What is Apple TV? Someone calls this set-top box a worthy competitor to conventional television, someone considers it a useless device that constantly pulls money from the owner's pocket. And what do the users themselves say? Below are their reviews of the Apple TV. We will also consider in detail the principle of operation and basic settings.
We publish an honest review and real reviews of the Apple TV set-top box, recorded from the words of the owners. Is the novelty relevant and useful for the Russian market?
So what is Apple TV? Review and reviews
The world first heard about Apple TV in 2007. Steve Jobs himself presented the novelty at the Macworld conference. It would seem that success is inevitable.
It's been almost 11 years since then. However, in Russia, the prefix did not take root. If practically no one needs to explain what an iPhone is, then not everyone has heard about Apple TV in our country. Even fewer of our compatriots understand what the device is intended for and how it works.
It's really simple. Most often, this device is used to broadcast content (for example, video ingood quality) from a computer or phone to a big TV screen.
But its functions are not limited to this. Apple TV also allows you to stream content directly from the iTunes app and other similar services. In fact, it makes an ordinary TV "smart" - it adds Smart-TV capabilities to it.
The set-top box became especially popular when users became convinced that the SMART functions built into most Korean models are far from ideal. Third-party analogs of Apple TV also leave much to be desired. Therefore, the device simply does not have worthy competitors that could compete with it in terms of functionality and quality, because the reviews on Apple TV are impressive.
History of market launch and marketing mistakes
Initially, the set-top box had a built-in hard drive of only 40 GB. Although the maximum resolution of the video being played did not exceed 720p, this volume was already too small even then. Negative reviews about the updated Apple TV immediately flooded the Internet.
Already at the end of May, the company's marketers realized the mistake and a 160 GB disc was released.
Another significant miscalculation was made. The original version of the software did not allow for in-app purchases. This shortcoming was corrected in 2008. And also based on feedback from Apple TV owners.
A year later, the company completely stopped the production of a 40 GB hard drive. The 160 GB drive seems to have proven itself on the positive side. However, already in 2010the company completely updated the device and refused to use the built-in drive as such. This decision made it possible to reduce the dimensions of the device by 4 times and make its operation almost silent.
How did miscalculations be corrected?
Instead of a hard drive, the device was equipped with a built-in 8 GB flash memory, which made it possible to cache the movie being watched. This means that you could pause the movie and then continue playing - you would not have to download the file again.
Such innovations made the device cheaper. According to research, most users were willing to pay no more than $100 for such a device. And in such a simple way, the company managed to lower the price even below this limit.
However, the experiments did not end there. The third version of Apple TV was released in 2012. The company's designers have completely revamped the user interface. In addition, the device now supports 1080p video. This version also required significant improvement. In 2015, Apple engineers equipped the set-top box with 32 GB or 64 GB of internal flash memory. This opened up a wide range of storage options for games and multimedia. In addition, the operating system itself has undergone changes.
The fourth generation of devices was released in 2017. 4K video and Dolby Atmos sound allow users to literally “dissolve into a parallel reality.”
The result, as they say, is obvious - positive feedback about Apple TV was not long in coming.
Why it didn't work in Russia
The first versions of the set-top box had a built-in hard drive that allowed you to record your favorite movie. However, the company later refused to use the drive.
Apparently, analysts at Apple thought that it was more profitable to rent a movie all the time than to sell a movie once. After all, a good movie makes you want to watch it again and again. Suffice it to recall at least tapes from Soviet times. How many times have each of us watched "Gentlemen of Fortune" or "Prisoner of the Caucasus"? How many more times will he watch? In many families, these films have become a good New Year's tradition.
Therefore, all content is now played only in streaming mode. And for each view, the user pays 250-300 rubles. The amount seems to be small. And if you count for a month? This is a business - nothing personal, as they say…
In fairness, it should be noted that the company itself explains the rejection of the built-in drive by the desire to offer the user a more compact and easy-to-use product. Indeed, the apple tv md199ru a model, according to reviews, left the closest analogues far behind.
