Why do you need an Apple TV set-top box and how does it work. What is Apple TV? Apple TV set-top box description

• * Subscription cost is 199 rubles per month after the trial period ends. Single subscription to a Family Sharing group. The offer is valid from November 1, 2019 and is valid for 3 months after activation of the relevant device. Subscription renews automatically until cancelled. There are certain restrictions and other conditions.

1. Not all content is available in 4K or 4K HDR. To view 4K content, you need a 4K-capable TV. Dolby Atmos may not be available for certain movies in some regions. To listen to Dolby Atmos audio, you need a device that supports this format. Playback quality depends on the equipment and Internet connection speed.
2. A subscription may be required to access some content. Availability not guaranteed. Some applications are not available in all regions. Availability of applications is not guaranteed.
3. Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade require a qualifying subscription to access.
4. Game controllers do not work with all games and are sold separately. Availability varies by country.
5. iCloud requires an iCloud-enabled device to work. Some features require iOS 13, iPadOS, or macOS Catalina. Some features require a Wi-Fi connection. Some features are not available in all countries and regions. Access to some services is limited to 10 devices.

• Dolby Atmos capabilities may not be available in all films or languages.
• Featured content is available in the Apple TV app. © 2018 Paramount Pictures. Hasbro, Transformers and all related characters are trademarks and Copyright © 2018 Hasbro. All rights reserved. © 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary. © 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. SHAZAM! and all related characters and elements are trademarks and copyrights of DC Comics. © 2018 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. © 2019 Legendary and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. GODZILLA TM and © TOHO Co., Ltd. © 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All rights reserved. © 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. LEGO, the LEGO logo, minifigure and piece configurations are trademarks of The LEGO Group. © 2019 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved. Look

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 the latest version of the 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 the best place to live.

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. It contains many approximately identical files with the .frag extension.

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 of new iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, iPod touches 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. The service will be free 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.

Equipment from a famous American brand is always in demand, which is not surprising. After all, it combines original design and an unlimited range of functionality. Now let’s figure out what Apple TV is and how it works. As a result, each user will understand whether it makes sense to spend money on purchasing this gadget.

What is Apple TV

In short, Apple TV is a device designed to broadcast media content from the iTunes Store and other online services to the TV screen. Why do users buy this gadget? Apple TV will turn the most ordinary TV into a smart device. Additional functionality that will be available to the user immediately after connection:

• access to a library of high-quality video content, which is stored on special resources;
• broadcasting multimedia content to the TV screen from smartphones, tablets, players, and other devices running Windows and Mac OS operating systems;
• access to an impressive repository of audio tracks, podcasts, images, video games.

The Apple TV set-top box works on the principle of streaming media content. The latest models of devices of this type have a limited amount of built-in memory. Therefore, content must be stored in the cloud or on removable storage media: flash drives, external hard drives.

To watch a movie or TV series, you don't have to buy the content. Users have access to the “Rent” function. Therefore, your balance will be charged solely for viewing. This is a good way to save money.

The gadget is equipped with a built-in adapter for wireless Internet connection. Therefore, after connecting the set-top box, the user will be able to connect the TV to a wireless home network, even if it did not initially support Wi-Fi. No additional wires, adapters or adapters are required to set up the connection.

Apple integrates many useful technologies into its devices. For example, AirPlay, with which you can quickly set up synchronization between your TV and your computer or laptop. Control will be carried out by a remote control, which is included in the basic package of the console. The remote control can also be used as a computer mouse.

When analyzing the features of Apple TV, performance cannot be ignored. UHD and Full HD content plays without any delay. Multichannel sound will make watching movies even more rich. An 8 GB flash memory serves as a streaming data buffer. The devices in question are equipped with a powerful Apple A5 processor.

Connection process

Modern TV models are equipped with an HDMI interface, through which a set-top box is connected. The cord is not included in the basic package of the Apple TV. There is an alternative way to connect equipment - a component cable.

Plug the set-top box into a power outlet using the power cable, and then connect it to the TV using a component or HDMI cable. The initial synchronization setup is carried out using the remote control. Connect to your home Wi-Fi network to sign in to iCloud. If you have not previously created a profile, register a new account.

Subsequent setup is carried out according to the same principle as in the case of other gadgets from Apple. You can achieve the clearest sound possible while watching movies or listening to music by connecting an audio system. The acoustics are connected via a fiber optic cable. Insert the plug into the interface marked "Toslink".

Use as a TV set-top box

The device operates under the iOS operating system. The desktop of the console is practically no different from the iPod or iPhone. Practice shows that users have no problems with an intuitive interface. All desktop icons are labeled. The only inconvenience is entering text from the remote control. It does not have a keyboard. Therefore, typing is carried out by selecting letters on the joystick; the keyboard is displayed on the screen.

