what we have already started watching (it doesn’t matter whether this content is from Apple TV+ or not, and whether it was watched on this device or on another).

All this is true for mobile devices. Although on the iPhone at first you may get the feeling that TV+ has literally taken over everything. But if you scroll down, there will be regular movies from the store.

An important point: through Apple ID, information about your views is synchronized across all devices. So you can start watching on your smartphone, then continue from the same place on your laptop, and finish on your Apple TV media player. In addition, on any of your devices you can download the series and watch it offline.

However, it is worth considering that each series can “weigh” several gigabytes. And, for example, the one and a half hour documentary “Queen of Africa” - more than 7 GB. Therefore, downloading may not be the most rational solution. Rather, it is needed for those who want to take a few episodes on a trip or like to watch TV series on the way to work or home.

What to watch

What is the content itself? What is the range of films and TV series? So far, at the start, the choice is very small: one documentary - the already mentioned “Queen of Africa” - and seven TV series, each of which has several episodes available (at least three).

It’s interesting that the series are completely diverse and designed for different audiences. “The Morning Show” is a poignant drama about a popular TV presenter (Jennifer Aniston), whose TV partner was accused of sexual harassment. Viewers will find behind the scenes of the TV world, intrigue and total cynicism. “For All Mankind” is a story about an alternate reality where Soviet cosmonauts landed on the moon and the space race continued. “See” is a spectacular post-apocalyptic saga starring Jason Momoa. According to the plot, after a global epidemic, only two million people survive on the planet, and they lose the ability to see, and the achievements of progress are gradually forgotten, so that a century later, humanity finds itself thrown back into the Stone Age.

“Ghost Messages” is an adventure story about a schoolboy whose parents work in a bookstore, and all sorts of miracles begin to happen there, while the boy tries to solve his problems in a new class. While "The Morning Show" and "See" are aimed at an adult audience, "Ghost Messages" will appeal to middle school-aged viewers. And older children, teenagers, may be interested in the series “Dickinson” - an ironic costume film about the 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson. The main role here is played by Hailee Steinfeld, known for the films “True Grit” by the Coen brothers and “Bumblebee”. And, in fact, this is a typical teenage drama about rebellion against adults and one’s environment, attempts to find oneself and conquer the world. The actors, however, overact, but, in general, it is suitable for high school age.

There are also two projects for very little ones: “Helpers ” and “Snoopy in Space” . In the first, puppets in the spirit of “Sesame Street” and real actors act, in the second, everything is drawn. It’s difficult for me to evaluate them, but my seven-year-old son was skeptical about both series: even for younger schoolchildren, they are already boring. But “Helpers” is so far the only project on Apple TV+ with full Russian dubbing. All other Russian-speaking viewers will have to watch with subtitles. Even Snoopy in Space.

Perhaps, of all that is currently presented on Apple TV+, the most impressive work is The African Queen . This is a truly magnificent documentary about a herd of elephants, which their leader - the elephant Athena - leads across the vast African expanses in search of the best place to live.

On the one hand, there is amazing wildlife footage here - from huge elephants, which you can see in such detail (you can't help but fall in love with them), to tiny East African frogs, mantises, chameleons and other jungle inhabitants. On the other hand, this is not just a documentary in the spirit of Animal Planet, but a touching story, a whole drama with many branches and colorful characters.

What's under the hood

All content presented on the service is played in 4K. Moreover, if the Internet connection is not fast enough, the quality automatically decreases. In case you download the episode to your computer, it ends up at the following address: Macintosh HD/Users/username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/TV Shows/series name/season number/episode file.

If you download a movie (for now there is only one on Apple TV+, but others will appear later), then its address will be slightly different: Macintosh HD/Users/username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Downloads-TV/movie title . And here's what's interesting: the file format is now HLS Video. It can’t be played by any player other than Apple TV+, and we couldn’t even get information about the resolution, codec and other parameters, either using built-in or third-party means.

The HLS Video file can be opened as a package, and the contents are quite interesting. There are a huge number of folders inside, but almost the entire volume is made up of the first one. It contains many approximately identical files with the .frag extension.

Apparently, those that weigh 10-15 MB are just pieces of video. And the rest are auxiliary files. In another folder there is a similar number of many times smaller files: apparently, this is sound. Why the files in the remaining folders are needed is a mystery.

Please note that some movies previously purchased from iTunes will still download in good old M4V. The screenshot below is the “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” file, which was uploaded at the time of writing this article.

But, for example, the latest “Mad Max” is also in HLS Video. We can assume that this is a file format designed specifically for 4K content.

Strictly speaking, the average user, of course, does not care in what format what is downloaded there, since it was impossible to freely transfer files between devices before: iTunes content has always been well protected from any unauthorized use. But in this case, from the researcher's point of view, the problem with HLS Video is that we cannot get any information about the video. By the way, you can't take a screenshot during playback on Apple TV, no matter what device you're using. More precisely, you can formally take a photo, but instead of a frame you will see a black screen.

