Apple claimed to have revolutionized television. It sounds like a marketing ploy, but the company was really able to offer users innovative technologies with the release of Apple TV. Since then, time has passed and 4K resolution has become popular. Naturally, the company from Cupertino could not afford to lag behind the general progress. That's why the Apple TV 4K set-top box was released. What is so remarkable about this media player that so much attention has been paid to it? To understand this, you should consider everything in order.
Conclusion
Finally, during testing, we received a UHD picture: what we were missing so much in the 4th generation of this device has nevertheless become a standard in Apple TV 4K. At the same time, not everyone will be able to enjoy 4K resolution—in particular, YouTube users and photographers will feel excluded from the holiday. In terms of the breadth of content selection in the App Store and ease of management, Apple, as usual, is at its best. True, the same is true with cost - in the case of Apple, it is usually high.
| Advantages | Flaws |
| 4K support with HDR giant app store easy to use compelling speech recognition | photos and YouTube are not in 4K high cost |
Best Apple Arcade games on Apple TV
(Image courtesy of Cornfox & Brothers Ltd)
Oceanhorn 2
How much does it cost? It's free with an Apple Arcade subscription
If the original Oceanhorn is like A Link to the Past, then Oceanhorn 2 is its big brother Breath of the Wild. The sequel to one of the best Apple TV games opens up the world a little more, allowing you to stretch your legs and the Apple TV's graphical capabilities for a beautiful, wild ride. Want more Zelda experiences? Use an Xbox One, PS4 or MFi controller for a truly high-quality console experience.
(Image credit: Apple)
Cross Road Castle
How much does it cost? It's free with an Apple Arcade subscription
The latest and greatest game to join Apple Arcade's roster of games is Crossy Road Castle, a light-hearted multiplayer platformer set in a procedurally generated castle. The game is similar in spirit to the original Crossy Road in that it's mostly about getting as far as you can while laughing, rather than getting to the end of the castle. The multiplayer component allows up to four players to interact locally, which certainly adds to the fun of it all.
(Image credit: Apple)
Butter Royal
How much does it cost? It's free with an Apple Arcade subscription
If you have little ones, you've no doubt heard of Fortnite, the biggest battle royale game on the planet, where 100 players battle each other in a large, open arena. This game is great for gamers of a certain age, but for little ones, even Fortnite may seem like overkill. For this crowd, there's Butter Royale, a battle royale food game that replaces submachine guns with croissants and ketchup bottles. It keeps all the core principles of what makes Battle Royale games great, but puts it in a PG-rated package for everyone to enjoy.
(Image credit: Apple/Bandai Namco)
Pac-Man Party Royale.
How much does it cost? It's free with an Apple Arcade subscription
When talking about Battle Royale games, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Pac-Man Party Royale, a battle mode based on the arcade classic that delivers a really good multiplayer experience. The goal is simply to become the last Pac-Person standing by eating rival players like Super Pellet or pitting them against ghosts. This is a brilliant twist on an old school classic.
(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)
Sayonara Wild Hearts
How much does it cost? It's free with an Apple Arcade subscription
Sayonara Wild Hearts is a rhythm game that takes Rez's cues and mixes them with a pop album instead of techno tracks. You travel along a 3D track, collecting items to score points and periodically tapping different parts of the screen for QTE boss battles. The visuals are simply beautiful and the music is some of the best in any mobile game. Sure, you can play it on your phone, but this game is truly made for a controller.
Performance boost for Apple TV
Visually, the fifth generation of Apple TV has remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous model: the black console is still designed in a minimalist style and fits comfortably in one hand. The changes affected only the reverse side: now there is no previously existing USB Type-C port. But since in Apple TV 4 it essentially only served as a service port for updates and developer needs, few users will notice its absence.
