Following up on its popular T1 solid state drive (SSD), Samsung today announced the Portable SSD T3, a tiny, shock-resistant sequel boasting faster speeds and a wide range of capacities. Unlike the T1, which used a USB 3.0 interface, the T3 uses USB 3.1 Type C connectors, which means it’s ready for direct connection to the latest 12″ MacBooks. T3 also boasts read and write speeds of up to 450MB/second — much faster than typical external hard drives, and closer to the speeds of internal drives….

Offered in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB versions, the Portable SSD T3 is billed as “smaller than an average business card” and weighs under 2 ounces, despite including a new shock-resistant frame capable of withstanding 1500G of force and 2-meter drops. It will be available in February; pricing has not yet been announced.

More From This Author

Check out more of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve published a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users, as well as a personal gift guide for Apple fans, a great gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed gift guide for Mac users, and a separate gift guide for Apple photographers.

Filed under: Mac

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One of the minor irritants for those of us who have slight OCD tendencies is that there’s no way you can remove built-in iPhone apps – the best you can do is tuck them away inside a folder, which in my case is called unused.

But YouTube user Jose Rodriguez has found a couple of ways to actually render them invisible – at least for now. The main method, shown in the video below, works for iOS 9 to 9.2. Essentially you drag the app toward the right edge of a folder, then let it go. You then repeat this, but the second time keep touching it while you press the home button – the app then disappears …

Note that the apps will return if you restart your phone, and appears to rely on an iOS bug, so there’s no guarantee it will continue to work.

The same user does have a second method which survives restarts, but that one is clunkier. It requires you to have grey wallpaper, and to reduce transparency. Check it out here if you want to try it.

Finally, if you’re finding that apps don’t update promptly, or you’re experiencing glitches with the App Store, developer Zachary Drayer found a strange way to empty the cache. Simply go into the App Store and tap any of the buttons at the bottom of the screen (Featured, Top Charts, Explore, Search or Updates) ten times in quick succession. The screen will briefly go blank, and then return. Business Insider reports that it also works in iBooks and the Apple Watch app and on the Mac in iTunes.

Filed under:
How-To Tagged: App Store (iOS), IBooks, iOS, iPhone, iTunes, Unused apps

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If you have a 12-inch MacBook and are looking for an external monitor for it, Acer has announced the neatest solution yet, with a choice of 25- and 27-inch USB-C monitors. The H7 series monitors will be available next month, starting at $499.99.

While Thunderbolt is coming to USB-C, it wasn’t available in time for the MacBook, meaning you can’t use it with Apple’s own Thunderbolt displays. You’ve so far needed an USB-C to HDMI adapter to use HDMI monitors, but Acer’s H7 monitors connect directly and allow the display to simultaneously supply power to the laptop …

Both monitors offer WQHD (2560×1440) resolution and support 100% of the sRGB color gamut.

We don’t know many other details as yet, but from the supplied photos it looks like those with gold MacBooks will be able to get a matching monitor.

Filed under: iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: 12-inch MacBook, Monitors, USB-C

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Apple’s rapid expansion in China continues apace as it works toward its target of 40 retail stores in the country by October of this year. The company is currently opening one Apple Store a month, with #27 in November, #28 in December and now #29 set to open this Saturday in Shenyang. 

Apple is mostly opening its Chinese stores inside major shopping malls, and this will be the sixth to open in a MixC mall.

This will be Apple’s second store in Shenyang, which is a major commercial hub for north-east China. The city has a population of just over eight million, and is noted for trade with Japan, Russia and Korea.

China is also known for counterfeit Apple products, with Dom recently taking an amusing look at some of the knock-offs he found in a recent visit to Shenzhen.

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Retail Store, Apple Store, china, MixC, Shenyang, Shopping mall

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Ford has announced that CarPlay will be coming this spring to all 2017 models equipped with its Sync 3 infotainment system. The 2017 Escape will be the first model to get it (like most car manufacturers, Ford starts selling its 2017 models early this year). The system will also support Android Auto.

Ford was one of the first car manufacturers to sign up to CarPlay, but aside from telling us it would be integrated with its own infotainment system Sync, the company had gone rather quiet since then.

