Is it possible to watch Apple TV 4k? Why do you need an Apple TV set-top box and how does it work?
On updated Apple TV 4K now lets you watch movies and TV series in 4K HDR. There is quite a lot of content in iTunes, as well as in other popular online services with multimedia content. With the advent of Apple TV set-top boxes, I began to show more and more interest in them, especially compared to Chinese TV boxes, which do have at least some “sores” or “glitches”. The new Apple gadget will undoubtedly be able to slightly expand the scope of a modern TV.
In 4K with HDR, the picture looks much sharper than standard HD, especially since the advanced technology dynamic range HDR (High Dynamic Range) allows you to demonstrate realistic colors and fine details.
The Apple TV Remote allows you to quickly find the content you need - just swipe across the surface of the Touch panel, and you can also use it to adjust the volume of your TV or AV receiver. Thanks to Bluetooth, you can use the remote control from any corner of the room and from any angle. If someone says that this is a trifle, they have never dealt with crafts from Iconbit. I have dealt with these players several times, and the remote control is not cheap and not old model Iconbit XDS 94K forced me to come up with synonyms for numerous obscene expressions. Not to mention overheating. This brought much more negative emotions than the inability to connect HDD with movies for Apple TV, which is shouted about at every step by precisely those users for whom NAS is either a rapper or a branch of an American corporation.
Performance
In Apple TV 4K we got new processor A10X Fusion is quite a powerful platform for gaming from App Store with high requirements and comfortable use of applications. When connected game controller or headphones, you will find out what else your TV is capable of. And if you have AirPods headphones, then tvOS 11 will connect to them in automatic mode(AirPlay 2 support). A similar filling is built into the newest versions iPad Apple And new gadget definitely looks like a device that can handle UHD 4K streams smoothly. The device has 3 GB random access memory and this is a significant modernization, especially considering that in current version The OP was 2 GB with the old A9 core.
Multimedia capabilities
Want a fun toy on Apple TV? There you are Sky- it's romantic, exciting interactive game from thatgamecompany, which received the prestigious BAFTA award.
When it comes to your Photo Library, photos and videos from iCloud Photo Library or Shared Albums can be easily displayed on big screen. The Memories feature automatically creates collections of your best photos and videos that can be watched in 4K resolution on Apple TV. You can also connect Apple Music to my home theater, because you will have more than 40 million songs at your disposal. I recommend using the Plex app to manage your collection of movies, photos and music, if you have one, of course.
TVOS 11
Apple TV 4K runs on the new tvOS 11, one of the features of which is a change in design from day to night. And if you have several Apple devices TV on one account, then select main screen, and other devices will be synchronized with it.
Apple TV 4K price
The price depends on the built-in media. Apple TV 4K with 32 GB storage can be purchased for 13,500 rubles. Apple TV 4K with a 64 GB drive will cost the buyer 1,500 rubles more (15,000 rubles). In my opinion, the price tag is quite adequate.
The world of Smart TV is divided into 3 categories: WEB OS (already built into TVs), Android TV and Apple TV. When choosing a set-top box for a TV, many people have a question: Android TV or Apple TV. In the first case, everything is clear in principle: classic Android, optimized for use with TVs. Movies, apps, open access on the Internet - a classic. But many people don’t have many arguments for Apple TV, especially for Apple TV 4K. Therefore, in this article we will tell you what Apple TV 4K is, what it is needed for and how to connect it to your TV.
Apple TV 4K is the 5th generation of TV set-top boxes from Apple. This set-top box connects to the TV via HDMI and allows you to access Internet services: a library of applications and films.
Apple TV 4K unlocks 4K HDR technology and adds Dolby Atmos surround sound. The main thing is that your equipment (TV or TV + soundbar) supports these technologies. Dolby Atmos creates a true-to-life sound experience that completely immerses you in the action of the film. HDR (High Dynamic Range) is responsible for a realistic image.