The only way to roughly estimate the bitrate, for example, is to simply divide the file size by the duration of the movie/episode in seconds (well, multiply by 8 to get megabits from megabytes). However, you can notice that the volumes vary greatly. An hour and a half movie is more than 7 GB, and an hour episode is less than 3 GB. In general, everything is very individual.

Subjective impressions of the video quality are very good. In “Queen of Africa” the picture is simply amazing - it is so detailed and expressive. “Dickinson” and “See” look great. “For All Mankind”, “Ghost Messages” and “The Morning Show” are a little less impressive - the video sequence itself is simply more boring. But there are no complaints.

Overall, we can say that Apple is setting new quality standards for streaming services: 4K and no compromises.

How much does it cost and who needs Apple TV+

Apple TV+ costs 199 rubles per month in Russia, before which a free seven-day trial subscription is available (but if you don’t like it, don’t forget to cancel it, since after a week the money for the first month will be debited automatically). For owners and future buyers of new iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, iPod touches and Apple computers, the service will be free for a year. And you don’t have to do anything - the system automatically gives you the opportunity to sign up for an annual subscription. The service will be free for those who have an Apple Music student subscription.

But if we still proceed from the cost of 199 rubles per month, then is this a lot or a little? It all depends on whether you like at least one of the series currently presented on the service. If you find one, the price will be justified. Still, one new movie on iTunes is already more expensive. And here are several episodes at once. A huge plus is, of course, multiplatform and convenience. The downside is the lack of Russian-language voice acting (except for “Helpers”). But the cornerstone is still content.

True, it will be replenished. Several more films and TV series are promised in the near future. Of these, judging by the announcement and the names of the creators, the thriller “Servant” by M. Night Shyamalan looks the most promising. The problem with everything else is the clear emphasis on the American audience and its problems. We are promised the following stories: “the trendy true crime podcasts taking over America are forcing us to think seriously about media ethics and the boundaries of privacy,” “a series based on the true stories of the lives of immigrants in America,” “two black entrepreneurs try to circumvent the racial restrictions of the 1950s.” 's, providing mortgage loans to African Americans in segregation-era Texas," "the main character tries to find a balance between the ordinary life of an American teenager and the realities of a traditional Muslim family" ...

Is any of this impressive? Would you like to see it? Of course, everyone has their own tastes, but for now I would like to classify both announcements and already released projects, rather, into the category “you can look at it at your leisure if nothing more interesting comes along.” However, this is just the beginning. Even at the presentation, projects by Spielberg and JJ Abrams were promised, and such authors do not waste time on trifles.

In general, if you have Apple devices and are interested in foreign TV series, and the prospect of watching with subtitles or in English does not bother you, sign up for a trial subscription and watch at least parts of Apple TV+ projects. Well, “Queen of Africa” - in its entirety. And then decide whether to pay 199 rubles or whether it’s better to wait for a fundamental expansion of the range.

Gaming capabilities of the console

In general, the App Store portal has a lot of games for the iOS platform from different genres. Any of them can be installed on Apple TV and played without freezing or blurry pictures.

But professional gamers declare that there is a huge difference between a specialized gaming console and Apple TV, and not in favor of Apple players.

The reason is obvious - the developers did not prioritize the gaming capabilities of Apple TV. It's more of a handy addition that you can use to entertain yourself between tasks. After all, if we compare the multimedia characteristics of game consoles, they are much inferior to the media center from Apple.

What other devices support Apple TV?

Amazon Fire TV

Amazon offers the Apple TV app on the Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick (2nd generation, basic edition), Fire TV, and Fire TV Cube (1st and 2nd generation). It is also available on Toshiba Fire TV Edition and Insignia Fire TV Edition devices.

Roku

Most Roku devices support Apple TV, including the 4K-compatible Streaming Stick+, Premiere, the new flagship 4K-compatible Ultra network player, and the Roku Smart Soundbar.

Xbox

There are rumors that Microsoft is in talks to include Apple TV in Xbox gaming consoles. Perhaps the technology giants will announce a successful agreement during the launch of the new generation Xbox Series X and S, which awaits us on November 10.

Equipment and types of devices

In the 4th and 5th generations, the models differed in the amount of internal memory. The cheap version was equipped with 32 GB of memory, and the more expensive one had 64 GB on board. The remaining parameters of devices of each generation were identical.

The Apple TV package is also non-standard. The package contains:

Apple TV Media Center;
External power supply;
Branded Apple TV Remote;
USB to Lightning cable.

IMPORTANT: HDMI cable must be purchased separately!

Which TVs support Apple TV?

