Chapter 1: The Journey to Apple TV

I had never used a streaming device for platforms like YouTube and other over-the-top (OTT) services before. Whenever I wanted to enjoy a show on our television, I had to connect my father's old ASUS laptop via HDMI for screen mirroring, which was quite a hassle.

My neighbors rely on a Firestick, which is the only streaming device they’re familiar with. However, they often complain about its sluggish performance. It's frustrating to deal with such a slow device.

To escape the inconvenience of using a wired setup, I decided it was time to invest in a streaming box for our TV as well. While they suggested the Firestick, I thought, “Why not consider the Apple TV 4K from 2021?” Although it costs significantly more—six times the price of the Firestick—I believed it would be worth the investment due to its A12 processor, seamless animations, 4K resolution, consistent updates, and access to Apple Arcade.

I received my Apple TV yesterday, and I must say, it’s truly fantastic! The animations are incredibly smooth, and it never lags. It offers a vast selection of apps and games that can automatically sync across my other Apple devices.

AirPlay (Apple's proprietary screen mirroring technology) and SharePlay (the feature that allows friends to watch shows together virtually) are both user-friendly and effective.

Siri has been a game changer. Instead of navigating through apps to find movies, music, or shows, I can simply press the side button and say, “Play Dosti from RRR on YouTube,” for instance.

Additionally, my iPhone and Apple Watch can serve as remotes (though a dedicated remote is included as well). The remote itself is rechargeable, eliminating the need for external batteries, much like the iPhone.

Left: iPhone | Right: Apple Watch

I’m genuinely excited to explore all the possibilities this device offers.

Chapter 2: Community Feedback

Do you also own an Apple TV? Would you be interested in hearing about the latest tvOS updates, similar to my coverage of macOS and iOS? I’d appreciate your thoughts in the comments below; even a simple “yes” would be great.

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