There are several ways to solve the problem described above. You can connect a wireless keyboard or smartphone to the set-top box. You must first install the Remote application on your iPhone or iPad. You can download this program from the Apple Store. What else can this application be used for? In addition to entering text, you can use your smartphone as a gaming joystick.

Films music and photos

Advanced functionality is a significant advantage, but most often the Apple TV set-top box is used to listen to music and watch movies from the iTunes Store, Apple Music, and other services. Owners of this device have access to a store with Russian-language films. The interface automatically adjusts according to the TV diagonal.

As mentioned earlier, users will be able to purchase films and also rent them (viewing will be available for 2 days). Renting is the optimal solution that allows you to watch new films in excellent quality online at an affordable price. By activating the Family Sharing feature, you will have access to content that was purchased by your family members.

You can download online cinema apps from the Apple Store to watch movies completely free. Music tracks are played from the iTunes library. Activate Sharing to use iTunes on your laptop, tablet, smartphone, and TV simultaneously.

The Apple Music service allows you to transform your set-top box into a player with a multimillion-dollar library of music tracks. Users will be able to collect their own collection of hits. The set-top box can also be used to listen to the radio. In total, more than 200 radio stations are available, including Apple's signature frequency - Beats 1. Broadcasting in 24/7 format, tracks from the best DJs, current music, expert opinion when choosing songs - this is not a complete list of the advantages of this radio station.

The Apple set-top box allows you to watch movies, photos and home videos from iCloud cloud storage. Subscribe to updates from other users to see the latest photos of your friends and acquaintances.

Why Apple TV is better than its analogues

If we compare Apple TV with gadgets, set-top boxes and game consoles, then all of these devices provide a narrower range of functionality. The convenient touch panel provides access to proprietary Apple services, which help maximize the range of options.

Many people are interested in whether Apple TV is really much more efficient than Smart TV? In terms of functionality, the set-top box is slightly inferior to smart TVs. However, if you evaluate the price/quality ratio, then Apple TV is the undisputed winner. It is cheaper to purchase a set-top box and connect it to the TV than to upgrade and buy new equipment. We are talking about savings of 20-30 thousand rubles.

Many providers offer their customers their own set-top boxes, which provide access to exclusive content and also expand the functionality of the TV. A 1-month subscription will cost much more than the price for a specific movie or series. Consider this feature as it is a great opportunity to save money. There will be no charge for inactivity.

An additional advantage will be the availability of other equipment from Apple: iPhone, iPad, iPod, etc. Convenient Wi-Fi synchronization makes sharing files between all devices even easier. No additional wires or cables are required. It is also worth noting that games are available on Apple TV. A tablet or smartphone can act as a joystick.

Note.

Many people have seen the Apple ID, but not everyone knows why it is needed at all. Let's find out.

Navigation

What is Apple TV? Not everyone who has seen it knows what the purpose of this device is and what it can do. Some say that it is a set-top box, others that it is a multimedia player, and others claim that it is necessary for the synchronous operation of a TV, computer and Apple device. In principle, everyone is telling the truth, since this is a multimedia set-top box with wide functionality.

Why do you need Apple TV?

In short, Apple TV is a gadget that broadcasts multimedia data from iTunes and similar services to the screen. It can make even an ordinary TV “smart” by adding Smart functions to it:

• Opens access to special resources with video
• Ability to use music catalog, podcasts, trailers, games and so on
• Opportunity playback data from all Apple gadgets via TV or PC

What does the device look like?

Playback Videos, photos and music via Apple TV are only possible in streaming mode - the latest models of devices cannot be used to store information because they do not have any storage. In exchange for this, users have the opportunity to receive any file from the multimedia collection for temporary use. In this case, payment will be made only for viewing.

The device has its own Wi-fi adapter that receives the signal from your home router and can connect your TV to the network, so you don’t need to buy wires to synchronize devices. You need to download the program to your PC and gadgets. And then your collection will be available directly from the TV screen. You can manage all information from the control panel or use your smartphone instead. Moreover, the remote control can work as a mouse to control a PC.

In respect of productivity the possibilities are very good. Even very heavy videos can be opened quickly with high quality and multi-channel sound

Movies

The main idea behind creating Apple TV was to use content from the iTunes Store and Apple Music on your TV. The console has a store with interesting films and music, and its design is specially adjusted to your screen.

You can not only purchase, but also rent films for 48 hours. As a rule, renting a movie is the best solution, which allows you to watch the movie in good quality in real time. Moreover, when you activate family access, you can view what your family members have purchased.

Many films spread absolutely free and you can watch them in online cinemas downloaded from the App Store on Apple TV.

With Apple TV, you can listen to music from iTunes from a PC connected to the same network as the Wi-fi set-top box. To do this, you need to share access to iTunes and then on Apple TV.

