I have a bunch of videos and movies stored on USB from a variety of original sources.
Is Apple TV 4 capable of playing MP4 files? What's the process of getting them to play on the device? Would a different set top box better?
Is Apple TV likely to be updated to Apple TV 5 soon?
As Mp4 and m4v are both MPEG-4, there is a good chance an Mp4 will play on Apple TV. Not entirely sure, thus suggest you first try a single Mp4 movie or TV program file.
m4v is Apple's proprietary, DRM version of MPEG-4.
If result negative, then a fairly simple process to use software to encode such media to m4v prior to adding to the iTunes library. If a caveat in this (see below concerning Plex).
I cannot say concerning Apple TV 4, but believe it is similar to Apple TV 3 in that it has the ability to access one's own media. In ATV 3, for example, one would choose Computer and then use sharing to access these files on a computer running iTunes. In ATV 3 the interface for media streamed from Apple is different and uses graphics, versus basically just a list for one's own media.
Whether you opt for such a system will likely depend upon usage and preference. Overall I believe it is simpler to remain within Apple's ecosystem. Particularly if what you are adding on your own will be the occasional movie or TV program you wish the same relatively easy access to as all purchased through Apple.
However a system like
Plex offers the advantage of an attractive graphical interface for
all media, as well my understanding being able to translate many different file formats, potentially saving you the bother. But first you'll have to take the time to understand and set it up, AND be willing to shift over to it from Apple TV when wishing to view something only found on Plex.
Consider this last carefully. Or how much switching around you wish to do versus remaining within Apple's or someone else's system. You may wish to consider the pros and cons of each system and then choose basically one.
My limited experience with Plex suggests it wishes a
precise file naming structure on individual media. Simple, but precise. Or even if Plex is able to easily translate media, you possibly still cannot just chuck it into a folder and have same work. As well, note, Plex will not play DRM media, unless that first stripped out.
The short answer to this long explanation is that, yes, you
can watch your own videos on Apple TV. Yet the ease of the digital presentation first comes in setting it up to work properly.
As for
Apple TV 5, I am hopeful but counting on nothing. They
should already have released a new version, yet may think leaving everyone hanging for another year or so acceptable.
I would
hope that an ATV 5 would at minimum offer a better remote and 4k. As well nice if it offered a truly usable USB3 connection for external drives (so one doesn't have to have iTunes running to view their own local media). Then too a better graphical interface, and basically reverting to all that was best with Apple TV 3, and then envisioning how a new Apple TV 5 could best Amazon, Roku and all the rest at their game by setting the
best in class standards for well into the future.
What I more expect is the somewhat late introduction of an Apple TV 5 which is not much more than an Apple TV 4 with a few minor attractions and a less than stellar 4k capability.
At the moment no one is offering a truly compelling alternative to just decent cable television.
