", does anyone seriously think that using the duplicate app on the Samsung is going to be anywhere nearly as pleasant a UX as the AppleTV?"
I in general think the Apple UX experience is pretty awful across all their products with Apple TV being the worse of all. I have used the Samsung interface and it is bad but I still dislike the Apple TV more.
I can't really imagine what you believe is so bad about the Apple TV UX. It's a basic grid of available apps and videos, with an easy swipe to access video settings (subtitles, language, etc). Not complicated at all.
Most streaming boxes have the same basic interface... my usual issue is when one is laggy (e.g. TV built-in, Roku, Chromecast, etc). The Apple TV is buttery smooth, fast to scrub through videos, and never feels limited by its CPU.
It suffers from the same issue as all Apple devices, a lack of discoverability. It is even worse on the Apple TV given the lack of buttons on the remote.
I much prefer my Roku TVs and don't have any issue with lag which bothers me.
Yesterday's news. ATV4K remote couple years now has all the buttons and no track pad (well, you can swipe in middle of the round OK button, but you wouldn't).
I like Apple TV. The one thing that consistently frustrates me is pressing the mic button at the wrong "screen" will take you out of your current app and bring you to the Apple TV+ search container. Yes, it's not hard to navigate back to where you were but it's quite simple to accidentally press the mic button at the wrong screen.
As you can see from the other replies, you are wrong to not love the locked-down Apple way of doing things from the bottom of your heart. Science has proven that people who are given options are less happy than those who never had options to begin with.
I too am in the wrong group, like you. I was finally talked into becoming an owner of an Apple device for the first time in my life about a year ago (an iPhone), and I have hated its interface with increasing passion every day since. I hate getting rid of electronics before the natural end of their lives, because I'm cheap and I'm environmental and I'm obstinate, but I may actually do it in this case.
But anyway it is all right, everything is all right, the struggle is nearly finished.
That feeling of absolute helplessness when trying to deal with any issue on your Apple device, you must embrace. It is by design. Your helpless feeling will some day be transformed into a warm feeling of being nannied, which will eventually feel maternal, and that will eventually become love.
We will win the victory over ourselves, and we will love Big Brother Apple.
You're probably in the minority with that opinion. Apple UX is wildly renowned for being great and Apple TV is no worse than any of the competitors. The TV input interface is just awkward in general but being able to use an iPhone to automatically fill in passwords, authenticate purchases, or just use as a second remote is smooth as butter. It's another example of how Apple products are better together within the ecosystem. But even if you don't have an iPhone, the newest remote is extremely good. One of the best products they've made in recent years.
The Apple UX on all devices lacks discoverability which annoys me to no end.
I can use my phone to fill in passwords and as a second remote on my Roku TV without needing to be locked in to the eco system of a single vendor. Haven't used the current remote but the previous one was an atrocity.
The only hidden gestures left on ATV4K are tap-tap home to show carousel of recent apps, and swipe up to force quit (same as iPhone gestures on iPhones or iPods w/ a home button). Everything else in ATV UI is giant buttons on screen, real buttons on remote.
> use my phone to fill in passwords
Also, 1Password (among others including keychain) works great on ATV, and happily fills in passwords for, e.g., HBO+, from your laptop logins. Any input field, you can input from another device and 1Password into those on the device which inputs it on ATV.
>Yet Apple devices are usable and enjoyed by both young techies and old grandparents and all groups in between.
And many of them don't know the features they could be using and enjoying but aren't because they aren't discoverable.
>I can use my phone to fill in passwords and as a second remote on my Roku TV
>Mind explaining how?
The Roku app allows you to fill passwords via your phone and use the phone as a remote for your Roku. I can also use Roku's private listening feature to redirect its audio to my phone allowing me to listen using the headphones connected to my phone. Roku also has a remote available with a wired headphone jack which automatically redirects the audio to it when headphones are connected to the jack.
For comparison, you can access the remote from anywhere within iOS by opening Control Center and a notification with a text field automatically appears when there is a text input on the Apple TV or you need to authenticate with Face ID. No app required. You can also output audio to AirPods and it prompts you automatically if you are watching something and you put them in your ears. Works seamlessly. Is this lock in or is this 1+1=3?
I in general think the Apple UX experience is pretty awful across all their products with Apple TV being the worse of all. I have used the Samsung interface and it is bad but I still dislike the Apple TV more.