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We bought an Apple TV box thing the other day, primarily to watch movies. We got 64GB one and it was bloomin expensive. Our broadband is a bit ropey so we got the expensive one so we could download movies and watch without streaming. The thing is, you can't download movies.
So I am left wondering what else I am meant to store in the 64GB of storage we paid for. I could never put 64GB worth of apps on it. I am also wondering what I get for the £200 that I can't just do with a Chrome Cast or Fire Stick?
What am I missing?
It might not let you download whole shows/films but just buffers enough so there's no stops. 64gb might let you hold your place in a lot of half watched 4k movies?
What am I missing?
some basic research skills before you purchase something unsuitable?
Thought you could download films purchased via your iTunes account?
some basic research skills before you purchase something unsuitable?
Fair point. Assumption is a bad thing.I can download films from ITunes onto my iPad, Macbook and wifes iPhone. I therefore assumed Apple TV would do the same, kind of thought that would be the whole point.
Yep, you can download the movies onto your computer via iTunes, and then beam them to your Apple TV via "home sharing" in the "computers" tab.
Edit: yes, or you can download them onto your phone and airplay them to the Apple TV
Apple TV, am I missing something?
About £200?
Seems to be a odd decision for Apple to make, why not allow downloads to the TV?
From Apple website
You can stream video content on an Apple TV, but content doesn't download to your device.
The old ones (back when they had hard drives) could store content. With the new ones that storage is just for apps.
Streaming is not that difficult for current specialist chipsets hence so many cheap options now. The Apple interface and remote is nice, plus it is the only way you'll get to stream protected content from your iTunes library or account on your TV.
Does iPlayer or Prime not let you download stuff?
Pretty sure I do this on Prime on my Apple TV. Could be wrong.
and remote is nice
its awful!!
mines got loads of games the kids have installed, nothing great though, never checked how full it is - makes a change for an Apple device to ship with too much storage
I wuz intrigued, so I dun a quick Google and found
https://www.imore.com/should-you-buy-32-gb-or-64-gb-new-apple-tv
Summary
[i]..if bandwidth isn't an issue for you and you can re-stream or re-download as often and as much as you like, you might be fine with keeping only up to 32 GB available at any time.
But, if bandwidth is an issue and you'd rather keep as much cached locally on-device as possible, you'll be better off with 64 GB.[/i]
Streaming is nice in theory but my download speed varies from 25mbps to less than 1Mbps, it is up and down like a yoyo. I was speaking to PlusNet about it this morning, advisor said not their fault, "could be heating controls or cars going past!"
So basically, decide what film to watch tomorrow, load it up, hit pause and then watch it tomorrow when it's all buffered.
or download it to iPad and airplay/mirror/bean across space to the TV.
Life feels complicated sometimes. I'll probably just get the kids to sort it out. It is like the 2018 version of when my Dad used to get me to set the timer to record on the VCR as it was too complicated for him.
I have to admit I paid extra for the larger capacity Apple TV (last gen) about 2 years ago.
My 2p, it's not a bad device, it works beautifully, the remote is good apart from 1) you need to learn all the gestures and whatnot, because Apple would rather make something pretty than useful. 2) it's very small and slippery so spends a lot of time MIA in our house, again, Apple like pretty, even if that means it's the absolute perfect design for sliding into the most inaccessible parts of the sofa.
At the time, it was the only device of its type that would stream NowTV and Netflix in HD. The other either didn't offer Netflix (all the NowTV boxes) or didn't offer NowTV at all, or weirdly only in SD.
NowTV and Netflix are friends now, so all the NowTV boxes will show Netflix in 1080 at least (NowTV has recently upgraded to 1080 too).
As the OP has discovered, the on-board storage is next to useless, they say it's 'intelligent' and will, for example start to download the next episode of a series your watching, but they're very coy about which services, if any, do that - and who watches series via iTunes anyway? they're stupidly expensive. (a mere £18 to watch a series of The Big Bang Theory, a show that literally everywhere for free).
I wouldn't buy another one, it doesn't do anything any other similar device can do for 10% of the cost, and anyway, our next TV will be smart so it'll end up on eBay or in a box.
I too wondered what the bejingus Apple TV did, not a lot was my conclusion.
I stream stuff from my MacAir or just run iTunes through the ATV to get at my movies n stuff..
NowTV has recently upgraded to 1080
Oh as it?
Was always rubbish - will check later.
I have a mac mini sat under my apple TV, which has a 1TB drive storing anything I want to keep, though admittedly, we stream pretty much everything through a combination of netflix, nowTV, prime, and BBC iPlayer.
If the device doesn't do what you thought it did, return it, and look around for something that does
Mine works well for me. I basically use mine as a Plex client, and for iPlayer, ITV hub, youtube and Prime. Occasionally we'll rent a movie through iTunes, which (even with Australian broadband speed!) plays pretty instantly.
I got so cheesed-off with homesharing, I now use plex instead - which I find to be excellent (and free), but was a bit involved to get working properly. (you need to remove the DRM for any iTunes purchased content.
Things that don't have an app (4OD, spotify, Audible, Iplayer radio) just get beamed across via airplay/bluetooth.
Like I said - works well for me, but I guess it depends what you want it to do.
If the Now TV app ever upgrades screen resolution might consider one to watch the sport on
I am also wondering what I get for the £200 that I can’t just do with a Chrome Cast or Fire Stick?
The Fire Stick is all about the buffffffffering. Needs more internal storage. Both lots of grandparents have given up on them. If you have a rock solid connection then it's a good buy.
If the Now TV app ever upgrades screen resolution might consider one to watch the sport on
A new version has been on test with some users since August/September this year. Possible release for Christmas? (I'm not holding my breath)
I am also wondering what I get for the £200 that I can’t just do with a Chrome Cast or Fire Stick?
Zwift.
If the Now TV app ever upgrades screen resolution might consider one to watch the sport on
i thought that was the point though - if you want “full” HD then you have to pay more for sky or other services?
Mind you, I maybe Sky are just going to push 4K? 1080 is so 2010.
Damn, not 1080p on the PS4 yet.
I thought about an apple TV , but went for an Nvidia shield instead (on offer at £129 this week). I'm really impressed with it. Its a 4K Android TV box that has a Plex server built in, its really fast and accessing Netflix and iplayer is quick and not at all laggy like my experience of the amazon firestick.
i thought that was the point though – if you want “full” HD then you have to pay more for sky or other services?
Mind you, I maybe Sky are just going to push 4K? 1080 is so 2010.
Exactly, Sky is pushing Sky Q / 4K now so NowTV is going 1080 and may get 4K “soon” but I suspect it won’t be “soon” at all.
Sky is in some cases now installing Q ‘dishless’ via the web, I suspect they’ll merge the two before 4K ever gets to NowTV.
Further research showed that the testing hasn't started yet for the NowTV app on AppleTV. All a bit underwhelming from the Sky bunch though the new HD boxes from them only play at 720p resolution.