Apple TV is terrible and so is Fire TV

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osiris3355

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Full disclosure I am a big Android fan but I do admit Apple does make quality products. I just dont understand what the heck happened with the Apple TV and why its getting the level of support and sales right now.

My sibling just picked up an Apple TV and had me set it up for her. She has an iPhone free from work so she wanted to stay in the ecosystem. I remember reading reviews that tvOS was a little rough at launch. Since its Apple and its been a while since launch I still expected some serious quality when it comes to user input and interface.

This thing is the biggest piece of shit streaming box I have ever used. The remote is absolutely terrible at typing. The swiping is painful in every avenue of this thing. I have NEVER hated typing in passwords more in my entire life. I even received odd timeout issues when trying to download apps.

I have also recently looked at Fire TV and that sucks as well. Its basically Android TV but with a worse interface and in app voice search stripped away to shove amazon down your throat. I can be in app and if I press the mic I am taken out of the app to a amazon prime search results? Really amazon? You dont allow developers to use the microphone?

Why are people buying this junk? Seriously? Android TV and Roku (even with its dated interface) are the only streaming OS's getting it right. Except google isn't even doing that right because they dont like to release Android TV hardware. Where is that new Mi Box Android TV already!

Oh and the Apple TV is going back.

/rantover. Bring on the flaming
 
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I have an NVIDIA Shield. I use it to host my Plex server. Android TV isn't very good either.

Roku and Xbox One are the best streaming devices out there right now.

Unless you want to setup Kodi, then the FireTV offers some interesting possibilities.
 
Nvidia Shield TV is amazing considering the power/amount it can do in a single box. The only thing really missing is a decent Amazon Video app, and HBO Go/Now with 5.1 support. (They also need to fix the deinterlacing)

I just like the fact that I can use SPMC to go directly to all the apps I use. I rarely do anything else on the Shield. Only thing is I can't mount my NAS to it- I always get an error.

Android TV should be much better once Nougat is rolled out on all platforms.
 
I've got a Fire TV and it works pretty well despite its incredibly frustrating limitations. I don't like launching Kodi from deep within the weird settings menu and I detest that the voice search only works for Amazon's store. Everything else about it is pretty great. It's fast as hell, has pretty good developer support... Can't ask for too much more.

I've been dicking around with streaming media players for a decade and this is the best one I've used so far, all things considered. Price is obviously a factor.
 
We have two previous-gen AppleTVs and I like them. My HTPC will always be far more versatile, but the ATVs are our Netflix/Hulu/HBOGo/toddler show workhorses, and they've been rock solid for that. I would highly recommend programming a device on your universal remote for it and quickly throwing their crap remotes in a drawer or as a couch crack backup. The ability to AirPlay from our iPhones and pick which of the two ATVs it streams to is a nice bonus.
 
I agree 100% with the sentiment that typing on the apple tv sucks (use your phone though with the apple tv app its much better). The rest of the system though is pretty rock solid.
 
Why didn't you just use the iOS remote app or a bluetooth keyboard to type the password in? On-screen keyboards always suck. It's not just an Apple thing.
 
tedtropy said:
We have two previous-gen AppleTVs and I like them. My HTPC will always be far more versatile, but the ATVs are our Netflix/Hulu/HBOGo/toddler show workhorses, and they've been rock solid for that. I would highly recommend programming a device on your universal remote for it and quickly throwing their crap remotes in a drawer or as a couch crack backup. The ability to AirPlay from our iPhones and pick which of the two ATVs it streams to is a nice bonus.
Click to expand...

Alcander said:
I agree 100% with the sentiment that typing on the apple tv sucks (use your phone though with the apple tv app its much better). The rest of the system though is pretty rock solid.
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This is what I dont understand. If you cant type on the remote and have to use something different. Why buy the $150 streaming box in the first place?

404Ender said:
Why didn't you just use the iOS remote app or a bluetooth keyboard to type the password in? On-screen keyboards always suck. It's not just an Apple thing.
Click to expand...

I didnt know I could and I dont have an iPhone. I guess I could have used my sisters had I known. How are regular consumers going to know this?

It is so much easier to type on my Shield Android TV to the point of the onscreen keyboard never even bothers me.
 
osiris3355 said:
This is what I dont understand. If you cant type on the remote and have to use something different. Why buy the $150 streaming box in the first place?



It is so much easier to type on my Shield Android TV to the point it doesnt even bother me.
Click to expand...

Have you considered that maybe the problem is you? The remote really isn't any harder to use than any other streaming box's remote.
 
osiris3355 said:
This is what I dont understand. If you cant type on the remote and have to use something different. Why buy the $150 streaming box in the first place?



It is so much easier to type on my Shield Android TV to the point it doesnt even bother me.
Click to expand...

I bought our second one on sale for sub-$100. I'm sure the current-gen AppleTVs are neat, but it's functionality we don't really need. Once you install the remote app, typing becomes a quick non-issue. It's dumb that Apple doesn't offer an official Android app, but as I understand it there are 3rd party free options there.
 
