Review of Apple TV (fourth generation)

Contents of delivery

• Console
• Network cable
• Remote control
• Lightning cable
• Documentation

Let's look at the new Apple TV set-top box, not an updated one, but a new one - yes, you can still rent a movie for the evening, but you can also install karaoke if you want and sing to the TV, or play, or watch "Comedy Club" and the series “Fizruk”...

Positioning

When you tell or show someone the capabilities of Apple TV, they may immediately object that advanced people have all this modern TVs and without any set-top boxes, there are Smart TV, Android TV and other shells that can make it possible to play or buy movies in third-party services. All this is true. But there are at least a few reasons to buy an Apple TV:

• If you have enough good TV, but without any shells.
• If you have a very good TV, there is a shell there, but you are not satisfied with it.
• If you have been using iTunes for a long time, there are hundreds of movies and music albums in your library, and you would like to easily play all this content on your TV and rent movies.
• If you want to play games on your TV, but you have never done this and have doubts about the convenience of this process, then you should definitely try Apple TV.

There are other reasons, but they may seem a bit far-fetched - I'd recommend the Apple TV to anyone who loves OS X and iOS and wants something equally sleek and thoughtful for themselves. big screen in the house. I would recommend Apple TV to girls; it has been experimentally established that they instantly master the remote control, programs for the set-top box, and start watching TV series - I don’t know how this would happen with Android TV. Maybe the same, maybe not. I would recommend the Apple TV for family entertainment, the game of chicken may seem brutal, but there are other games out there. For example, Shadowmatic perfectly develops spatial thinking, but Asphalt does not develop anything, but it’s very cool to drive in turns.

In general, I would recommend everyone to try the updated Apple TV, it's a pity that you can't rent it. Well, prices in Russia are now brutal. When you remember how much the old Apple TV cost, a tear of nostalgia immediately appears. Okay, let's not be sad, but rather let's see what the updated console is like.

Design, construction

It's a shame that Apple forgot to include it in the kit. hdmi cable, I seem to have a lot of cables at home, but they all turned out to be occupied - they might as well not have been greedy, it’s not particularly expensive (to put it mildly). The kit includes a remote control, a network cable, a set-top box, a strap for the remote control is inserted into the Lightning connector, and you also need to buy it separately. But the kit includes a Lightning cable for charging the remote control, yes, yes, there is now such a plug. As you can see in the photo, the proprietary iPhone stand can also be used for the remote control. The operating time of the remote control is several months when used in normal mode, this is good, you don’t need to think about the state of the battery all the time, you don’t need to buy batteries, the built-in battery will probably last for several years. I’ll say right away that you can use many existing joysticks with Apple TV; in a couple of days we’ll post a video review where we try to connect and use one of them - go to this material, there will be a video.

Accordingly, this gives hope for the appearance of many other accessories for Apple TV, for example, small keyboards, advanced joysticks and who knows what else. If tvOS continues to develop, the imagination of the developers should be enough for even the most unprecedented additions. After all, there are already good races, the already mentioned “Asphalt”, so why not make some simple steering wheel? The racing is good and vibrant. The proprietary remote control can be used, but it’s not very convenient. Let me note that you need to hold it by the ends and imagine that this is not a remote control, but a steering wheel, turn from side to side - the car moves. It takes some getting used to, but then everything will work out naturally and easily. The touch pad also takes some getting used to, but then rewinding in films is a pleasure, it’s very easy to select the right moment, quickly rewind to the right place, step back, repeat - easy, elegant, great! But at first, typing on the virtual keyboard makes you wince. Out of habit, you skip letters, move your finger faster than necessary, miss, miss again, damn you! Little by little I manage to get used to it. Then, I also found another problem at the very beginning: Apple TV is demanding on Wi-Fi quality. We tried to use “Iota” - we couldn’t log into our account, we tried to connect to an iPhone operating in modem mode - nothing worked either. The set-top box connected to your home access point instantly, and you can find it (the point) on the TV screen or configure it from using iPhone, put it on the Apple TV, and voila, the settings are transferred. Well, then only the remote control will help you; the plump black box can be hidden away.

Compared with previous version The set-top box has become larger, the connector for connecting the optical cable has disappeared, but everything else remains the same. Here full list connectors and more:

• HDMI 1.43;
• Supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac with MIMO technology;
• 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port;
• IR receiver;
• USB-C for service and support;
• Built-in power supply.

If you suddenly want to take screenshots, you will need USB-C cable- USB, connect to MacBook Pro, turn on QuickTime Player, and the image from the TV appears there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have such a cable, so I filmed it with a camera. I repeat, a detailed video about the menu, applications and more will appear soon.

The remote control itself is a complex device. There is an IR sensor for controlling the volume on the TV, Bluetooth 4.0 for communication with the set-top box, Lightning for charging, an accelerometer and a gyroscope, a glass touch pad, you can not only move your finger on it, but also press it. Some games make a difference between whether you swipe in the center or along the edge, and that's where the emphasis is; impressions after working with a touch surface - just like after using other Apple technology, for example, an iPhone or iPad.

operating system

Possibilities operating system in the long term they are very good, but even now the device is not perceived as something unfinished, raw, neither I nor those to whom I gave the console a try had such a feeling. On the contrary, the thing is perceived extremely positively. If you already had an Apple TV and you are used to renting movies there, then you can do it here, but at the same time you can install RuTube, watch “Dancing” or TV series, many people like Comedy Club - you can watch “Comedy”. There are also 2x2, but the choice of series is limited. I personally am waiting for the “Amediateki” application so that I can calmly watch new episodes of my favorite series, films on TV - by the way, there is very good selection cinema, there is a lot that you won’t find anywhere else. The choice of applications is already great, here you have The Nat Geo TV, and HBO NOW, and news, and YouTube - you understand, you can generally hang out there for a day if you wish. All applications resemble their iOS counterparts, that is, they are video catalogs, select and watch. The quality is good, I'm using an old Apple TV Samsung TV, other than Full HD, there is nothing special to brag about.