The set-top box comes with a convenient remote control made in a minimalist design. The remote control has a special touch panel. With its help, you can interact with the interface: manage selections, enter text. You can also use your iPhone for control. When you configure the set-top box using a smartphone in the panel iPhone control The Apple TV app appears. Through AirPlay you can quickly transfer any content from iOS devices to the TV. Also, if you have a system " Smart House", it can be controlled using a TV (Although it is more convenient to use an iPhone for this task).
What is Apple TV 4K for?
Apple TV 4K adds to your regular TV Smart functions TV. However, you can purchase a set-top box even if you already have a built-in smart TV, but for some reason you are not satisfied with it.
Typically, Smart TV is purchased to gain access to services such as Amediateka, ivi, MEGOGO, Netflix. Users pay a monthly subscription and watch TV series, films or cartoons in high quality. You can also purchase films from iTunes Store, but the prices there are not the lowest. In addition to movies, Apple TV 4K provides access to a huge number of applications: from fitness, sports to dynamic games. The set-top box has a powerful A10X Fusion processor, which ensures smooth operation of any supported content.
WITH using Apple TV 4K you can display any media content from your iCloud library: photos, videos or music. This makes it convenient to display vacation photos or give presentations.
How to connect Apple TV to your TV
To connect the set-top box you will need Wifi (or Ethernet cable) And HDMI cable(preferably version 2.0 or higher). The cable is not included, so be sure to purchase it separately.
Connect the device to a power outlet and to the TV. On the remote, press the touchpad to pair it with the TV. Please specify your language.
Select setting: from using iOS device or manually. The first method is the most convenient for everyone who has an iPhone or iPad. The set-top box itself will download all the data from iCloud and perform quick setup. In the second case, just follow the instructions on the screen.
More detailed instructions You can read about installing and configuring Apple TV at.
Do you need Apple TV 4K
The downside of the console is its limitations. The situation is similar to iOS: you have specific functionality that constrains you. On Apple TV 4K, you get access to a huge library of movies and apps, plus an iCloud library. This is where its functionality practically ends. In the same time advantage of Android TV is at least a browser. With a browser, you get access to all content: paid, free, licensed or pirated.
Even if you don’t have a 4K TV, but a Full HD one, you can buy a set-top box, it will work and be fun. Another question is the price: give 15,000 and not use it main function 4K... Here everyone decides for themselves. In principle, if you are planning to buy a 4K TV in the near future, then it is better to immediately buy Apple TV 4K.
Conclusion: Apple TV is for those who are willing to pay for content. If you are ready to buy movies and do not experience financial difficulties with this, take Apple TV. If you're not ready, grab Android TV.
Apple TV Specifications
In conclusion, we provide a table comparing the main characteristics of the 4th generation Apple TV set-top box, which is still available for sale, and Apple TV 4K.
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Apple talks about 4K and HDR as if it invented them literally today, and it's quite funny: by the time of release previous version Apple TV in 2015, 4K technology was already common, but the company decided to ignore it.
But don’t dwell on the past and lose sight of the whole picture. Apple Support 4K and HDR formats are great news and a testament to their popularity. Moreover, in Apple kit TV 4K includes a library of films in 4K HDR.
From a distance, Apple TV 4K is no different from the previous one Apple versions TV, but turn the case over and you will see small slots that were not there before. They provide air cooling more powerful A10X chip. It gets quite hot during operation, but it is quiet even while gaming or streaming content in 4K.
The case has a hole to dissipate heat from the A10X Fusion chip. The model has a fairly large cooling cooler, but its noise is not noticeable even when running “heavy” games
The standard model costs RUB 13,490. only 32 GB of memory; the version for 14,990 rubles that we are testing has 64 GB. The numbers are not very impressive, besides the support external drives not provided; on the other hand, since Apple TV 4K streams movies, TV shows, and music without downloading, the only storage space required is for apps. They're small (Netflix, for example, is only 41.6 MB), so 32 GB will be enough for most users.