If you’re now kicking yourself that you bought a 2016 model last year, don’t worry …

Ford says that CarPlay will also be available as an upgrade to 2016 models later in the year.

In North America, Ford is making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on all 2017  vehicles equipped with SYNC 3, starting with the all-new Ford Escape. Owners of 2016 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 will have an opportunity to upgrade later in the year […]

Apple CarPlay features Siri voice control, and seamlessly integrates an iPhone with the car’s built-in display and controls.

Ford also had some good news last month for owners of older cars, announcing a software update to Sync that would add Siri Eyes Free support to more than five million vehicles dating back to 2011. While that’s not CarPlay, it does give some access to Siri while on the move.

After a slow start, CarPlay does seem to be gradually taking off. Volvo made it available on the 2016 XC90 last month via a software update, a leaked memo revealed that it will be available for many Mercedes models, and Hyundai revealed that it will be available as an update on the Sonata in the first quarter this year.

Filed under: CarPlay Tagged: CarPlay, Ford, Ford CarPlay, Ford Motor Company, Ford Sync, iPhone

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Apple’s iPhone 6c, set to be the first iPhone ever released in the first half of the year, has got the die-hard 4-inch iPhone fans excited for a return to the smaller form factor smartphone. From what we’ve heard, the iPhone 6c may have new colors that resemble an iPod Touch as much as it’s said to resemble the current crop of iPhones in terms of the physical design.

A recent report from KGI anticipates an A9 processor, 16GB of storage, NFC, Touch ID, and 2GB of RAM internally, which will make it extremely fast, especially with the fewer amount of pixels to push compared to Apple’s larger iPhones. Many, including China Times, expected the iPhone 6C to be released last year, but KGI also was the first to suggest a H1 2016 launch.

A series of Chinese reports noted that a larger 1,642mAh battery is in the cards for the 6C– an upgrade from the battery in the 5s– but support for 3D Touch is likely not. That’s a feature Apple will likely want to reserve as a highlight feature of its flagship handsets for some time. And the reports again suggested that the 6c will get Touch ID and an NFC chip to support Apple Pay.

We don’t expect the iPhone 6c to have an OLED display, though it seems like Apple is moving in that direction on its flagships.

(Head below for the full gallery put together built by our friend Ferry Passchier)

The iPhone 6c would obviously replace the iPhone 5s as Apple’s entry level device, which is currently available for $450 and up and for free with a 2-year commitment. But that device is getting old, and Apple needs something new to offer die-hard 4-inch fans as the 5c’s aging specs become more and more obsolete. We expect the price of the iPhone 6c to be similar. Also, the 5s is available in 16GB and 32GB configurations with a $50 premium on the higher end model. There has been some speculation that the name of the device might instead be the iPhone 7c, since it could eventually accompany the upcoming iPhone 7 in the lineup. However with the usual fall launch still expected for the iPhone 7, this feels unlikely.

But what’s interesting here is that Apple’s iPhone 6c will start to more and more resemble its iPod touch lineup, to the point that perhaps there will soon be no need for a separate iPod line at all. We noted in our review of Apple’s refreshed iPod touch in July that an iPhone 5s and 5c models could be had for around the same amount as a new iPod touch. It remains to be seen exactly how Apple prices the new 6c, or what happens to the iPod line, but the 6c will certainly be the most attractive option to those that would otherwise opt for a 4-inch iPod touch or previous generation 4-inch iPhone.

While the new iPhone 6c may spike the low end of Apple’s market, IDC doesn’t expect the release to change the Android-led smartphone landscape drastically.

Check out the full gallery put together built by our friend Ferry Passchier:

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: 4-inch, 7c, blue, colors, gallery, iPhone, iPhone 6c, mock up, render

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A new report from Chinese media site MyDrivers is starting up the rumor mill for the iPhone 7, Apple’s next major revision to the iPhone due later in 2016. The iPhone 7 is expected to feature external design changes which means big changes inside and out. The report claims specifically that the iPhone 7 Plus (5.5 inch screen) will come in a new 256 GB storage configuration and feature a larger internal battery, rated at 3100 mAH.