Yes, if suddenly there are karaoke lovers among you, there is karaoke here. I’m not a fan myself, but I’ve been told that karaoke works effectively here, and it’s better for fans of this business not to tell about this feature of Apple TV. Moreover, there is not one, but several programs for singing.

If a sound bar or other acoustic system, you can listen to purchased music or use Apple Music, which is great when meeting with friends. A TV in the living room, a table in the living room, everything is logical - especially since music can work in a number of applications. Listening to Igor Nikolaev and playing Crossy Road is possible. True, in some programs this cannot be done, either this is a bug, or voice acting will be possible everywhere.

Yes, I can’t help but notice that there is also Mixcloud, a program with mixes, different formats of music - you can listen to it for days on end, without stopping.

That is, if before Apple TV was limited by the music you bought (I’m exaggerating, but still), but now there are no limits. The entire iTunes library is at your disposal thanks to Apple Music, there are applications like MixCloud, and catalogs of Internet radio stations for Apple TV are appearing.

Let's move on to films, all purchased films are available for downloading and viewing, some can be rented. Contrary to popular belief, this does not apply to all films - most new films can only be purchased, not rented. For example, now “Everest” is sold for 349 rubles in HD, 199 rubles in SD, it’s better to buy it in HD, but it’s even better to get your butt off the chair and walk to the cinema. It’s much better to watch Everest there than at home. But The Agents of U.N.C.L.E. can already be bought for 349 rubles, and rented for 99 rubles - a good offer.

In any case, prices on iTunes are reasonable, and if you buy an Apple TV, you should be prepared for paid content. I know that most of the readers are already accustomed to paying for books, music and films, but, nevertheless, there are also those who do not understand where the money goes and why they need to pay “for air”. This is always a personal choice of everyone, and discuss the topic here paid content We won’t, I’ll just note that in Russia people still show unexpected enthusiasm for services - there are many more people who want to receive a high-quality service and are ready to pay for it. In the case of iTunes on Apple TV, there are no questions about the service itself, the previously purchased movie was downloaded in a minute, the quality is excellent, and so is the sound. If you slide your finger down on the touchpad, the audio menu will appear, where you can select the audio track, subtitles, and through which device the audio will be played.

As with the previous set-top box, it is possible to transfer images to Apple TV from the device, but the quality is so-so. I tried to transfer an image from MB Pro.

In addition to programs, audio and films, there are also games. And here, besides Crossy Road and Asphalt, there are also Shadowmatic, Rayman, Manticore Rising, Guitar Hero. I think it will be possible to write separately about ten good games for Apple TV at the end of the month, for now I will say that the programs are made intelligently, they are interesting to play even for me - most of the things here are arcade games, but this does not detract from their merits. For example, Crossy Road is great to play in a group, when everyone around you is trying to tell you, snatch the remote control and play on your own.

And now imagine that all this is on your TV. It has become much more functional, don’t you think? Yes, before I could easily buy Interstellar and watch it with my family while relaxing after a busy day. But now there is easy, understandable and simple access to programs of a wide variety of directions and with a wide variety of content - we can not only select “Interstellar”, but also watch the latest episode of “Dancing”, if the urge arises. And you don’t need to carry a laptop, transfer images from an iPad or iPhone, or otherwise complicate life.

Performance and Features

The console is available in two versions, 32 and 64 GB. As I understand it, Apple made a version for those who will install a lot of applications, and a version for those who will install the main thing and calm down and will not experiment. Of course, there is a difference in price, 13,990 and 17,990 rubles. As far as I heard, there is currently a limit on the size of applications, it is 200 MB, it may be removed in the future. A lot could change for Apple TV in the future. For example, now the desktop repeats the design of the first Apple TV, although it would be better to emphasize the continuity of tvOS and iOS and allow the user to simply place all the icons on the desktop, if desired, add widgets there, as in Android - now the navigation is frankly stupid, go to the desired item I still can't do it the first time. You will definitely go somewhere in the wrong place, there is also the remote control “helping”, unnecessary movement, and you will immediately go somewhere away from the desired menu item. Siri search in Russian does not work yet, but when it appears, it will be of help.

Apple, as always, took care of people with disabilities. You press the Menu button three times, and VoiceOver turns on, voicing menu items, here is a list of all the “Universal Access” items:

• VoiceOver;
• Increase;
• Bold font;
• Increase contrast;
• Reduced movement;
• Supports closed captioning and subtitles for people with hearing impairments;
• Keyboard shortcuts (I'm not entirely sure about this one).

A little about video and audio formats:

• H.264 video up to 1080p, 60 fps, high or main profile level 4.2 or lower;
• H.264 video, base profile 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 kbps, 48 ​​kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov formats;
• MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbit/s, 640x480 pixels, 30 frames/s, simple profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 kbit/s, 48 ​​kHz, stereo sound in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov formats;
• HE- AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 kbps), protected AAC (for files from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1.

Let me remind you once again that Apple TV is sensitive to the quality of the Internet connection; you can connect to the network via Wi-Fi or using an Ethernet cable; this method seems anachronistic to me. Although you can counter - the speed and reliability of the cable connection is higher. Well, if another cable in the living room doesn’t bother you, it’s your choice.

