Apple is already facing fierce competition

In ’15, most of the first 4K UHD set top boxes emerged for the entertainment technology market. Some of the most popular examples of that time include Nvidia Shield, the Amazing Fire 4K TV box, and also the famous Roku 4. Compared to the Apple TV, they were all sporting much better features and the performance was also greater. But while all these alternatives to the Apple TV were great, Apple’s name and notoriety made it difficult for them to thrive and replace Apple’s set top box. However, in 2016 the same companies released their newest set top boxes which were way above what Apple could offer at the time in terms of performance and features. Almost all of them feature 4K support and some of them even support HDR.

Apple TV lags behind in terms of features

It’s true that over the years, Apple has actually released many generations of the device, with the latest iteration surfacing in 2015. This is when the Apple TV 4th generation was released and featured a lot more power than previous generation set top boxes. Currently though, Apple’s set top box lacks a lot of features compared to what the competition offers. On top of that, it doesn’t have the most modern specs users are craving for. This includes support for HDR and 4K UHD resolution. To make it even worse for Apple, their set top box is not cheap at all. In fact, even though it doesn’t offer HDR and 4K support, it still is a lot more expensive than the Amazon Fire TV box, the Roku Premiere Plus, and the Roku Ultra.

At this point Apple finds itself in a situation where they don’t offer the 3rd generation of their Apple TV for sale, but their 4th generation set top box still lags behind. Fortunately, there are signs showing that Apple may be working on the apple tv 5th generation set top box and if we’re lucky, we could easily see it launched this year.

The fans aren’t happy

While the 4th generation Apple TV was released at the end of ’15 and many people loved it, there were also many complaints about it not supporting 4K. In their defense, Apple claimed that due to the relative scarcity of 4K TVs and content they decided that launching a 4K compatible Apple TV is not feasible.

While in 2016 UHD content was still low in volume, it seems that in 2017 this is about to change in a big way. There are now more and more 4K TVs being released and this means that 4K is becoming more mainstream. In fact, at the end of 2016, about forty percent of all TVs sold in the United States (larger than fifty inches) were Ultra HD TVs.

As we also previously iterated, there’s also a lot of competition that Apple needs to deal with. As we all know, Apple is regarded as an innovating company that always brings something new to the market. However, their Apple TV 4th generation is currently outdated and people are happy to support the competition because they pay less and also get more. In fact, even Chromecast Ultra (from Google) supports 4K content, while Apple’s TV doesn’t.

The Apple Tv 5th Generation launch is imminent

At this point, Apple is feeling the heat and it doesn’t like it. Since they removed the 3rd generation Apple TV from their website, this is a clear sign that they’re working on something new. On top of that, the 4th generation is also due for a replacement very soon.

By considering all these things, it’s clear that Apple doesn’t want to be left behind. It’s not really about losing sales, since they’re making a killing with their iPhone lineup. Apple wants to be regarded as the best company in the world and wants people to think of it as the only company that truly innovates. So if you’re currently thinking about getting a 4K TV, then you should certainly proceed with getting it, since Apple will release their next generation Apple TV sooner than you think. Once they do that, we’ll also see a sharp decrease in price for their 4th gen Apple TV. Great things are to come from Apple, so stay tuned for more updates!

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Pros

1. The Apple TV is a stylish, easy to use and affordable set top box.
2. It costs $149 and $199 for the 32GB and 64GB variant, respectively.

Cons

1. The Apple TV ties in to iTunes, which some people may not really like.

What is Apple TV?

The Apple TV is basically a set top box that give you access to a lot of content, including movies, TV shows, apps, and more. You can purchase them or rent them from iTunes and other services, including Netflix, YouTube, etc. In other words, Apple TV simply takes the content that would otherwise be tied to your Mac, iPad, and iPhone and lets you enjoy it on a bigger screen. In terms of quality, the Apple TV is capable of outputting content in Full HD resolution.

Apple TV channels

One thing you need to know is that the Apple TV doesn’t actually offer you access to free to air channels as it’s the case with a regular TV. On top of that, it’s also not a digital video recorder that can help you record your favorite movies or shows while you’re at work. On the other hand, it does offer you access to channels where you can watch a lot of content based on your preferences. You can also use OnDemand services in the same way you would on your iPad and iPhone.

