Ondrej Holzman The new Apple TV that started selling at the end of last week, represents the largest expansion of the apple ecosystem in recent years. For the first time, the App Store and third-party applications are coming to Apple TV. Along with this, Apple also introduced a new philosophy regarding access to applications.
The new approach could be summarized very briefly as follows: full control over your content, even if you have purchased it, is taken over by Apple, who knows best how to use it for your benefit. This philosophy naturally has its advantages and disadvantages, and Apple TV, with its tvOS, is the first Apple product to adopt it without exception.
Apple reckons that in the future it won't matter too much how much physical storage you have on your device, but that all the data will be in the cloud, from where you can easily download it to your phone, tablet, TV or anything else when it's You will need. And as soon as you don't need them, they are removed again.
Apple's technology supporting this theory is called App Thinning and means that Apple claims complete control over the internal storage of the Apple TV (in the future, probably also other products), from which it can at any time - without the user being able to influence it in any way - delete any content if necessary, i.e. in case the internal storage becomes full.
In fact, there is no permanent internal storage for third-party apps on the Apple TV at all. Every app must be able to store data in iCloud and request and download it to ensure the best user experience.
Apple TV storage in action
The most talked about in connection with the new rules for developers was the fact that applications for Apple TV cannot exceed 200 MB in size. That's true, but there's no need to panic too much. Apple has built a sophisticated system into which the 200 MB fits well.
When you first download the app to your Apple TV, the package will actually be no more than 200MB. In this way, Apple limited the first download so that it was as fast as possible and the user did not have to wait for long minutes before, for example, several gigabytes were downloaded, as is the case with, for example, some more demanding games for iOS.
For the aforementioned App Thinning to work, Apple uses two other technologies - "slicing" and tagging - and on-demand data. Developers will now disassemble (cut into pieces) their applications practically like Lego. Individual cubes with the smallest possible volume will always be downloaded only if the application or the user needs them.
Each brick, if we adopt Lego terminology, is given a tag by the developer, which is another necessary part with regard to the functioning of the entire process. It is precisely with the help of tags that related data will be connected. For example, all tagged data will be downloaded within the initial 200 MB initial install, where all the resources necessary for launching and the first steps in the application should not be missing.
Let's take a fictional game as an example Jumper. Basic data will immediately start downloading to Apple TV from the App Store, along with a tutorial in which you will learn how to control the game. You can play almost immediately, because the initial package does not exceed 200 MB, and you do not have to wait for, for example, another 100 levels to be downloaded, which Jumper possesses. But he doesn't need them right away (certainly not all of them) at the beginning.
Once all the initial data is downloaded, the app can immediately request additional data, up to 2 GB. So, while you are already running the application and going through the tutorial, the download of tens or hundreds of megabytes is running in the background, within which there will mainly be other levels Jumpers, which you will gradually work your way up to.
For these purposes, developers have a total of 20 GB available from Apple in the cloud, where the application can reach freely. So it only depends on the developers how to tag the individual parts and thereby optimize the running of the application, which will always have only a minimum of data stored in the Apple TV itself. According to Apple, the ideal size of tags, i.e. packages of data downloaded from the cloud, is 64 MB, however, developers have up to 512 MB of data available within one tag.
Once again in short: you can find it in the App Store Jumper, you start downloading and at that moment an introductory package of up to 200MB is downloaded, which contains basic data and a tutorial. Once the app is downloaded and you launch it, it will request Jumper o other tags, where there are other levels, which in this case will be only a few megabytes. When you finish the tutorial, you will have the next levels ready and you can continue the game.
And that brings us to another important part of the functioning of Apple's new philosophy. As more and more tagged data is downloaded, tvOS reserves the right to delete any such (ie on-demand) data when you run out of internal storage. Although developers can set different priorities for individual tags, the user himself cannot influence which data he will lose.
But if everything works as it should, the user practically doesn't even have to know that something like this - downloading and then deleting data in the background - is happening at all. That's actually the whole point of how tvOS works.
If you are in Jumper at the 15th level, Apple calculates that you no longer need the previous 14 levels, so sooner or later it will be deleted. If you want to go back to a previous chapter, it might not be on Apple TV anymore and you'll have to download it again.
Fast internet for every home
If we're talking about Apple TV, this philosophy makes sense. Each set-top box is connected twenty-four hours a day by cable to the (nowadays usually) sufficiently fast Internet, thanks to which there is no problem with downloading on-demand data.
Of course, the equation applies, the faster the internet, the less likely you will have to wait in some application for the necessary data to be downloaded, but if everything is optimized - both on Apple's side in terms of cloud stability, and on the developer's side in terms of tags and more part of the app – should not be a problem with most connections.
