Current state of Apple TV app

[pjkramer79]

I’m looking to buy a FLEX 4K and attach a USB drive for DVR recordings. I have an Apple TV 4K as my primary client device but I’m really struggling to figure out the current state of the app development of HDHomeRun for Apple TV. Does it only support live TV and no DVR features? Does it handle 1080i well? Decode mpeg2 natively? Support 4K streams? If I get an nVidia Shield, would I just have a better experience? I’ve heard the Channels app is better but don’t want to spend $80/yr. There is a lot of info on the web but a lot of it is old.

Which client platform (that can drive a TV) is the most mature and full featured with the most format support and playback quality? Android TV? Windows? Apple TV?

[leerandall]

You can't go wrong with the Onn 4K Android TV box for $20 at Walmart. Works great for me.

[nickk]

I’m looking to buy a FLEX 4K and attach a USB drive for DVR recordings. I have an Apple TV 4K as my primary client device but I’m really struggling to figure out the current state of the app development of HDHomeRun for Apple TV. Does it only support live TV and no DVR features? Does it handle 1080i well? Decode mpeg2 natively? Support 4K streams?

Apple TV supports all DVR features. Live TV supports slice TV guide. MPEG2 is supported using software decode (all apps on all Apple platforms software decode MPEG2). 4K is supported on Apple TV 4K models.

The two key features left on our TODO list for Apple TV are the alternative text grid tv guide and upconverting 1080i60 MPEG2 to 1080p60 using GPU acceleration.

Which client platform (that can drive a TV) is the most mature and full featured with the most format support and playback quality? Android TV? Windows? Apple TV?

Right now there is an advantage in using a platform that has hardware 1080i60 to 1080p60 MPEG2 deinterlacing if you watch sports on 1080i channels but Apple TV will be gaining this feature in a future app release.

The $20 Walmart ONN box has hardware 1080i60 to 1080p60 MPEG2 deinterlacing support.

[bgrubb1]

Is AppleTV interlace a priority in development ??
Watched a couple of NFL games today that video left something to be desired

[nickk]

Is AppleTV interlace a priority in development ??
Watched a couple of NFL games today that video left something to be desired

Apple TV is a priority platform.

What specifically was the problem?

If the broadcast was 720p you should be getting full 60fps.
If the broadcast was 1080i you will get 30fps with the current app. We have a plan to deinterlace to 60fps in a future release.
Either way the picture quality of each frame is primarily determined by the broadcast.

[bgrubb1]

30 fps issue motion appears jittery
...Barry

[bgrubb1]

bump
I thought you were done with bug and back to enhancements

[Freekick123]

I guess this explains why the 1080i stations I tune judder on the new AppleTV 4K I just installed last night on my 2016 LG B6. I have ATV set for 4K/60 HDR. It seems like after it streams for a while it gets smoother.

[Georgeser]

What about DRM on the Apple TV app works on the iPhone shouldn’t it be the same on the tvos?

[ansky201]

What about DRM on the Apple TV app works on the iPhone shouldn’t it be the same on the tvos?

The HD Homerun does not support DRM yet so that is not available on any app, including the iPhone app.

[signcarver]

What about DRM on the Apple TV app works on the iPhone shouldn’t it be the same on the tvos?

The HD Homerun does not support DRM yet so that is not available on any app, including the iPhone app.

That isn't true... as mentioned DRM works on iOS but not the DRM you are thinking about but rather DRM for cablecard with a HDHomeRun Prime. My understanding the main problem with tvOS and cablecard drm requirements is that there is no official/proper way to ensure hdcp on the hdmi port... there are "hacks" to do such but not an official method that I'm aware and the only one I am aware of only available when using fairplay and HLS streams, neither of which are appropriate for protected cable ts streams from the prime.

[NedS]

What about DRM on the Apple TV app works on the iPhone shouldn’t it be the same on the tvos?

Apple TV is a little different because it uses an external display, and we are required to check for secure playback (HDCP). We don't have to do a HDCP check when the app reports that it is using the internal display of an iOS/iPadOS device, and we don't support DRM for any external display adapters on iPhone/iPad.

[Georgeser]

So the HDHomerun prime with my cable card and Apple TV will never support drm

[signcarver]

Never say never, but unless cablecard rules change or apple has an official method to ensure/require hdcp to render such type of stream, most likely it won't happen. There used to be some things that may have allowed a 640x480 output with some forms of drm requirements when hdcp isn't present but the way the rules read that didn't apply when using a digital output (and as I recall that transposing to 480 wouldn't apply with dtcp-ip connections and cablecard but its been quite some time since I've looked at those rules).

[theedge12]

Hi Is there an ETA for the grid list on the Apple TV?

Thanks