Taking a second look at the 4th-generation Apple TV

When I reviewed the fourth-generation Apple TV after its release late last year, I wrote that it was “like a gorgeous cake that didn’t cook long enough”. It was sweet and pretty but clearly needed more baking time. It felt like a beta product, unfinished and with many rough edges.

Many of the problems had to do with the tvOS software, the new operating system that had been developed from the same foundation that powers iPhones and iPads. Others had to do with design decisions that were ill-advised. And some were hardware-based, such as no 4K video support.

Since then, Apple has released a series of updates to the product that have addressed many of these issues. The latest, tvOS 9.2, made all kinds of useful changes. I’ve been using the Apple TV as my primary streaming box, and now it’s time for a second look. Here’s the status of my primary software-based complaints.

Lack of Bluetooth keyboard support – FIXED

One of my biggest gripes about the new Apple TV was replacing the standard grid keyboard with a single, horizontal row of letters. Swiping back and forth to enter text is maddening. Apple compounded this sin by removing the ability to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with the new Apple TV, a feature that had been available in the previous generation.

But a recent tvOS update fixed this. Now, you can pair an Apple Bluetooth keyboard to the device and use it as needed. (I went to fish mine out of a drawer and discovered that the batteries had leaked, fusing shut the compartment that held them. Fortunately, my lovely wife had one she wasn’t using that she donated to the cause. Thanks, dear!)

The one downside: Only Apple’s own Bluetooth keyboards are supported.

Remote app doesn’t work – FIXED

Not only was Bluetooth keyboard pairing gone, but the Apple TV also wouldn’t work with the Remote app for iOS – again, something it did with the previous model. That meant you couldn’t use your iPhone or iPad keyboard instead of the horizontal onscreen keyboard.

But an updated app fixed the issue, and Remote now works with the older version.

Limited Siri voice search – BETTER

To add insult to input injury, Apple put Siri voice search into its new streaming box but in a very limited manner. Initially it only worked in a handful of apps, but could not be used for searching important areas, such as the App Store. And you couldn’t use it to dictate text in search boxes, leaving you at the mercy of the awful horizontal keyboard.

The latest update to tvOS came to the rescue, bringing Siri search to more apps, including the App Store. And you can now use it for dictation in text fields – including for logins and passwords.

And just this weekend, Apple turned on a “Live Tune-in” feature that, while limited to just a few apps for now – ESPN, Watch CBS and Disney XD – makes navigating to live content easier. For example, you can now say “Watch ESPN live” and you’ll get taken directly to that app’s live stream. Now it’s up to other app developers to add support for this feature.

App store limitations – SOMEWHAT BETTER

At first, the App Store lacked organization, making it hard to find apps. Since its launch, Apple has been adding more and more categories and refining how apps are promoted and displayed. Being able to search by voice is also a big help.

But I still find it difficult to browse through the deep catalog of apps. Featured apps are front and center, but getting to hidden gems remains difficult.

Semi-related: The latest update provided the ability to group installed apps in folders, which makes organizing a cluttered home screen easier.

These updates have finally brought some polish to the Apple TV. It still lags behind the latest offerings from Amazon’s Fire TV line or Roku’s streaming boxes in some ways – both support 4K streaming, for example, while the Apple TV does not – it’s now much more competitive. It’s now solidly my favorite cord-cutting tool.

One more thing: About that Siri Remote . . .