Support NeoGAF

[rafaelr]

Nah, I'm perfectly happy with my Kodi setup on a Fire TV where Kodi is the main interface and all the apps are linked within. Whenever I hit home, it'll leave an app and go right back to Kodi. It's great and better than my older HTPC setup. I'm still looking for that perfect setup, but this is the closest thing so far.

i´ve been really close to getting a firetv for the last prime day, but i´m not sure about 2 things:

- 24p playback issues with kodi (according to the kodi forums)
- hdmi cec integration. i want to use as few remotes as possible (i use a pulse8 with my htpc and only need 1 remote atm).

 

[GeoNeo]

Omg just seen this might pre-order it also supports 24p output.

http://wetek.com/product/wetek-play2

 

[Mindwipe]

Honestly none of the UI's are great at this point. Google does a lot of stuff wrong too (anything involving a long list is horrible on Android TV).

But then the Fire TV has a wretched keyboard, and the Apple TV just doesn't do very much combined with a godawful remote.

There's a lot of scope for improvement with all of them. At least Android TV is begging to feel like it's actually finished it's 1.0 version now, because it certainly didn't when it shipped.

 

[Always-honest]

They have replaced television for me. I don't watch any channels anymore, YouTube and streaming services is all I needs nowadays.

Oh i use streaming services, but on my PS4 and laptop.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

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.

That's odd. All three boxes I have put Kodi, or anything else I sideload for that matter, on the frontend.

OP, you're wrong as hell lol. The fact that I could control all my smart home devices just by talking into the remote makes the Fire TV worth it. Fits my family's needs just fine. Used on a daily basis since purchased.

i´ve been really close to getting a firetv for the last prime day, but i´m not sure about 2 things:

- 24p playback issues with kodi (according to the kodi forums)
- hdmi cec integration. i want to use as few remotes as possible (i use a pulse8 with my htpc and only need 1 remote atm).

Works just fine.

 

[Marty Chinn]

i´ve been really close to getting a firetv for the last prime day, but i´m not sure about 2 things:

- 24p playback issues with kodi (according to the kodi forums)
- hdmi cec integration. i want to use as few remotes as possible (i use a pulse8 with my htpc and only need 1 remote atm).

- Switching to the newer version of Android was supposed to open up refresh rate switching but as of six months ago, it still wasn't working in Kodi. I haven't checked recently so it may still be a problem on the Fire TV version.

- HDMI CEC works as I use it.

 

[Jezbollah]

Yep + 1 for CEC. Worked perfectly out of the box for me.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

I said in my op that the Roku interface is dated.

Since when did Apple think it was OK to release multiple input methods with one of them being compete shit? Does it say we should ignore it in the instructions?

I use the manual keyboard because not only is voice dictation awesome on my shield Android TV so is the manual keyboard.

I expected this to translate to the Apple TV.

If you have no intention of using what is the centerpiece of the entire hardware, why bother using the Atv4 at all? It was built from the ground up as a Siri/voice input device, and you're trying to apply inferior outdated modes of input from other devices on completely different hardware.

Dealing with a keyboard of any kind is vastly outclassed by the ease of voice input with Siri. I don't see why anyone would choose manual keyboard input over voice.

Understand, I'm only speaking to the voice input experience with Siri. It's very hit or miss and lackluster on other hardware. Siri on the Apple TV4 felt the most robust to me by far enough to not only replace traditional remote input for me, but make it impossible to go back.

 

[holygeesus]

The main flaw with the Apple TV 4 is the lack of a 24Hz option. How they missed that off is beyond me.

 

[oti]

Oh i use streaming services, but on my PS4 and laptop.

I don't like having the PS4 or Xbox constantly on for video streaming.

 

[Always-honest]

I don't like having the PS4 or Xbox constantly on for video streaming.

Well no, it's only on when i watch something. But i guess it uses way more power than an Apple TV thingy. Thing is, there are so many devices that have the stream apps that i feel i'd just be buying another thing that does the same.

 

[jellies_two]

I like the current Apple TV.

The keyboard is annoying but you can use an iPhone app, or you can speak - the voice recognition is good enough for shows and films. After you have entered a password or two you're pretty much done, it always comes up and quickly too, and throwing your screen from the phone to the apple tv is great for showing people stuff.

The remote is a bit sensitive though. One touch when paused and you can slide to the wrong place in the movie and if its gotta stream to reset thats a big problem.

Also the time it shows until something is ready to play is sometimes hilariously wrong.

