Welcome to a new series called Apple a Day, where we’ll share pieces of Apple content from our archives – an article, review and/or video – daily from now through late September. In addition to CNET, this series will include pieces from our sibling sites PCMag, Mashable, Lifehacker and Popular Science.

For the first installment, join me as we revisit the Apple TV, the company’s venerable streaming device.

Record scratch: Unlike many of my CNET colleagues, I’ve attended “only” two Apple events in Cupertino. Back in the day, I covered TVs and streaming and was invited for the launch of new Apple TV boxes, namely the Apple TV HD in 2015 and the Apple TV 4K in 2017. 

I wrote a ton of articles and shot numerous videos about these overpriced little streamers, and one of my favorites was titled: 7 Ways Apple TV Can Get Better (March 2017).

Penned to coincide with a potential Apple TV refresh at WWDC – which didn’t happen – this piece found yours truly listing off things I hoped Apple would add.

Spoiler: With subsequent versions of the streaming device, Apple basically granted six out of my seven wishes, including an Amazon video app (!), 4K support and better TV control. The last to appear was a remote finder, which finally launched in 2023 via TVOS 17 using Find My. I still like Roku’s version better, which debuted in 2015 with the Roku 4. 

To this day, Apple TV doesn’t have my 7th wish, an optical audio output. Maybe next year (just kidding, that port ship has sailed).

Read my full Apple TV wishlist from 2017.

David Katzmaier

Editor in Chief

David leads the editorial team at CNET. We create expert reviews, articles and video on every aspect of technology, from AI to Zoox. We are thoroughly, proudly human.

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