If you’re in the US, then by getting an Apple TV you can gain access to a lot of useful apps and channels. Some examples include WatchESPN, Lifetime, History, but also A&E, PBS, Disney Junior, Disney XD, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, and more. The good news is that Apple adds new channels quite frequently, so the amount of content you can access greatly increases over time. This is amazing if you’re the type who wants to keep up with the latest TV shows and movies.

Can I use my current TV with it?

One of the first things you need to know if you want to get an Apple TV is whether your current TV is compatible with it. As long as your TV has an HDMI port, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to use the Apple TV with it. Keep in mind that your TV needs to also be capable of 720P or Full HD output at 50/60Hz. While the chance your TV may not meet these requirements is low, there may be expectations. This is usually the case if you have an old CRT TV. Also, in order to access content stores, including the iTunes store, you need to have a broadband connection.

What can you play on the Apple TV?

The Apple TV supports a wide range of file formats, including M-PEG, MPEG-4, and H.264. In terms of audio, it supports Audible (formats two, three, four), MP3 VBR, MP3, protected AAC, AAC, HE-AAC (V1), WAV, and Apple Lossless. In terms of image formats, the Apple TV supports TIFF, GIF, and JPEG images.

One of the most important things you need to know about the Apple TV is that you can use it to turn your dumb TV into a smart TV. You can easily access the likes of Vimeo, YouTube, Netflix, but also iTunes movies and TV programs to enjoy the latest video content. Better yet, you can also view images on Flickr and watch Sky news live.

Verdict

As you can see, there are many things to like about the Apple TV. First of all, it’s simple to use and it’s very well built as well. On the other hand, some people may argue that they don’t really have access to as much content as they would like. If you look at the competition (we’re looking at you Roku!) you’ll notice that there are other options you may want to check out.

Truth be said, there are certain features that will only work with the Apple TV, so that’s also something you may want to bear in mind. All in all, the Apple TV is a great way to access large libraries of content and keep up with your favorite movies and TV shows. If you’re a couch potato or find yourself spending too much time looking for great content on your cable TV, then you may want to switch to the Apple TV as soon as possible. It’s definitely worth it!

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Consumers ready to sign up for AT&T’s DirecTV Now service will either receive a free Apple TV or the Amazon Fire TV Stick.

According to leaked documents that Variety got its hands on, subscribing to three months of service will get you an Apple TV for free. Subscribe for a month of service and you will be given the Fire TV streaming stick.

AT&T DirecTV Now

Earlier this year, AT&T announced the online streaming TV service. The company gave us details about all the TV channels and services we will be able to stream. It announced deals with NBC, Viacom, Disney, A&E Networks, Starz, HBO, Discovery, and Scripps. Overall, the service is said to have over 100 channels and will cost only $35 a month.

A complete list of channels wasn’t available, but there were a few more services included from the Univision network. Channels such as UniMas, Galavision, Univision, Fox, MundoFox, CBS, Hallmark, HDNet Movies, and Sony Movie Channel were also included in the leaked documents.

AT&T will most likely include even more channels during launch. However, more channels will cost users more money. $35 will get a starters pack, and you would have to pay extra for more channels.

Channels from some of the networks will also allow users to watch a missed show for up to 72 hours after the actual air date. You will also be given access to over 14,000 Video On Demand titles.

You can try out the DirecTV Now service for 7 days without paying. If you choose not to pay after the trial, your subscription will be downgraded to the ad-based DirecTV Freeview service.

Finally, some of the details may change up on the launch of the service. We’re not sure when the service will go live, but it was supposed to happen some time this month. AT&T will surely change Cable TV with the DirecTV Now service.

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Apple is aware of the issue and has stated that a fix is in the works and will be released soon. This issue only affects the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV and has surfaced after the recent software update.

The 2nd and 3rd gen Apple TV don’t run on tvOS software, which is why Apple is taking longer to provide a fix. Apple recently phased out the 3rd gen Apple TV as well, and stated that they’re going to focus on tvOS and newer models.