The heart of Apple TV is the A8 processor with 64-bit architecture, the set-top box works quickly, the transition from section to section is fast, the only shortcomings are the lack of thumbnails for some films on home page, but this is already a tvOS problem. During the entire period of use there were no application crashes, I would like to get some kind of clear menu running applications, as in iOS.

conclusions

Let me remind you, the price is 13,990 and 17,990 rubles, a good gift for New Year and for any other holiday. The whole family can use Apple TV, and there's something for dad, mom and kids to do. I hope, albeit somewhat chaotically, I talked about the main capabilities of this interesting device. I remember how we “broke” the first Apple TV and used it to watch movies. After so many years, in the living room there is a device completely in the spirit of the century - everything is on the Internet, and it would be a sin not to use it. If you want to upgrade (sorry) your TV, Apple TV will do the job just fine.

P.S. As promised, I will write in more detail about the programs and games used on Apple TV separately.

Fourth generation, 2015 model

The history of the Apple TV media set-top box, designed primarily for broadcasting content from the Apple ecosystem, in particular movies and TV series, as well as online video on your TV screen, began almost nine years ago. At the beginning of autumn of this year, the company introduced the fourth generation of this device. For those who do not follow this topic, our reviews of previous versions of the console may be useful: first, second, third.

If the third generation differed little from its predecessor, then in the fourth one significant changes can be noted. The most significant of them is the possibility of installing additional software, which significantly changes not only the set of its functions, but also the positioning of the model. In this article we will get acquainted with the new product and see what new it can give to users.

The testing used was a device with article number A1625 and a flash memory capacity of 64 GB. The official price of the version with 32 GB of memory is 13,390 rubles ($149 in the US), and the modification with 64 GB of memory is offered for 17,990 rubles ($199 in the US). Note that the previous generation is also presented in stores and its cost is noticeably lower - only 5990 rubles ($69 in the USA).

Delivery set and appearance

The console comes in a larger box than its predecessor. Its color is unexpectedly black, unlike most packaging mobile devices this manufacturer.

The box contains a player, power cable, remote control remote control, Lighting cable and several leaflets.

From additional accessories for of this device The company's arsenal includes a branded strap for remote control Loop ($12.99). IN official store also represented in the USA wireless joystick SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Gaming Controller ($49.95).

The appearance of the model has changed little compared to the third generation. In fact, the only noticeable difference is the increase in case height - from 23 mm to 35 mm. At the same time, the projection has not changed - still the same square with a side of about 10 × 10 centimeters and rounded corners. So if you install the devices on top of each other there will be a perfect match. In addition, the weight increased - from 256 g to 424 g.

The body is made of black plastic. On the top side it is matte with a glossy company logo and the inscription “tv”. The sides are glossy. The bottom is made of material with a soft-touch effect.

On the back side there are all connectors - HDMI, RJ45 wired network, service USB-C, power cable input. As we can see, the additional digital audio output has been reduced.

On the opposite side there is a single indicator. He has White color glow and is almost invisible during operation. The IR signal receiver window is not highlighted in any way. Formally, to control the system with a standard remote control, it is not necessary to provide direct visibility, since a wireless radio channel via Bluetooth is provided. But the IR receiver can be used with other remote controls to expand the set of commands.

The remote control has changed a lot in this generation. Now he represents multifunction device supporting not only infrared communication channel, but also Bluetooth.

Its case dimensions are 38×124×6.3 mm. The device is non-separable, since it is powered by a built-in battery. According to the company, its charge lasts for “months” with daily use. The Lighting cable is included just for it.

The lower part of the housing is made of aluminum. The manufacturer's logo stands out in the center. The front panel is divided into several zones. The top matte one is a touch-sensitive panel. It contains the hardware “Menu” and “Home” buttons. Standardly, the panel supports four gestures for navigating the console menu, and the developers third party programs can receive more accurate information about user actions.

Below we see buttons for volume control, calling Siri and Start/Pause. A glossy plastic coating is used around them and on the rest of the panel.

At the top end of the remote control there is an IR transmitter window, and on the opposite side there is a Lighting connector for charging or a proprietary strap. The latter is a strip of leather with a ring. It is secured in the connector using special latches.

At the top of the remote control there are microphones on both sides for the Siri system. Note that the remote control is equipped with a built-in gyroscope and accelerometer, which will be in demand in games and some applications.

Hardware Features

The fourth generation of Apple TV is significantly different from its predecessors in terms of hardware. CPU This model is the dual-core Apple A8, which can be found in the iPhone 6/6 Plus and other devices. In addition to increasing overall performance, we also note the presence of the PowerVR Series 6XT GX6450 graphics unit. This suggests that the model is capable of not only acting as a video signal receiver and decoder, but also performing its own resource-intensive tasks, such as games. This is also facilitated by an increase in RAM capacity by four times compared to the previous two generations - up to 2 GB. The configuration of flash memory has also changed - now the user can choose its volume from 32 or 64 GB available at the time of preparation of the material.

In addition to a 100 Mbps wired network, the device is equipped with a dual-band wireless controller that supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac protocols. Moreover, the adapter apparently has two antennas, so at 5 GHz the maximum connection speed is 867 Mbit/s, which will be more than enough for any compatible content in the vast majority of cases. But operation at 2.4 GHz is provided only at a connection speed of 144 Mbit/s due to the usual limitation on channel width. Additionally, there is a Bluetooth 4.0 controller for connecting a multifunctional control panel and other devices.

The documentation states that in addition to the standard remote control, you can additionally connect two MFi (Made for iOS) certified wireless devices or one such device and one audio device. Unfortunately, we didn't have any compatible devices to control, but wireless headset Nokia has done well with the Apple TV, including outputting audio to headphones and receiving Siri commands through the microphone. We even came across sports training apps that supported displaying heart rate information from the Apple Watch connected to Apple TV

Despite the widespread use of ultra-high-resolution screens in their computers, 4K support was not implemented in this generation of Apple TV. So users will be limited to the 1080p format and can only rejoice at the introduction of support for Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 audio tracks versus DD 5.1 in previous versions, but we would not consider this a significant improvement, given the possible sources of content.