Photo and music

Thanks to the Apple Music service, the set-top box is an excellent modern media player with millions of music tracks, as well as your personal collection.
In the “Radio” option you will find more than two hundred different stations and the branded one - Beats 1.

Broadcasting is carried out around the clock, the best DJs work for you, the music is always fresh, and there are also experts in selecting quality material. This indicates that here everyone will find something to suit their interests.

Moreover, using the set-top box you can view your photos and videos stored in iCloud on the TV screen. You can also watch the latest updates from your friends right there.

Other options

Thanks to the presence of an application store, you can download various games and applications through the console.

Separately, it should be said about programs from other developers for watching streaming videos, as well as online cinemas. For example, this is YouTube, an application for the TNT channel, IVI cinema, VLC for playback files in any format and so on.

Playing on Apple TV is very convenient. Control is carried out using a remote control with a sensor. It has an accelerometer and a gyroscope. Or you can control the game using a third-party controller.

AirPlay

Air Play is the best feature of Apple TV. This technology can show video or play sound through a gadget or PC. The image is broadcast online from the device's display, which is quite useful for games. By the way, some programs are specially optimized for Apple TV, that is, for example, the phone shows control buttons, and the image is displayed on the TV. AirPlay can also be used with a PC.

You can send movies from iTunes, use the device's audio system instead of a PC, or set up a TV for these purposes. This functionality is also available to Windows users, but with the AirParrot utility.

What is included in the kit and how to set up the device?

The package contains:

• Console
• Remote controller
• Lightning cable
• Documentation
• Power cable

All accessories have separate polyethylene packaging. The connectors of the console itself are covered with black plastic film.

Setting up Apple TV is very simple. Connect it to your TV with an HDMI cable. You need to buy it separately. Next, the set-top box connects to the Internet in any convenient way.

Use the remote control to control. It has a gyroscope and an acceleometer, making it much easier to play on the console.

For more details about setting up, read the article - How to connect Apple TV to a TV, to an iPhone, to a computer?

Video: Apple TV 4 (2015) Full review and unboxing in Russian

Previously, updates appeared infrequently, but in recent years the models have changed twice. The reason for this was the emergence of UHD and HDR.

New technologies

4K TVs have become the standard. These days you can get decent UHD models for under $1,000, and many of them support HDR (high dynamic range). Both technologies have enormous implications for visual perception. 4K resolution makes everything sharper than HD, but HDR is truly a huge step forward. Colors become more vibrant, with added vibrancy and greater contrast, giving images a stunning cinematic feel.

Apple TV 4K supports both the entry-level HDR10 standard and the more impressive Dolby Vision technology, which should keep the console relevant for at least the next few years.

The device received everything that can be expected from the next generation of Apple television set-top box. It's faster, more stable and smarter than previous versions, has a rich app ecosystem and is easy to use.

However, if you've recently purchased a high-quality smart TV from a leading manufacturer, it's reasonable to wonder what an Apple TV is and whether it's necessary. After all, new models have their own interfaces and applications. In this case, the Apple TV doesn't seem quite as attractive, but it still has a lot of features that even the best HDR 4K TVs lack.

Design and Specifications

Apple TV is a neat little black box. It has the same dimensions as the previous model and looks almost identical, except for the narrow vents around the base. This is often a sign of a fan, and in fact the Apple TV comes with a fan unit that keeps the device cool under heavy loads. However, do not worry: according to user reviews, the cooling system is very quiet. Not the slightest buzz or whistle is heard. True, this means that you need to consider where you place the console - it should be away from carpets or dusty areas to keep the vents clear and clean.

The need for a fan is driven by the impressive performance of the Apple TV 4K. The set-top box is equipped with the A10X Fusion chip, the same one found in the fantastic 10.5" iPad Pro and the latest 12.9" tablet model. These are real computing monsters in a compact form, just like the Apple TV 4K, driven by the need to increase the resolution of content. In addition, the console runs applications and games without any problems and is very responsive.

The device is equipped with an HDMI output and an Ethernet input. Of course, you don't have to connect it to the Internet via cable. The set-top box supports dual-band Wi-Fi, which does its job well even when streaming HDR 4K video.

The stability of the wireless connection depends on the distance to the router, network settings and even the design of the house. According to user reviews, at a distance of 15 m the device works more reliably than Chromecast 2.

The Apple TV comes with 32 GB or 64 GB of storage. Since it's likely that most of the content is streamed over the network, there's not much point in paying the extra $20 for a larger option unless you intend to install dozens of games at once.

Apple TV: what is Siri remote?

This is a set-top box remote control, into the design of which the manufacturer has put a lot of effort. Even the first model of the console had an excellent remote control, and now this is still true. The only minor difference from the original is the white ring around the Menu button, which makes it more visible and makes the buttons easier to distinguish by touch.