However, we can find potential problems when we look beyond the Apple TV and further into the Apple ecosystem. App Thinning, the associated "slicing" of applications and other necessary technologies, was introduced by Apple a year ago at WWDC, when it mainly concerned iPhones and iPads. Only in Apple TV was the entire system deployed 100%, but we can expect that it will gradually move to mobile devices as well.
After all, with Apple Music, for example, Apple already operates data deletion. More than one user found that the saved music for offline listening was gone after a while. The system looked for a place and simply recognized that this data is not needed at the moment. Songs must then be downloaded again offline.
However, on iPhones, iPads or even iPod touch, the new approach to applications could bring problems and a degraded user experience compared to Apple TV.
Problem number one: not all devices have a 24/7 internet connection. These are mainly iPads without SIM cards and iPod touch. As soon as you need any data that you haven't used for a long time, for example, so the system deleted it without warning, and you don't have the Internet at hand, you're simply out of luck.
Problem number two: the Czech Republic is still poorly and not very quickly covered by mobile internet. In the new management of applications and their data, Apple expects that your device will ideally be connected to the Internet twenty-four hours a day and the reception will be as fast as possible. At that moment, everything works as it should.
But unfortunately, the reality in the Czech Republic is that you often can't even listen to your favorite songs while traveling by train, because streaming via Edge is not good enough. The idea that you still need to download tens of megabytes of data for some application you need is unthinkable.
True, Czech operators have significantly expanded their coverage in recent weeks. Where just a few days ago the annoying "E" was really shining, today it often flies at high LTE speeds. But then comes the second barrier - FUP. If the user regularly had his device completely full and the system constantly deleted on-demand data and then downloaded it again, it would easily use up hundreds of megabytes.
Something similar doesn't have to be solved on Apple TV, but optimization would matter a lot for iPhones and iPads. The question is whether, for example, it will be optional when and how the data can be downloaded/deleted, whether the user will be able to say, for example, that he does not wish to delete on-demand data, and if he runs out of space, he will simply stop the next action rather than lose the older one records. Sooner or later, however, we can count on the deployment of App Thinning and the technologies associated with it in mobile devices as well.
This is a fairly large development initiative, which Apple definitely did not create only for its set-top box. And the truth is that, for example, for low storage in iPhones and iPads, specifically those still with 16 GB, it could be a good solution, as long as it does not destroy the user experience. And maybe Apple won't allow that.
I am very interested in this topic. I own an Apple TV 3rd generation and with it dozens of movies from iTunes for the last two years in HD with a volume of 5-6 GB. I have a connection from O2 ADSL and from January mobile LTE with FUP 30 GB. Since FUP is usually used up in the first week of the period (and ADSL does not catch up with the stream smoothly), I was looking forward to the announced memory increase of the new Apple TV. I contacted Apple support yesterday to clarify the way to work with this memory (which movies will be stored in the memory and which will not). After a while, the first assistant was in trouble and said that he would connect me to "trained colleagues" on the new Apple TV. The second time, a colleague also tapped, let me wait, and then answered wrongly that I could buy the film and watch it. I think that Apple is really thinking about a stable fast connection anytime and anywhere. However, based on my experiences, e.g. a trip by train from Moscow to Yaroslavl, where even local WIFI was available, or a three-day stay in Berlin during a U2 concert, I am convinced that this is not only a problem in our country, but also in a country that, as you we tell the spirit, they are much dal.
What are you all up to with that train? Nobody will have an Apple TV on the train ;-).
They mean it in the context of a similar memory management system in iPhones.
In any case, it is also best to download it to the Macbook as well as the purchased movie from itunes... AppleTV has a large memory for caching. As a result, maybe that one movie will be saved there. But whenever you need to do something else, that part of the memory is erased. I think it will be more noticeable with movies than with games and apps.
So on iPhones/iPads, it would be good if it could be set somehow. It would be unnecessary on the 128GB versions and there would be a risk that something would not work, but if a person lives somewhere where there is always a fast Internet connection, it would be worthwhile to buy the 16GB version and enable this service :-).
I guess. But in my opinion, even Apple knows that this is a bit of a utopia for now. Despite the fact that I don't really like this concept either. I think it will remain only in ATV for now.
Well, especially for movies and music, it would be cool. Why download it when you can play it online ;-). Same as Youtube actually.
PS: I'm only talking about Apple TV.
Thanks to the fact that I hate movies from itunes (there aren't several audio tracks, subtitles, bitrate), so unfortunately I have no way around this. Music, photos are great, but nothing about it. I was talking more about an application with such a foundation. Even if I had faster internet, I wouldn't enjoy downloading, for example, Apshalt to appleTV several times a day.