Apparently, the device supports HDMI CEC, so you can turn the TV on and off in sync with the set-top box's sleep mode, eliminating the need for a TV remote.

Perhaps the only thing that can be considered a step back in specifications is the absence of a separate digital audio output. With previous generations of set-top boxes, you could use a dedicated connection to the receiver to listen to music without turning on the TV. However, such a scenario can now be launched via HDMI, so in this case we are talking more about removing an outdated interface than reducing capabilities.

We also note the presence of a built-in 11 W power supply. This is approximately twice as much as in the third generation and is likely the reason for the increase in the height of the player's body. But given the differences in hardware described above, this is quite expected.

The new version of Apple TV runs on the tvOS operating system, which is based on iOS. At the time of announcement, the version was 9.0, and we tested it with version 9.1 (13U85).

Connection and setup

To start working with the player, just connect the HDMI cable to your TV or receiver and provide power. Let us remind you that Apple TV players have a built-in power supply and a regular thin cable to the outlet, which allows you to minimize the number of external elements. It is also advisable to connect wired network, since Wi-Fi is often difficult to say is well suited for high-definition video broadcasts. The boot time of the set-top box is less than 30 seconds.

When you turn it on for the first time, you will be asked to specify the interface language and country (Russian and Russia are present in the lists). Then there are two options - configure the remaining parameters through a mobile device with iOS 9.1 or specify it manually.

In the first case, you need to turn on the Bluetooth controller on your iPhone or iPad and bring it to the player. Once the device is detected, you will be prompted to transfer data via wireless networks and Apple ID account. The second scenario involves entering the required data from the on-screen keyboard.

For more detailed settings The menu has a familiar gear icon, behind which you can find eight groups of pages with parameters and a sleep button (it can also be activated from the remote control).

The first of them is the most numerous. Here you can check information about the device (including memory status with the ability to remove programs), set the language, region, time, screen saver and sleep mode, enable parental control, specify settings for processing confidential data, enable Siri.

Unlike its predecessors, the fourth generation supports the use of standard credentials iCloud records, iTunes and AppStore. Additionally, interaction with Game Center and Home Collection has been implemented. Specifying an Apple ID allows you to watch movies and listen to music from the store, install additional programs and interact with cloud services companies. Note that here we are talking specifically about Apple accounts itself. When working with applications where it is required own registration, this information will be indicated in them themselves.

Settings sound system include a selection of audio output (remember that it is also possible to work via Bluetooth, as well as broadcast to other receivers via AirPlay), multi-channel sound mode, enable sound effects and clicks. The language of the audio track and subtitles is also indicated here. Unfortunately, it’s like figuring out the implementation of working with multi-channel sound in this case it is not possible. However, most potential users do not need this information. Let us only note that during tests on trailers, our receiver wrote about receiving multi-channel PCM audio, so the digital tracks are probably unpacked in the set-top box itself and it will not be possible to output the original DD track.

As for the video output, you can adjust the resolution (including “computer” options), color space, and also display test images to check overscan and color reproduction.

Like its predecessors, the new product supports AirPlay technology for broadcasting media and desktops from mobile devices and Apple computers. In the settings, you can select the name of the set-top box, enable the mode for viewing content from iCloud, and set an access password.

For a standard remote control, you can set the speed of movement on the touchpanel in the menu. Support for the Remote program for iOS is also preserved. Additionally, the user can program their own IR remotes using the learning mode. The basic set includes four navigation buttons, confirmation and menu calling. And the additional set contains nine more items, including playback control.

So if functions such as rewinding or moving to the next recording are important to you, then you can easily add them on any, including universal, IR remote control. A very good solution in our opinion - on the one hand, the laconic standard remote control is retained, and on the other hand, there is the opportunity to “add buttons”.

On the same page, you can configure interaction with equipment via HDMI and another interesting function - transferring volume control to other devices. In this mode, you first teach the player two signals from the standard remote control of your TV or receiver, and then when you press the corresponding hardware buttons on the Apple remote control, it controls the equipment through its IR transmitter.

In the "Programs" section there is an enable item automatic update programs, as well as some individual settings. In particular for basic programs In Music, iTunes Movies & TV Shows, and Computers, you can select repeat playback mode, video format, and playlist filter.

Network connections are configured in the section of the same name. Here you can specify parameters wireless connections, configure IP addresses, and also find out the status of the current connection to the network. notice, that wireless adapter turned out to be very good - at one point in the apartment he “saw” more than forty networks, which indirectly indicates his sensitivity. In this case, switching to wired connection occurs automatically when the appropriate cable is connected.

In the “System” section there are items for updating the firmware, resetting and rebooting the device, as well as electronic versions of documents.

In the vast majority of cases, the user will not have to deal with setting up the set-top box for a long time and many parameters can be left in the “Auto” position.

Set-top box interface

The touch panel is used to navigate the console menu. The “Menu” button returns to the previous level, and the “Home” button returns to the device’s home screen.

It includes a contextual block with trailers, recently viewed content and other similar information. Below it are icons of applications installed on the device. Out of the box, there are only basic programs: movies, TV shows and music from iTunes. App Store, photo gallery, search, computers and settings.

Options for grouping icons into current version no software. However, you can change the order of the icons and display the most frequently used programs above. By pressing “Play/Pause” in edit mode, you can delete the application and all its data. Let us remind you that in the settings section you can specify the amount of built-in flash memory occupied by programs.

Everything is standard with the first three points - content purchased in the corresponding store is available in them. The App Store on Apple TV has its own catalog of programs; later in the article we will see what is interesting there. Photo Gallery lets you access your albums in iCloud. The search works in the company's stores, its information catalogs (for example, allows you to find artists), catalogs installed applications(for example, it can find one series in different sources), but not from its own library. Computers lets you access your home media collection on your computer. installed iTunes, including photos, music and videos.

