Predictions for the 2022 Apple TV 4K and the impact of the A12 to A15 Bionic Processor Upgrade on performance, smarts and graphics

Apple says that the new Apple TV will deliver 50% faster processing performance and 30% quicker graphics performance thanks to the processor upgrade. For those keeping track at home, the Apple TV 4K released in 2021 used Apple’s A12 Bionic processor, so those performance claims aren’t all surprising.

You can order the 2022 Apple TV 4K today at Apple, with a starting price of $129 (that’s $50 less than the previous Apple TV 4K). The premium product is $149. The devices will be sold in retail stores.

I applaud getting more for less. And Apple’s lower-cost upgrade from the previous A12 Bionic chip to the more-powerful A15 will boost speed, smarts and graphics. The hardware is physically smaller and more efficient because of the new chip.

Review of the Playing Experience of the Apple TV: Lego Star Wars: Castaways versus Beach Buggy on iPads and iPods

A refreshed version of the Siri Remote was included in an update of its own this year. The remote has the same design, buttons and overall functionality, but instead of using a Lightning port on the bottom of the remote to charge it up, you’ll now find a USB-C port for charging.

The fall upgrade for tvOS 16 was mentioned by Apple, though it didn’t give an exact date. This should include specific updates to Siri for simpler voice control with Apple TV. The ability to recognize each user voice will be added, so you won’t have to compete with your friends and family’s questionable taste.

One area where the speed boost was apparent was when I used Siri to request information, search the App Store or start a binge-watching session. Siri not only loaded faster, but the responses were almost instantaneous. Granted, part of the reason Siri loads faster is due to the new Siri interface that looks more like Siri on the iPad, taking up only a corner of the screen instead of taking over the entire TV.

I spent quite a few hours over the weekend playing video games on the Apple TV, something I haven’t done in probably 5 years when my youngest son and I would play Beach Buggy on a daily basis.

Apple has done many things to improve its gaming experience in the last few years, including adding more games and controllers. So, I paired an Xbox controller to the Apple TV 4K, launched Apple Arcade and searched for a game that’s included with my monthly Apple One Premier subscription. I love Lego games, and I have a small but growing appreciation for Star Wars, so I ended up downloading Lego Star Wars: Castaways.

At times it felt like I was using a gaming console rather than a box in the overall experience. Other times, mainly when navigating menus and settings, it was apparent that I was playing a mobile game on a TV with a controller designed for a game console. I reached for the controller instead of the remote to waste some time on the couch.

What Will I do when I switch from Lightning cables to Siri Remotes? How I would like to see a built-in Find My app

What this really means in your day-to-day experience is very little. I think I’ve had to charge my Siri Remote once every 3 or 4 months, if that. Whenever the transition occurs for all Apple devices, I will no longer have to use a Lightning cable to charge the remote.

Every Apple TV user would love to have a Find My remote solution, which is one of the reasons why the switch toUSB-C is a welcomed move. There is no place for that in the new remote.

I don’t want a speaker in the remote that can be triggered to help find it when it inevitably gets lost, and that would be a nice touch. What I would like to see is Apple add the Apple U1 ultra-wideband chip to the remote that allows you to use the Find My app to precisely — I’m talking within inches — locate an object.

Over the last week or so I haven’t lost this Siri Remote, but it’s a common occurrence around my home, and I’d assume it’s something everyone else deals with on a regular basis.

There are some novel solutions for adding an AirTag to the Siri Remote, such as this $40 Nomad Goods Leather Cover that includes a compartment for an AirTag. But a built-in Find My solution would all but make the Siri Remote perfect.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/apple-tv-4k-2022?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer

Streaming Options for the 4K and Beyond: A Comparison Between Apple TV and Wi-Fi+Ethernet and Smart Home Devices

The differences don’t stop at connectivity options between the two models. The Wi-Fi + Ethernet model also includes 128GB of storage, double the 64GB included in the Wi-Fi-only model. An Apple TV’s storage is used for storing apps and games, and unless you plan on downloading a lot of games, I find it hard to see a 128GB Apple TV’s storage filling up.

If you already own a HomePod Mini, it doesn’t mean that you need a Thread border router, if you’re just starting to upgrade your smart home devices to support Thread this year, going with the more expensive Apple TV 4K option makes sense.

Fire TV Sticks are available in either HD or 4K. The price of the Roku Express with HD streaming is $30 and the price of the Express 4K+ is$40. You can get a $30 or $50 device, which can be used for HD or 4K streaming.

Granted, that’s comparing a streaming stick to a set-top box that’s designed to be more powerful and offer a better experience overall, but, still, Apple TV and its users would benefit from an even more affordable option than a set-top box.