Connect Apple Wireless Keyboard to new Apple TV 4?

The new Apple TV does not support Bluetooth keyboards.

Yep - Apple have really dropped the ball on this.

Unlike previous Apple TVs the Apple TV 4 doesn't currently support text input from a Bluetooth keyboard - whether it is an Apple or another brand.

And to compound it, the iOS and Watch OS remotes are also not supported currently.

The only way to enter text is to use the on-screen keyboard and the Siri Remote (or if you hate swiping for text entry, and prefer left/right buttons, you can also use an older Apple IR remote)

If you have to enter passwords and logins for Apps, this gets boring very quickly...

This isn't the only functionality that has gone in the transition from Apple TV 3 to the tvOS-based Apple TV 4. There is now no built in support for non-Apple Internet Radio streaming nor is there support for Podcasts.

There's also still no support for 1080/24p video output, so Netflix and other streaming services are running with added 3:2 judder...

Totally agree, Apple dropped the ball big time with the ATV 4.

I won't be buying it again until it gets Optical Audio out and Keyboard support.

I can understand the lack of optical support if I'm honest. I realised that it is annoying for people with older amps, but like component analogue outputs, they are a thing of the past.

The big issue with optical output is that it limits you to PCM 2.0 or DD/DTS codecs. Modern content could well be using the more efficient HE-AAC multichannel codecs, which can be decoded to PCM multichannel and output over HDMI, but would require a transcode to DD/DTS which will incur licensing costs (as the ATV would need to have a Dolby encoder in it as well)

Whilst Bluetooth keyboard support, and iOS / Watch OS remote support can be (hopefully) implemented in a software update, I don't see Apple revising the hardware to add back a legacy optical standard. They could conceivably add a USB 3.1 -> Optical sound dongle as an accessory I guess (though not sure they will), or start selling HDMI->Toslink audio extractors in the Apple store accessories section? (Something like this would do the job : http://www.amazon.co.uk/ZILONG-Extractor-Converter-TosLink-Version/dp/B010LRHNTW /ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446381753&sr=8-1&keywords=hdmi+audio+extractor )

I will order one of those adapters and try it. I do understand what you are saying but its a nuisance in my case as we have four ATV3s each using optical outputs into four different sound systems.

I was happy to update to four new ATV4s for a clean swap but didn't plan on needing four new amps also.

Though having done a bit more investigation it appears the ATV 4 does indeed have a Dolby Digital encoder in it. When I select "Dolby Surround" (sic) as my audio output preference on the ATV 4, it output all audio in Dolby Digital over HDMI, not just content that was already in encoded in it.

When watching streaming TV services (that use AAC audio) I still get Dolby Digital output. So one of my arguments is no longer valid...

These guys just failed. No keyboard. No remote. No iMovie theatre. No audio output. I honestly don't understand. It's actually a step back.

So far, thumb down!

Just joined in. Yes they have really dropped the ball on this iteration and went backwards. No Bluetooth keyboard, no Remote App! I also don't appreciate the swiping inaccuracy. Siri on the other hand is about as good as it is everywhere else, that is if you have zero ambient noise What everyone has to do is contact AppleTV feedback. I called tech support on this already and got the condescending "Yeah we know it does not support Bluetooth keyboard or Remote app". And that was about it, they did not care what I was saying. Of course they did suggest contacting feedback. Next. She said it may be in a future update, but there was an update today and it wasn't included. So I guess maybe not enough people have sounded off yet. Get to it fellas.

The updae yesterday was a small (9.0.1) unfortunately there were no release notes but more important is the release of the beta (9.1) to developers. That's where I would expect that the majority of the early "updates" will be released...

Just an FYI, iMovie Theater is a separate App that you have to search for. My son was going to kill me until I found it.

What does this have to do with Apple TV and no bluetooth keyboard or Remote app support? I think your posting to the wrong thread.

Well, if you see the post I was replying to, he mentioned that there was no iMovie theater, so I figured I would correct him; but then again, I didn't see you rail him for ranting off topic either. . .

It is true that the apple keyboard is NOT recognized as a bluetooth device with the latest Apple TV (v4). However, please note that, the Remote App for iPhone/iPad "does" launch an on screen keyboard when connected to the TV ... so, in essence, Apple had the foresight to make it so you do not have to buy an external keyboard for the device. What is interesting is that the older version of the TV (v3) will show up as a bluetooth connectable device, even though it cannot be paired.

Hope this helps.