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According to Apple, the future of TV is apps - where streaming media content combines with a modicum of processing power in order to bring us the entertainment we want, when we want it, backed up by a range of functionality and discoverability that traditional TV simply can't supply. The fact that more powerful hardware is at the core of all of the next-gen streamers means that they also double-up as games consoles too, turning the likes of the new Apple TV and Nvidia Shield Android TV into all-in-one entertainment centres. But what more do they offer compared to standard consoles or cheapo media boxes - do we really need a set-top box revolution?This was the question we pondered when we first heard about the release of the 2015 Apple TV, but the more we thought about this device, the more concerns we had, especially in terms of its gaming credentials. The new Apple TV is based on mobile titles - great for your smartphone but do they actually scale up well on big-screen flat panels? Further question marks surrounded the viability of Apple's remote as a viable gaming interface too.
We've been road-testing both Apple TV and Shield Android TV for a while now and have come to a simple conclusion: as media streamers, these devices' faster processors and superior UI design make accessing content a lot easier than an entry-level box and there are some really cute features, but the bottom line is simple - you're still accessing the same content at the same quality level as you were before. And that's if it's available at all - right now both Apple TV and Android TV lack comprehensive media support.
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