Apple TV or Android Box for elderly parents?

Forums › Off topic › Apple TV or Android Box for elderly parents?

1 | 2 | 3

985 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2256560 12-Jun-2019 11:14

If its only for Netflix and nothing else - a Fire TV stick will work great remote and should work fine leave updates disabled works well with CEC and despite any warnings from it seems to work okay being powered by USB plug on the TV instead of using a power adapter.

C0rsa

32 posts

Geek

#2256563 12-Jun-2019 11:17

I would go with an ATV4 and get an entry level Logitech remote, so the touch issue goes away. My father in law issues using touch devices and that's how we got round it.

Quinny

885 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#2256565 12-Jun-2019 11:18

Why should android tv apps fail in the short term? It's well supported. Yes NZ version (ie no vpn) has lightbox, amazon prime, tvnz on demand, netflix (on remote), plex can be installed, and so on. Having gone this road I can say it is the best solution. Apple tv has issues (cant use siri) and any android box is the same as an android tv (ie yes it too can stop working) but without the 2nd remote/step that is the main thing goes wrong for seniors. One remote, one button all the way.

tdgeek

29740 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2256568 12-Jun-2019 11:21

C0rsa:

I would go with an ATV4 and get an entry level Logitech remote, so the touch issue goes away. My father in law issues using touch devices and that's how we got round it.

How? Sounds great

tdgeek

29740 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2256571 12-Jun-2019 11:24

Quinny:

Why should android tv apps fail in the short term? It's well supported. Yes NZ version (ie no vpn) has lightbox, amazon prime, tvnz on demand, netflix (on remote), plex can be installed, and so on. Having gone this road I can say it is the best solution. Apple tv has issues (cant use siri) and any android box is the same as an android tv (ie yes it too can stop working) but without the 2nd remote/step that is the main thing goes wrong for seniors. One remote, one button all the way.

Smart TV's find that over time the apps fail. Even YouTube. Want to get an app, it may need a 2017 or newer TV. Does it have 3Now? Spark Sport? Fanpass?

Better to get an STB, that will have much longer support, and its throwaway

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2256574 12-Jun-2019 11:37

Personally I'd go with an Apple TV.

Especially if I knew that I'd be the person providing free tech support to my parents. 😀

If the remote turned out to be a big problem I'd replace it with a bottom end Harmony 350 or something.

trig42

5809 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2256581 12-Jun-2019 11:48

tdgeek:

C0rsa:

I would go with an ATV4 and get an entry level Logitech remote, so the touch issue goes away. My father in law issues using touch devices and that's how we got round it.

How? Sounds great

Agree with this, it is how we do it.

Setup the AppleTV and the TV as devices in the Harmony software. Set an Activity to Watch AppleTV and assign it to one of the activity buttons (also, an activity to watch TV).

One button to turn on the TV to the Apple TV input, then the arrow buttons on the remote do what you expect them to.

A cheap Harmony 350 will do it just fine, you'll have to replace the batteries about once a year or so (I have a 350 in our bedroom, have replaced the batteries once in three years).

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2256582 12-Jun-2019 11:49

ATV4 with a basic Harmony. The home page on an ATV is a lot less cluttered with crap then android (I have both). Also the apps all seem to follow the same design language so once you know how to use Netflix, you know how to use TVNZ as well pretty much.

Like the tag line says, "it just works"

Quinny

885 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#2256584 12-Jun-2019 11:52

tdgeek:

Quinny:

Why should android tv apps fail in the short term? It's well supported. Yes NZ version (ie no vpn) has lightbox, amazon prime, tvnz on demand, netflix (on remote), plex can be installed, and so on. Having gone this road I can say it is the best solution. Apple tv has issues (cant use siri) and any android box is the same as an android tv (ie yes it too can stop working) but without the 2nd remote/step that is the main thing goes wrong for seniors. One remote, one button all the way.

Smart TV's find that over time the apps fail. Even YouTube. Want to get an app, it may need a 2017 or newer TV. Does it have 3Now? Spark Sport? Fanpass?

Better to get an STB, that will have much longer support, and its throwaway

YouTube failed as it changed I have 2 Panasonic TV to attest to this :). I personally now use Chromecast house wide or my OLED Sony with android tv.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you due to the target market. For you and I yes I agree it may not be the best idea. But in the end, there is zero benefits to installing something someone won't or can't use because the process to use it does not work for them. I have now been this road several times helping others and can assure you one remote/one button works best. Find the apps they want and make sure on what buy. For anyone capable Chromecast every time.