As for Siri, at the time of writing this article it did not work with the Russian language. To use it, simply press and hold the microphone button on the remote control.

In general, the control system turned out to be quite convenient, although of course you will have to get used to the “blind” use of the touch panel for navigation.

App Store

For consoles are used special applications and its own App Store. Although, of course, given the proximity to iOS models, developers will probably not spend a lot of time adapting their programs if they are, in principle, interesting for a scenario with a TV and a remote control. The actual purchasing process is no different from other options in the Apple ecosystem.

The only remark may concern the ease of searching and obtaining information about programs - the catalog is only available from Apple TV, but not from a computer. In addition, do not forget about the difficulty of entering text fields using the virtual keyboard. Please note that when using an account from another region, some text fields in the interface may use a language different from the settings of the set-top box itself.

The catalog has a familiar design with lists of the most popular applications, categories, a section for purchased programs and search. There are seven main categories - Games, Education, Entertainment, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, News, Sports. However, in the purchased programs section there are also Music, Photo & Video and Utilities. It seems that the system automatically suggests programs already used on other devices if there is a version for Apple TV.

About the exact quantity available applications It’s hard to judge, but there are no empty spaces on the category pages, although in most cases, almost everything fits on one page. Perhaps only Games and Entertainment can boast of greater variety. The games even have additional subsections (puzzles, one-button games, racing). But there are currently few user ratings, which further complicates the choice of programs.

Working with multimedia

At first glance, little has changed with the official ways of working with multimedia. You have access to photos, as well as music, movies and TV shows from the cloud of your account. Additionally, you can access your local iTunes media library on your computer by setting up Home Sharing. Of course, the computer must be turned on for it to work. Access to the iTunes store is integrated into the system, so purchasing records is very easy.

In the store catalog you can find many online services, including those that were on previous version consoles. Although the clients themselves are usually free, they may require a subscription to use. In addition, some of them do not work in our country. The last problem can sometimes be solved by using a VPN, but this is still not very convenient. And still, there may be advertising screensavers in free broadcasts.

The list of supported formats has changed to improve quality - now 1080p60 video can be decoded with the H.264 codec and profile up to HP or MP level 4.2, inclusive, versus 30 fps and profile 4.0 in the third version of the set-top box. There was no qualitative transition to 4K this time, although there was information in the news about the preparation of the fifth generation of the device in the next quarter. In audio formats, HE-AAC (V1) and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 have been added.

AirPlay support is still there, including streaming music, video, and desktop from compatible Apple devices. You can try using this option to view “non-native” formats and media sources, but it is much more convenient to use third-party programs available in the Apple TV app store. Let's not claim full review useful utilities, but we will briefly describe some of them that have free versions.

The first one we came across was HD Player. It allows you to load media files into the console’s memory from a computer via a browser. various formats, however, a license for viewing FullHD files costs $0.99. Since it cannot work over the network, there is, in our opinion, no particular point in the program.

The next option is infuse ~ an elegant video player for all your media. IN free version support for popular formats and codecs is implemented, and can serve as a source as general network folders, so DLNA servers. However, if you plan to use DD and DTS audio tracks, you will need the PRO version, which costs $9.99 and has several additional features. The utility supports switching audio tracks, as well as displaying subtitles. At the same time, it also copes with the BD file format.

Another program with an unusually long name, Video Player for Many Movies Formats From NAS Media Server, also supports standard network folders and HD video formats in MKV and MP4. This player can decode AC3, but there is no option to select the audio track and subtitles.

OneVideoLite is also capable of providing access to your media library over a network using a variety of protocols, including SMB, AFP and DLNA. All popular video file formats are supported. At the same time, the utility is more similar than others to a media player in terms of interface design and capabilities. The latter include the selection of audio tracks (DD is output in an unpacked 5.1 format; DTS cannot be called workable in the current version of the program) and subtitles. But for full support for HD video, including 720p, you will need to pay $2.99 ​​for the full version of the utility. The Lite version will help you evaluate the need for this action, providing 2 minutes of work for such files.

For some users, choosing a client-server solution from Plex may be most convenient at the moment for the scenario of watching videos without being tied to the Apple ecosystem, especially if they already use it (for example, for organizing storage own videos and photo album). This media server can be run both on a regular PC and on many modern network drives. The Plex client is a free download from the App Store and gives you access to all of your recordings.

However, it should be noted that all of the programs mentioned do not currently provide the comfort expected from a fairly expensive household media player during operation. The interface often slows down, the controls are inconvenient, and there is no “omnivorousness”. And when it comes to providing a specific format for content, then no one bothers to settle on a fairly convenient and universal mp4, which integrates seamlessly into iTunes.

Games

It’s worth saying a few words about games. Remembering mobile devices on a similar platform, we can say that the device discussed in the article is capable of “pulling” quite complex and beautiful projects.

However, there is one difficulty here - the overwhelming number mobile games designed for use with touch screen. Adaptation to the console control panel or gamepads may not be as simple as we would like. Additionally, the selection of compatible controllers is currently limited.

However, overall this scenario, in our opinion, has great potential. Especially if Apple can ensure perfect compatibility and Plug-and-Play configuration of gamepads in arcade projects, which it is quite capable of doing. Well, it would be nice to solve the issue with a multiplayer game on one panel (let us remember the current restrictions on connected external devices). Of course, there is no serious competition to traditional consoles and especially gaming PCs on this platform now, but who knows...

The current areas of interest are arcade games with simple controls, such as Rayman, traditional Asphalt racing games, as well as some “one-button” projects and puzzles.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that updated version Apple TV brought the device to new level. The ability to install programs in combination with a more powerful hardware platform changes a lot in the console. However, the new product is offered at a significantly higher price, so the question of its advantage over the previous generation is not so clear-cut.