No more USB port: Apple TV 4K now has only three interfaces
The Apple TV 4K has undergone a complete renovation inside the case. To ensure UHD content can be displayed flawlessly, Apple installed the A10X Fusion processor familiar from the iPad Pro and 3 GB of RAM. The performance has become enough to broadcast video in 4K resolution from the iPhone camera to Apple TV. Also in the list of equipment are a WLAN module of the ac standard and a LAN port.
Best Educational Apps
(Image credit: Apple)
Kitchen stories
Is a subscription required? No
The reason Kitchen Stories makes all these best of Apple TV lists is because it's simply beautiful to look at, thanks to its minimalist design and HD tutorial videos. By default, videos are set to autoplay, meaning one recipe flows seamlessly into the next, and soon you've been watching videos on how to poach an egg and make scones within half an hour. Also, we have to say that the bossa nova music in the background is a big plus.
(Image credit: MasterClass)
Master Class
Is a subscription required? Yes
What if you could learn to cook from Gordon Ramsay or learn to write from Stephen King? That's what the Masterclass promises - real classes taught by some of the world's most eminent chefs, writers, thinkers and business leaders. Admittedly, the classes themselves are relatively expensive, but if you compare them to the cost of tuition for a semester, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much information is contained in each of these classes.
(Image credit: Apple)
TED
Is a subscription required? No
The TED app is like college lectures, stripped down to the essential points and delivered in a way that will keep you awake. TED speakers tackle some of the biggest issues facing humanity today with expert precision, incredible wit, and usually a good dose of humor. It's an app you can leave running in the background while you cook or clean, and tune in periodically to hear uplifting news or find a useful item you can use to make the world a better place.
(Image credit: Cheddar)
Cheddar
Is a subscription required? No
While there's no shortage of traditional news networks on Apple TV, Cheddar is part of a new wave of Internet-focused news. This means Cheddar is a little more attuned to what's happening in technology and business than traditional cable networks, while maintaining strong production values and quality research. We still use CNN, NBC and CBS News for serious stories, but Cheddar is a reliable alternative for enthusiasts like us.
(Image credit: Calm)
Calm
Is a subscription required? No
Okay, Calm isn't exactly an educational app, but it does teach you a thing or two about yourself while encouraging you to meditate every day. With guided meditations that teach you how to breathe and relaxation exercises that reduce anxiety, Calm is a great app that's worth your time.
Finally 4K - in almost everything
Compared to the previous model, the jump to 4K resolution is clearly noticeable when used with the corresponding UHD TVs or 4K projectors. A very noticeable role is played by the new HDR-10 support, which provides natural color reproduction and high contrast. Thanks to this, the differences compared to UHD-Blu-ray are practically erased. Upscaled Full-HD content also looks decent.
In the case of photos that can be downloaded via AirPlay or from iCloud, things don't look so great, of course. Instead of simply displaying images at the highest resolution appropriately, Apple TV 4K reduces them by downscaling. This fact is especially sad because the iPhone X camera (3840x2160 pixels) is supposedly designed to work with Apple TV. Another disappointment: 4K is still not supported for YouTube.
Difference between Full HD and 4K
- The second device supports the highest possible image format.
- No visual audio support.
- The corporation promises to update all purchased content on iTunes to the required sound standard.
The difference between Full HD and 4K - example 1 The difference between Full HD and 4K - example 2
Streaming features
4K is not available to everyone: YouTube users will not get Apple's UHD pleasure.
In terms of functions related to streaming, very little has changed - but there was no particular need for it. You can still conveniently purchase or rent TV series and movies from the iTunes Store. At the same time, there are practically no annoying pauses for buffering: after the user selects the desired movie, in most cases it starts right after a few seconds. Alternatively, you can also use well-known streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Instant Video and stream content in 4K - as long as you have a fast internet connection.
During long breaks, you will benefit from the integrated AppStore, which offers numerous games that can, among other things, be controlled using the acceleration sensor built into the remote control or an optionally available controller. For an additional fee, sports fans get access to the content they need through apps for Sky, Eurosport and DAZN. To store data and applications, Apple TV 4K, depending on the configuration, offers built-in storage capacities of 32 or 64 GB.
