With the delivery courier at 2.30pm, Got my apple TV 64gb delivered at 5pm (I didn't choose the time slot).
Here are my first impressions of the new Apple TV (4th gen):
1. Set it up very simple. Just use your iPhone, turn on Bluetooth, put iPhone near the apple TV and Apple TV will grab all the settings (WiFi SSID and password, Apple ID details, etc) from your iPhone. All set up within the first 5 mins.
2. Apple TV SG set does come with Siri remote. However, It's disabled if using SG Apple ID. Use US Apple ID if you wish to use Siri. This issue really makes Singapore residents worry about not getting the Siri if purchased an apple TV local set. So hopefully this clears the confusion. Now you can add multiple apple IDs in the settings. It's also very easy to switch between apple IDs. No need to log in and log out. Most importantly, no typing required. (To log in the first time, you still need to input the Apple ID and password)
3. The trackpad on the remote is definitely an improvement from previous buttons only remote. It's now very easy to scroll through apps and lists. I really like the 3D effect feedback when you touch the trackpad and move slightly. I also like the volume up and down button which you can control the TV volume directly with the built in infrared. No need to hold on to multiple remotes anymore!
4. The default Apple tv home screen is empty (only have the essential apps: movies, music, pictures, settings and the app store). First app i launch is the app store. I Have to download each apps individually such as YouTube. Remember to Go to the purchased tab, it will show you all the Apple TV apps/games which you have purchased previously on the iPhone/iPad (you don't have to purchase again). The app store choices is still quite limited at launch. The app/games catalogue will grow over time. The iOS/tvOS developer community is working hard writing apps for the TV. So no worries there.
5. The games all use the Apple TV Remote to control. Some games support 3rd party MFi controllers. But I don't have any MFi controller to test. By the way, Crossy road game now supports multi-player and it's fun. One player use the remote, another need to use iPhone and have the crossy road app installed.
6. Aerial screensavers are beautiful. The time of the flyby respects your current location and time (ie when it's daytime here in Singapore, daytime aerial will be shown. Same applies to night time)
7. You can switch between apps (multitasking) by double pressing the home button (TV icon on the remote). The Apple TV is fast with the A8 chip and 2 GB ram. The loading of pretty much everything is much faster compared to Apple TV 3rd Gen. However, multitasking is quite slow.
8. Typing in text fields is still painful: typing in apple tv still requires swiping and tapping for each individual character (troublesome and time consuming). Since Siri is disabled when using sg apple id, At least they should have offered voice dictation for search/text fields inputs (the remote comes with dual microphone, why not utilize it?)
Recently, Eddy Cue from Apple mentioned that the new Apple TV is still considered an "add on" for most people (
http://www.macrumors.com/2015/10/29/eddy-cue-apple-tv-add-on-cnn/). I think i agree with him. I feel that the new Apple TV is not an essential device for the living room, yet. You already can do most of these things with AirPlay mirroring using iphone/iPad and older gen apple TV. However, making apple TV to support native apps is a necessary step forward in making Apple TV the "revolutionary" device for the living room. (apple TV 4 is not yet revolutionary).