Earlier this month Apple introduced the much-anticipated all-new Apple TV 4K. As you might guess from the name, the Apple TV now supports 4K video. But it’s also got a lot of other new features, including HDR support, new screen savers in 4K, a faster Apple A10 X Fusion processor, and 3GB of RAM. The Apple TV 4K officially goes on sale tomorrow, but chosen media outlets were granted early access by Apple to take the new Apple TV 4K for a spin. Here’s what they thought about Apple’s new set-top box.
The Verge
“I want to love the Apple TV 4K. I want to love it a lot. It is by far the closest thing to being a fully realized vision for the future of TV that exists. But because it’s so ambitious, it’s also the farthest away from the vision it’s trying to achieve. Cheaper devices with fewer dreams about unified interfaces are much better at simply turning on and putting some video on your TV, with less aggressive video processing and better surround support…
“If you’re already invested in a huge iTunes movie library, or you buy so many movies that Apple’s cheaper pricing makes a big difference to you, you’re not going to be unhappy about buying an Apple TV 4K. It’ll be fine, and having your existing library get upgraded will be nice, although the HDR upscaler will occasionally make you sad.”
Time
“Yes, 4K is a huge pixel leap over 1080p, but the bigger change here is arguably HDR, which fundamentally changes how colors and contrast ratios work. I noticed this most when watching a scene in Netflix's Marvel superhero mashup The Defenders, in particular a scene that has Alexandra (played by Sigourney Weaver) sitting in a sun-filled room enjoying a private performance by the New York Philharmonic. She's wearing an off-white blouse with beads arranged in an argyle pattern. Viewing the show in HDR, I was able to tell that her outfit was champagne-colored, whereas it looked blandly white in the non-HDR stream. The difference may seem trivial, but illustrates the way HDR can tease out subtle hues ostensibly truer to a scene.”
Pocket-Lint
“Had Apple just released a box that was capable of playing 4K HDR content it would get filed under "just another way to access 4K content in a world where there are plenty of alternatives".
The Apple TV 4K aligns itself with the current standards, but where it really shows off is with its single purchase model. Buy an HD movie and it'll morph into the 4K one when it becomes available - without incurring additional costs. In other words: you'll always have the best available quality, depending on what's available and what device you're watching on. This opens up a world of possibilities for those keen to expand their 4K library on the cheap.
“This move has huge ramifications for the industry which, until now, has been intent on making movie fans pay dearly for wanting better-looking movies and TV shows in their living room. Whether this forces other providers to do the same remains to be seen - but it could be the start of a shift, for which Apple should be applauded.
CNET
“Is it worth the extra money? Not for most people. Once Amazon launches, the main hold-up over Apple TV 4K is the price. If you really want to save money, most 4K TVs have perfectly good on-board apps. And if you want to use an external streamer instead, the Roku is much cheaper.
“But let's say you're OK spending $179, £179 or AU$249 to get a high-performance streamer. If you're an "Apple person" with a nice TV and a yen for improved image quality, the Apple TV 4K is definitely worth getting -- and if you already own the non-4K one and you have cash to spare, it's a good excuse to kick that box to a secondary room. The same goes for movie buffs who regularly rent or buy new releases in 4K, thanks to iTunes' price advantage and promise to upgrade to the 4K versions.”
BuzzFeed
“It’s really only for those who want to buy content from the iTunes store, use an over-the-air tuner to watch broadcast TV (like ABC or NBC), or connect their Macs or iPhones via AirPlay. It’s also designed specifically for people who use Apple products. For example, you can turn your TV into an external monitor for your Mac with AirPlay, or use your iPhone to type in usernames and passwords so you don’t have to use the horrible on-screen keyboard. Android and Windows users don’t have these options and should consider other streamers.
“Sure, the Apple TV 4K offers some extra bells and whistles, like being able to control your smart home, download third-party apps (like Panna, a cooking app, or Zova, a fitness app), or view iCloud library photos on the big screen. But the bottom line is: If you just need something to stream on-demand content from providers like Hulu, Netflix, HBO Now, or Amazon Video, the Roku ($60-$100), Fire TV Stick ($40) (the Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD is currently unavailable), and Chromecast ($35 to $69) have got you covered.”
Mashable
“As great as it is to finally have access to 4K and HDR content via an Apple TV, the biggest issue right now is that the price is, for now, very difficult to justify when you have 4K-ready competition from Roku, Amazon, and Google at a fraction of the cost.
“Not that there aren't benefits to buying into Apple's premium. If you've already invested a lot of money into iTunes content, then it may be worth it to pay the extra cost upfront (especially if all those free 4K conversions come through).
“And Apple's Siri-powered universal search is still difficult to beat, especially considering how easy it is to find 4k and HDR content.
“But whether that balances out the $179 price (or $199, if you want the 64GB version), is another matter. With so much competition coming in at significantly under the $100 mark, the "Apple tax" is harder to justify here. For all but the most dedicated Apple loyalists, the new Apple TV is likely to inspire buyer's remorse.”
Financial Post
“All in all, the Apple TV 4K box is a handy upgrade for the device in certain situations, but it’s an expected (and arguably overdue) one as well. It’s nice for those who have a 4K television to support it, but it’ll still take some time for the content to catch up. That said, if you don’t have an Apple TV already and are in the market for one, then future proofing yourself by getting the Apple TV 4K is the way to go.”
by michaelg via Featured Articles
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