Key Takeaways
- You should use your HomePods as TV audio system seamlessly.
- Preserve your viewing historical past separate and get your personal Up Subsequent queue with tvOS profiles.
- Use your iPhone with Face ID for fast TV colour calibration or fallback on handbook strategies for precision.
Like many tech corporations, Apple likes to think about its merchandise are simple to make use of, however you will have to determine many key options by yourself. There’s some believable hope for that with an Apple TV 4K — it’s, in spite of everything, only a media streamer — however in apply, there’s lots you may not pay attention to, particularly in the event you’re usually outdoors the Apple ecosystem. With issues like when to upgrade your Apple TV and how to use your iPhone as a remote amongst different options, the corporate does not provide you with a lot steerage previous the preliminary setup.
Whether or not you have owned an Apple TV for years otherwise you’re plugging one in for the primary time, we have got a number of suggestions right here that could be information to you. Perhaps sooner or later Apple will present extra complete guides for newcomers. Till then, learn on.
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1 Utilizing HomePods for wi-fi audio and voice management
Seamless house theater — in the event you can afford it
Maybe not too surprisingly, Apple makes it lifeless easy to make use of HomePods as TV audio system if in case you have an Apple TV. As soon as you have added your HomePod(s) to the identical room as your Apple TV in HomeKit, the latter system ought to ask if you wish to swap default audio outputs. Even when it does not, you’ll be able to later go into your Apple TV’s settings within the Apple Residence app in your iPhone or iPad, then faucet Default Audio Output.
Whereas you should use a single HomePod if that is all you have obtained, it is best to purchase a pair for stereo results. Actually, you’ll be able to’t use any greater than two, and if you need simulated encompass sound (together with Dolby Atmos), you will have to purchase a pair of high-end 2nd-generation HomePods somewhat than Minis.
I exploit instructions like “Siri, open YouTube,” “Siri, rewind 30 seconds,” or “Siri, flip off the TV” day-after-day.
This association is not at all times flawless — Wi-Fi router updates could power you to power-cycle your HomePods, as an example — and strictly talking, you’ll be able to in all probability get equal or higher soundbars for a similar value. Nevertheless it makes for a slick setup, and you’ll generally avoid wasting trouble by speaking to your HomePods as an alternative of choosing up the distant. In my own residence, I exploit instructions like “Siri, open YouTube,” “Siri, rewind 30 seconds,” or “Siri, flip off the TV” day-after-day.
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2 A number of person profiles
Make your historical past your personal
A number of tvOS profiles aren’t at all times crucial, since numerous {couples} and households are inclined to share the identical service logins. They’re generally required to entry separate Apple purchases and subscriptions, nevertheless, and if nothing else, it is typically good to get your personal Up Subsequent queue. Somebody who enjoys Aliens or Twin Peaks in all probability does not wish to sift by way of their children’ Bluey episodes first.
To get began with profiles, maintain down the TV button in your Siri Distant, then choose the Profiles tab. Should you’ve already arrange a number of Apple IDs in your family, you’ll be able to swap this manner, or choose Add Consumer if an individual does not seem. Should you’ve obtained voice recognition arrange in your Apple ID (by way of one other system), you’ll be able to say “Siri, swap to my profile” at any time.
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3 Utilizing an iPhone for colour calibration
Fast and straightforward
Apple
To make sure colours look appropriate in your TV, significantly for HDR modes like Dolby Imaginative and prescient, it is smart to do some form of calibration. The best possibility includes an iPhone with Face ID — you will be requested to place your iPhone in entrance of your TV, and the remaining ought to occur mechanically. If you do not have a appropriate iPhone, otherwise you’re chasing most precision, you’ll be able to at all times fall again on colour bars and your TV’s built-in menus, however that feels downright archaic. The iPhone-based calibration is triggered by going to Settings > Video and Audio > Calbration > Coloration Stability.
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4 Forcing body charges, resolutions, and HDR modes
Match a director’s intent
By default, tvOS makes an attempt to play video within the “finest obtainable” body charge, decision, and HDR mode, as dictated by your TV and the HDMI port your Apple TV is linked to. This may generally result in unusual outcomes although, through which case you’ll be able to power a specific mixture by going to Settings > Video and Audio > Format. Even higher in most circumstances goes to Settings > Video and Audio > Match Content material and selecting Match Dynamic Vary and/or Match Body Price, both of which is able to modify associated settings on the fly primarily based on content material’s metadata.
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5 Utilizing an Xbox or PlayStation controller for video games
One other console house
Microsoft / Pocket-lint
The Apple TV hasn’t fairly taken off as a sport console the way in which Apple would possibly’ve as soon as envisioned. However there are nonetheless video games price taking part in within the App Retailer, like Inside or Cozy Grove, and a few of these are finest performed with a Bluetooth gamepad. You possibly can pair any recent Xbox or PlayStation controller — or an acceptable clone — by placing it into pairing mode, then navigating to Settings > Remotes and Gadgets > Bluetooth and selecting your controller when it seems.
Bear in mind that whilst you can usually join as much as 4 Bluetooth gamepads, the restrict shrinks to only one in the event you’ve additionally obtained Bluetooth audio going. Additionally, you will in all probability wish to purchase controllers particularly in your Apple TV, since it is a ache to repeat the pairing course of each time you wish to swap to or from a console.
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FAQ
Q: Which Apple TV ought to I get?
Most individuals ought to be simply wonderful with the 64GB Wi-Fi mannequin. It will get the job finished, and it is arduous to get anyplace close to the 64GB restrict in the event you’re simply streaming music and video.
The 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet mannequin is sensible in the event you plan to play numerous video games, otherwise you need a wired Ethernet connection for max reliability. It is also the one mannequin with a Thread radio, which can assist join appropriate sensible house equipment to HomeKit, akin to bulbs and plugs.
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