BIG review of the Apple TV 4K set-top box in 2019/2020 + Apple TV+ subscriptions
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Hello, dear readers of the site Uspei.com. Apple TV 4k is not a new product on the market, but quite relevant. In this review, we will try to figure out what it is, how the whole thing works, what it can do, what it can’t do, and who should buy it. So it will be interesting, make yourself comfortable.
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Equipment
The delivery set is simple : set-top box, power cable, remote control, lightning cable for charging it, waste paper and that’s it. An HDMI cable was not included, and when purchasing it you should know that it must support 4k data transmission. I bought the 2-meter model recommended on the company’s official website, it costs about $25, but I think you can find something cheaper with the same characteristics.
By the way, to play 4k video content online, the speed of your Internet connection must be at least 15 megabits per second .
The console itself comes in two versions : 32 and 64 gigabytes. Prices in the Russian and American Apple Online Store are below.
Before the release of the gaming subscription service Apple Arcade, a full review of all its games is here, I would recommend taking the minimum wage, but now, if you like to play, you should think about a larger capacity.
For some reason, Apple still sells an archaic HD version of the set-top box with 32 gigabytes. This model has ancient Wi-Fi, and does not support 4k and bluetooth 5th generation. And the whole thing costs only a little less than the 4K model – the current version, which we are reviewing today.
The console is very nice and compact, Apple designers are capable of creating beauty. The top surface is matte, the end is glossy, the bottom is made of matte, highly scratchable plastic, although it would be better if it were rubberized.
There is also a hole for active cooling. By the way, despite the fact that the cover will be scratched when opened, Ifixit rated the console’s repairability quite highly. In practice, I didn’t hear any noise either while playing 4k content or while playing games – even when I was a couple of meters from the TV.
In addition to the power port (and the adapter is built into the case) and HDMI, there is also a rather archaic-looking gigabit port.
It’s a shame that Apple only releases the console in black – it’s not very practical, and you constantly have to wipe it and brush off dust, because it’s very visible on it. I would like to see white or silver models.
There are no holes to screw the attachment to the wall. But on the official website you can buy a branded stand. True, it is not in the Russian Apple Online Store, and maybe thank God, because in the American it costs 30 bucks , although in China you can buy (well, replicas, of course) for about 4 bucks.
The remote control is very tiny - you can just compare it with a modern remote control from LG. As they say, feel the difference. The base of the body is brushed aluminum. The front panel is made of matte plastic.
By the way, I assumed that the matte plastic on the surface of the wheelbarrow would become glossy over time - for example, like on Macbook keyboards. For example, this happened to me within a year and a half. But I asked around among friends and during two years of daily direct use there were no hints that this thing would become glossy. And that's great.
We'll talk about the microphone and voice input later. The remote control is charged by electricity. On average, one charge is enough for about one cycle of use. Well, even if it runs out, there is no problem, because the charging is located in the right place - on the back side, and not like in a magic mouse , after inserting the wire into it, you will no longer be able to use it.
Data from the remote control is transmitted via Bluetooth. That is, you can control the set-top box even from another room and you don’t need to direct anything anywhere. And the infrared port is necessary so that you can adjust the system volume of the TV.
At first, as with the Magic Mouse, you are skeptical about the comfort when holding the remote control, but then you get used to it, and, in principle, it is clear that it is in excellent shape. This shape is also caused by the need to use the remote control in a horizontal orientation as a gamepad for games.
Those who are afraid that they will break the remote control quite quickly can buy protective cases . Moreover, there are even colored ones.
There are no questions about connection and setup, everything is within the company’s technology - everything is fast, easy and simple.
Surely, almost all modern TVs already support HDMI CEC - that is, when the TV’s power supply is controlled through even a set-top box that is connected to this very TV. That is, you can safely use only one remote control to turn the TV on and off, and that’s great.
