The New Apple TV: It’s Completely Refreshing

By Technobezz

First Published on September 11, 2015

This article is 9 years old.

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It was a “wow” moment for me when I saw the announcement of the new Apple TV. This device has a huge upgrade. Actually, it is not an upgrade, but it’s completely new. This is something they should create long time ago and make it king of smart TV device. It was started with their tvOS, which opened the gate for creative developers to make the incredible apps for a Apple TV platform. tvOS platform is a platform that is ready to develop. Unfortunately, they didn’t announce it last June at the WWDC event, so there’re not many applications for the new Apple TV. To make the applications that can fit with tvOS UI will take time. If just the tvOS was introduced since WWDC in June, there will be many apps for Apple TV right now.

The new Apple TV will be available at the market in late October, and I hope the developers can be ready with their applications. The developers could start to use the tvOS SDK on new Xcode since September 9th. Whether Apple intentionally kept the secret about their new Apple TV to surprise the public? Yes, they were. But, Apple should realize that this method is no longer working. All devices on the announcement yesterday at the September’s event has been predicted really well by the media through the rumors.

Source: apple.com

If just Apple revealed all the SDK and new technologies of their new products before their events, such as WWDC event, it will make the developers start to work on Apple new products. It will make Apple product richer and optimized. For example, on the iPad Pro case, developers didn’t have any idea of its technology, so they have to wait until it is announced first to make the new software design to optimize iPad Pro. So, when iPad Pro hit the markets, there won’t be many pro apps available in the App Store. Same is with the Apple TV.

For the new Apple TV, they have the right step by making the Apple TV has the same iOS device specification for iPhone 6, 6 plus and iPad 6th gen with 64bit A8 processor. This processor is responsible for the apps and games performance in the Apple TV. Unfortunately, the Apple TV design is 2x thicker instead of thinner. With 32GB and 64GB. The new prices, $149 and $199, make it worth with their new remote capabilities. Again, this new remote is totally fresh, specially made for tvOS.

Source: apple.com

What is my opinion about this new Apple TV remote? It’s great! The combination of remote and UI on tvOS make it perfect. There’s no more navigation button here, because Apple has changed it with the incredible touch area and also the Siri button. This new platform is different, with iOS and watchOS. There is navigation, tap, slide, and move around your finger to ensure that you have chosen the right content. It’s genius! With the gyroscope and accelerometer inside, allow you to use it in the Air gesture mode, similar to the Nintendo Wii.

: Source: apple.com

: Source: apple.com

One more thing, beside the magical remote, the tvOS feature that is really new is Siri. She can be a useful assistant to search the long queries, such as: “find the animation family movie for 2015.” Furthermore, we can ask Siri to write what was said by the actor, and more. Siri is getting natural. Here, you will be more comfortable in using Siri feature than on your other iOS devices, like the iPhone, because Apple TV is in your home, so you can talk to Siri in a louder voice without worrying to disturb someone’s privacy. By the way, do you know why they used Siri image during the special event yesterday? It’s because, Siri is the part of the greatest Apple products this year, and they have done it well in presenting it, new Apple TV remote, and tvOS

One more thing, beside the magical remote, the tvOS feature that is really new is Siri. She can be a useful assistant to search the long queries, such as: “find the animation family movie for 2015.” Furthermore, we can ask Siri to write what was said by the actor, and more. Siri is getting natural. Here, user will be more comfortable in using Siri feature than on your other iOS device, like the iPhone, because Apple TV is in your home, so you can talk to Siri in a louder voice without worrying to disturb someone’s privacy. By the way, do you know why they used Siri image on Apple’s special event invitation? It’s because, Siri is the part of the greatest Apple products this year, and they have done it well in presenting it, the new Apple TV remote, and tvOS.