Returning Apple TV 4th Gen
I created an account specifically to post my displeasure with the new Apple TV, which I am returning today. The time I have spent trying to get the new device to simply replicate the features of my two 3rd Gen Apple TVs should have been spent learning and enjoying the new features of the product. I own almost all of Apple's devices (except for the Watch), and this is the first time I have been disappointed in an Apple product. Imagine if the iPhone 7 is less of a product than the iPhone 6S... the world would be up in arms.
I will outline the issues that ultimately led to my decision to return the device, many of which have already been stated in other posts:
- The new onscreen keyboard is terribly difficult to use compared to the grid layout of the previous Apple TV, yet the Remote App was not been updated at the outset to work with the new device.
- Homeshare videos now display the Long Description field instead of the Description field, changing the look of a carefully curated library. iTunes has not been updated to allow the Long Description field to be edited to reflect this shift.
- Homeshare does not reconnect to the iTunes server after the Apple TV has been awoken from sleep. Only rebooting the Apple TV will reestablish the connection.
- Video files are not buffered in their entirety like they were with the previous Apple TV. This is an odd change considering the new device has increased system resources.
- The audio quality of AirPlay audio is significantly degraded compared to the previous Apple TV.
- Scrolling speed does not accelerate, making navigation quite tasking. This would not be much of an issue if your Homeshare library was indexed and accessible to Siri voice search.
- On quick glance, I cannot tell if I'm picking up the remote right side up or upside down.
The faster processor was a joy, but the negatives outweighed this one benefit.
I am surprised Apple released a product in this software state. Hopefully the issues are resolved down the road, and the 4th Gen Apple TV can be as good as the 3rd Gen Apple TV, at the very least.
Thank you.
Apple TV, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1), null