Although, if you are a fan of cable television, you won’t be able to forget about your own remote control - Apple TV does not show channels , so in this case you will have to turn on your favorite channel using the standard TV remote control the old fashioned way.
Interface
So, let's go through the interface. The first thing that surprised me in Apple TV 4k was the quality of the interface and the resolution, respectively, at 4k - 50 hertz. You pay attention to this especially acutely after Full HD on Android TV, the interface of which looks soapy and terrible even on top models.
Just look at these screensavers - they are simply gorgeous . This is essentially the first function of decorating your room where the TV is located. Screensavers are updated daily or weekly, depending on how you configure the whole thing in the system settings. But we'll talk about this a little later.
Before you is the main screen of the tvOS13 - this is the latest and most current firmware on the Apple TV 4k, and the first thing you will notice is that there is no cursor button , moving through the elements of the operating system is carried out by swiping on the touch pad on the remote control.
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This, I will say, is relative to the standard LG remote control, which has a cursor and gyroscopes and the whole thing is controlled by simple gestures, it is less convenient, but it is many times more convenient than using the same, for example, buttons on the standard remote control that comes with the same Xiaomi TV 4S .
By the way, the platform itself is pressed, and this is such a clear click using the left mouse button, which is tactilely informative and pleasant.
On the main page, at the bottom, you see a display of five favorite applications; at the top, the main part of the screen - more than 80 or 70 percent is occupied by the recommended ones, which appear depending on which application you currently selected in the dock.
That is, you can swipe up and view those recommended ones that are currently offered. These are our programs that are offered by the “music” application. And if, for example, you swipe up on Apple Arcade, then there will be some of the latest released games or the most rated games in the top.
Next are all the applications that you installed or that were already installed. You can also move them arbitrarily - by holding the button and moving them in the desired direction. You can also add to favorites.
Of course, doing this is not as pleasant as swiping on an iPhone, but it is what it is. You can even create folders, although if it were possible to manage applications like on the Apple Watch, for example, directly from your smartphone, this would be much better.
If you double-press the screen button, multitasking mode will start and you can switch between active applications, as if you were doing it on an iPhone .
Also, holding this button for a long time launches the control point - this is another innovation of this model. Here you can see which account is activated, and you can set multiple profiles per user. It's incredibly convenient.
That is, logged into your account, and please - all icons and applications that are installed specifically in your account will be displayed on the desktop.
You can immediately go into sleep mode, control the music that is currently playing - more precisely, not control the tracks (this is done using the play button on the remote control itself), but quickly activate the Music application itself.
There is also the option to enable/activate AirPlay devices. That is, switching between sound sources. For example, if you have a Home Pad, you can select the speaker you want to play sound on, as well as search. Although, there is a real search button on the remote control.
And now the saddest part - yes, you can search by clicking on English or even Russian letters, but you cannot enter text by voice in Russian. This function is simply not available in Russian.
And the second problem is that Siri does not launch on Apple TV with the Russian region. And I think that this is simply a failure - that’s how long we waited for at least the Russian Siri to arrive on the iPhone - a really long time.
So, there is not even an English version of Siri, and this is just terrible , because controlling with your voice would be incredibly convenient (as, for example, in Android TV). To reassure you, I can say that using swipes is many times more convenient than clicking on buttons on the same Xiaomi TV remote control. But, this is still much less convenient than simply making a voice recording, which will then be processed and converted into text.
The search itself is carried out through the Apple Store and Apple Music applications. As a nice alternative, when you launch a search, a message appears in the iPhone itself asking you to enter text through the native iOS keyboard, and this is really convenient and nice. The only negative is that it is still impossible to dictate by voice. The button itself is inaccessible and Siri doesn’t turn on either, the phone just freezes.
And one more nice thing from the “Apple Ecosystem” category - here in the application on the iPhone there is a virtual remote control and it is really convenient to use. That is, you don’t need to look for the real Apple TV remote control if it’s lost somewhere in the apartment.