Apple TV 4K comes with 32GB or 64GB of built-in storage
The ease of use of the media player is not inferior to others Apple models. If you have an iPhone or other iOS device, you can read information about account And Wi-Fi settings. Having determined whether your TV supports 4K resolution, the player adjusts the output signal.
Apple TV 4K also checks for HDR support, and if available, all content will stream to your TV in 4K HDR, even if it was originally low resolution or standard dynamic range.
The menu system is convenient, well thought out and clear, as you would expect. A big plus of Apple TV 4K compared to competitors from Samsung and LG is availability voice control, at times quite useful. Press the microphone button on the remote control, say “Show me action movies,” and you will be taken to your iTunes library. Siri is now well versed in context: then say “Only in 4K,” and the list of action movies will be sharply reduced.
Apple TV 4K works great, but its main selling point is its library of 4K HDR movies
Content Provider
Siri not only performs an excellent search, but can also help the owner during the browsing process. Missed the point of fuzzy dialogue? Ask "What did he say?" - and this fragment will be repeated with subtitles turned on so that you understand everything exactly. To the question “What is the name of this actor?” you will receive a list of performers in the episode you are currently watching. All this is very convenient.
The Apple TV 4K interface is as user-friendly as you'd expect
However, the interface is not perfect in every way. Search results (voice or text) do not include items from iPlayer and Now TV, which reduces its usefulness somewhat, and the touchpad on the remote control is rather finicky.
In the US, unlike in Britain, Apple TV supports useful application under the strange name "TV". It brings together the content of all applications installed and available through a subscription, and allows you to return to the last viewed material.
It also generates recommendations for later viewing based on your list of favorite movies and recent activities. The idea is good, but it is spoiled by the lack of full integration with Netflix. Hopefully this service and the UK versions of iPlayer and Now TV will be supported at a later date.
It's worth noting that Amazon has yet to release a version of Prime Video for the tvOS platform. It should be released before the end of the year and will be fully integrated with Apple app TV. ITV Player, All 4 and My5 are also missing, but some on-air content can be obtained from providers using the TV Player app.
It would be nice to have one device that organizes all the available content; However, it makes no sense for it to duplicate the applications that your TV is already equipped with - it is much more convenient if the media player can offer content that is difficult to find in other ways, and this is exactly what the Apple TV 4K can do.
Its main advantage is its library of 4K HDR films. It now includes about 70 films, including such recent blockbusters as “Wonder Woman,” “Alien: Covenant” and “Logan,” released only on 4K Blu-ray discs. The pay-as-you-go model is quite convenient, especially considering that you don’t have to pay for “extra” pixels. And if you already bought the movie on iTunes and then the 4K version became available in the store, you will automatically receive it at no additional cost. All this will please those who need a lot of affordable 4K content.
However, not all 4K content is created equal, and streaming with Apple TV 4K is not equivalent to a similar UHD disc in terms of image quality. In the movie “Deadpool” on the 4K Blu-ray disc, the anti-hero’s red suit is drawn more clearly and in detail. The dark parts of the picture turn out to be more energetic and detailed. These are all inevitable consequences of streaming. But the choice of this approach is obvious - otherwise the player would have to first download uncompressed 4K movies to the hard drive.
However, 4K movies themselves look very good from iTunes. They noticeably exceed the flow in Full format HD clarity and resolution, density and depth.
Detail is significantly higher, and the textures of clothing, including the fur and skin of Wonder Woman's gear, look more natural and expressive.
HDR adds even more impact to the image; it literally comes off the screen. White color- clean and bright, color palette- lively and colorful, black objects - deep and dense. The picture becomes even more exciting.
We've only talked about HDR10 content before, but Apple TV 4K offers several movies in Dolby Vision, an advanced version of HDR that processes every single frame and has even more potential.