For battery comparisons, it’s important to remember that the batteries actually got smaller with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. 3100 mAH exceeds the battery sizes of the 6s Plus and 6 Plus, featuring 2750 mAH and 2915 mAH respectively.

The track record of the site is somewhat dubious, so it’s probably foolish to treat anything as for certain, but it is thought provoking and both points indicate Apple will be addressing too major pain points with the iPhone range with the iPhone 7 …

Battery life is a complaint shared by many iPhone users. Moving to 3100 mAH in the iPhone 7 Plus is an increase of about 10% over the 2750 mAH battery in the iPhone 6s. Whilst more mAH does not necessarily translate to improved battery life (as the power draw of hardware components also needs to be taken account), it is a good indicator as chips and circuit boards tend to get more efficient over time, not less.

We’ll have to keep waiting for any news on the battery capacity of the 4.7 inch model however … It’s a long time ’till the expected fall announcement of Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, after all.

Raising the top end storage suggests that Apple could be changing up the storage across the board. Perhaps the no. 1 complaint in the community is that the base 16 GB size is just too small to be usable.

Due to a combination of higher-megapixel images, HD and 4K video, ever-larger photo libraries and bigger apps, the 16 GB phones are very frustrating to use. Anything beyond light usage will fill the space of the phone, forcing 16 GB users to often delete content and constantly manage storage.

If Apple does add a 256 GB option to the lineup, it makes sense that the company will shuffle the other storage sizes. Personally, I’m hoping for the lineup to change to 64/128/256 but other combinations like 32/64/256 or even four storage sizes are plausible. It just seems ridiculous that Apple will continue to sell 16 GB phones to mainstream consumers when it is also offering a 256 GB model.

The MyDrivers report explicitly claims that the 256 GB offering will only be available for the iPhone 7 Plus, so maybe only the larger phone will receive bumps to storage.

With the new flagship iPhones expected in the fall, the rumor mill is currently trending towards the idea that Apple will actually release its first new iPhone of the year in the spring, a 4 inch model with iPhone 6s internals, dubbed the iPhone 7c. Read more about what we expect from Apple in 2016 in our roundup.

Filed under: iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: 16 gb, 256 GB iPhone, battery, battery capacity, iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 plus, iPhone 7c, new iPhone, rumors, storage capacity

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With Apple’s big fall product launches behind us and the last of its 2015 lineup launching with the iPad Pro, we now turn our focus to what’s on deck for 2016. Should you buy a new Apple Watch, MacBook, iPad, or iPhone now? Or wait until Apple’s inevitable refreshes coming later this year?

Below we roundup all of our info on what we expect from the company this year, starting with a March Apple Watch 2 event through the much rumored 4-inch iPhone, new MacBooks, iPad Air 3, an Apple TV streaming service and much more…

Apple Watch 2 in March |

Apple Watch first went on sale in April of last year, and its second generation Apple Watch is currently scheduled for a similar timeline. An unveiling is currently scheduled for March 2016 based on our reporting and it will likely be the highlight of Apple’s first half of next year alongside other new product introductions at the event. 

We reported earlier this month that the company has internally scheduled a press event for March and that sources say it’s for Apple Watch and possibly other new Apple products. Possibilities for the new device include a FaceTime camera, iPhone-independent Wi-Fi, sleep tracking, and health sensor technologies, but it’s always possible Apple will have a feature or two or new designer accessories. The product line last got a refresh in September when Apple released new straps and Sport model colors.

And if Apple goes ahead with these plans, the updated watch models would be ready to ship in April. But what else might we see at that event…

A 4-inch iPhone |

Apple still has a ton of customers who want 4-inch phones and it isn’t going to continue to try to sell these users iPhone 5ses. If an alleged leaked roadmap from carrier China Mobile turns out to be legit, then Apple’s much rumored new 4-inch iPhone will arrive in April. That would make the March Apple Watch 2 event an ideal time to officially unveil the device publicly.

The iPhone 6c (or 7c), as it’s currently being referred to, is rumored to sport a smaller 4-inch display that Apple hasn’t used since the iPhone 5s. It will, based on several reports in recent weeks, sport upgraded specs over the iPhone 5s, however, including a 1642mAh battery, an A9 processor, 16GB of storage, Touch ID, and 2GB of RAM. So it will essentially be a metal, faster version of the 5c, but with rounded rather than squared edges to fit in with iPhone 6 design (something like our render above showing what the device might look like next to other iPhones in the lineup).

