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Of all the new products Apple released yesterday, the pitchforks are really out for the new Apple TV 4K.
The device’s newly inflated price — $299 — seems an outrageous money grab to lots of Apple fans.
Competing streamers start at around $20, and even full-featured ones cost a lot less.
But worse, the Apple TV’s new features are underwhelming.
There’s open hostility toward AI, which is one of the set-top box’s key features. It seems like lots of users want less AI, not more (especially readers of this newsletter!).
On top of that, the Apple TV app comes free with most new smart TVs. If you just want to watch Ted Lasso, what’s the need for the new box at all?
Apple’s pitch that the new A19 chip delivers better performance and quality, even at lower bandwidths, is falling on deaf ears.
And the far-field mics in the Apple TV sound cool and all, but what if you already own HomePods? The Apple TV’s mic array could be essentially worthless, or make the "which Siri am I talking to?" confusion even worse.
I’m 100% with the revolting peasants. I see no need whatsoever for the new box, especially because Apple is inexplicably bringing most of the coolest new features to older devices — even the new Siri Remote. There is one very cool feature that won’t work, though.
Also in today’s newsletter:
Talking of saving money, you might be tempted to splash out for the new un-losable Siri Remote with Find My, but you probably already have a couple of trackable devices that already do the same job for free.
And talking of inexplicable — why did Apple change up the Apple Music icon? Even though I’m partially color blind, I tend to recognize app icons by their color. Another stupid change to riot about!
This is more like the Apple we know and love. Despite reports today that the older HomePod mini would get Siri AI (and speculation that older HomePods would, too) — that sadly isn’t the case.
🔥 DEAL OF THE DAY: Quick, cancel your HomeView preorder with Apple! Amazon already discounted the brand-new HomeView. #affiliate
This I totally support. The new HomeView hub has a really clever feature that turns cooking recipes into easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.
I usually skip AppleCare+ except for mobile devices, and given that new iPhones and Apple Watches are tougher than ever, for those, too (leaving MacBooks and AirPods as the only things needing coverage). But the repair costs for HomeView are so high, AppleCare+ looks worth thinking about.
I woke up in a cold sweat this morning realizing I'd failed to put "all of the above" in yesterday's poll!!! So bizarre. But turns out I needn’t have worried — see the (heavily skewed) results below.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
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One more thing ...
I end up not buying a lot of things. Because I find them ridiculous.
Today’s poll
Do you purchase AppleCare+?
Results from yesterday’s poll
Best reader comments
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