The price/performance ratio bothers me on iTunes movies. I am willing to pay 24-30 CZK for a 50-hour movie rental, and it can be a movie that is at least a year old. For a current hit movie that was in the cinema a month ago and something funny.
The rest is more expensive with us, because we pay it in the form of a mandatory fee.
Otherwise solved for you. You will download the movie to your MACbook and stream via Wifi to your Apple TV :-).
The point is that wifi is slower than LTU and it crashes when playing an HD movie
I have AC Wi-Fi at home and I'm fine :-).
And where do you store your movies on the cloud or somewhere physically at home please?
Home on Mac in iTunes. I have a MAC on AC wifi, Apple TV on a cable to the router. However, the movies still suck at the beginning and then they go fine. On my old Wi-Fi, it happened that the movie got stuck even during playback, but on this current Wi-Fi everything is fine.
Otherwise, I have about 2 movies on iTunes, so you can try connecting from outside if you want. I have 40 Mb/s download internet.
http://samanthabielefeld.com/journal/i-recommend-the-64gb-apple-tv
Memory prices are falling, but visionaries from Apple will bet on ubiquitous high-speed Internet. Just take a train ride and watch how you catch the internet. Often just an edge. It will be streamed. It's not even worth writing about fup. This is the problem of our thieving operators. Anyway, another visionary gadget. No, thank you.
I would like to see you with Apple TV on the train :-D.
But one thing was not heard here. What if I buy an app and the developer stops supporting it?
1. It won't take me further levels, but the entire file will be deleted.
2. I bought some games and they are no longer in the App Store, so if I don't have a backup on the MAC, I lost them.
An incredibly dangerous situation indeed. I personally buy a game and it takes me a year or 2 to finish it, and in this case I would be kind of out of luck.
As an Apple TV, it seems to me to be a good solution. I really don't want to worry that I've run out of space, so I use 10-15% of the application all the time.
I have 40/20 Mb/s in/out internet at home for NOK 250 per month, so that's fine. For now, after a year, for the same price, the Internet speed will increase by approx. 50% with 1/5 of an additional fee of 100, like this year :-).
Suitability for my iPad is of course 0%, if the game does not require an Internet connection today. Otherwise, if the application already needs a connection today and it doesn't work without it, I don't mind it on the home Wi-Fi speed, but otherwise it's a bug. So the real deployment is about 10%.
But what I don't understand is why buy the 64GB version?
64gb is for people like me who will have 6-10 games, which will have a streaming size of maybe 2-4gb.
And they have 15-25GB movies in itunes.
Then the cached content of the games will not be deleted and will not have to reach the Internet again. For example, in the case of Apshalt 8, I waited almost 20 minutes before the levels were loaded. Because in a racing game like this, where you can choose which wheels you drive, you simply have to play the whole game without exception and only in parts
Are the action games playable? How fast is the controller response? Back meatloaf?
Apshalt is without hacking, but only if no applications are downloaded like they were downloading for me. The response speed is good. Only for such games with a controller. I didn't like the gyroscope on the iPhone and I don't like it now. The exception may be Nintendo Wii-style games.
Do you have a driver? Or is there already something interesting?
So far only SteelSeries Nimbus or Stratus XL. Nimbus was offered directly by apple for 1599 I think. It even has a lighting connector :-) looks acceptable for the price :-) but as I say. Now it has no such justification. I will wait to see what games will be released on appleTV. If it's action-type Modern Combat, etc., I will definitely not hesitate to invest. If not, I'll stick with the controller for now :-)
Well, thanks for the info :-).
My video from the new appleTV 64gb :-) Game of thrones has one episode 7gb and movies are around 15-25gb.
The connection with the macbook took place on an N-type wifi (450mbit) and the appleTV was connected to the AE using a LAN cable.
In particular, overclocking is brutally fast and everything runs as it should. The only thing that drives me nuts is 5.1 sound when appleTV doesn't recognize it and has to switch to surround sound every year. If there is only dolby surrond in the settings and music is playing or only 2.0 track for the movie, the ATV plays only low Hz and no sound. It has to be manually switched between Dolby Surround and Stereo in the settings. Annoying software bug.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3BOnK_ivyA
Nice pointer. At home I have AC Wifi for MACBook Air 2013 and Apple TV 3 is connected to the cable and sometimes the loading of the movie is quite slow. This is definitely faster even on slower Wifi.