Apple TV Issue: No Channels or Apps on 2nd and 3rd gen Apple TV

Several reports on Reddit and other forums point out to the Apple TV issue. Users were thrown out of apps such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, etc and taken to a Home page with only three apps.

Some have even reported that their Apple TV screen just blinked and all the apps disappeared. Only the Computers, Music and Settings app were available.

Trying to restart the device, unplug and plug it back again, and even restoring the software hasn’t fixed the problem.

Apparently, there was an Apple TV update for the 2nd and 3rd gen models that was released on the first of November. This is what caused the problem for several users, although most of them haven’t had any issues with their Apple TV.

Fix for No Apps or Channels

Some users have been successful in getting rid of the problem by changing DNS settings. Others were temporarily able to fix it by changing the region. But mostly, users trying to restart, reset, reset the router, restore software, and unplug and plug the Apple TV again, haven’t been able to fix it.

According to a Reddit thread, an Apple representative asked users to keep restarting their device every hour or so to check for an update. This new update should fix the problem.

There’s no ETA on the update, but keep checking to see if there was any update or if there’s a new one. You can open the Settings app and check if any new updates are available.

Have you been facing this Apple TV issue on your 2nd or 3rd gen model? If so, keep checking for new software updates. 

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If you want a theater like experience on your Apple TV, or use it more at night, then you will love the Dark Mode feature. It is a simple little cosmetic add-on that very much enhances user experience.

Enabling Dark Mode on Apple TV will change the appearance of menus and backgrounds to black. This will help reduce the strain on your eyes when you’re browsing through the movie list at night. The icons and information will become easier to read thanks to the blackish background.

Turn on Dark Mode on Apple TV

Enabling the Dark mode is very simple and there are more than one methods to do it. By default, your Apple TV 4 running tvOS 10 will feature a Light appearance. This will make all the posters and icons pop, but will be too bright for night use.

To turn on Dark Mode on the Apple TV, open the Settings app, then navigate to General>Appearance. Here, select the Dark option. All your menus and backgrounds will have a darker appearance now. To switch back to a Lighter appearance, choose the Light option.

Another way to enable Dark mode on your Apple TV 4, is with the help of the Siri Remote. Simply press the Siri button on the remote and say ‘Enable Dark mode.’ You can also say ‘Dark mode’ and Siri will enable it for you.

If you want to go back to the Light side, then say ‘Light mode.’ And that’s how you enable the Dark mode on Apple TV 4.

Obviously, the Siri method is much faster and easier to perform. However, it would be nicer if Apple had included an Auto mode that would automatically switch the appearance according to the time of day.

So, what side are you on? The Dark side or the Light side? Let us know in the comments section. 

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Apple released the third-generation Apple TV with remote in March 2012. Even after the release of the Apple TV 4, the company continued to sell the 3rd generation device at a cheaper price.

However, with the release of tvOS and Apple TV 4, the company believes its time to stop production of the 3rd gen Apple TV.

Apple TV 3 Discontinued

Apple sent out an email to its employees and other partners stating the discontinuation of Apple TV 3.

Effective immediately, Apple TV (3rd generation), MD/199LL/A, has reached end of life and is now discontinued. The Apple Supply team is going to fulfill all shippable backlog.

The company will be concentrating on tvOS for the 4th gen Apple TV for now. Of course, Apple probably also has new models in the pipeline.

Below is the email that Apple sent to its employees and some partners, obtained by 9to5Mac.

We saw this coming. Last month, Apple removed the Apple TV 3 from the main page of its online store. Retail stores started to clear out their shelves as well. But now, it is confirmed. The company hasn’t given out any public statement about the discontinuation yet.

Apple will still sell you refurbished 3rd Gen Apple TV’s for $59 and you can find them at some stores such as Staples. You can buy one, for the same price as an Apple refurb, at Staples. If there are any order backlogs, Apple will complete those orders.

Those looking at buying a refurbished Apple TV should know that the stocks will be limited and will run out soon.

It appears that there is still stock available, but the company doesn’t want to sell the ATV 3 anymore. Instead, Apple is urging customers to check out the Apple TV 4.