New Mac/Books |

Apple upgraded most of its MacBooks recently, and also introduced its new 12-inch MacBook in 2015, but next year it could introduce an update to its extremely popular MacBook Air. According to reports, that might include a new 15-inch model and a thinner, redesigned form factor.

But what that means for the rest of the MacBook lineup remains to be seen. Where does would a new MacBook Air fit into a lineup with an upgraded Air and other MacBooks models, for example? It’s possible a few Retina MacBook configurations will be released and the MacBook Air line paired down, but you can likely expect to see the usual refreshes to other Macs this year as well with at least the typically upgraded internals. One thing you can expect to show up in Apple’s Macs this year: Intel’s upcoming Skylake processors. Expect performance and battery improvements courtesy of Skylake to be a highlight of upgrades this year. 

It’s likely we’ll see Macs in 2016 get USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 across the board as well as the new Intel chipsets. We expect the MacBook Pro to get updated early with Skylake, and USB-C ports that do Thunderbolt 3, alongside some other internal spec bumps. Heck, Dell already did it, and Thunderbolt 3 will make for a great opportunity to finally introduce an updated 5K Apple Thunderbolt Display.

iPad Air 3 |

The most recent reliable report on new iPads came from KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. His report predicts an early 2016 released for an upgraded iPad Air based on supply chain sources. Apple upgraded its iPad mini model alongside the introduction of larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro in September, so the iPad Air is certainly next in line for the product category in terms of a refresh.

The iPad Air 3 is expected to include the usual upgraded internals but largely remain the same as the second-generation iPad Air in terms of design. But don’t expect Apple to bring its 3D Touch pressure sensitive touchscreen tech to the new iPad, as Kuo predicts is currently unlikely for the upgraded iPad Air 3 expected to arrive early next year.

The timing would also make an upgraded iPad Air 3 a contender for stage time at Apple’s March event.

What else might we see from the iPad line? Following the launch of iPad Pro and its companion Smart Keyboard, we think Apple still has a lot of room for improvement in the keyboard arena for one. We’d like to see a clamshell version for all versions of the iPad. Also, price reductions (which are already happening at retail partners) and getting rid of the 16GB tier make a lot of sense. On the software side, making the iPad OS more like a desktop OS with more windowing options and a file browser/access makes a lot of sense, too, if Apple wants to continue to eat up computer maker market share with its tablet lineup.

iPhone 7 |

Currently expected for its usual fall release timeframe, iPhone 7 will continue Apple’s relentless march towards thinner products with rumors of the headphone jack being ditched in place of Lightning. Don’t worry Apple fans, the company will sell you a Lightning to 3.5mm headphone adapter for a reasonable price if you need that old set of wired headphones to work. And opening up Lightning for headphone makers a couple years back puts it in a good position to make the transition. Most people will be pushed to wireless headphones, of which Beats and those making Lightning headphones have plenty to offer. Will there be Beats Wireless headphones (or Lightning) in the iPhone 7 box? That’d be interesting!

In addition to losing the headphone jack and all that implies, I think Apple will again strive to improve the display perhaps (or perhaps not) with AMOLED. Apple’s display technology of choice on the Apple Watch could save battery life and give those pixel off blacks that Samsung and other Android makers have been bragging about for awhile. The display isn’t the only thing coming from Apple Watch however. I think Apple will go the next step on waterproofing and ruggedizing. While the iPhone 6s can withstand a lot of water, Apple doesn’t officially cover or claim any amount of waterproofing. Giving it IPX7 waterproofing would also a great excuse for the removal of the 3.5mm audiojack.

A technology that Apple should steal from Motorola is its unbreakable display. I’ve cracked the screens of 5 iPhones in my life both in and out of cases. This technology ends that. Apple should buy it from Motorola if it has to. It is a game changer.

