The latest rendition of the Apple TV is now shipping out to homes everywhere, and the reviews are in. Here’s what you need to know.
The new Apple TV will set you back $149, which is the priciest of the versions thus far. It’s clear that Apple is pushing the idea that apps are usable on a television platform; the new version gives users access to nearly every streaming app. This version also has Siri, and she’s apparently very smart. Users can ask for a specific episode, can search for an episode by actors or characters, and can even locate entire seasons of shows, and Siri will almost always pull through.
But wait – there’s more! The new Apple TV is highly personable and is designed to give each individual user the TV experience he or she desires, to a tee. However, according to many reviews, this updated version is not the cable killer the designers at Apple were hoping it would be. There simply isn’t enough content. Despite this, there is optimism that people who do decide to switch off their cable will choose Apple TV over competing devices, such as Roku.
Walt Mossberg, who has a lot of experience reviewing Apple devices, said “I don’t know when, if ever, Apple will reinvent TV. But this isn’t the moment. I can say that, if I were buying a streaming box right now, this is the one I’d buy, if only for the promise of lots of apps.” It appears as though Apple may not have reinvented television as they hoped, but they certainly did a heck of a job updating their streaming box.
There are several other interesting features to this updated version of Apple TV. Users can use the left and right side of the trackpad as arrows when typing, and users can also create button sequences to switch between apps or turn the TV on and off. There is also a jack on the back of the box to allow users to transfer the output to a Mac. The remote also mirrors the usability of an iPhone and is touch-sensitive, which ultimately allows users to feel like they are more connected with the TV than ever before.