404Ender said:
Have you considered that maybe the problem is you? The remote really isn't any harder to use than any other streaming box's remote.
Click to expand...

Except there is three other posts in here that 100% agree with me so no. Clearly I am not the problem.

tedtropy said:
I bought our second one on sale for sub-$100. I'm sure the current-gen AppleTVs are neat, but it's functionality we don't really need. Once you install the remote app, typing becomes a quick non-issue. It's dumb that Apple doesn't offer an official Android app, but as I understand it there are 3rd party free options there.
Click to expand...

Sorry I am not talking about the non 4th gen. My experience is specifically about the new one. I dont think the old ones have the Siri remote "swipe issues."
 
The AppleTV is fine, especially since they updated the Remote app and enabled Siri support for dictating passwords, which works consistently well in my experience.

The HBO Go app sucks since it randomly hangs all the time when loading menu content, something the iOS apps don't suffer for whatsoever, and the lack of Amazon hurts a bit, but otherwise, yeah, it's fine. Much better and more stable than the previous iteration.
 
ShowDog said:
I've got a Fire TV and it works pretty well despite its incredibly frustrating limitations. I don't like launching Kodi from deep within the weird settings menu and I detest that the voice search only works for Amazon's store. Everything else about it is pretty great. It's fast as hell, has pretty good developer support... Can't ask for too much more.
Click to expand...
Look up the newer methods of sideloading kodi. It launches like a normal app now so you don't have to go hunting for it.
 
Macam said:
The AppleTV is fine, especially since they updated the Remote app and enabled Siri support for dictating passwords, which works consistently well in my experience.

The HBO Go app sucks since it randomly hangs all the time when loading menu content, something the iOS apps don't suffer for whatsoever, and the lack of Amazon hurts a bit, but otherwise, yeah, it's fine. Much better and more stable than the previous iteration.
Click to expand...

I can't say we've really had any issues with the HBO Go app apart from it randomly wanting to log out every now and then. The lack of a native Amazon video app is a little annoying, and yet you can AirPlay from an iPhone/iPad Amazon Video app to the AppleTV fine.
 
My Apple TV is pretty bad except streaming from my phone. So my phone does all the heavy lifting processing on apps like airvideo, YouTube, NBC Olympics app, etc allowing me to stream it all easily to my TV in HD.
 
osiris3355 said:
Except there is two other posters in here that 100% agree with me so no.
Click to expand...

Have you maybe considered that the problem is you and a small handful of other people?

Why is it selling well and getting support (to use your words) if most people think the remote is awful?
 
tedtropy said:
I can't say we've really had any issues with the HBO Go app apart from it randomly wanting to log out every now and then. The lack of a native Amazon video app is a little annoying, and yet you can AirPlay from an iPhone/iPad Amazon Video app to the AppleTV fine.
Click to expand...

I may just need to reinstall the HBO Go app then (not that should logically make a difference buuuut...software). It does it all the time for me, but actual playback has all been fine for me,
 
404Ender said:
Have you maybe considered that the problem is you and a small handful of other people?

Why is it selling well and getting support (to use your words) if most people think the remote is awful?
Click to expand...

Now half the replies are pretty much in agreement. Is your next reply going to be?
404Ender said:
Have you maybe considered that the problem is you and a medium handful of other people?
Click to expand...



Also, I am a UX developer. My shit is not this hard to use since I dont want people hating me.
 
Passwords is something you deal with once during initial setup. After that, you never type again. And Siri and the iPhone app are much more efficient ways of entering text when you're searching for things. When given multiple options, I'm not sure why you'd choose the worst one exclusively and then complain.
 
Agreed with the OP. I have the 3rd gen AppleTV and the Amazon FireTV Stick.

Both suck at user input. The FireTV is extremely laggy navigating between menus.

I'm seriously considering getting a Xbox One this holiday season to replace both!

Does the Xbox One support DLNA? And can it access content on Amazon Prime?
 
I haven't touched my Apple TV for at least a year - mainly because every time I did boot it up I was welcomed with another lengthy update.

It sits behind my tv with its HDMI cable unplugged. The Xbox One is my media player of choice.
 
osiris3355 said:
So if even more people say the remote sucks will your next reply be...


Also, I am a UX developer. My shit is not this hard to use since I dont want people hating me.
Click to expand...

Even if everyone in this thread chimed in with a remark about the remote sucking, it's still anecdotal evidence that's a drop in the bucket compared to how well the Apple TV is selling.

If you're a UX developer, then you would understand the idea of optimizing for the most common actions. What do you do more often on a streaming box, type in passwords, or scroll through long lists, rewind and FF through music, movies and TV, etc?
 
Kurdel said:
The new remote app is a godsend.

I hate the new remote, the tactile surface is trash.
Click to expand...
Really? I love it.