By full program
If you haven't seen 4K HDR content from Netflix yet, you're in for a shock. If it happened, the quality will approximately correspond to the TV picture. It's interesting to look at films or programs that were not originally created in 4K or HDR, and evaluate the quality of upscaling and upscaling according to the general Apple settings TV.
The result is not bad, although sometimes the picture turns out to be unnaturally sharp and bright. The problem could have been avoided if the Apple TV 4K had not changed the output format, but the company decided against this so that the TV does not have to constantly switch modes.
Apple's support for Dolby Vision along with HDR10 is very encouraging, but in this light the absence of Dolby Atmos looks even more strange. Why not include everything in full? Even Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio were not included in the list of features. In addition, Apple TV 4K performs decoding exclusively on its own, sending only the PCM or Dolby Digital 5.1, depending on settings.
Maybe, Apple company considers image quality to be more important than sound - and in some ways she is right: Atmos systems are not yet widespread. However, Apple TV 4K delights with clear and weighty sound. When connected to a good system, the surround sound field is detailed and atmospheric, but support for the Dolby Digital Plus bitstream would have been nice.
Apple TV 4K is not as simple as it seems. On the one hand, it boasts one of the most comprehensive and accessible library of 4K HDR films. On the other hand, it does not have some popular applications.
It supports the most advanced HDR video format, but ignores modern audio formats. It's too expensive for a network player, but cheap for a 4K Blu-ray player. It is difficult to categorize him.
The library of 4K content alone would be enough for the four - however, the fifth star is currently unattainable for him. If the company builds support for Amazon and time-lapse services into the app, we might change our minds; but so far it's perfect new Apple falls short.
WHAT SHOULD YOU WATCH IN 4K HDR?
Blade Runner (Director's Cut 4K) / iTunes, 4K HDR
The new version of Blade Runner is very good, but the 4K special edition of the first film is no less spectacular. It's already available on iTunes.
Deadpool / iTunes, 4K HDR
One of best films Marvel for last years included in the first iTunes package. It's a shame that the Atmos audio included on the Blu-ray disc isn't supported on the Apple TV 4K.
Daredevil / Netflix, 4K HDR, Dolby Vision
The script is interesting, the characters are convincing, the picture is gorgeous. In 4K HDR, the dark and moody palette and bloody fight sequences make it impossible to look away for a moment.
Jessica Jones / Netflix, 4K HDR, Dolby Vision
Netflix's Daredevil spin-off combines bar brawls, mind control, relationships and violence just as effectively. The 4K picture is great.
Pros:
+ large library of content in 4K HDR;
+ image quality.
Minuses:
- no Amazon Prime Video;
- lack of audio formats.
Verdict
A great way to get your hands on new content in 4K HDR, but the Apple TV 4K failed to capture our imagination.
Price: RUB 14,990
Final score: 9 points out of 10!
The American company offers everyone who wants to upgrade their set-top box, the main reason being the ability to play video in 4K HDR quality, which in itself is already quite tempting. However, let's look at all the innovations.
In contact with
Apple TV 4K design
The developers made absolutely no changes in this regard, and there was hardly a need for this. The device is still a square black box with rounded corners, dimensions 98 × 98 × 35 mm and weighing 425 grams. 
Remote controller Siri controls Remote has received minor improvements. In particular, the company replaced physical button Menu to virtual. It is now flush with the touchpad.
Image
Movies, shows, TV series and videos in 2160p quality - now every user of a 4K TV will understand what they paid a lot of money for. And even with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 standards, providing a more saturated picture in which blacks look blacker, and bright colors- brighter. The same applies to photographs, which will be even more pleasant to show to guests on the big screen.
Content
The question “What to watch on the new console?” It doesn’t matter, Apple has turned movies in iTunes from HD to 4K, and this also applies to content that was purchased earlier. Sports fans should say a special thank you to the developers - the corresponding section with broadcasts has finally been acquired human species and now allows you to keep track of all important events.
