MacQuadra840av

The AppleTV became significantly more popular when the 2nd and 3rd generation were reduced to $99.  That is the number one request people wanted after being surveyed about the first generation model.  Doubling the price by offering the same video sources but in app format does not warrant the price increase.  Siri is stupid on AppleTV.  The remote has been a joke.  Thankfully the Harmony has no problem controlling it.  The new version comes with a 3-year old outdated processor that adds no value because you can watch the same 4K content.  They add a new calibration feature in tvOS for people with basic TVs.  When you have a TV that supports Dolby Vision, the feature is not applicable.  Makes sense since you are already watching a calibrated picture.  Apple should have reduced the price of the AppleTV because it provides no additional value over the 2017 model, especially when they bump the processor by two generations when they could have easily used an A14.  If people want games, they have a PS4 or Xbox.  So their incremental update from A10X to A12 (not even the A12X or A12Z which smoke the A12 in graphics), isn't even worth it.  I guess that's why the separate remote is more popular than the box itself.

Trey_Lance said:

He is right. I didn’t think I need Apple TV box until I started using it 2 years ago. Now I watch everything through it. I also added a Dolby Atmos sound bar which Apple TV 4K supports and I literally have a Home Theatre without a million wires and speakers all over the ceiling 

A soundbar is not a home theater.

I bet if Apple used a standard 3.5mm audio in for the AirPod Max they would play lossless files.  But no, Apple had to use Lightning and cripple a pair of $550 headphones.  And the people that think AirPod Max can do AirPlay 2...nope, the headphones do not have Wi-Fi hardware.  Read the article next time.

Still hilarious that Apple announces lossless music and they have no hardware to play it on.  They sure are changing the face of music.

It will be funny when people claim they hear a difference in sound quality through their mediocre AirPod/AirPod Max products.  Bluetooth is compressed audio through a specific protocol.  You are not going to get high quality music through Bluetooth.  Never have.  A wired connection with a good DAC is required.

Second, the HomePod is not an example of high quality audio.  Why?  Apple prohibits the user from any tone control.  Not even simple bass or treble is allowed.  Still can't figure out why Apple does not allow this when iTunes 2.0 had a user-adjustable EQ.  The HomePod is a boomy mess.  It never sold well and it was never sold out, which is why Apple killed the product.

Maybe AppleTV through HDMI to a Dolby Atmos receiver might be the only solution available to actually listen to Apple Lossless and the small amount of Dolby Atmos files.

Meanwhile, Amazon Music just upgraded all their users to Amazon Music HD at no extra cost, available today.  What is Apple waiting for?

Finally, iTunes Match does not apply (it would be awesome if it did!).  The lossless files are only available from Apple Music.  You'll have to continue to rip your own lossless files from CD.

The article intentionally leaves out the scores for graphics performance.  The M1 performs better than Intel integrated graphics, but it does not perform better than dedicated graphics cards.  This has been well documented on various sites with the Metal scores, including here at AppleInsider.  The iMacs with upgraded dedicated graphics cards are faster the M1 in graphics performance (especially the 27"), but now the articles currently being posted leave out that information.  Even Apple only claims the M1 is faster than the 'standard' iMac 21.5", but not the ones with upgraded graphics.  

The chip shortage definitely has something to do with it because even the 21.5" models offered upgraded options, but now the M1 24" iMacs offer no upgrades at all, except for 16GB RAM and up to 2TB storage.  But it is fine for a base model iMac, but if someone wanted a smaller screen iMac and still wanted a graphics card upgrade, they no longer have that option.

You would think if Apple had been planning for this change for years, they would have the higher performance chips ready, but other chip shortages are causing an issue.  

Apple better have something better in pipeline because 16GB RAM, 2TB storage, and limited ports is pretty weak.  And not long ago, people were complaining about Apple and limited RAM and now everyone thinks it is great?  Makes no sense.