Basic Applications
Let's go through the main applications. Apple TV is the same cross-platform program that is now available on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple EM. All purchases are synchronized, and you can start watching a movie at any time - for example, on an iPhone, and then continue watching it on the same Apple TV. That is, all purchases will be synchronized with your account, and this is very convenient.
By the way, don’t forget that you can always stream content from any mobile device to a set-top box via AirPlay, and it’s very convenient and fast. I would say almost seamlessly.
The Photo application contains your entire media library, which is uploaded to the cloud and this is very convenient - especially when guests come to you and you want to show them something. Yes, with the advent of tvOS 13, the Apple Arcade service was launched, but we’ll talk about it a little later. There really is something to talk about there.
The Apple Music application again duplicates everything that is on your iPhone or iPad. This program is especially convenient when you have an activated Apple Music subscription, and you can access all the music tracks in the world.
Your entire media library will also be displayed here. It will be possible to play music not only on the TV itself, but also on devices connected to it - both wired and wireless.
Let's play some track from the Apple Music library. Of course, there is a karaoke option here. That is, the lyrics of the song are displayed depending on where the track is played.
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The Apple Store application contains adapted programs and games for the set-top box. That is, there is nothing here that will not run on Apple TV. And it's very convenient. There is also a tab with Apple Arcade.
What’s most interesting is that the downloaded application from your Apple ID will again be displayed on the purchase tab, but the adaptation will be for paid content. That is, what is not supported by your set-top box will not be displayed here, and this is convenient.
Let's try to launch the application. They seem to have introduced a new function that will display disease outbreaks and is completely adapted to the device.
Many people's favorite Youtube app. And here you will be disappointed - the Google application does not support the vp9 codec, and therefore the videos on Youtube with a resolution of not 4k, but Full HD. This whole thing could be compensated for by installing a browser, but there is no built-in browser - it can be inserted through certain instructions on the Internet.
But this is still not the case, and this browser will not support all the players that you can find on the Internet. That is, you won’t always be able to watch some site with pirated films, an incomprehensible player and a bunch of advertising.
Key Settings
Let's go through the key settings. Interesting “about this device”: here you can see the version of the operating system and the selected resolution. On the screensaver tab, you can select the type of screensaver - that is, not only what Apple itself offers, but also, for example, a home collection or a photo from the Apple ID library.
Here you can also select the frequency of downloading videos. As you can see, everything weighs a lot, but they are very high quality and that makes me happy. Apple also introduced a dark theme . For those who prefer it this way, it will be even more attractive.
Here you can configure the transition to sleep mode, there are settings for people with disabilities, as well as for those who want to more precisely configure the display of content on the display, set restrictions on video and audio content - where would you be without them.
As you can see, Siri is completely unavailable and cannot be activated in the Russian region. There is also a storage management tab where you can view a list of all installed games and programs, as well as delete them.
On the account users tab, you can add a new user - this is the cool feature that was announced. On the video and audio tab, you can configure these two components of the TV in more detail, as well as calibrate the system itself. On the remote controls and devices tab, you can see the current charge of the remote control - for me it is 53 percent.
Here you can connect wireless Bluetooth devices. And the saddest thing is that there is no way to connect two at the same time. This is not suitable for listening to, say, music or, most importantly, watching videos. This feature appeared recently, and I actively use it - both on the iPhone and on the iPad, but it is not available in tvOS 13.
This irritates me greatly, because I have to somehow get out of it or buy some kind of adapter, or paired headphones that receive a signal from the TV via Bluetooth and transmit it to each other via a radio channel. In general, this is annoying, and personally this moment from Apple disappoints me very much. It is unknown when this feature will appear.
On the applications tab, you can select auto-update settings, as well as the settings of certain programs themselves. On the system tab, you can update other options - if you were not automatically offered this before.
Now there is an option to watch the video through picture-in-picture mode , that is, you can continue playing, and a special icon will appear in the center, transferring the video to a small window. You can continue surfing the operating system, and also return to full-screen video playback mode at any time.
