ATV is a great device but the value proposition just isn’t there anymore with all these cheap 4K devices. Especially considering the majority of content is streamed these days (versus locked into iTunes format) from apps available on any device. And if purchased through iTunes can usually be watched elsewhere with Movies Anywhere.
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Amazon Announces Fire TV Stick 4K With Dolby Vision, Atmos, and HDR10+ for $50
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Sounds interesting. I didn’t make the upgrade from the 3. gen ATV to the 4K models due to the price. We replaced one of our two ATVs with a FireTV stick last year and it looks like the second one is going to be degraded to serve solely as an AirPlay receiver soon...
The ATV is the better product but not by a margin that justifies spending an extra 100€ per device (at least for me).
The ATV is the better product but not by a margin that justifies spending an extra 100€ per device (at least for me).
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Would someone who has invested THOUSANDS on an AV system with at least 9 speakers, an expensive AV receiver, and a pricey 4K TV with HDR10+ really consider a $50 device that streams over WIFI (how many people have the bandwidth to stream 4K) for their system?
Is this all about boasting specs or is there really a market for this?
Despite this, if they go on sale for $39 during BF, I'm in for one. Just because.
Not that many people spend "thousands on an AV system with at least 9 speakers"... even many in this crowd here seems to "cheap out" when it comes to non-Apple CE. For example, when ATMOS was announced, I can't tell you how many people starting spinning desire for a low-cost ATMOS soundbar (pretty much missing the fundamental point of ATMOS) and/or wanted what was a mono-like HomePod to double as up to an ATMOS speaker system for
TV ("but, but through (sound) beam forming, blah, blah, blah"). Even when a rumor pops up of Apple taking a hardware step forward with
TV, "we" become a heavy "good enough" crowd instead of longing for "latest & greatest" if it means having to shell out upwards of maybe $200 for a new TV. TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS for a complete Apple product? Heaven forbid! Go spend some time in the
TV section of this site and you are likely to find lots and lots of people who will get up at 3am trying to be "first!" to buy a thousand dollar phone that barely does much more than the thousand dollar phone they bought last year... who then seem oddly focused on how cheap they can buy home theater tech that they'll probably use for the next 10 years: TV, speakers, and all such kit. You'll even find much debate about whether $20 more for 64GB is a better choice than 32GB TV... like some of us will really think long and hard about $20 for anything from Apple.So yes, plenty of room for this kind of thing in an AV stack... even among this "I'll pay Apple anything" crowd "one kidney can still do the job."
Besides, some homes have a LOT of televisions in them. A LOT of
TVs to mostly play Netflix or a few other major apps can add up to a whole new iPhone or two. Or enjoy the good box on the main TV and load the less-important TVs with this cheaper option. The kids really won't care... nor will most of those that don't sleep, eat and breathe all things Apple.And competition is always good for us consumers.
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Because one has an Apple logo... making pretty much everything about the other product wrong/waste/useless/ugly/likely to explode/faulty/causes cancer/drives unicorns toward extinction/etc.
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Thanks for this thrilling Apple news!
Competition is always good, even for us Apple people.
Competitors roll out a "good enough" alternative for a much cheaper price and it presses (even) Apple to try harder. Wish away all competition and Apple doesn't have to do anything.
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You said WiFi in your post. You made zero mention of people in a rural setting who will only have external wifi from an ISP. No mention of “INTERNAL” or “EXTERNAL” at all. So, the implication in your post was that it was wifi within the home, especially since I was not the only one that made the stated inference.
Next time, you should be more clear in your wording to avoid these sorts of communication issues in the future.
Would someone who has invested THOUSANDS on an AV system with at least 9 speakers, an expensive AV receiver, and a pricey 4K TV with HDR10+ really consider a $50 device that streams over WIFI (how many people have the bandwidth to stream 4K) for their system?
Is this all about boasting specs or is there really a market for this?
Despite this, if they go on sale for $39 during BF, I'm in for one. Just because.
Yep. Increasingly in the U.K. fibre is becoming the norm. Where I am I get 350mpbs FTTP which is unlimited. I used to be all in on Apple TV but my last purchase was the Fire TV 4K ( the odd square shaped dongle) and I find it fast and easy to use. Sorry Apple.
I have an Apple TV, don't need this stick. I can watch Prime Video, as well as my iTunes movies.
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I'm sorry - I just find Amazon's fire tv hardware (and OS) to be hot garbage.
Just junky and cheap feeling - which does match up with its pricing also I guess.
Sorry if you like it - don't mean to offend.
Just junky and cheap feeling - which does match up with its pricing also I guess.
Sorry if you like it - don't mean to offend.
...AV receiver, and a pricey 4K TV with HDR10+ really consider a $50 device that streams over WIFI (how many people have the bandwidth to stream 4K) for their system?