When assessing the attractiveness of such an acquisition, it is worth considering many factors, including the presence of other Apple solutions and active use of the company's media services, desire to access certain streaming providers and interest in games.

If the price is not an issue and the above amounts for a new gadget do not bother you, then, of course, another new, beautiful and interesting toy with a cool remote control and your favorite logo deserves a place in your home.

For those users who don't have Apple devices, purchasing an Apple TV remains controversial. On the other hand, this fourth version of the console is quite capable of fully functioning even without the presence of smartphones, tablets or computers from the “fruit” company.

Today we would not recommend considering this solution as a universal media player for a library of files stored on a home network drive. Formally, the situation may change with the release of the corresponding software, however, it may be easier, faster and cheaper to choose a device from the numerous players on the market based on other operating systems.

But the game scenario has good prospects, but everything will be determined by the projects available for this platform.

We invite you to watch our video review of Apple TV, which clearly shows the use of the remote control for games, and compares the design of the new product with the previous generation Apple TV.

Not everyone knows how to turn their regular TV receiver into a smart TV. It turns out that to do this, it is enough to purchase a special set-top box that can broadcast media content from various external sources to the TV. One such device is Apple TV. Let's look at what this TV box is, what are its functionality and how to connect it.

Apple TV: basic device information

Apple TV is a streaming media player that lets you watch videos, listen to music, play games, and use other types of applications from the Internet on your TV. Externally, the console is a small (98x98x35 mm) square black box with rounded corners. On the side edges of the case there are HDMI connectors for connecting to a TV, Gigabit Ethernet for wired Internet, and an IR receiver. Apple TV comes with a remote control (RC), a power cord, a Lightning/USB cable for charging the remote control, and documentation.

The kit does not include an HDMI cable, which is necessary to connect the set-top box to the TV, so you should take care of purchasing it in advance

Specifications

The hardware of the fifth-generation Apple set-top boxes is represented by a six-core A10X Fusion processor with a 64-bit architecture and a clock frequency of 2100 MHz, a PowerVR GX7600 graphics chip and RAM 3072 MB. Maximum video resolution: 3840×2160 px. There is support for dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) Wi-Fi 802.11ac with MIMO technology and Bluetooth 5.0. The OS used is tvOS 11.0.

Possibilities

In terms of functionality, the Apple TV set-top box can be compared to a smart TV. Among the main functions of a compact TV box are the following:

Additional functions worth mentioning are:

What is AirPlay on Apple TV

It’s worth dwelling on AirPlay technology in a little more detail, since with its help you can quickly synchronize all the Apple devices in the house, exchange files between them via Wi-Fi, and even control the system “ Smart House"through the application of the same name. You can also set up screen mirroring from your iOS device to your TV and view your photos, home videos, and messages on a large monitor. e-mail and instant messengers, visit websites and play games. In addition, AirPlay allows you to use applications for streaming music, podcasts and audiobooks not only to Apple devices, but also to any other speakers that support this technology.

AirPlay lets you display iPad content on your TV monitor

Differences from analogues

Branded TV boxes from Apple are famous for their performance, functionality and ease of use. In addition to the listed qualities, they have other advantages, for example:

Apple TV has much fewer disadvantages. Users most often include factors such as:

• higher price compared to analogues;
• lack of USB port;
• incompatibility with Windows devices and Android;
• lack of 4K support on YouTube.

Approximate cost of the set-top box

The current generation of Apple consoles is equipped with 4K video support. The gadgets come in two versions, 32 GB and 64 GB. The cost of Apple TV 4K 32 GB on Yandex.Market is from 11,655 rubles, 64 GB - from 12,900 rubles. In addition, you can find an older one for sale Apple version TV that does not support 4K video. The cost of such a device will be slightly lower - from 9,590 rubles for Apple TV Gen 4 32 GB.

Video: Apple TV 4K review

How to connect Apple TV

Manufacturers of the set-top box tried to simplify the procedure as much as possible. Apple connections TV to TVs, iPhone, iPad, Mac.

The procedure for connecting to TV is as follows:

1. Connect the corresponding connectors on the set-top box and the TV with an HDMI cable.
2. Connect the supplied power cable to the corresponding socket on the set-top box and plug into the outlet.
3. When using wired Internet, connect the provider's cable to the gigabit port on the TV box.

   To connect the set-top box, connect the HDMI, Ethernet and power connectors in series with cables

4. Turn on the TV, select the broadcast source “HDMI” in the settings.
5. Pair the remote control with one click on the touch panel.
6. Once the settings screen appears, select your language and region.

   When connecting the set-top box for the first time, in the “Language” section you need to select “Russian”

Connecting Apple TV to your iPhone and iPad is even easier. AirPlay is used to synchronize both devices. To activate it on iPhone, you need to follow these steps:

On Mac devices, the connection algorithm is the same, the only difference is the location of the AirPlay icon, which on most devices is displayed in the top menu bar. If it is not there, then you can activate the function through the “Control Center”, which can be accessed by double-clicking the “Home” button.

Video: how to connect and set up Apple TV

Features of using the console

Using the Apple TV is very easy. After connecting the device to the TV, the user has the opportunity to make further settings in two ways: “Manually” or “Using the device”. The second method is much more convenient because it allows automatic mode transfer the data needed for setup from your iPhone or iPad. To do this you need to unlock iOS device, bring it to the console and follow the instructions on the display. If there is no Apple device, the settings are made manually: information about the Wi-Fi network is entered, the Apple ID is entered. If the set-top box supports 4K video, then you will additionally have to perform a test to adjust the sound and image quality.

You can set up your set-top box’s access to Apple services using your iPhone by entering your existing Apple ID or creating a new one.