We’re not sure if Apple will continue to provide Software Updates for the third gen Apple TV. The last Apple TV 3 update was released in February 2016.

So yeah, the Apple TV 3rd generation has been discontinued. You can buy the Apple TV 4th gen with Siri Remote for $149 instead.

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As Apple TV users, we are always excited to hear rumours on Apple’s own television set. The latest one is the open letter which Carl Icahn sent today to Apple, where he predicts the company to release an Ultra HDTV next year. However, The Wall Street Journal confirmed hours later that Apple has no plans to enter the television market anytime soon.

WSJ says that Apple had been working on a television set for nearly a decade. The HDTV market was very competitive and hence, they were looking for a real “breakthrough” feature that would set them apart and convince users to switch. And as it seems, they never found any.

They tried adding a front camera to the television helping with FaceTime and video calling. They also experimented with different types of displays, but none were compelling enough.

As such, Apple dropped its TV project a year ago. They didn’t dissolve the team working on it but just reallotted them to work on other devices, probably the Apple TV 4. Apple plans to reform the team and continue its television plans as soon as the company comes up with that breakthrough feature.

So for the time being, Apple is focused solely on its next set-top box for media consumption, which is expected to be announced next month at WWDC 2015.

Read more on the Apple TV 4 release date, hardware, software and apps.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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You are here probably because your Apple TV’s visual output to the television is not as expected. This can be due to a variety of reasons and manifests in different ways. So, before you take your Apple TV to an Apple Store for repair, try this guide to learn how you can fix some common video issues with it.

Case 1. My TV screen is completely black, frozen at a frame or is blurred

Step A. Check the television set, cables and peripherals

• Verify if the TV’s source is set to your Apple TV HDMI connection. If not, refer your television manual and change it using your remote. If this is the first time you are firing up the Apple TV, check if your HDTV matches Apple’s minimum resolution requirements. Don’t worry, almost all of them do.
• Inspect if the Apple TV power cable and HDMI cables are undamaged and properly inserted.
• If you have cables going through home theater receivers, splitters, repeaters or switches, try bypassing them and connect directly to the television. If the video issue resolves now, the defect is  in the peripheral used and you can get it corrected.
• The HDMI cable you are using might be unidirectional. So try flipping the connection between Apple TV and television. If available, try using another HDMI cable also.

Step B. Troubleshoot the Apple TV

• Verify if the Apple TV is getting power. Press any button on your Remote and see if a white light responds at the face of the Apple TV. If not, check the power cable and try using a different outlet.
• If Apple TV is getting power, try rebooting it. You can do this easily with your remote by pressing and holding (Menu + Down) buttons for 6 seconds. Wait till Apple TV restarts and check if the issue is resolved.
• Now let’s try changing the Apple TV output resolution. Press and hold (Menu + Up) buttons for 6 seconds. Apple TV will now start cycling between various resolutions for around 20 seconds each (image above). Whenever you see the display come up, just press the Play button to set it as the native resolution.

Case 2. My Television is displaying wrong or inverted colors

Step A. Check your television settings
Most HDTV have different picture modes like Dynamic, Vivid etc which can interfere with the true color of the output. Refer the television manual to change this mode to Natural using your TV remote.

Step B. Change Apple TV output settings
Go to Settings > Audio & Video > HDMI Output. You will see a menu: Auto, YCbCr, RGB High, RGB Low.

Use the arrow buttons to check out the options one by one. Give a few seconds after selecting an option for changes to get previewed.

Case 3. My TV shows a stretched film or it isn’t filling up the screen

Apple TV natively outputs content in 16:9 aspect ratio. So as long as you have a HDTV, you should be able to see contents in full screen. You can refer the user manual of your television to set your display to 16:9 if it isn’t already.

It is worth noting that when you’re AirPlay mirroring your iPhone or iPad screen, or while playing some movies in non-HD formats, it is normal to see black bars on top or sides of the TV display.

Case 4. I am getting an error “This content requires HDCP for playback”

“HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is a form of digital copy protection that requires compatibility between your Apple TV and high-definition TV.” So this error might be due to problems with your HDMI cable or HDTV as Apple TV supports HDCP out of the box.