But American marketers miscalculated with our compatriots. They didn't take into account the mentality. What to do? Another culture - they have been used to paying for everything since childhood and do not understand how it could be different.
But the Russians are somehow not used to paying for a movie they watch. Apparently, this explains the low popularity of Apple TV in our country. Although the prefix itself is at least worth paying attention toattention.
Apple TV accessories
Apple TV comes standard with:
- Apple TV;
- Lightning standard cable (used to charge the battery in the remote control);
- power cable;
- user manual.
According to company standards, each item is sealed in individual plastic packaging. The connectors of the set-top box are covered with plugs. But the HDMI cable for connecting the set-top box to the TV is not included in the complex. You will need to purchase it separately.
What exactly does Apple TV do?
- Watch movies from iTunes and other apps in good quality and on the big screen.
- Listen to music and view photos.
- Cloud Access - The set-top box allows you to access your iCloud photos and view them on your TV.
- Synchronize any Apple gadget and TV. For example, you can run the game on a tablet or PC, and broadcast the image on the big screen.
Setting up the Apple TV
It is not necessary to call the wizard to set up Apple TV. Apple designed the interface in such a way that the average user could handle the setup.
Connecting Apple TV to TV
- Connect the HDMI cable to the set-top box andTV. Only after that we turn on the Apple TV to the network.
- The Apple logo should appear on the screen. Using the volume control and the button in the middle, use the remote control to select the desired language.
- Now you need to connect the set-top box to the Internet. Apple TV automatically scans for available Wi-Fi networks - select the one you need from the list and enter the password. You can also connect to the router directly - using a cable.
- Now you need to give your consent to the transfer of data to Apple. Personal information is not transferred. However, you can safely refuse - this will not affect the performance in any way.
- Install the Home Sharing service on your computer. This application has a simple and intuitive interface that will make the process of data transfer as comfortable as possible.
- Now sync your PC, TV and set-top box to each other (as a rule, this process happens automatically, you just need to wait until the corresponding message appears).
How to "make friends" Apple TV and iPhone
In order for everything to work out, you need to use an iPhone with an operating system iOs7 or older. Unfortunately, older versions of the operating system do not support the iBeacon option.
Step by step instructions:
- Turn on Wi-Fi on iPhone and connect to a wireless network.
- Turn on Bluetooth. The corresponding slider is located in the "settings" menu immediately below Wi-Fi.
- We bring the iPhone to the console. A pop-up appears on the screenwindow, click "yes".
- Now you need to sign in with your Apple ID. The system will ask a couple of questions, after which the data synchronization will begin. The process will not be displayed on the screen - this is normal. Everything runs in the background, you just have to wait.
Connecting the Apple TV to your computer
Sometimes you need to update the firmware or restore some data. To do this, you will need to connect your Apple TV to your computer. It is desirable that MacOS be installed on the PC. Windows users will need to install an additional application.
The procedure is as follows:
- Disable Apple TV.
- Disconnect HDMI cable and others.
- Using a Micro USB cable, connect the set-top box and the computer through the appropriate connector.
- Launch the iTunes application on your PC and find it in the Apple TV menu.
How to update the firmware?
It's simple - this is done through the Option command, then Restore in iTunes. Now the system will ask you to specify the name of the file with the firmware that you want to install. You need to select the one you need and click Choose - then everything will happen automatically.
An important nuance: you need to pay attention that the firmware file has the.ipsw extension. Download it easily on the Internet.
How to recover data?
In the Apple TV window, select the Restore button. After the system asks you to confirm the operation, click Restore and Update. The procedure will take several minutes.
Apple TV pros and cons
What makes console users excited? According to the reviews of the owners themselves, these are:
- concise and intuitive interface;
- simple and easy to use remote control;
- handy if you have a collection of your favorite movies and music in iTunes;
- viewing photos and playing games on the "big screen";
- built-in catalog of games and programs.