Apple TV Apps at a Glance

Over the 12 years of its existence, many different applications have been developed for the Apple console: educational, entertainment, sports, etc. In the official AppStore, any owner of an iOS device will find a program to suit their taste. Some of the popular applications for Apple TV 4/4K are the following:

• Plex. Simple and free player, which allows you to play video files of various formats both from your home collection and from iTunes without conversion;
• KinoPoisk. An application for film fans, where you can rent or purchase licensed films, view cinema posters, purchase tickets to a film show, watch a film online in FullHD;
• Amediateka. A huge online library in which films and TV series are available for viewing right on the day of the premiere, both in Russian dubbing and in the original language with subtitles;
• Zova. An app for fitness enthusiasts who want to improve the quality of their workouts. Instructions, tips, videos from the world's best experts in the field of health and fitness;
• Kitchen Stories. A great helper for those who love to cook. In addition to many video recipes, the application contains many life hacks and recommendations to help improve your culinary skills;
• Asphalt: Storm the streets. Popular arcade racing game with beautiful detailed 3D graphics and a huge selection of cars and motorcycles;
• Calm. An online collection of meditation exercises, breathing programs, stretching exercises, relaxing music for healthy sleep and relaxation.

Amediateka is a popular application for accessing the best TV series, feature films, documentaries and music shows

Some users may connect free subscription for one year. However, the service has certain conditions that you need to know before subscribing.

How to use Apple TV+ free for a year

When purchasing any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV and Mac after September 10, 2019, get a free one-year subscription to Apple TV+. The device must work on latest version iOS, iPadOS, tvOS or macOS.

When you open Apple TV+ for the first time, a blue button will appear asking you to sign up for a one-year subscription.

When is the offer valid?

A trial subscription can be activated within three months from the date of purchase of the device.

If the gadget was purchased between September 10 and November 1, then three months are counted from November 1.

Is it possible to disable a subscription?

Yes, but you will lose access to Apple TV+ and to all series. If you cancel your subscription, the remainder of the trial period will expire without the possibility of reconnecting.

Therefore, you should not cancel your subscription immediately after connecting. It’s better to set a reminder for the end of October 2020 so you don’t forget to turn it off.

Free subscription is issued once

The trial period can only be activated from one device, regardless of the number of devices purchased.

Family Sharing

The subscription can be shared with up to five family members. To do this, Family Sharing must be configured.

If you have an Apple Music student subscription

Apple TV+ is included with your Apple Music student subscription. In this case, the annual period is not included. [Apple]

On November 1, the Apple TV+ video streaming service began operating with several exclusive series. All of them are available under a single and, moreover, inexpensive subscription: 199 rubles per month. And owners of iPhone 11 (any version) will be able to use Apple TV+ for free for a whole year. We don’t know whether it will become a serious competitor to Netflix, but we answer the main questions about the service itself.

Where and how to watch

The most important thing: to access the service you need to install latest version Apple operating system. In the case of iPhone this is iOS 13, on iPad - iPadOS, on computers - macOS Catalina, on Apple TV - tvOS 13. Unfortunately, nothing will work without updating.

In our review of macOS Catalina, we told you that instead of the previous iTunes application, there are now three applications, one of which is Apple TV. This is where you need to subscribe. Likewise on all other devices.

However, it's important to understand that this app isn't just for Apple TV+, but for all video content from the former iTunes store. Therefore, in addition to subscription series, there are individual movies for a fee, and your library, which includes past movie purchases on iTunes. The screenshot below shows several Apple TV+ projects (they have corresponding icons), but there is also “The Lion King” (it has nothing to do with the service, you need to buy it) and “Mad Max” (it has already been purchased and is also not associated with Apple TV+). The “Up Next” menu is what we have already started watching (it doesn’t matter whether this content is from Apple TV+ or not, and whether it was watched on this device or on another).

All this is true for mobile devices. Although on the iPhone at first you may get the feeling that TV+ has literally taken over everything. But if you scroll down, there will be regular movies from the store.

An important point: through Apple ID, information about your views is synchronized across all devices. So you can start watching on your smartphone, then continue from the same place on your laptop, and finish on your Apple TV media player. In addition, on any of your devices you can download the series and watch it offline.

However, it is worth considering that each series can “weigh” several gigabytes. And, for example, the one and a half hour documentary “Queen of Africa” - more than 7 GB. Therefore, downloading may not be the most rational solution. Rather, it is needed for those who want to take a few episodes on a trip or like to watch TV series on the way to work or home.

What to watch

What is the content itself? What is the range of films and TV series? So far, at the start, the choice is very small: one documentary film - the already mentioned "Queen of Africa"— and seven series, each of which has several episodes available (at least three).

It’s interesting that the series are completely diverse and designed for different audiences. "The Morning Show"- an acute drama about a popular TV presenter (Jennifer Aniston), whose partner on the TV show was accused of sexual harassment. Viewers will find behind the scenes of the TV world, intrigue and total cynicism. "For the sake of all mankind"- a story about an alternative reality where USSR cosmonauts landed on the moon and the space race continued. "See"- a spectacular post-apocalyptic saga starring Jason Momoa. According to the plot, after a global epidemic, only two million people survive on the planet, and they lose the ability to see, and the achievements of progress are gradually forgotten, so that a century later, humanity finds itself thrown back into the Stone Age.

"Ghost Messages"- an adventure story about a schoolboy whose parents work in a bookstore, and all sorts of miracles begin to happen there, while the boy tries to solve his problems in a new class. While "The Morning Show" and "See" are aimed at an adult audience, "Ghost Messages" will appeal to middle school-age viewers. And older children, teenagers, may be interested in the series "Dickinson"— an ironic costume film about the 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson. The main role here is played by Hailee Steinfeld, known for the films “True Grit” by the Coen brothers and “Bumblebee”. And, in fact, this is a typical teenage drama about rebellion against adults and one’s environment, attempts to find oneself and conquer the world. The actors, however, overact, but, in general, it is suitable for high school age.