Step 1. First try putting your Apple TV to sleep. Go to Settings > Sleep Now
Wait for about 10 seconds and press the Select button to wake it up again.
Step 2. Check and install if your HDTV has a firmware update.
Step 3. Use a different HDMI cable like the Apple HDMI to HDMI cable.

More how-tos:

• I cannot AirPlay mirror my iPhone and iPad to Apple TV: The Apple TV AirPlay troubleshooting guide
• How to use any third party remote to control your Apple TV
• My Apple TV Remote isn’t working properly: The Apple Remote troubleshooting guide
• How to send audio from Apple TV to AirPlay speakers

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post My Apple TV has video issues – The Apple TV video troubleshooting guide appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

If you are having trouble with Apple TV’s audio output, go through these basic fixes before you take it to the Apple Store for repair.

Case A. My Apple TV has no sound / the audio is stuck during playback

Step 1. Basic Apple TV audio troubleshooting

• Check if the volume on your television or receiver is reduced or set to mute. Use the TV or Receiver remote and refer their manual to enable sound.
• Check if the connection between your Apple TV to television/home theater is secure and they are connected to power.
• Verify that the source on your audio receiver is set to the Apple TV input. Check the receiver’s or speaker’s manual to find out how to change the source.
• If none of these helped, try rebooting your Apple TV. Just press and hold (Menu + Down) buttons on the Apple remote for 6 seconds and your Apple TV will restart.

Step B. Troubleshoot the Apple TV audio peripherals

• This step is only for those users who have a third party home-theater set, audio receiver or speaker set up as the Apple TV sound output. In this case, you are probably using the optical audio output from the Apple TV.
  Try disconnecting the optical digital audio port and connect the Apple TV directly to your television via HDMI only.
• If the audio issue is now resolved, your audio peripheral or the optical audio cable is defective. Contact the corresponding product’s manufacturer for support.

Step C. Troubleshooting the Apple TV audio settings

• On the Apple TV, Go to Settings > Audio & Video
  Change the Audio Output setting from Auto to 16 bit.
• Change the Dolby Digital from Auto/On to Off.

Case B. I cannot hear the sounds while navigating Apple TV menus

If Apple TV is playing the audio for all video content and music but not the sound effects while navigating the menus, this is just an issue of faulty audio Settings.

Go to Settings > Audio & Video > Sound Effects and turn it On.

Case C. During AirPlay, I can see the video but there’s no audio

1. Make sure the audio is not muted on your iPhone/iPad nor on your television set.

2. Check if your iPhone is on silent/vibrate mode. If so, toggle the side switch to turn it into ring mode.

More how-tos:

• I cannot AirPlay mirror my iPhone and iPad to Apple TV: The Apple TV AirPlay troubleshooting guide
• How to use any third party remote to control your Apple TV
• My Apple TV Remote isn’t working properly: The Apple Remote troubleshooting guide
• How to send audio from Apple TV to AirPlay speakers

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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There is no doubt Apple will release a new Apple TV model sooner or later, the only question is when. According to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, the Apple TV 4 could be launched this fall:

With WWDC just four months away (likely June 2015), we believe talk about an update to Apple TV (not a television) could pick up over the next few months. Despite our belief in an actual television being unrealized so far, we continue to believe that TV is an area of focus for Apple and the most likely area for innovation now that the Apple Watch has been announced. We believe the most likely path to a TV would be an update to the Apple TV hardware and software that potentially integrates content, gaming, and HomeKit in the fall of 2015 and a television at least a year later. As we move toward the Apple Watch launch in April, we believe investors will be looking for the next big new product for Apple, which we believe will be focused around the TV.

Gene Munster is known for his predictions on Apple’s television set. Well, failed predictions, to be exact. But reading together with other rumors we’ve been hearing about the new Apple TV, we can be sure of one thing – the Apple TV 4 is real and is coming out for sure.

Also read:

• New beta turns Apple TV into the master of HomeKit

• Forbes: Apple TV will be the center of Apple’s smart home

• After Apple Watch, the next big thing is Apple TV

• Apple Watch and AirPlay: what Apple’s smartwatch means to Apple TV users

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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