However, as mentioned above, Apple TV has a very significant minus for Russians - it is “sharpened” exclusively for licensed content. There are, however, few films and music that are distributed free of charge. But the quality of such content, as a rule, leaves much to be desired. This means that you will have to pay for each watching an interesting movie or listening to a track.
However, our compatriots found a way out. The prefix supports content from YouTube, and, as you know, it is free. You just have to wait for someone to upload the right movie to their channel. Yes, it is unlikely that you will be able to watch a movie on the day of the premiere. But in a few days the film will certainly be able to watch absolutely free. Here everyone makes a choice for himself.
Popular models and owner reviews about them
What the Apple TV set-top box is for and how to set it up, in general, we figured it out. Below we consider popular models and owner reviews about them. Let's start with the Apple TV 32GB model. Of course, we are talking about the 3rd generation model, with built-in flash memory. Reviews about Apple TV 3 in 2015 and today- these are, as they say in Odessa, two big differences. But first things first…
So, an anonymous survey was conducted, in which 96 respondents participated. Each of them has a different "experience" of using the gadget. However, 95% of those surveyed said they were happy with their purchase and would recommend the Apple TV to a friend. And only 2 people were disappointed.
As you can see, there are almost no negative reviews of the Apple TV 32GB.
In addition to the survey, the Internet space was carefully monitored. Unfortunately, the owners of the Apple TV 32GB are not very willing to leave reviews. To collect information, I had to study more than 30 specialized sites and about 10 more thematic forums where Apple technology lovers share their experience.
As a result, the following statistics were collected:
| Year | % positive reviews | % neutral feedback | % negative reviews |
| 2015 | 95 | 3 | 2 |
| 2017 | 90 | 6 | 4 |
| 2018 | 85 | 10 | 5 |
As you can see from the table above, in 2015, 95% of Apple TV 32GB owners were 100% satisfied with their purchase. Compared with the previous model, the amount of built-in memory has been increased by 4 times. itallowed you to get quick access to your favorite games and music and use the gadget even without an Internet connection.
However, the built-in memory was still not large enough. This was noted by approximately 5% of Apple TV 32GB owners. Some of them decided that this shortcoming was leveled by new "chips" with which the company once again pleased its customers. For example, a remote control with a minimum number of buttons that also works like a computer mouse. Or an updated operating system that allowed you to download your favorite movies many times faster.
Only 2% of owners who posted online reviews returned a purchase to the store. Someone was dissatisfied with the quality, someone did not like the new design. But most of the dissatisfied purchased the Apple TV 64GB - the decisive factor was the amount of memory.
However, in 2018, the situation has changed radically. Only 85% of owners who posted reviews online were satisfied with the device. The model is outdated and could not justify the hopes placed on it. Reviews about Apple TV 4 left no chance for 3rd generation set-top boxes. And this despite the rather low price.
Reviews from Apple TV 4K owners are truly amazing. The high-definition picture and deep surround sound have captivated the audience since its release.
The amount of built-in memory is just enough, nothing freezes. And the updated operating system allows you to access your favorite content even faster. However, it is worth considering that the new product places increased demands on the quality of the router and Internet connection. About this happy ownersmedia player Apple TV 4K 32GB, according to reviews, often do not think.
It would be a shame to pay a lot of money for an upgraded device and ruin your browsing experience with slow internet.
In addition, experts advise using good acoustics. For example, the speaker system of the same company Apple. This will allow you to feel the full depth of sound and get real pleasure from watching your favorite movie.
The novelty is liked not only by lovers of high-quality films and music. Apple TV 4K 32GB is a real paradise for gamers. It is enough to start the game on the computer and by pressing 1 button you can broadcast sound and image on the big screen, and in real time - without freezes.
The novelty also has significant drawbacks. According to reviews, Apple TV 4K 32GB does not offer such a wide selection of movies and games. What's the point of buying a set-top box with 4K support if you still have to watch content in HD quality? This problem is especially relevant for the Russian-speaking space. In fairness, it should be noted that the built-in store includes several thousand films and games with 4K resolution. However, this is not enough for Apple TV 4K 32GB users - the reviews speak for themselves.