Apple TV streaming service |

Apple is planning its first TV streaming service of sorts, as Mark first reported last year. For now, Apple’s newly launched Apple TV 4 and App Store still requires logins to cable networks to unlock most content from TV networks, but a streaming service offered by Apple could see bundles of multiple television channels or paid video services in a monthly subscription. How exactly that will position Apple and Apple TV in terms of competing with other services from Amazon, Netflix and others remains to be seen.

And not just new Apple TV 4 owners will benefit. We reported Apple is planning on brining the service to older Apple TV 3 users as well, unlike the new Apple TV’s App Store and redesigned user experience, although plans could change depending on timing.

The Beats Go On |

Even the people running Apple’s new free, 24/7 live streaming radio station Beats 1 don’t know if it will prove to be an integral part of the Apple Music listening experience. But Apple does indeed have plans to expand the service that it makes accessible for free outside of Apple Music subscriptions and touts as a major differentiator of its service compared to competitors.

Beats 1 played host to on-air hosts Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden and Julie Adenuga, as well as shows from celebrity guest hosts, but what might Apple have planned for the Beats 2-5 trademarks it’s registered behind the scenes? The possible addition of other live streaming channels could mean Apple has plans to have a network of live streaming audio shows, not unlike competitors such as Sirius Radio.

There are lots of opportunities for other Beats channels beyond music— sports, talk, podcasts, news, etc—and Apple is already home for a lot of the most popular audio content creators via iTunes.

Apple Pay |

As Apple continues to add more retailers, banks, and card issuers to the list of those officially supporting Apple Pay in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, Apple is also doing work to bring the platform to more users as it plans a launch in one of its biggest markets, China. The service is scheduled to launch there as soon as this year through a partnership with local bank China Union Pay, and it’s likely Apple will look to bring Apple Pay to other markets this year as well.

Other advancements on the horizon for Apple Pay: Apple is reportedly interested in developing a person-to-person payment service, which in theory would allow it to offer money transfers between friends and family not unlike PayPal, Google, Square and other services.

Wild Card |

Thunderbolt 3 means 5K video at high frame rates, so we think Apple FINALLY updates its Thunderbolt Display in 2016 with essentially the same look and display of the 27-inch iMac. Because it will be USB-C/Thunderbolt, which can also carry over 100W of power, it will require just 1 cable to go into the Mac/Book. Living the dream.

Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Devices Tagged: 2016, Apple, Apple rumors, Apple Watch 2, iPad Air 3, lineup, MacBook Air, March, update, what to expect

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When Apple was discovered to have applied for trademarks for Beats 2, 3, 4, etc, it seemed pretty obvious the company was considering expanding its 24/7 Beats 1 radio station that it’s promoted as a key part of its new Apple Music service since launch.

And It’s not a stretch to imagine how it could easily expand on the mainstream programming found on Beats 1 currently. Think of a 24/7 station that focuses specifically on one genre like rock, jazz, or hip-hop, for example, with shows programmed to focus on subgenres or featuring guest hosts and regular segments much like Apple’s Beats 1 station. To me this seems like a natural progression for Beats radio as part of Apple Music, but it’s possible Apple could also include more than just more music with Beats 2, 3, and beyond.

Sports/Talk Radio/Podcasts…

Apple already could have a bit of a head start with talk radio content beyond music if you consider iTunes and its dominance when it comes to attracting podcasters. Most popular podcasters are already distributing content through iTunes and as of this year estimates say most mobile podcast listening— around 82%— is happening on iPhones and in Apple’s own Podcasting app. With Spotify, Google and other music streaming competitors recently integrating podcasts, Apple has to be at least considering the potential of content beyond music for its streaming service.

A Podcasts app for the new Apple TV is apparently on the horizon, but that doesn’t necessarily rule out bringing sports programming, talk radio, and podcast-style series to Apple Music and Beats radio. Sports alone, for instance, is a category big enough to have a channel or more per sport or league. Sirius has a popular station dedicated to NFL programming, for example.

Add in the possibilities of 24/7 news coverage and the long list of hit podcasts on iTunes, and you can start to see what Beats radio might look like a year from now if Apple goes that direction.