How to use Apple TV
The purpose of any set-top box is to absorb video content, so let’s talk about its main methods. The first and simplest one that Apple offers is purchasing movies and TV series through Apple TV. Films remain with you forever, within your account. Prices are basically humane.
An alternative may be rental - this is profitable, but not always, because the rental price is sometimes slightly lower than the purchase price. If the difference is big, then yes, it’s worth taking.
Also, do not forget about the rental conditions : after purchasing the film, you have a month to start watching. And after activating the video stream, you have 48 hours to watch the film to the end. Moreover, this can be done on any compatible Apple device. In any case, before you start renting, go and get acquainted with its terms and conditions on the official Apple website, so that later it will not be excruciatingly painful.
And just so you understand right away - the TV application contains all the video content of ripped iTuns, that is, there is something there that can be bought and rented. This is what comes with your Apple TV Plus subscription and payment.
If you expected Apple to subscribe to all video content located in the iTunes Store - like, for example, in Apple Music, when after activating the subscription absolutely all tracks are available to you, then you can’t even dream.
Apple provides subscription access to content that it exclusively produces with its own funds. And these are TV series, cartoons, documentaries, show films. And at the start it’s not a lot at all, but there are already announced series and films that will appear in the near future. Plus current series and shows are updated weekly.
We receive Russian titles, descriptions, subtitles, but do not receive the Russian language . That is, a Russian audio track - and this is sad. The list of languages is quite large, but at the moment there is no great and powerful one. And when he is expected there is also unknown.
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Still, in one children's program I found a Russian audio track, so hope dies last. And let's hope that in the future Apple will immediately produce shows, series and films in Russian, with Russian voice acting. In most cases, there are no special problems with Russian subtitles.
Subscription cost
The cost of a subscription in Russia is a little more than three bucks per month . 1 week free. And for those who bought a new Apple device after September 10, when it is activated within three months, an annual subscription is generally given. True, again, a Russian person has nothing special to watch at the moment - reading Russian subtitles is not an option.
And then it becomes clear where this unprecedented attraction of generosity comes from - there is very little content at the start . There was much more of it in Apple Arcade. But I’m interested in another question: will Apple, like Netflix, buy up the rights to films and TV series. It would just be a gun. And, of course, this whole thing has to do with the Russian language.
You can also stream PC content through the same plex. Then the set-top box will see and understand the mkv format hosted on a computer media server.
Apple TV and piracy
Well, about piracy, it’s here. There are content providers for films and TV series that provide access to an extensive library of content. But you must understand - this is not piracy in the classical sense, when everything is for free. You will still have to pay money for a subscription. On average, it works out to be about $20 a year.
But, I warn you: piracy is bad , and everyone decides for themselves whether to steal content or not. You must understand that in this case the content maker does not receive funds and cannot produce new cool TV series and films.
So I am against this and I strongly advise you not to do this. I told you all this for general development. And, you must admit, it’s a little strange when you still get pirated content for money – albeit for less.
Apple TV as a console
Regarding games, Apple TV can still act as a console. Previously, you had to be content with what was available in the Appstore adapted for Apple TV - these were mainly ports of games for iPhone and iPad. There are not very many games, but if you want, you can find a couple of interesting projects.
For example, I love racing and you can play the same Real Racing or Asphalt 8 . I won’t say that it’s very comfortable to play on the remote control, but for lack of anything else, it’s a fish even if there’s no fish. You can play with the remote control of such consoles - especially since there is an accelerometer, and, in principle, everything turns out just like on a smartphone. It's a pity that you won't play much shooters.
And then there are games like Hit Tennis 3, in which you can even stretch your legs and swing your arms. Here the impact force and direction are adjusted. It’s cool, albeit primitive, and not nearly as accurate as, for example, in the Oculus Quest controllers.
With the arrival of Apple Arcade in the space, Apple TV storage has finally begun to fill up rapidly. Moreover, as Apple promised, the library of subscription games, distributed on average from 3 to 6 dollars, is periodically filled up.