Besides this, there is no Russian Siri - you won't be able to control the device with your voice. For the Russians, this is a significant disadvantage. Some users complain about the sound. Like, in iPhone the quality is better and somehow there are few settings.
However, almost everyone notes that the Apple TV 32GB 4K is much more stable than any SMART TV set-top box on the Android operating system. About Built-in Smart-TVand there is no question at all.
As proof, here are some reviews found on the web:
Those who previously purchased a prefix for Android were terribly upset by its quality. Constantly something hung, slowed down, flew off. But the new 4K version is a delight for many. Those who tried it never regretted it, and some have since abandoned digital TV altogether and everyone watches only via the Internet.
According to users, in fact, the new model differs from the previous model only in the ability to play content with a resolution of 4K. If your TV does not support this format, then there is no point in the device. It is better to save money and take the previous version, which will cost almost 2 times cheaper.
Many believe that for those who have not used "apple" gadgets before, out of habit, management may seem slightly inconvenient. But, as users assure, after an hour of active work with the remote control, the fingers already automatically perform the necessary actions. You get used to it very quickly. And then you don’t understand how you used to suffer with all these buttons.
Many people say that the standard sound on the set-top box is somewhat worse than on the iPhone. For many, the main disadvantage lies in the lack of a built-in assistant in Russian. Unfortunately, even in 2018, Siri does not speak Russian in the Apple TV set-top box. This is terribly inconvenient for those who are used to controlling gadgets with their voice. Yes, and the text is so much faster and more convenient to enter. Perhaps this is the only serious drawback.
Conclusions
Summarizing all of the above, we can conclude thatApple TV is a useful and interesting device. This small "box" is capable of many things: streaming video and sound to the big screen in real time, storing games and videos, providing access to high-quality licensed content in Internet applications. That's just "sharpened" it for licensed content. And lovers of "freebies" are unlikely to like it.
Judging by the reviews, the Apple TV media player works much more stable than any set-top box on the Android operating system. Therefore, there are practically no analogues to this device. Therefore, it is not cheap - the latest version with 4K support will cost Russians 14-16 thousand rubles.
Although you can find better deals on the market, it is still better to make such a purchase from an authorized seller. Unless, of course, there is a desire to receive a copy collected in the basement instead of the original device.
In principle, Apple TV is a completely independent device. An ordinary TV (without SMART-TV support) becomes “smart” with its help - you can watch movies and listen to music in various online applications. However, for owners of gadgets with a “bitten apple”, the prefix gives several times more opportunities.
Apple TV 4k, according to reviews, is more often used for watching movies. Fans of quality music can be a little upset by the standard sound. And there are not as many settings as we would like - only 3 modes. Therefore, experts recommend immediately connecting a good speaker system. And, of course, they recommend the same manufacturer.
In Russia, the prefix is not yet so popular,but is rapidly conquering the market. Gradually, people get used to paying for licensed content, they just have less and less choice. And the quality requirements have grown a lot in recent years. "Pirates" is no longer able to fully satisfy the needs of users - many prefer to pay money and enjoy watching than to spoil their nerves. And over time, Apple TV sales in our country will only grow.
This is clearly evidenced by the reviews of the owners, who for the most part are completely satisfied with the purchase and recommend it to friends.
However, there are nuances. For example, only those who have a TV that supports this format are advised to purchase Apple TV 4K in reviews. Or in the near future they are planning such a purchase. Otherwise, there is little point in overpaying and it is better to purchase the previous version, which (according to the owners) is, in fact, no different from the new one.
It should be added that, in addition to the version with 32 GB memory, there is an Apple TV 64GB. There are not many reviews about the model. In addition to the amount of internal memory, it is almost no different from the younger version. Apple TV 4K 64GB, according to reviews, is not yet affordable for an ordinary Russian. Or people are simply not ready to pay so much for extra gigabytes.