 

[SMattera]

I don't like having the PS4 or Xbox constantly on for video streaming.

Why not?

 

[SteveMeister]

It sounds like OP's only complaint is the "keyboard" interface, which is indeed awful. Two solutions exist. First, you can press the microphone button on the remote and dictate. But what I usually do is run the Remote app on my phone. When the AppleTV puts up a text entry, it also pops up on the app and I just use my phone's keyboard.

Edit: I forgot -- I believe the last version of tvOS allowed connection of a Bluetooth keyboard as well.

 

[Langdon Alger]

I can use a keyboard on a Fire TV if I want to type something in. As far as interfaces go, I find they're not remote friendly usually. Plus there's no easy way to navigate between Kodi, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, etc with a remote. All of it is simply not user friendly for anyone to pick up and use. Plus there's also still the surround sound problem.

You're probably right about using a remote. I always just use a mouse, as god intended.

 

[oti]

Why not?

PS4 video streaming: 74 Watt
Amazon Fire TV 4K video streaming: 4,5 Watt

Well no, it's only on when i watch something. But i guess it uses way more power than an Apple TV thingy. Thing is, there are so many devices that have the stream apps that i feel i'd just be buying another thing that does the same.

I like not having to think or feel too guilty about it. Right now I'm watching the US Open. That's roughly 6h of tennis per day, I don't want to watch it over my Xbox if I can do the same thing with a way smaller and less power hungry device.

 

[jts]

Oh i use streaming services, but on my PS4 and laptop.

I used to use streaming services on the PS4, mostly Netflix, but I found it much more enjoyable switching to Apple TV.

It's always on, the remote lasts months on a single charge instead of a couple of hours (and doesn't have protruding sticks, and can control the volume of the TV), and I can stream whatever I want from my phone or computer easily. Mostly these reasons.

 

[GaryD]

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

You can fix that. Sign out of your Amazon account and back in and it should appear under recent apps

 

[GaryD]

I have atv4 and firestick. Atv wins hands down, though it's way more expensive. The touchpad remote is a great addition and voice search actually works.

Rooting firestick to boot to Kodi made it pretty sweet though.

 

[Aske]

I love my Apple TV. Netflix, YouTube, and Air Video are all I need, and the remote is fantastic. I love typing with it, although using Siri is more efficient most of the time, and I have the touch pad sensitivity set to max. I have the ATV remote app on my phone, and never bother to use it.

Also, the plethora of ariel wallpapers is the greatest thing to happen to my TV. Love that I can watch a movie with friends, and then hang out and chat afterwards without a typical TV menu or huge blank screen intruding on our space.

 

[Ninja Dom]

Are you sure you used the Apple TV? The Apple TV 4? It's a huge leap from the previous hardware for me.

And you seriosuly used the manual keyboard? Lol come on man.

That's the whole point of having Siri now. You don't have to type with a shitty remote. For logins you simply speak every letter of your email/password. I downloaded and logged into Hbo, Netflix, Hulu, all in under 5 minutes. For search, simply speak as well. I got it for my dad for Christmas and messed around with it and was so pleasantly surprised by the fluid experience and ease of use for Siri, it made my Roku 4 look like shit in comparison.

The only reason I chose the Roku 4 over the Apple tv was the 4k support. Otherwise a basic UI is undermined by constant hard crashes, apps that hang, constant remote desyncing, did I mention hard crashes? I don't know how many times I've had to dig my hand into my entertainment center to cut the power to the Roku for a hard reset. It's frustrating as hell. The moment Apple releases hardware with 4k capabilities, the Roku is going straight in the closet.

Now the Apple TVs 1-3 are trash fires yes, so if you used those, I agree with your assessment.

I said in my op that the Roku interface is dated.

Since when did Apple think it was OK to release multiple input methods with one of them being compete shit? Does it say we should ignore it in the instructions?

I use the manual keyboard because not only is voice dictation awesome on my shield Android TV so is the manual keyboard.

I expected this to translate to the Apple TV.

You kind of ignored PPM's post.

Siri is there for you right on the remote. Speak each letter of your password. If you don't like the text entry, if you refuse to use your sisters iPhone as a remote & keyboard, you don't have access to a bluetooth keyboard, then just use Siri. It is far faster than using the swipe keyboard anyway.

Your thread title says that the Apple TV is terrible. Yet the only criticism you insist on putting forward is the swipe keyboard entry. What about the apps, the performance, the abilities?