There is an important nuance: some games can only be launched from the remote control, some have support for controllers. That is, you can run it both from the remote control and from controllers - like Sony DualShock 4 from Playstation or Microsoft Xbox One S Wireless Controller.
And there are really cool games, and there are many of them, that can only be launched with a controller. More precisely, they will download and even launch, but then the remote control will not interact with the game interface. And this, of course, is offensive.
But, in any case, buying a used controller from a console will be cheaper than a console, and even more so games for it. And here you pay a meager subscription and play. The games are not super duper, I talked about this in a separate review.
Supports Apple TV and other controllers, for example, Steel Series , which is also compatible with iPhone and iPad. So now I can already call Apple TV a basic gaming console at minimum prices - especially if you have a controller.
It’s quite suitable - as an option for those who want to play something for half an hour in the evening, although the person himself is never a gamer. On the one hand, the Apple TV set-top box is not cheap compared to its peers. And most modern TV shells can perform a huge number of functions that Apple TV provides. And if there is still some Android 9, then that’s great.
On the other hand, this is a device that will fit perfectly into your Apple ecosystem, not as the first device, but as a subsequent device. And he, in fact, will share the capabilities of the huge TV screen with all those purchased things that you have in the Apple ecosystem.
And this could be an Apple Music subscription, it could be any movies and TV series purchased or rented from Apple TV, as well as a subscription to Apple TV Plus.
This console can also become a basic console with the Apple Arcade service. Now there really are a lot more games, especially if you also buy a controller. And, of course, it’s just a beautiful, convenient and functional thing – albeit not without its shortcomings.
You can describe your experience of using it in the comments so that newcomers would be interested in going there and reading. There you can add or correct something if I made a mistake somewhere.
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Management: it couldn't be easier
With the exception of the white frame of the “Menu” button, Apple has not changed anything in the remote control.
As has become customary for Apple products, the initial setup is easy to understand and quickly carried out, as they say, “with one left.” There is nothing to criticize for the control via the included remote control. In particular, voice control via Siri worked great during testing and commands were executed without problems. But if you look at Siri from the perspective of the new Apple Watch or iPhone X, it's easy to see some potential for improvement. For example, the Apple TV completely lacks the “Hey Siri!” feature. The voice assistant begins to listen to you only after the corresponding button on the remote control is pressed. In addition, audio feedback from Siri would also be practical, for example, if you ask her about the age of the actor - so far in this case the voice assistant remains mute. There is a possibility that Apple will implement these functions only in tvOS 12.
Alternative options
Nvidia Shield Android TV (2017)
The variety of games in the Apple store is good, but despite everything, it still moves the Apple TV 4K away from the status of a gaming console. Things are somewhat different with NVidia Shield, which is aimed specifically at gaming and streaming. The high-performance media player based on Android TV also boasts convincingly high performance, excellent 4K images (including YouTube) and many software features. The NVidia Shield costs about the same as the Apple TV.
Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa voice control
The fact that 4K does not have to be expensive for users is proven by the example of the current generation of Amazon Fire TV. By paying almost 70 euros, you get here a constant 60 fps with UHD resolution and support for HDR 10. Voice control by Alexa can easily be compared with Siri, and the variety of applications in the store, thanks to the operating system based on Android, is also significantly better than “average” .
Characteristics
As part of the review, it is imperative to consider the technical characteristics of the device in order to understand its advantages.
First of all, let's talk about screen resolution. As the name implies, the console has 4k resolution, or ultra HD.
If we talk about the amount of memory that is available for downloading media files, then there are 32 gigabytes to which you can download movies. This is quite enough. Considering that the files are stored on the cloud, they can be deleted immediately.
Connecting to a TV is possible thanks to the HDMI input of the second version. This is the standard input used in most Smart TVs and is capable of fast data transfer.
As you can see, this set-top box has quite good technical characteristics, especially for its affordable price.
