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Apple TV 4K reviews are out, and one interesting tidbit is that the streaming media player could gain support for Dolby Atmos surround sound technology in the future by way of a tvOS software update.

apple-tv-4k-dolby-atmos.jpg

"Apple told me that the lack of Atmos isn't a hardware limitation, and that support is on the roadmap," wrote The Verge's Nilay Patel.

Dolby Atmos was developed to give sound from movies and TV shows a more three-dimensional effect. Rather than being constrained to channels, sounds can be precisely placed and moved in three-dimensional space.

Patel explains:
Atmos and its competitor DTS:X are the next generation of surround sound formats, which the industry calls "object-based surround." Unlike traditional surround, which sends specific tracks of audio to specific speakers, Atmos allows audio engineers to place sound "objects" in 3D space, and your receiver or soundbar figures out how to recreate it.
Both the Xbox One S and Roku support Dolby Atmos. On the content side, Netflix has been rolling out support since July. Several theaters now play movies with Dolby Atmos sound, and many older titles have been remastered.

Article Link: Apple Suggests Apple TV 4K Will Gain Dolby Atmos Support in Future tvOS Update
 

Menel

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Aug 4, 2011
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Why is Apple always so late to the game on visual and sound quality? Why is experience quality second rate to them? It's weird.

How long has Google ShieldTV, Roku, and a myriad of smartTV's had 4K, HDR, and bitsream for Atmos/DTS. Since before AppleTV4...
 

nwcs

macrumors 68030
Sep 21, 2009
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Now they just need a configurable option to the TV app that lets it auto play the next episode after completing the last one. This was a useful feature they took away in 10.2 of tvOS. Yes, I sent feedback to the feedback page. I get why some people didn’t like that feature but anyone with kids understands how essential it is for road trips, etc. It’s such an easy option to make configurable and make everyone happy.
 

T'hain Esh Kelch

macrumors 603
Aug 5, 2001
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Wasn't the same theory proposed about Apple TV 4 and 4K support - that all it needed was an OS update? In the end, it required (?) a new one.
Not really worth it, as HDMI 1.4 only support 4K up to 30hz.

The hardware support wasn’t there for 4k video.
I do not believe that to be correct. The A8 SOC supports 4K decoding, and HDMI 1.4 also support it. Not really any limitation there.
 
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johngordon

macrumors 68000
Apr 19, 2004
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Why is Apple always so late to the game on visual and sound quality? Why is experience quality second rate to them? It's weird.

How long has Google ShieldTV, Roku, and a myriad of smartTV's had 4K, HDR, and bitsream for Atmos/DTS. Since before AppleTV4...

I don't think its the its second rate to them - probably more that they just see it as of limited appeal to many users when its new.

Even now, I don't know anyone with a 4K tv, and here in the UK there isn't exactly much 4K content being broadcast.

It might not be ideal for those who are early adopters, but presumably they don't see much benefit in the additional cost of including something like 4K early on, if only a small number of customers are going to actually benefit or make use of it.

I'm not saying that's right, but presumably something that they take into consideration.

I guess as much as anything its a bit annoying, as something like the Apple TV could have had 4K a while ago, and would have been future proofed more.

But then again, HDR probably makes more of a difference than the jump from HD to 4K, and that's a more recent thing, and is a function of the new Apple TV.

I think its reasonable to think that with the average length of ownership of a tv (around 8 years?), and HDR and 4K together (and the newer audio formats) making it more worthwhile to upgrade your tv, then 4K probably will start to gain a lot more traction over the next few years.
 

Chung123

macrumors regular
Dec 5, 2013
240
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Not totally familiar with Dolby Atmos... but if there is also a headphone implementation like Dolby Headphone (virtual surround over headphones) then that's good news for apartment dwellers in NYC as one can't set up a home theater easily.
 

JWort93

macrumors regular
Aug 3, 2013
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Not really worth it, as HDMI 1.4 only support 4K up to 30hz.


I do not believe that to be correct. The A8 SOC supports 4K decoding, and HDMI 1.4 also support it. Not really any limitation there.
As you previously said, HDMI 1.4 only supports 4k up to 30Hz, and more importantly, the ATV4 does not support HDCP 2.2, so there is no way studios would let them play 4k content on it.
 

Santabean2000

macrumors 68000
Nov 20, 2007
1,881
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Now they just need a configurable option to the TV app that lets it auto play the next episode after completing the last one. This was a useful feature they took away in 10.2 of tvOS. Yes, I sent feedback to the feedback page. I get why some people didn’t like that feature but anyone with kids understands how essential it is for road trips, etc. It’s such an easy option to make configurable and make everyone happy.
Can't disagree more. Road trips should have music and never any screens.

And yes, I do have kids ‍‍‍
 

pdmpolishing

macrumors regular
Sep 18, 2007
144
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Why Apple didn't have this in place for the launch of ATV5 is beyond belief, if ATV5 has HDCP 2.2 all you have to do allow audio passthrough and bitstream to the receiver to allow it to decode the audio.

I was so disappointed the ATV5 didn't have this, I ordered an Nvidia Shield straight away. I found this hard to believe I was doing this as I have used ATV since the first generation. I will Keep ATV4 but I love the HD sound the Shield allows me to have.

Please Apple Hurry up and Implement this.
 

reallynotnick

macrumors 65816
Oct 21, 2005
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I was kind of surprised they didn't launch with Atmos, hopefully they can bring support for it because the more Atmos hardware out there the better.
 
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T'hain Esh Kelch

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Aug 5, 2001
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As you previously said, HDMI 1.4 only supports 4k up to 30Hz, and more importantly, the ATV4 does not support HDCP 2.2, so there is no way studios would let them play 4k content on it.
Fair and square! But would it also hinder playback of home made 4K footage?
 

melchior

macrumors 65816
Nov 17, 2002
1,237
115
Why is Apple always so late to the game on visual and sound quality? Why is experience quality second rate to them? It's weird.

it is frustrating and the reason i have ended up choosing other options over ATV. even now as this is the first ATV that could really meet my needs, the lack of atmos and DTS are deal breakers. the only advantage i feel that i miss out on by not having an ATV is airplay.

And novels!

novels contribute to the problem of kids being sick.
 
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