I found out that since it is not a router from Apple, most of these things are slower and faster with Wi-Fi. I also have another AC router at home and it is simply slower than AE. Unfortunately, I don't have an AC Wi-Fi from Apple, so I can't test the speed in relation to connections via cable. But it should be even faster.
Do you see how it is with the driver? Is the one for ATVs sold in CR really different from the one for ATVs sold in Germany (and thus supporting Siri)? I have no problem going to Dresden. The CZ Apple store introduces the Apple TV Remote, the DE Apple store introduces the Siri Remote. Is there a difference in their functionality or is it just jargon?
Thanks a lot!
It's already known :-) it's software-locked to people with Apple IDs outside of the countries that support Siri on AppleTV. If you log into the Czech ATV with an American account, it will work normally.
Otherwise, it's just wordplay. The drivers are exactly the same.
OK, so I'll save money for gasoline and order in CR =).
Thanks!
I rather see it as a software block from Apple. Not for the reason that uneducated idiots who can't speak English live here. But in my opinion, the concern about Siri in AppleTV has a different server than in iPhones and iPads. Overall, I think it provides a completely different backbone to their system. When I downloaded applications yesterday, for example badland didn't download even after 2 hours... and other applications also had a bit of a problem with installation.
one episode of the "stupid" series 7GB? Well, you'll be happy, broom :D so that you have a connection at home like in the student dormitories :D
Well, probably not on the train, but in the camper, I could imagine it. Segra arrived from Austria with a baby. They brought an Apple TV so that they wouldn't bother the kids and that they could play some movies that they had bought. It all went through the net. I live in a village. We only have 8mbit connected from O2. In reality, I download less than 7. It was able to download movies, but the Internet was unusable for the last things. When we have to go to the mountains and want to watch a movie in the evening, the same problem. Male where there is decent internet. I don't even talk in the RV. The impossibility of uploading anything there for offline use is very unpleasantly limited. Of course, metrosexuals from the cities will not be limited in any way. They have 100mbit internet from UPC everywhere.
Unfortunately, this was probably not expected. This is probably argued in the style of bring a macbook or ipad to which you can download a movie from itunes at home with fast internet. AppleTV is not made primarily for this purpose. If it was, it would have a SIM card slot and a GSM module like an iPad.
Yeah, that's how AppleMusic works, unfortunately I download music and when I want to play it in the car, it suddenly says: "connect to Wifi". Or photos. I recorded a video on my iPhone (about 20MB short), I wanted to play it where there was no internet signal, so suddenly it started downloading from iCloud. I'm not sure if this is the right way to go in the current state of "high speed" internet at least here :-(
and do you have it there also for offline listening?
I put "Make available offline" for each album, it downloaded, but it's interesting that some have a phone icon in the upper right corner of the album and some don't, although the phone didn't report any error and pretended to download everything...
in my opinion, with that icon it means if you downloaded it for the first time only to your phone or if you already have it added to my music via a mac (and you are actually downloading it for the second time to another device) and at that moment the icon does not appear there.
Ah, in that case I don't know how to find out what and how :-(
On the other hand, I synced FTL Soundtrack from OSX and it still has that icon, even though I have it on OSX, so I'm a deer...
Apple could still come to an agreement with film studios, and introduce some kind of monthly fee for which one could download any film or series that Apple has in the database, simply do it on the same principle as Apple music works
Information only. I got an AppleTV today and although I want to use it for other things, I thought I'd try Asphalt 8 for example. It took about 2 hours to download the app plus levels, yes I only have a stupid 8MBit, on the other hand 200MB should be downloaded right away right?
AppSlicing and other features are, in my opinion, a revolutionary thing, but unfortunately Apple itself is not ready for them, because it mainly burdens its servers (I assume that more people got it from Alza today and Asphalt is one of the few games that is available on the AppStore) , which he obviously didn't strengthen :-( Too bad...
the thing with those games is that the whole game is "only" 200mb, you download it there after certain levels so that you can start playing without having downloaded everything (for example, the last few levels which are of no use to you yet)
I know, I'm just putting my experience to good use.
When I saw a talk on this topic at WWDC I was pretty excited, I liked it a lot and I still like it, I was just afraid of what I wrote :-(
Here's another problem with the fact that it's a racing game that lets you play practically any level you want and has unlocked (I've already played it from before), if I played from the beginning, it would also be about something else.
The second thing is that I was quite surprised that the AppleTV downloaded it in the background. One day I waited for what it said, turned off the AppleTV, and the next day, when I came to it and thought that I would have to wait, the level was suddenly loaded (the loading didn't even appear), the level was just suddenly there. So they've got it covered pretty well, but don't come to that if you're in the euphoria of a new toy :-)