Live streaming for iTunes Connect

Opening up Beats streaming to any artist the way Apple Music is essentially open could get messy (Beats 4,205,405 anyone?), but integrating similar live streaming capabilities into Apple Music Connect— Apple’s service for that lets artists upload content to their artist profile on the fly— could make it at least possible for any artist to host their own live content. And on that note, Apple has a lot of Beats radio video content we’ve yet to see… 

Video content

We reported earlier this year just before the launch of the new Apple TV 4 that Apple was also planning a new streaming video service. It’s currently working behind the scenes to launch the service, which would include bundled content from various networks for as low as $40 per month, sometime next year for owners of the latest Apple TV 4 and the previous generation Apple TV 3.

Apple already releases short video clips of full-length interviews it’s done with artists on Beats 1 online (Beats has a YouTube channel) and in various places in Apple Music, which means it’s already compiling a catalogue of video interviews with artists and that could give us an idea of what a Beats video channel might look like on Apple’s new video streaming service. Add in the potential for artist performances, live streaming of concerts and other events (like Apple already does with its own Apple Music Festival), and it’s easy to see how Apple’s new video service could be a big part of expanding Beats in 2016.

Other languages?

Yet another possibility for the expansion of Beats is to launch channels in other languages, to help it expand into markets where the service is yet to launch or might not be particularly popular due to the english-language programming.

Poll

What content would you like to hear on Beats 2, 3, 4, etc stations? Sports programming? Talk radio and podcasts? 24/7 news? Have your say below in the poll, and hit up the comments to continue the discussion.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Beats 1, Beats 2, Beats 3, Beats 4, Opinion, poll

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Yesterday, we gave you the chance to speak your mind on Apple’s choice to omit 4K video support from the latest Apple TV — did Apple blow it, or does 4K support not yet matter?

After over 6,500 votes, and more than 125 comments, we have a clear answer: roughly 2/3 of readers said Apple made the right call leaving 4K support out of the Apple TV, as they didn’t care (yet) about the feature. That’s a decisive majority. But a solid 35% of readers opined — often strongly — that neglecting 4K support had cost Apple their business, given that 4K Ultra HD TVs are becoming affordable and more popular.

I hoped we’d see some intelligent discussion, and was thrilled that so many comments actually delivered, including insights on why Apple’s approach was practical — for now. Here are some of the best comments readers posted on each side of the debate…

Representing the 65% of users who said “No, I don’t care about Apple TV 4K support (yet),” the most common thread was that 4K content currently isn’t compelling enough to be a necessity, particularly in a low-end Apple TV, and mightn’t be for 2 years.

4K is just not an issue right now. And I don’t see much need to future proof a $150 item.   – Jon C

The reality is that 4K is not “there” yet. [1080p] HD is where +95% of current content is filmed and distributed. Why would I stress future proofing a $150 device? By the time 4k is ubiquitous enough to make it a no brainer that generation of Apple TV will have enough features to make it worth upgrading.   – Akil Ford

Some of the most interesting comments discussed a compromise — using (much-improved) 4K upscalers built into 4K Ultra HD TVs to make better use of higher-quality 1080p source files.

I had a perfectly fine 1080p Sony XBR television but recently upgraded to a Sony XBR 4K TV… And all content is upscaled to 4K and looks PHENOMENAL. So even without a lot of 4K content out there, you’re still reaping the major benefits of a razor sharp image 99% of the time for viewing. […] Since my TV upscales the content anyway, I’ll take the standard 1080p file that I know will load quickly and stream beautifully.   – verizon2828

There were lots of comments regarding the current state of 4K streaming standards and broadband service.

Apple never uses half baked technologies, instead it implements those when everything is ready and polished…. HEVC (H.265) is not finished yet, it still doesn’t render videos with grain as good as H.264/AVC does. And videos with grain are almost 9/10 of all movies ever shot because it is the side effect of the film itself and only movies shot on digital cameras don’t have grain. So, it means that 4K videos is not yet ready for “everywhere use” at Apple. You can’t see these rendering problems on iPhone screen, but you will notice those in a second on TV.   – Gagik Stepanyan

Netflix has a handful of shows and documentaries that support 4K. For me 4K streaming is a no go… because of 300 GB a month data cap on my 100mbs cable broadband. Just normal HD on Netflix eats quickly into my data caps. The infrastructure and way ISP’s are set up now does not make 4K streaming a good experince for most people… It needs time.   – taoprophet420

The average US broadband speed is 12.6 Mbps per Akamai. High quality and reliable 4K streaming would require 20 Mbps or more with current compression technology.   – Ondray Wells Jr.