There are also two projects for very little ones: "Helpers" And "Snoopy in Space". In the first, puppets in the spirit of “Sesame Street” and real actors act, in the second, everything is drawn. It’s difficult for me to evaluate them, but my seven-year-old son was skeptical about both series: even for younger schoolchildren, they are already boring. But “Helpers” is so far the only project on Apple TV+ with full Russian dubbing. All other Russian-speaking viewers will have to watch with subtitles. Even Snoopy in Space.

Perhaps the most impressive work on Apple TV+ right now is "Queen of Africa". This is a truly magnificent documentary about a herd of elephants, which their leader - the elephant Athena - leads across the vast African expanses in search of best place for habitation.

On the one hand, there is amazing wildlife footage here - from huge elephants, which you can see in such detail (you can't help but fall in love with them), to tiny East African frogs, mantises, chameleons and other jungle inhabitants. On the other hand, this is not just a documentary in the spirit of Animal Planet, but a touching story, a whole drama with many branches and colorful characters.

What's under the hood

All content presented on the service is played in 4K. Moreover, if the Internet connection is not fast enough, the quality automatically decreases. In case you download the episode to your computer, it ends up at the following address: Macintosh HD/Users/username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/TV Shows/series name/season number/episode file.

If you download a movie (for now there is only one on Apple TV+, but others will appear later), then its address will be slightly different: Macintosh HD/Users/username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Downloads-TV/movie title . And here's what's interesting: the file format is now HLS Video. It can’t be played by any player other than Apple TV+, and we couldn’t even get information about the resolution, codec and other parameters, either using built-in or third-party means.

The HLS Video file can be opened as a package, and the contents are quite interesting. There are a huge number of folders inside, but almost the entire volume is made up of the first one. There are a lot of approximately identical files with extension .frag.

Apparently, those that weigh 10-15 MB are just pieces of video. And the rest are auxiliary files. In another folder there is a similar number of many times smaller files: apparently, this is sound. Why the files in the remaining folders are needed is a mystery.

Please note that some movies previously purchased from iTunes will still download in good old M4V. The screenshot below is the “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” file, which was uploaded at the time of writing this article.

But, for example, the latest “Mad Max” is also in HLS Video. We can assume that this is a file format designed specifically for 4K content.

Strictly speaking, the average user, of course, does not care in what format what is downloaded there, since it was impossible to freely transfer files between devices before: iTunes content has always been well protected from any unauthorized use. But in this case, from the researcher's point of view, the problem with HLS Video is that we cannot get any information about the video. By the way, you can't take a screenshot during playback on Apple TV, no matter what device you're using. More precisely, you can formally take a photo, but instead of a frame you will see a black screen.

The only way to roughly estimate the bitrate, for example, is to simply divide the file size by the duration of the movie/episode in seconds (well, multiply by 8 to get megabits from megabytes). However, you can notice that the volumes vary greatly. An hour and a half movie is more than 7 GB, and an hour episode is less than 3 GB. In general, everything is very individual.

Subjective impressions of the video quality are very good. In “Queen of Africa” the picture is simply amazing - it is so detailed and expressive. “Dickinson” and “See” look great. “For All Mankind”, “Ghost Messages” and “The Morning Show” are a little less impressive - the video sequence itself is simply more boring. But there are no complaints.

Overall, we can say that Apple is setting new quality standards for streaming services: 4K and no compromises.

How much does it cost and who needs Apple TV+

Apple TV+ costs 199 rubles per month in Russia, before which a free trial seven-day subscription is available (but if you don’t like it, don’t forget to cancel it, since after a week the money for the first month will be debited automatically). For owners and future buyers new iPhones, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch and Apple computers, the service will be free for a year. And you don’t have to do anything - the system automatically gives you the opportunity to sign up for an annual subscription. Free service will be for those who have an Apple Music student subscription.

But if we still proceed from the cost of 199 rubles per month, then is this a lot or a little? It all depends on whether you like at least one of the series currently presented on the service. If you find one, the price will be justified. Still, one new movie on iTunes is already more expensive. And here are several episodes at once. A huge plus is, of course, multiplatform and convenience. The downside is the lack of Russian-language voice acting (except for “Helpers”). But the cornerstone is still content.

True, it will be replenished. Several more films and TV series are promised in the near future. Of these, judging by the announcement and the names of the creators, the thriller “Servant” by M. Night Shyamalan looks the most promising. The problem with everything else is the clear emphasis on the American audience and its problems. We are promised the following stories: “the trendy true crime podcasts taking over America are forcing us to think seriously about media ethics and the boundaries of privacy,” “a series based on the true stories of the lives of immigrants in America,” “two black entrepreneurs try to circumvent the racial restrictions of the 1950s.” 's, providing mortgage loans to African Americans in segregation-era Texas," "the main character tries to find a balance between the ordinary life of an American teenager and the realities of a traditional Muslim family."

Is any of this impressive? Would you like to see it? Of course, everyone has their own tastes, but for now I would like to classify both announcements and already released projects, rather, into the category “you can look at it at your leisure if nothing more interesting comes along.” However, this is just the beginning. Even at the presentation, projects by Spielberg and JJ Abrams were promised, and such authors do not waste time on trifles.

In general, if you have Apple devices and are interested in foreign TV series, and the prospect of watching with subtitles or in English does not bother you, sign up for a trial subscription and watch at least parts of Apple TV+ projects. Well, “Queen of Africa” - in its entirety. And then decide whether to pay 199 rubles or whether it’s better to wait for a fundamental expansion of the range.