Apple TV 4K performance
Naturally, the old Apple A8 installed in previous model set-top boxes, were not trusted, equipping powerful processor A10X Fusion and twice as efficient graphics chip.
In addition, the device will need performance to run “heavy” applications, which can already be found in the App Store for Apple TV. During halftime of a football match or between episodes of a television series, the user will be able to enjoy the excellent graphics of console-level games.
Memory and peripherals Apple TV 4K
Like the previous model, Apple TV 4K is offered with two storage versions: 32 GB and 64 GB.
But users were deprived of access to the holy of holies of set-top boxes. Let us remind you that in the previous version there was a connector USB Type-C, intended for maintenance and service of the device. It was used by craftsmen for Apple connections TV to the computer, entering recovery mode, flashing, etc. Apparently this was the reason for the abolition of this interface V .
But a faster Gigabit Ethernet has appeared, replacing the 10/100-megabit analogue in the 2015 model, as well as the newly minted Bleutooth 5.0.
Apple TV 4K price and start date
The first deliveries are scheduled for September 22. The new product will cost 2-3 thousand rubles more than the previous model - 13,490 and 14,990 rubles for specifications with 32 and 64 GB of internal memory, respectively.
Got my hands on the newest one set-top box Apple TV 4K, and a crazy thought immediately arose: I’ll go to my friends in the store next door to the office and connect it to the TV for a million rubles. The TV is a Loewe Bild 7 with a diagonal of 77 inches, it really costs a million rubles, and it is truly a work of art. There's also an OLED display with incredibly beautiful picture, and excellent functionality, and its own OS, and a motorized stand, and advanced audio-related functions. You can devote a separate article to Loewe, but on the Internet you need to be careful with such technology.
People get angry, don’t understand why Loewe is better than well-known brands, and immediately some speculation and stories begin about LG OLED matrices. For now I’ll exhale and remain silent, but later I’ll tell you about the same wonderful Bild 4 in more detail. In the meantime, let's talk about Apple TV 4K.
I'm active Apple user TV, for my family the set-top box has replaced the TV, it is also a means of delivering new series, films, we listen to music, look at photos, sometimes even play. Like the PS4 Pro, the Apple TV 4K is one of those gadgets where dust does not accumulate - I used to turn on the Apple TV maybe once a week, new version I ride several times a day. Of course I was waiting Apple release TV 4K. Quite naturally, everything turned out to be quite difficult. I'll tell you in order.
Connection
So, I came to my friends, took out the set-top box, the remote control - it is now a little different from the old one, and it has become a little more convenient because of the differently made buttons.
Touchpad everything is the same - do not forget that after logging into iCloud and connecting to the same network, you can use the iOS application to enter passwords and other information. Simply put, my wife sometimes tries to enter a name like “Love of Love” into the search, and in the next room I see a pop-up window Apple keyboards TV and start typing “The Blair Witch Project”. In general, this is good. At the beginning of work, it is suggested to enable auto-loading of aerial photo screensavers; the screensavers are unrealistically beautiful. Apple TV comes with an HDMI cable, so be aware that to watch 4K content you will need a special HDMI cable with 4K support. There are a ton of these cables, prices range from five dollars to thousands of dollars, it all depends on your desire to get a good picture.
Keep in mind that the menu has an option to test the cable and not all accessories will pass the test. The photo shows the packaging of the cable we chose; it costs about 5,000 rubles and is perfect for Apple TV 4K. Okay, we connected the correct cable, set up iCloud, connected the set-top box to the Internet in the store and tried to watch the latest Spider-Man.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that in iTunes, films with support for 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision are marked with the corresponding icons; if there is no icon, it means that the update has not yet arrived. Many people ask, but what if I buy an Apple TV 4K and plan to use it with regular TV, so does this make sense? There is a point - you will watch movies in Full HD, but when you buy a TV with 4K support, you will immediately be able to download movies with excellent pictures. Well, we tried to watch Spider-Man, but the picture was nothing but pixels. That is, screw you, not 4K - on a TV for a million rubles. I went into the settings to check and found out that not only a special cable is needed, but also a connection to the network with minimum speed 15 Mbit/s, but in the store the speed was lower.