Also, remember that anything that works on an android box will usually work on android tv as the only difference really is that the Android is built in. I can go to google play and send the app to the tv (no housecall required). As to those you list atm the SparkSport app is only Samsung so far due to licensing (so won't work on an android box either), fanpass is Chromecast so yes works for me as built in and pretty sure yes to 3now via updated terrestrial Tv. Same limitations for these apps will apply on any box you buy (unless going dubious methods). For seniors or anyone with a disability built in over Chromecast or one remote setup is best.

tdgeek

29740 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2256588 12-Jun-2019 11:58

Quinny:

tdgeek:

Quinny:

Why should android tv apps fail in the short term? It's well supported. Yes NZ version (ie no vpn) has lightbox, amazon prime, tvnz on demand, netflix (on remote), plex can be installed, and so on. Having gone this road I can say it is the best solution. Apple tv has issues (cant use siri) and any android box is the same as an android tv (ie yes it too can stop working) but without the 2nd remote/step that is the main thing goes wrong for seniors. One remote, one button all the way.

Smart TV's find that over time the apps fail. Even YouTube. Want to get an app, it may need a 2017 or newer TV. Does it have 3Now? Spark Sport? Fanpass?

Better to get an STB, that will have much longer support, and its throwaway

YouTube failed as it changed I have 2 Panasonic TV to attest to this :). I personally now use Chromecast house wide or my OLED Sony with android tv.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you due to the target market. For you and I yes I agree it may not be the best idea. But in the end, there is zero benefits to installing something someone won't or can't use because the process to use it does not work for them. I have now been this road several times helping others and can assure you one remote/one button works best. Find the apps they want and make sure on what buy. For anyone capable Chromecast every time.

Also, remember that anything that works on an android box will usually work on android tv as the only difference really is that the Android is built in. I can go to google play and send the app to the tv (no housecall required). As to those you list atm the SparkSport app is only Samsung so far due to licensing (so won't work on an android box either), fanpass is Chromecast so yes works for me as built in and pretty sure yes to 3now via updated terrestrial Tv. Same limitations for these apps will apply on any box you buy (unless going dubious methods). For seniors or anyone with a disability built in over Chromecast or one remote setup is best.

Fair enough :-)

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#2256633 12-Jun-2019 12:09

jonathan18:

tdgeek:

I'd go ATV4. Do the Android boxes get all NZ apps?

Note the comments above regarding the 4th and 5th gen ATV remote - if younger people find the touch-sensitive component of the remote frustrating, this will be compounded for an elderly person.

If you are worried about the touch remote, Go and get an old silver Apple tv remote, only buttons and they work fine with the new 4th/5th Gen ATVs ( you can still purchase them new from apple or retailers) great to have s a backup when the kids lose the other one down the couch etc....

michaelmurfy

meow
13240 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2256684 12-Jun-2019 12:44

Just something that may be of interest to you.

I've recently purchased a "DishTV SmartVU Android TV Media Player" (Noel Leemings Link) and something that is quite good is it has physical buttons for YouTube, Netflix and Freeview on the remote. The unit itself is tiny (as big as a Chromecast) and is quite simple to use.

This may be an option to "test the waters" as they're available for quite cheap.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

CrashAndBurn

668 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2256692 12-Jun-2019 12:59

michaelmurfy:

Just something that may be of interest to you.

I've recently purchased a "DishTV SmartVU Android TV Media Player" (Noel Leemings Link) and something that is quite good is it has physical buttons for YouTube, Netflix and Freeview on the remote. The unit itself is tiny (as big as a Chromecast) and is quite simple to use.

This may be an option to "test the waters" as they're available for quite cheap.

Possible option but since it will be used in the Philippines, I dont think the Freeview button would be used.

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2256703 12-Jun-2019 13:25

CrashAndBurn:

Possible option but since it will be used in the Philippines, I dont think the Freeview button would be used.

Philippines?!?!

And there was us, assuming it was going to be used in New Zealand! 😀

CrashAndBurn

668 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2256751 12-Jun-2019 14:09

evilengineer:

CrashAndBurn:

Possible option but since it will be used in the Philippines, I dont think the Freeview button would be used.

Philippines?!?!

And there was us, assuming it was going to be used in New Zealand! 😀

I did mention in on my initial post :)

1 | 2 | 3