 

[giga]

I have both and the Fire TV hasn't been used once since I got the Apple TV. The interface is leaps and bounds better. Your issue seems to be focused on something that's only required once — typing in passwords. Fair complaint, but it doesn't encapsulate the entirety of the product.

 

[thiscoldblack]

I have both the new Apple TV and the Nvidia Shield. Apple TV is more stable and has thousands of apps. It has a better and cleaner interface. Multitasking simply works. Typing sucks, definitely, but fortunately you can use the mic for that. Android TV has probably less than 100 apps. Most of those are ported games. You have to basically use Google Cast if you want to use other non-native apps. You can sideload, but no guarantee it will work well. The Android TV interface is just atrocious. Recommendations (basically ads) right at the top and center. Even if you disable them, at least on The Shield, it still tries to retrieve something. It stays searching indefinitely. Your content is there at the bottom of the screen in 2 or 3 rows spanning outside the screen. Not to mention that Android TV is so fucking terrible at multitasking. What is here to like?

The Shield is so much powerful than an Apple TV, yet it feels like that power is being underused.

The only reason I use The Shield most is because it has 4K support. If Apple weren't so behind supporting only 1080p, I would be using that instead. More stable, more streaming apps, better interface than Android TV.

 

[freenudemacusers]

the new apple tv remote is disgusting. can't even argue that. I do like how it works with all my other apple shit, though. I just use my phone/ipad for control.

the 'game' support is also a joke. why they even bothered with that half assery i have no idea.

 

[Krejlooc]

My google nexus player was a dedicated Pac Man CE machine, until i learned the game was also on steam.

Now, it sits at my dad's house, as his secondary Playstation VUE device.

 

[Pyrokai]

They have replaced television for me. I don't watch any channels anymore, YouTube and streaming services is all I needs nowadays.

I do this with Chromecast and find it far more convenient to fire up (and a hell of a lot cheaper). Chromecast is honest all I really need. Plus my phone, obviously.

 

[Always-honest]

I like not having to think or feel too guilty about it. Right now I'm watching the US Open. That's roughly 6h of tennis per day, I don't want to watch it over my Xbox if I can do the same thing with a way smaller and less power hungry device.

Yeah, that's the reason i have considered one.
Pretty good reason imo.

 

[btkadams]

Typing is terrible with the remote, but you can use your phone, a physical keyboard, or your voice instead.

For everything else, I find that remote truly godly. Scrolling through menus feels better than anything else I've ever used.

 

[Ouroboros]

I bought one for my Dad and he never uses it. He always talked about cutting cable and thought buying this for him would push him over to actually do it. The box just sits there and he still pays a lot for 5 channels.

 

[Spukc]

i bought one for my dad he uses it every single evening to watch netflix .
he loves the fact it has the easy scroll forward back touchpad thingy.

apple tv is great for him.
and when he wants to watch another movie he uses plex to connect to my plex server.

 

[Ouroboros]

i bought one for my dad he uses it every single evening to watch netflix .
he loves the fact it has the easy scroll forward back touchpad thingy.

apple tv is great for him.

Your Dad needs to talk to my Dad to get him on board the netflix train.

 

[xJavonta]

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 launch Kodi from the recently used apps.

 

[Crisco]

Yup, all those devices are garbage. It's why I just bought a mini PC (Intel NUC) and a decent air mouse remote. Maybe a little more expensive but you're not locked into anyone's proprietary platform and have access to everything. After all these years the best HTPC is still ..... an HTPC.

 

[outunderthestars]

As so eone who has owned all of them:

Roku > Android TV > Fire TV > Apple TV

 

[PeskyToaster]

i thought most TVs come with all this stuff built in now?

 

[poppabk]

The older gen apple TV was terrible, haven't used the newest version. If your UI that has a right arrow on the screen and your remote has 6 buttons total you can press and 'right' isn't the one you need to press then maybe you need to rethink your UI.

 

[family_guy]

I took mine back after a day. Honestly I don't really need dedicated streaming devices beyond my PS4 and my TV. Just bought a Samsung 65KS8000 4K tv. That thing is fast with its app launching and switching and has all the major apps that I could care about. Most new TVs these days make dedicated streaming devices obsolete.

 

[xJavonta]

OP clearly has some sort of Apple hatred. It's actually really funny to see such meltdowns over a product as loved as the Apple TV and then in turn see praise for a product that's pretty much universally hated (Nvidia Shield TV).

And people say iPhone users are bad. Yeesh.

i thought most TVs come with all this stuff built in now?