Okay, I tried to switch the phone to modem mode, connected Apple TV, it was also slow, in the city center Beeline is working worse and worse. Then I gave up and went to the Megafon store next door, where I bought Huawei modem and the tariff for modems, and it seems like it’s unlimited for two weeks. The modem turned out to be surprisingly smart, it works for a long time, supports several connected devices, works for about 8 hours, the connection quality is good. All the fun cost about 3,300 rubles. With the modem in my teeth, I returned to our setup and decided to watch another movie, like Kingsman. Who knows, who and how the master of “Spider-Man” prepared it, 4K simply won’t load, no matter what, even with a modem.
4K and HDR
Well, the first part of “Kingsman” was apparently prepared as it should, because we were able to see 4K and HDR. True, there is a caveat - apparently, the quality of the picture VERY depends on the quality of the network. The faster, the better picture, the connection sags a little, and pixels immediately come out. I think there will be no problems with a home access point, but in in public places or outside the city, enjoying 4K will be problematic. For example, the capabilities of the Megafon modem are enough for ordinary tasks, but for Apple TV 4K you need twice as fast. Although Speedtest showed a speed of about 44 Mbit/s, if you look at the wave, you can see dips - well, Apple TV 4K needs a stable and high-speed connection. I know this all sounds banal, but in reality the information will probably be useful Apple owners TV 4K.
Accordingly, the set-top box can work with picture quality depending on the quality of the connection, and you need to know and understand this. As for HDR, Loewe has the ability to adjust the High Dynamic Range levels, for example you can select light, dark or dynamic presets; I liked the light one. Photos cannot convey the charm of the picture, but in life you just want to roll up a big chair, grab some popcorn, turn off the lights and watch the same “Kingsman” again, then find out what films are still available in 4K. Very very very good picture, smooth, but at the same time, as clear as possible, a lot of details, beautiful colors, I also need to thank Loewe for this.
Characteristics
Some boring information about the Apple TV 4K, the set-top box comes in two versions, 32 and 64 GB, supports 2160p video playback, Dolby Vision and HDR10, has an A10X Fusion processor installed, uses Wi-Fi 802.11ac with MIMO technology, simultaneous data transmission in two bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0. Compared to the previous Apple TV, there is clear progress on all fronts, and the USB-C connector for service has been removed from the body. Memory is needed to install applications, but movies, as you understand, are downloaded for playback on the system and there is no progress bar, and there is no way to download a movie in 4K in pieces and watch it in good quality. If you have the Internet, you watch a movie; if there is no Internet, then play a game or go cook yourself some sausage and eat it with mustard and peas. That is, the approach as a whole has not changed, but the ability to use 4K films with HDR has been added. It’s very good that the price of films has not changed.
Yes, in addition to films, you can also use other 4K content - for example, TV series; it is stated that support will soon appear on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. We are waiting for Amediateka and other services.
Verdict
For owners of the first console main question probably like this: dudes, so what, should I change it or not? It's simple, if you already have the main ingredient, a TV with 4K and HDR support, if you have a library of films in iTunes and a desire to use legal content, then it’s worth spending 13,490 or 14,990 rubles on new console(price difference depends on memory). If you don’t yet have a normal TV, then you shouldn’t even think about replacing it. If you have a Loewe TV with 4K and HDR, then it's definitely worth buying. If another TV with 4K and HDR is the same, the picture turns out AMAZING.
P.S. Just don’t forget about a special HDMI cable and normal internet! All this is necessary for Apple TV 4K like air!
We express our gratitude to SoundProLab and the staff of the Bose&Loewe salon in GUM for their help in organizing all the movements