And some of the comments focused on the modest benefits 4K offers users of smaller TVs.

Yes, everyone wants 4K TVs, and if you have a 4K TV, you want devices that work with it. So Apple is behind in what people want. However, I don’t think it actually makes in difference in useable quality. Unless your TV is bigger than 65″, you’re not actually going to notice any difference when you’re sitting on the couch. You’ll only notice when you go up and get really close to the TV.    – dwsolberg

Not everyone agreed with this, however. Representing the nearly 35% of users who said “yes, I’m skipping it because it can’t play 4K videos,” several readers noted that they own 4K TVs and appreciate the improved visual quality they’re already seeing in 4K streams.

“Daredevil” in 4K on my 55″ Samsung looked much better than in 1080p on my old 46″ set. – Samuel A. Maffei

I purchased a 4k Samsung 40″ Smart TV this month…. I have to say, I can see the difference between 4k native and 1080p DVD or 4k upscaled [1080p] streamed content. Upscaling generally looks good but I can appreciate the difference with native content…. Aside from a noticeable general improvement in picture quality with 4k content, 4k resolution on my 40″ TV is particularly appreciated with video content that contains text…. I have to say, now that I’ve had time with the Samsung Smart TV environment, I don’t see any need to buy an AppleTV in the future.   – sbandyk

For some people, the lack of 4K support is important for theoretical reasons.

I decided to skip this Apple TV because it doesn’t have 4K, even though I don’t have a 4K TV yet, and the only 4K content I currently have is from my iPhone. But I decided that anything I upgrade at this point should be 4K. Since Apple has already implemented 4K on the iPhone and iMacs I imagine a 4K Apple TV isn’t that far off.   – davegolden

Mirroring comments we’ve seen on earlier Apple TV articles, quite a few readers expressed anger at what they felt was either planned obsolescence or development inconsistency by Apple.

Anyone who wants to think Apple didn’t include 4K because there isnt enough content yet or it hasn’t taken off yet has their heads in the sand…. The fact is 4K TVs are dirt cheap right now, 9to5Toys was offering one at 600 yesterday I believe. This is classic Apple, just like you stated, they pulled the same stunt with 1080p. And I for one will skip it this year so that I buy a future proofed device. Not to mention that A8 is going to be pretty choppy once Devs start coding their games for the next model released with enough power to push 4K.   – chrisl84

A bigger concern for me is the lack of technology consistency in Apple’s lineup. You have phones that can now record 4K but a brand new Apple TV that cannot handle it. You have an iMac which is 5K and a high end Mac Pro which is stuck with an aging non-HD display…. And you have a company which is so secretive that you have no idea whether and when these inconsistencies are [ever] going to be addressed.   – Warren Shaw

One thing that’s clear from both the comments and the poll, which again has over 6,500 votes counted, is that while there’s a strong majority that doesn’t care about 4K support yet, a 1/3 minority that cares a lot about 4K — enough to skip the new Apple TV over it — is not trivial, despite what some commenters might suggest.

0.0.0.0.0.0.1 of people care. You can talk about future proof, but the fact is, 4k is not standard on everything right now.   – viciosodiego

That’s just plain wrong. Our poll’s very large sample size, combined with the science of statistics, provide us with numbers that are very broadly generalizable. Even if we only had 4,200 responses, we could say with 99% confidence that the roughly 65% “no” and roughly 35% “yes” split we saw would be accurate to +/- 2% for a much larger population of people. Even today, with 4K penetration at as low of a level as it will be for decades, around 1/3 of people think it’s a major omission in the Apple TV. Leaving it out this time was a reasonably safe bet for Apple, but since 4K Ultra HD TVs keep falling in price, it’s clearly going to be at the top of the next version’s list of features.

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Filed under: Apple TV, iOS Devices Tagged: 4k, Apple TV

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