“The future of television has begun.”
Not the most reluctant slogan for a new product, especially when it comes Apple product. Such a slogan used after Steve Jobs before his death already hinted to revolutionize the way we watch television (Jobs “finally cracked it”, according to his biography) is daring. The creation of high expectations it inviting. All the more reason for Apple to meet these expectations. Read also: The new Apple TV: This is all there (not) in the box
So far, almost every attempt to a computer to make the centerpiece of the living miserable failure, and competitors like Microsoft and Google have therefore already walked a few vigorous spoke. If we count all together – high expectations, Apple’s strength as a brand, and the chaos that today’s entertainment industry is where Apple will introduce in order – the future of television has indeed begun. Right?
First Press
At first glance, the new Apple TV is a great device. Startup and setup is quick and can be done using your iPhone, which is very convenient. Within no time you find yourself on the home screen and you can start. The menu is clear and the remote control is intuitive. Scrolling through content is fast, but can also be very precisely thanks to the small trackpad Apple TV Remote. Everything works as it should work, as Apple may be expected.
The best remote on the market
The new Apple TV Remote works like a charm. It is a sleek black rectangle with a trackpad on the top. There are only six buttons (Menu, Home, Siri, Play / Pause, and volume up and down) which makes it very clear. Where we had the old Apple Remote by clicking our content (which could take a long time as it was a long list), we can now swipe – as we are used to our iPhone and iPad. This allows you to quickly scroll through your movies, music, photos, apps and settings, and also very precisely when it is needed.
The remote has a gyroscope and speedometer, which can be used while gaming. It also has the two microphones that can be used with the Siri-button. In brief, the hardware of the iPhone adapted for an experience in television (he was even charged via Lightning).
With the built-in infrared sensor, you can also use the Apple TV remote to control the volume of your TV to be controlled. Here, no additional adjustment was necessary, and it ensures that it is the only remote you ever need to use.
tvOS iOS, but different
The previous generations Apple TV worked with a strange version of iOS, updated for television. Now turn the set-top box on tvOS, a single operating system that is very similar to iOS, but different. The biggest advantage of tvOS on the new Apple TV is that it has its own App Store. The potential of this is enormous: you actually have a computer under your TV. The problem is that the potential of the App Store is totally dependent on developers, which are often – rightly -. Biding
I would like to see an app for example Ziggo or KPN to me via my Apple TV to “normal” to watch TV, catch-up TV on can call and can record programs. My Apple TV software that will replace the current cabinet that offers interactive TV. As the Apple TV has yet to prove, many developers are reluctant. Now, in the “future of television” virtually no live television are to be found, but also NPO missed or RTL XL we see for the time being do not appear on the Apple TV. Now it is possible to stream this content right on your Apple TV via AirPlay, but it still feels like a huge detour and do not fit into what the “future of television” should be.
This responsibility ultimately rests with developers, but from a company like Apple, I was expecting a really aggressive push. Though it is only in the United States, after Dutch broadcasters and cable companies may follow suit. It’s not like Apple here would not have the financial resources.
Gaming
In the App Store on the Apple TV is also home to a number of games. This makes the Apple TV is also a game console. Thanks to the A8 chip run games very stable and see the graphics are surprisingly good.
Simple games like Crossy Road work fine, but also graphically demanding games such as Disney Infinity three have been playing outstanding. Apple TV Remote-controlled me a T-65 X-Wing Starfighter with the mission to destroy the Death Star by firing my lasers in the Thermal Exhaust Port (Star Wars fans know exactly what I’m talking about). The Remote is connected via Bluetooth 4.0 and there is almost no delay between the acts that I have with the Remote output and the result on the screen.
Wii Sports style games work well with the Apple TV remote. Now I’m not a star in tennis – and it was good to see on the screen – but that was not the technique. Thanks to the wrist strap my remote did not fly through the house, which was a safe idea as a new Remote costs about ninety euros.
On the Apple TV remote controllers can be connected via Bluetooth. If there are some more serious games in the App Store appear here, these have sometimes benefited. It is also possible as with multiple people to play a game. On the Apple TV, you can connect up to three controllers and / or remote controls.
Why we do not have Siri, Apple?
One of the unique-selling-points of the new Apple TV mainly in English-speaking countries is Siri. With the push of a Siri button you activate it and you can ask for films, for example, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the episode of Doctor Who with Kylie Minogue, or the latest movies that are fun to watch with children. This eliminates all the scrolling and clicking
If you have selected a film or series, Siri lets you immediately see where this is available. It looks at the content in iTunes, but also for example Netflix and HBO. So you can without thinking about seeing your favorite movies and series. This sounds fantastic (and it is), but there is one small problem: Siri does not work in the Netherlands. Not even in English.
Come on Apple … why not? That Siri is not available in Dutch on the Apple TV, I can understand. For example it is difficult to find in Dutch to English titles. It should be a lot of work into it and it’s not Apple’s main priority seems logical. Netherlands is, after all, not a huge market for Apple. On the iPhone it took a number of years before Siri in Dutch was available, but it was to be used in English.
I can not reason given why Siri not to use English on the Dutch Apple TV. A little warning that Siri currently only be used in English, would have sufficed. Users who find a problem, do not use. But give the rest of us simply access it – in my eyes – biggest advantage of the new Apple TV.
Apple creates (too) high expectations
Assessing the new Apple TV is tricky. It is a very good set-top box, in my opinion even the best currently on the market. Everything works as it should work, and I have not had any time problems during use. Video and audio streaming without problems, files from your Mac or PC is easy via the Apple TV to play, the App Store has a lot of potential, and the apps and games that are available work piece by piece very well. The new remote control is the best control I’ve ever used, and I miss him when I ‘normal’ television viewing.
On the other hand, meets the new Apple TV is not up to expectations. Expectations that Apple scooped nota bene himself. “The future of television has begun.” If we take this new Apple TV is a huge disappointment. Not enough supply of (Dutch), cable companies and broadcasters, and no universal search because Siri not to use in the Netherlands.
Conclusion
If it seems like the Apple TV at a higher like standard than other set-top boxes, that’s right. Apple aspects of streaming media where the direct influence has certainly improved. But when you think about what the Apple TV is currently it quickly becomes clear that Apple has not been able to solve the little irritations of bringing together the divided television landscape. For example there is no universal log-in apps for different subscriptions.
Before the future of television can become a reality, this kind of nonsense must first be dispelled. I would even go so far as to say that only a company with so much power and influence as Apple has a chance to actually change the divided and complex media landscape. The future of television is in any case not (yet) begun.
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