And I love how there's 3 different clicks you can do blindly, middle click, right edge click and left edge click. More than enough for me, and then the trackpad to navigate around and especially to scrub a tv show or movie is so much better it's not even funny.

You can use a previous generation Apple Remote with it.

For me the only advantage of the iOS app is the keyboard. Also, wish it had volume controls for people that could use them (for example with BT speakers).
 
I use siri to "type" in passwords letter by letter (works for numbers and punctuation and you can even say things like "capital P" too), it works pretty great. As far as I'm concerned any on screen keyboard that you have to hunt and peck on sucks. Just talk.
 
404Ender said:
Even if everyone in this thread chimed in with a remark about the remote sucking, it's still anecdotal evidence that's a drop in the bucket compared to how well the Apple TV is selling.

If you're a UX developer, then you would understand the idea of optimizing for the most common actions. What do you do more often on a streaming box, type in passwords, or scroll through long lists, rewind and FF through music, movies and TV, etc?
Click to expand...

I dont care about Apple's sales. I care about usability. On android tv and others I have to hold an arrow for a few seconds to traverse through a horizontal list.

On apple tv i get to flick 10 times.

Its crap and there's no way around it other than attempting to use Siri or apparently using an iPhone to do it.
 
I dunno, bought a fire stick during Prime day and had low expectations. Was surprised at what it offers and it literally turned my kids tv into a Disney tv for all their shows. Very impressed even though it could be better with the laggy interface, bit can't complain when I spent 25 bucks on it.
 
osiris3355 said:
I have also recently looked at Fire TV and that sucks as well. Its basically Android TV but with a worse interface and in app voice search stripped away to shove amazon down your throat. I can be in app and if I press the mic I am taken out of the app to a amazon prime search results? Really amazon? You dont allow developers to use the microphone?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if the use is quite what you're thinking but you can search for Hulu content using the voice function. I'm not sure what the criteria is for an app to use the voice nav but it does exist (or used to, I usually don't use it). If you search for something you know is on Hulu that will be brought up as an option (not sure how it works inside the Hulu app, though).

And I think the interface is fine but 99% of what it's doing is launching Hulu/MLB/Netflix/PBS/FX or some Prime content.
 
Of All Trades said:
I'm not sure if the use is quite what you're thinking but you can search for Hulu content using the voice function. I'm not sure what the criteria is for an app to use the voice nav but it does exist (or used to, I usually don't use it). If you search for something you know is on Hulu that will be brought up as an option (not sure how it works inside the Hulu app, though).

And I think the interface is fine but 99% of what it's doing is launching Hulu/MLB/Netflix/PBS/FX or some Prime content.
Click to expand...

You are thinking of the universal Alexa search which tailors towards amazon content.

I recently wrote a Fire TV app. Amazon has completely disabled the use of in app search. When I ported it from Android TV I had to remove the ability for my app to do voice commands or it would crash and burn.

They basically limited user choice and app features to pedal prime content.
 
osiris3355 said:
I dont care about Apple's sales. I care about usability. On android tv and others I have to hold an arrow for a few seconds to traverse through a horizontal list.
Click to expand...

Are sales not one way of getting a sense of how usable the public considers a product to be? People generally don't buy and keep unusable products.

osiris3355 said:
Its crap and there's no way around it other than attempting to use Apple's widely advertised voice recognition feature (a major selling point for the box) or apparently using the companion remote app that's been around since the earliest iterations of the Apple TV to do it.
Click to expand...

FTFY
 
osiris3355 said:
Not everyone has an iphone or wants to ignore using an 80 dollar remote.
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I just don't see how a traditional remote is ever going to be a great means of text input. Even Comcast/Xfinity, who used to have some of the most crap TV hardware out there, has made a remote that integrates voice recognition. And generally it works really well, in terms of the X1.

Beer Monkey said:
It's an Apple. They buy it because it's an Apple.

It's like when corporate America always bought IBM.
Click to expand...

While I'm sure brand loyalty is some of it, in its class of devices, it's honestly a pretty solid option. Again, you're going to have way more flexibility if you just roll your own htpc/whatever box.
 
I use a Fire TV Stick only for music and movies, so I don't have to turn on my PS4 everytime I wanna watch some Netflix on the couch.

So I don't know man. Fire TV is really sweet in my opinion.
 
osiris3355 said:
Not everyone has an iphone or wants to ignore using an 80 dollar remote.
Click to expand...
If you don't have an iPhone, you shouldn't have an Apple TV. The Apple TV is the device for people in that ecosystem. If you're in different ecosystem or no ecosystem, go with a different device.

And again, use Siri. That is a key feature of this remote you're talking about.

This device presents multiple text input options to you, and you're stubbornly focusing on the most old-fashioned of the three, and dismissing the whole thing based on that. You're arbitrarily determined to use the device as much like an older device as possible, when there are much more effective options available.
 
I've never really seen the appeal of dedicated streaming boxes unless you want to setup a Plex server or something. A Chromecast pretty much covers everything imaginable.
 
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