The remote control is thin and light, has 6 buttons and a touch pad. It also has an accelerometer and a gyroscope that provide rotation and tilt controls, but these are mainly used for gaming - similar functionality to the Nintendo Wiimote. The remote control is charged via a Lightning cable and operates autonomously for 6 months.

Navigating menus with the remote is confusing, which is why Siri is more useful here than on the iPhone. By pressing the dedicated Siri button, you can ask her a question about what the weather will be like tomorrow, or find out the name of an actress while watching a movie. At the same time, you can satisfy your curiosity without being distracted from watching the TV show, since the answer is superimposed on top of the image.

Siri makes it much easier to find what you want in streaming apps or return to watching something you haven't finished. The annoying thing is that the search does not work in all programs - you can easily find what you are looking for in Netflix and iTunes, but iPlayer or Now TV content is not displayed.

Siri's assistance is convenient, but not unique. Many smart TVs, such as Amazon Fire TV with GLE Alexa, Nvidia Shield TV, and Roku Streaming Stick Plus, offer similar voice command functionality. Nevertheless, Apple's solution is one of the best, not least because using the assistant does not distract from viewing.

In addition, the remote can turn on the TV and adjust the volume using an IR emitter, if it is compatible, of course.

How to connect Apple TV?

Setting up the set-top box for iPhone owners will not be difficult. All you have to do is turn on Bluetooth, put your phone nearby and leave. Wi-Fi settings and Apple ID are automatically synced, so you can launch apps in minutes. In the future, you can use your iPhone as a second remote control or keyboard for input.

Everyone else will have to fiddle with the remote, entering a username and password using an annoying on-screen keyboard. This can also be done by voice using Siri, but not everyone will dare to speak such information even in the privacy of their own home.

At the final stage of connecting the Apple TV, the system will ask whether to enable HDR if you have a compatible TV. The device knows which version of HDR is being used and will automatically install the correct one. Turn on your TV and everything from menus to apps to videos will be captivated by improved colors and contrast. 4K resolution is always enabled, meaning content that is not UHD is automatically upscaled. However, this is not always for the better.

Image quality

Auto-scaling on one side appears sharper and provides greater detail in dark areas. Even better, Apple TV provides additional contrast, at least compared to watching through the Netflix app.

But not everything is so rosy. Higher quality content suffers from distracting shadowing around moving objects, as well as blocky artifacts and ghosting.

Some problems can be worked around. In the Apple TV settings, you have options to change the resolution, refresh rate, and turn off HDR. It's possible to find the right setting for the appropriate source through trial and error, but then you'll need to switch back to 4K HDR for better content. There is no automatic change of settings depending on image quality.

But all this only applies to low-resolution videos. 4K HDR content looks great.

A big advantage of the Apple TV is the availability of a video collection in iTunes, since a 4K movie with HDR costs the same as its HD counterpart. If your account already has a movie, then it automatically upgrades to 4K HDR. For those who have bought their favorite movies every time they went from VHS to DVD and then to Blu-ray, this is a great find and a reason to start building your iTunes library.

tvOS Store

In 2015, the app store had nothing to brag about. Back then, the system used by the last two Apple TVs was just starting to evolve, and there wasn't much choice. A lot has changed in 2 years, and there are now thousands of apps available, from games and cooking programs to interactive storybooks and fitness assistants. But there are also glaring omissions. Amazon Prime Video is the most high-profile of these, although the manufacturer has confirmed that the app will arrive before the end of 2017. However, there is no such data for Spotify. However, those who want to see these applications on the screen can stream them from their iPhone or iPad.

Games

Thanks to the significant graphics power of the A10X chips, the Apple TV is a convenient gaming console. Unfortunately, the remote control is not the best gaming controller.

Many titles are ported over from iOS, and that means a lot of platformers and runners. They require precision controls, which are almost impossible to do without. Games that require less precision (like quests) work well. They look great on any 4K HDTV that gets the most out of Apple TV. What UHD gaming is like is perfectly demonstrated by Real Racing 3 - it looks amazing on the big screen.

To improve controllability, you will have to invest in a Bluetooth controller. The console is compatible with most of them, and this will significantly improve the results in games such as Galaxy of Fire: Manticore Rising or platformers.

The only thing the first versions of tvOS lacked were parental controls. There is now a Restrictions option that allows you to control access at the content or application level.

Apple TV's capabilities don't end with apps and games. The set-top box is also a hub for the HomeKit smart home control system. For example, you can ask to dim the lights before watching a movie or turn on a security camera at night. The range of compatible products is small, but the list is constantly growing.

Conclusion

One of the best set-top boxes finally got the 4K HDR upgrade it needed. If a smart TV is a little clumsy, then for an Apple device user, a 4K set-top box will be an important addition to the home entertainment arsenal.