Posted Wed Nov 1, 2017 at 04:15 PM PDT by Steven Cohen
The streaming player's most troublesome issue is being corrected.
Apple has announced plans to implement a new "Match Content" option for the Apple TV 4K as part of its upcoming tvOS 11.2 update. This new setting will allow the player to automatically switch it's video output to match the source dynamic range and frame rate of the content being played.
Currently, the Apple TV 4K forces the player's video output to stay in HDR mode (either HDR10 or Dolby Vision depending on the display model) for all content being played on an HDR TV. This can cause some SDR content to look unnatural with incorrect colors and contrast due to the conversion. Likewise, the player also currently prioritizes 60Hz output even if the content being played uses a different frame rate. Thankfully, the upcoming update will allow users to activate a "Match Content" option which will enable the player to automatically switch the video output mode in order to match the native frame rate and dynamic range of whatever video is being played. This will allow SDR and 24Hz videos to be played as originally intended without any forced conversion. With that said, specific video apps will need to include support for the Match Content option in order for it to work.
The Apple TV 4K utilizes the A10X Fusion chip and offers 4K playback capabilities at up to 60 frames per second with support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision content. In addition, the device includes 4K scaling for HD sources, Siri voice search, iCloud support for media sharing, standard AirPlay capabilities, and the ability to serve as a smart home hub for HomeKit accessories with remote access and automated control. AirPlay 2 support will be added later this year as well, enabling the unit to control multiple AirPlay 2-compatible speakers.
Apple TV 4K models are now available in 32GB ($179) and 64GB ($199) versions. An exact release date for the tvOS 11.2 update has not been announced.
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