Is this all about boasting specs or is there really a market for this?
Despite this, if they go on sale for $39 during BF, I'm in for one. Just because.
4k doesn’t take all that much bandwidth to stream in reality. Even Dolby Vision versions. As someone who has disc based and streaming, I’ve done the comparisons numerous times and the convience and integration of streaming content is absolutely worth it. I only get discs for movies I absolutely am a super-fan of and want archival quality. Even then I only chose those to watch over the streaming version (which I also own) on movie nights with friends. Streaming has come a long way.
Youtube TV is soo good. Love that service. Do you know if it works on Apple TV? I don't have any streaming device right now, but will in the future.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Perhaps this is not about selling this to you?
Like "I already have a car, so all car manufacturers everywhere should stop making cars." Maybe someone else wants to buy a car?
And doesn't pretty much everyone now have a phone? So should even Apple stop making new phones?
I know this is hard to believe, but there are people out there that don't revolve around Apple... that don't see anything from Apple as the one and only right thing for all and that all competitive things are junk/garbage/abominations/faulty/etc.
Furthermore, maybe you are single living alone or have only 1 TV at your home. Some homes might have a TV in every room. A sports bar might have 50 TVs to feed. 5, 10 or 50
TVs can be a relatively steep cost vs. 5, 10 or 50 of these things running pretty much the very same app(s) most of the time.Again, there is a whole world of TV owners beyond the garden's walls. Some of them don't give a hoot about how far and away superior Apple is in every single way that a comparison can be struck. Instead, they might want 90% or 80% or 50% of what the masterpiece that is
TV can do for a fraction of the TV price. Or they have 5+ other TVs to feed at home and would rather do so and have enough left over to buy that brand new iPhone.I happen to have BOTH
TV and FireTVs on TVs in my home. Most used apps feel/play/seem IDENTICAL or so close it's not even obvious which box is currently feeding a video to the screen. That's making no passionate argument for FireTV but pointing out that it's pretty great for what it is... especially for those that might rather get most of the benefits without spending so much. Personally, I hope most of the benefits of TV4K at this price point means Apple will push to build a much better TV to clarify WHY it costs so much more, beyond an Apple brand mark stamped on it. If so, we consumers- Apple worshipers or not- benefit from Apple feeling some push to do more. Indifference and complacency begs Apple to do nothing.
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There is always https://moviesanywhere.com - It lets movies be portable between iTunes, Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, Fandango Now, and Microsoft Movies and TV. You are probably covered for movies, but not TV shows.
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4K/HDR content rights may be kind of finicky I'm guessing since all those places have different deals related to that content.
Yes - in fact Apple TV (4k version especially) is one of the very best YTTV hardware options.
It's only held back by the Siri Remote as Google DGAF about making it behave and feel more native.
Unfortunately no. That's the only thing keeping me from buying one of these, other than that it sounds like a great deal if the interface speed isn't too slow/laggy (a problem I had on older FireTV sticks). But I've got ~500 iTunes movies so I'm "stuck" with Apple TV (which I like a lot expect for the remote with the sometimes-annoying trackpad and lack of a mute button).
Fantastic! This looks like the one to replace my first gen Fire TV with! It’ll be going on my Christmas list. I have games consoles that do the same, but they have fans that are noisy and aren’t as slick as a dedicated media streamer. Here in the U.K. Now TV also launched an updated 4K streaming now the other day with voice search.
Good times for streamers.
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Unfortunately no, Apple have limited their systems purely to ‘Apple Overpriced Junk’
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Seriously? It’s Apple mate, they automatically will charge more then anyone else, I mean the top end Apple TV costs more then the Shield TV! You’ve gotta be seriously invested into Apple to one then!
When the Fire TV launched in the U.K, it had voice search that worked (later updated to Alexa for free), and a built in App Store. It was also more powerful and faster then the Apple TV at the time, I got one as a gift not knowing what to expect and have pretty much used it none stop since! One of my all time fave gadgets by far. And all Apple have done is add the same features as others for more cost, with a broken search assistant.
Good times for streamers.
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Unfortunately no, Apple have limited their systems purely to ‘Apple Overpriced Junk’
[doublepost=1538596845][/doublepost]
Perhaps this is not about selling this to you?
Like "I already have a car, so all car manufacturers everywhere should stop making cars." Maybe someone else wants to buy a car?
And doesn't pretty much everyone now have a phone? So should even Apple stop making new phones?
I know this is hard to believe, but there are people out there that don't revolve around Apple... that don't see anything from Apple as the one and only right thing for all and that all competitive things are junk/garbage/abominations/faulty/etc.