Unless it's a Roku TV it's all trash.

TVs with Android TV I don't trust to stay current.


PS4 is terrible for streaming (it doesn't even have fucking AC or 5GHz support), Xbox One is the slowest buggiest piece of shit out on the market today (every app hangs for a second or crashes), and Chromecast doesn't play nice with dual band routers in my experience. It's kinda crazy how no one has really conquered TV yet

 

[RootCause]

From experience, I'd say Roku, and Apple TV are the top two.

Lately I've been playing around with the Chromecrast 2. But you need another device for that, so it seems unfair to count that one.

 

[RuGalz]

They are all kind of problematic. For my use case, FireTV has a horrible YouTube app. AppleTV lacks various features and I am not in Apple's ecosystem, while AndroidTV lacks apps. HTPC just sucky without keyboard and mouse.

Since I spend maybe 50% of the time in Kodi, 30% on YouTube 10% casting and 10% misc, AndroidTV suits me the best but I can't say I love the interface -- it's inefficient and sort of confusing when it comes 'multitasking'. It doesn't really multitask but sort of does with Play Music. Hopefully Nougat cleans things up a bit.

 

[FrontalMonk]

I've used chromecast, fire tv stick, ATV3 and ATV4. The Apple TVs are the only ones that continue to see use, and that's because they're the easiest for me. I never really understood the problem with the swipe keyboard, I got used to it after like 10 minutes, and I rarely use it unless I'm searching for something specific on netflix because I usually just turn it on, go to netflix, and start up the next episode of most recent thing I've been watching. the fire tv stick ended up being too slow for me, and the chromecast was awkward to use since I don't always have my phone on me when I'm at home. *shrug* I don't see what the big deal is. It works pretty well, it's fast, and it's pretty. I guess I'm part of the problem.

 

[Crisco]

They are all kind of problematic. For my use case, FireTV has a horrible YouTube app. AppleTV lacks various features and I am not in Apple's ecosystem, while AndroidTV lacks apps. HTPC just sucky without keyboard and mouse.

Since I spend maybe 50% of the time in Kodi, 30% on YouTube 10% casting and 10% misc, AndroidTV suits me the best but I can't say I love the interface -- it's inefficient and sort of confusing when it comes 'multitasking'. It doesn't really multitask but you kind of expect it to coming from Android phones.

Not true! At least not anymore. Yeah, you still need a keyboard and mouse for initial setup, getting everything installed, etc.... But after that, you can do everything with a modern home theater remote, which have come a long way. Get one with an air mouse (think Wii remote but not shitty) and you're good to go.

 

[Inferno313]

Why type on the Apple TV when you can use voice commands that are pretty spot on?

 

[Gutek]

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.

LOL, there is no way around it other than 2 ways around it.

 

[Kyonashi]

Don't most of you guys on NeoGAF have consoles? I don't see much point in owning any of these streaming devices when they're all available as apps on PS4/XBO now. Bar the annoying TV/Video section on the PS4 showing all the uninstalled apps, I love how it all works on my console.

 

[rafaelr]

Yep + 1 for CEC. Worked perfectly out of the box for me.

- Switching to the newer version of Android was supposed to open up refresh rate switching but as of six months ago, it still wasn't working in Kodi. I haven't checked recently so it may still be a problem on the Fire TV version.

- HDMI CEC works as I use it.

Works just fine.

guess that´s one problem solved then, thanks for the info.
maybe they´ll fix 24p in time for the next cyber monday sale, then i´m good to go.

 

[Ricky_R]

Don't most of you guys on NeoGAF have consoles? I don't see much point in owning any of these streaming devices when they're all available as apps on PS4/XBO now. Bar the annoying TV/Video section on the PS4 showing all the uninstalled apps, I love how it all works on my console.

Some people own more than one TV? In my case, it's much easier to own a streaming device (currently own an Fire TV) than having to move my PS4 up and down the stairs whenever I want to watch something either up or down stairs.

 

[LiK]

Keyboard UI sucks but i love everything else.

 

[WaffleTaco]

As someone that owns an Apple TV I think its a really good device.

 

[Crispy75]

Omg just seen this might pre-order it also supports 24p output.

http://wetek.com/product/wetek-play2

So I have a similar-ish "android tablet in a box" device, which also promises "all your favorite apps!" and an "Optimized for TV" interface, except of course as soon as you run an android app, it expects touch control and you're forced to emulate swipes and taps with a gyro mouse. It's also impossible to update and has close to zero support.

Is this thing any better?