Apple TV or Android Box for elderly parents?

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CrashAndBurn

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#251177 12-Jun-2019 09:16

My father has been bedridden for 3+ years now and have recently found out about Netflix since I shared my account with my mum when I gave her my old iPad.

My father's room has a TV (not smart) and I was thinking of giving him either an Apple TV, Android Box or Chromecast.

Given he is not tech savvy and due to his extreme arthritis, I ruled out the Chromecast.

I am thinking of the Apple TV for its easy to use remote and would be easy to maintain e.g. updates.

For Android TV, it is because it is cheaper.

Note: My father lives in the Philippines and the internet in our area is between 3-5 mbps. UFB not an option yet :(

Any recommendations or considerations?

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#2256502 12-Jun-2019 09:24

I got my father an AppleTV..... hes struggling with it partially because the remote is not so intuitive if you've not used similar products before. Only thing I've seen him use it for is YouTube so far although Ive set him up with a bunch of other streaming options.

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skewt

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#2256505 12-Jun-2019 09:26

Id try a Mi Box

Android tv with a simple remote and voice searching

https://www.mi.com/global/mibox/

CrashAndBurn

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#2256506 12-Jun-2019 09:27

xpd:

I got my father an AppleTV..... hes struggling with it partially because the remote is not so intuitive if you've not used similar products before. Only thing I've seen him use it for is YouTube so far although Ive set him up with a bunch of other streaming options.

I am thinking of doing the same e.g. add Spotify and others. As for the remote, I feel that my mum who looks after him will be able to control the remote better. It is just that when I look at the remote of some android boxes, it has a few extra buttons.

jonathan18

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#2256512 12-Jun-2019 09:40

Has your father used a smart phone or tablet? Just wondering if some earlier exposure to either iOS or Android may help work out which is more appropriate.

I got my elderly parents an Apple TV - they already had an iPad, so I think that helped a bit. My father was able to use it ok, though I provided them a few written instructions to help them when they got stuck.

Personally, if I was in the same position I'd still probably go with an Apple TV (unless the person was already used to Android) due to the relative simplicity and lack of customisability.

(And I agree with not going with a Chromecast.)

Dial111

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#2256513 12-Jun-2019 09:45

Apple TV is awesome but the remote is quite sensitive to touch being a touch to scroll device, I hate it and use the TV remote to control the ATV which funnily is an Android TV remote.

jonathan18

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#2256516 12-Jun-2019 09:57

What about an earlier generation ATV? Pick up one second-hand - cheaper and so less to lose if it doesn't work as planned.

The more basic remote would be easier to use, and I imagine it'll still provide the services your father's likely to use; also, with that speed internet I doubt you're needing 4K support!

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CrashAndBurn

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#2256521 12-Jun-2019 10:07

skewt:

Id try a Mi Box

Android tv with a simple remote and voice searching

https://www.mi.com/global/mibox/

Looks like the Mi Box can be an option given the dedicated Netflix button.

CrashAndBurn

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#2256523 12-Jun-2019 10:09

jonathan18:

Has your father used a smart phone or tablet? Just wondering if some earlier exposure to either iOS or Android may help work out which is more appropriate.

I got my elderly parents an Apple TV - they already had an iPad, so I think that helped a bit. My father was able to use it ok, though I provided them a few written instructions to help them when they got stuck.

Personally, if I was in the same position I'd still probably go with an Apple TV (unless the person was already used to Android) due to the relative simplicity and lack of customisability.

(And I agree with not going with a Chromecast.)

He was an Android user before he got bedridden. My mum knows the basics on an iPad as I've taught her when I gave her my old one. And I also provided her steps with photos even :)

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#2256524 12-Jun-2019 10:09

This is probably an irrelevant comment, but we have a Shield and it has a touch control for the volume, which we disabled as we were forever changing the volume every time we picked it up. I don't suppose you can disable the touch control on the Apple remote ? Too integral, not an Apple thing ?

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CrashAndBurn

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#2256529 12-Jun-2019 10:15

jonathan18:

What about an earlier generation ATV? Pick up one second-hand - cheaper and so less to lose if it doesn't work as planned.

The more basic remote would be easier to use, and I imagine it'll still provide the services your father's likely to use; also, with that speed internet I doubt you're needing 4K support!

I am considering an older one as an option and I agree no need for 4K. I could have just bought a smart TV but the current one is just a couple of years old.

tdgeek

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#2256532 12-Jun-2019 10:26

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

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jonathan18

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#2256543 12-Jun-2019 10:39

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.

Given the 3rd gen ATV doesn't have app store access, I imagine it's a bit more basic in terms of its interface etc; hide all but the apps that may be used and there's little to go wrong.

tdgeek

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#2256544 12-Jun-2019 10:42

Ok. I use my ATV4 a lot, I have no issue with the remote at all. Maybe if you used it once a week? In many ways sliding a finger is better than pressing many buttons. Plus the trackpad is also a button

Quinny

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#2256545 12-Jun-2019 10:44

I would seriously recommend change the TV to an android Tv. I have been doing setup for my sister who is blind and for my Mum and the android tv (Sony in our case) has been best bet. You could also look at LG, Samsung if you like the ui. Not sure if that is outside budget (they can be had quite cheap) - it is the second device on a 2nd channel causes the issues ie must be on hdmi 1 and must also turn the box on or it be on. Then app. It can also be a case of two remotes and yeah dont go there.

This way you are just turn on via remote push netflix button on remote. It does not go wrong. The other advantage of the sony is chromecast is built in and you can slowly educate to that as well.

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#2256554 12-Jun-2019 10:50

Quinny:

I would seriously recommend change the TV to an android Tv. I have been doing setup for my sister who is blind and for my Mum and the android tv (Sony in our case) has been best bet. You could also look at LG, Samsung if you like the ui. Not sure if that is outside budget (they can be had quite cheap) - it is the second device on a 2nd channel causes the issues ie must be on hdmi 1 and must also turn the box on or it be on. Then app. It can also be a case of two remotes and yeah dont go there.

This way you are just turn on via remote push netflix button on remote. It does not go wrong. The other advantage of the sony is chromecast is built in and you can slowly educate to that as well.

Are all apps in NZ available?

What happens when the apps fail as too old and not supported? That will happen

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