Samsung

Samsung offers Apple TV on all 2022 and 2020 smart TVs, including the Q series, which includes 4K and 8K QLED TVs. Some 2022 models, such as 4K-QLED, 4K-LCD series 6, 7 and 8, and HD-LCD series 4 and 5, also support Apple TV.

LG premium TVs based on OLED and NanoCell technologies support the Apple TV app, not only the 2020 models, but also part of the 2022 lines - OLED, NanoCell SM85 series and above, as well as NanoCell SM83 series and below. Owners of compatible TVs can find the Apple TV icon in the video app feed on their home screen.

Sony

The Apple TV app is now supported on Sony smart TVs. It is already rolling out in Europe via firmware updates, starting with the XH90 series. According to Sony, by the end of this year, Apple TV support will be added to “select” 2022 models (AF9, ZF9) and to “most” 2022 (XG85, XG87, XG95, AG9, ZG9) and 2022 models (XH80, XH81, XH85, XH91, XH90, XH92, XH95, A8, A9, ZH8).

Apple TV Remote

This is Apple's proprietary development, which for several years has been dividing users into ardent opponents and inspired supporters.

The reason is that the Apple TV Remote has a perfectly balanced minimalist design. At a time when other manufacturers integrate up to hundreds of buttons into their remote controls, along with a QWERTY keyboard, Apple engineers took a different route:

They left only 6 touch buttons on the front panel;
The freed surface was converted into a touchscreen;
A microphone, an accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope were integrated inside the case.
A Lightning port was added to the case for charging the battery.

As a result, there is no need to change batteries - one charge is enough for several months of intensive use.

The Apple TV Remote can be used as a game joystick, and you can control your TV and set-top box with gestures.

Most importantly, the Apple TV Remote has voice control capabilities.

Found a mistake? Select it and press ctrl+enter

The remote control is the head of everything

Apple TV has not been updated for a long time, and one of the main problems of the previous generation of the set-top box was the lack of control over the sound of the connected TV. On the Apple forums in the spring of 2012, a thread that later became popular was dedicated to criticism of the device.

I'm surprised no one in the jailbreaking community has addressed this issue.
It's such a simple thing, and I can guarantee that Steve Jobs, with his health, was not aware of this. Imagine if someone came in and said, “Steve, in the new Apple TV we're going to remove audio controls and force our users to walk around the house with two remotes.” rubenfrombeverly hills

When playing through the TV rather than through a Bluetooth audio system, the TV has full control over the volume of the sound. I encountered the same problem: to adjust the volume I had to take out a second remote control. However, the new Apple TV has learned to “hack” other people’s remote controls and imitate them: you point them at the box, first press the volume up button, then the volume down button, and the set-top box captures the signal. After this, the TV remote control can be safely put away on the shelf.

Unlike the old Remotes, the new one has a touchscreen and motion sensors. You can click on the surface of the touchscreen, almost like a trackpad on a laptop: it understands when the click occurred from the side, when from above and when from below - this made it possible to avoid creating separate navigation buttons.

There are only six physical buttons: “Menu” works like the “Back” button, the key with the image of a TV works like “Home” on an iPhone (a double press opens a list of running applications), and the volume and Play buttons do not need to be explained. The only unusual thing here, perhaps, is that Play works in a non-obvious way: for example, when the system has a paused song from iTunes, when you exit the player, the remote control stops responding to button presses. You have to go back to the app to turn on the music again.

The last, sixth button with the image of a microphone is still almost useless in Russia. It should call up Siri voice search, but Apple TV doesn’t support it in Russian (although Siri on the iPhone has been able to understand Russian since February 2015), so for now the button just turns on text search. It is worth admitting that they warn about the absence of Russian Siri in the Apple online store right on the product selection screen.

If you still really want to try Siri in action, you will have to switch the language and location, for example, to the USA, and log into Apple TV using an American iCloud account (if you have one). Unlike the iPhone, here Siri listens to the owner’s speech only while the microphone button is pressed. He doesn’t understand very well: when asked, Siri stubbornly gave me everything, but not the game I was looking for, although it is in the App Store for tvOS.

The smart remote understands when you let it go. After a few seconds, it dims the screen if nothing is happening on it. And then the Apple TV turns on the animated HD wallpaper, and peace sets in.

After Apple TV users complained that the glass on the remote control was too fragile, the idea of buying an additional wrist strap began to look less wild. The official lanyard is a thin strip of leather that is attached to the remote control via the Lightning connector using a special plug with spacers. It really makes it much more difficult to drop the remote control on the floor, but the length fixing strip, which is also made of leather, is difficult to adjust due to high friction.

The glass surface and aluminum back cover of the remote control are very easily soiled, and it quickly begins to look untidy. However, the touchscreen itself has a coating that you won’t accidentally scratch or get dirty - it’s convenient because your fingers are always on it.