Furthermore, maybe you are single living alone or have only 1 TV at your home. Some homes might have a TV in every room. A sports bar might have 50 TVs to feed. 5, 10 or 50
Again, there is a whole world of TV owners beyond the garden's walls. Some of them don't give a hoot about how far and away superior Apple is in every single way that a comparison can be struck. Instead, they might want 90% or 80% or 50% of what the masterpiece that is
I happen to have BOTH
Seriously? It’s Apple mate, they automatically will charge more then anyone else, I mean the top end Apple TV costs more then the Shield TV! You’ve gotta be seriously invested into Apple to one then!
When the Fire TV launched in the U.K, it had voice search that worked (later updated to Alexa for free), and a built in App Store. It was also more powerful and faster then the Apple TV at the time, I got one as a gift not knowing what to expect and have pretty much used it none stop since! One of my all time fave gadgets by far. And all Apple have done is add the same features as others for more cost, with a broken search assistant.
Yes. 100%, yes. In spite of the previous comments saying no, the answer is yes.
Movies Anywhere -- Apple is a member... but you do lose out on the free 4K upgrades for any studio that participates in Apple's program. That only works within the Apple TV. But owning 4K (and only paying the 20 dollars for it on iTunes) will show up anywhere else thru Movies Anywhere as 4K for participating studios.
Would someone who has invested THOUSANDS on an AV system with at least 9 speakers, an expensive AV receiver, and a pricey 4K TV with HDR10+ really consider a $50 device that streams over WIFI (how many people have the bandwidth to stream 4K) for their system?
Is this all about boasting specs or is there really a market for this?
Despite this, if they go on sale for $39 during BF, I'm in for one. Just because.
That pretty much describes me, but replace Fire TV with Apple TV.
People wishing for the Apple TV 4K to be cheaper really have not taken the quality of the components from Apple into consideration.
Firstly, Amazon TV products really are true garbage. Cheaply made for maximum profit, poor components, cheap remote, short longevity - a crappy user experience.
Please take into consideration that the AVTV 4K uses the A10X Fusion chip - ie DAMN HIGH SPEC!
Has a beautifully made remote using glass & aluminium, outstanding UI, 4K screensavers, Apple HomeSharing, AirPlay, lightning cable (which is £19 retail) and a beautifully designed ATV box.
The ATV has something that none of these cheap 'things' have and that's Automatic Frame Rate.
Compare the quality of watching a 4K Dolby Vision film with Dolby Atmos playing at the correct 24p for iTunes to this cheap Amazon crap and i'm sure within a second, you'll appreciate why the Apple TV costs more.
A Ferrari is expensive and a Ford Focus is cheap but my gosh, both offer different experiences - one has style, class, quality of craftsmanship and the other laughs in your face. It's the same when comparing the beautiful craftsmanship of an Apple product to the utter rubbish from Amazon. It's insulting to compare the two.
Firstly, Amazon TV products really are true garbage. Cheaply made for maximum profit, poor components, cheap remote, short longevity - a crappy user experience.
Please take into consideration that the AVTV 4K uses the A10X Fusion chip - ie DAMN HIGH SPEC!
Has a beautifully made remote using glass & aluminium, outstanding UI, 4K screensavers, Apple HomeSharing, AirPlay, lightning cable (which is £19 retail) and a beautifully designed ATV box.
The ATV has something that none of these cheap 'things' have and that's Automatic Frame Rate.
Compare the quality of watching a 4K Dolby Vision film with Dolby Atmos playing at the correct 24p for iTunes to this cheap Amazon crap and i'm sure within a second, you'll appreciate why the Apple TV costs more.
A Ferrari is expensive and a Ford Focus is cheap but my gosh, both offer different experiences - one has style, class, quality of craftsmanship and the other laughs in your face. It's the same when comparing the beautiful craftsmanship of an Apple product to the utter rubbish from Amazon. It's insulting to compare the two.
I agree with the analogy. But, just like an ATV4K, most people will not get a Ferrari when a much, much cheaper car will be able to meet their needs.
I said this in an earlier post, but I think the ATV4K is a much better product than the competitions' streaming boxes that I have tried. It is not even close.
That said, for most people that use Netflix and YouTube for 90% of their streaming, they will most likely use the much cheaper boxes.
I’ve had bad luck streaming Netflix, Hulu etc on a fire stick. So I’d rather pay more for an Apple TV that has less issues. Plus also the apps like ESPN and others looks nicer on an Apple TV. I think for those on a budget, or for those wanting to side load Kodi or something else on it. It may be worth it for them.
I was about to post exactly this.
I only use Plex. 100% of my video-based media consumption is through a Plex app connecting to my Plex server. All of the various TV boxes offer Plex apps. They all look about the same. They all function about the same. So why would I spend $447 for devices (an AppleTV non-4K on each of the three TVs in my house) that, for my needs, do the exact same thing that $119.97 worth of Fire TV Sticks can do?