I use the Prime app now and it tends to lose the airplay connection between my iPad and Apple TV quite often. A dedicated device like this sounds like it will be more reliable. I may order the voice remote also for $30.
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Amazon Launches $39 'Fire TV Stick' to Compete With Chromecast, Apple TV
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How is Apple TV "so far behind"? It does exactly what it's supposed to do and it works every time I use it. Not sure I really understand why it would take a quad or dual core CPU and 1 Gig of ram to display a menu of TV shows. I have a Roku, an Android Box from Geekbuying dot com and ATV. To date I have zero reasons to stop using the ATV. It works fine.
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I guess if someone didn't already have a streaming device, this would be an excellent deal. In fact, I may order a couple for Christmas. As for me, I have an ATV2 from 2011 and barely use that. Don't see what this will offer different from what I already have.
***Changed my mind - Ordered 1 to see about XBMC***
***Changed my mind - Ordered 1 to see about XBMC***
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I bought one. The tech geek in me says "I need to compare this to my Chromecast!"
I sure hope though that it has the same CEC capability as the Chromecast to turn on your TV and switch to the correct HDMI input automatically.
To me that's the killer feature of the Chromecast, as I always misplace my tv remote. It's just so convenient to cast without turning on the TV first.
I sure hope though that it has the same CEC capability as the Chromecast to turn on your TV and switch to the correct HDMI input automatically.
To me that's the killer feature of the Chromecast, as I always misplace my tv remote. It's just so convenient to cast without turning on the TV first.
I really wish Amazon would spin off their electronics efforts and focus on their core businesses. These all feel like Bezos vanity projects.
Yeah, I probably will too, but I don't see how that does them any good. I don't intend to use it, just figure it won't cost me anything and won't take much space in a drawer...
But that's, essentially, my point. An Apple TV and a Roku are basically targeting completely different segments of the market at this point. If you have a need for an Apple TV, you buy one. But comparing an ATV to a Chromecast/FireTV/Roku just doesnt make sense at this point with how long Apple has sat on the platform.
Could ATV be a competitor in the future? Sure. But it's not right now.
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No, I just think something like the Chromecast is over complicating the issue.
CC is great. I have one and use it at least a couple of times a week. But the times I have to pick up my phone, unlock it, relaunch the app I'm casting in case I closed out of it and then wait for it to sync back up to the CC just so I can pause a video and go to the restroom or the kitchen is just over complicating the matter. What do I do if I get a phone call I need to take while watching HBO? Tell them to hang on for 45 sconds while I pause the show I'm watching? Am I supposed to keep a Nexus 7 laying around the house for the sole purpose of controlling a Chromecast?
Just give me a remote with a couple of friggin buttons on it already.
You have to go to check out. Then the discount is applied.
oh come on dude. You're not even attempting to help. He has given hints as to how he uses his AppleTV, so you can either use your brain and pretend like you have the capability to theorize as to which device might best suit his needs, or ask him questions for more information, then help him, or you can continue to badger him. Your choice. The last one isn't productive.
You obviously aren't paying attention. Amazon generates massive revenues. Profits not so much. There are literally hundreds of articles covering Amazon's historical lack of profit, and when you're arguing how smart a CEO is, then it's reasonable to comment how his company has yet to do what companies are designed to do, so the jury is still out.
I'm drinking coffee tonight, it's quite good.
Apple TV isn't Apple's only business. $39 Fire TV Sticks aren't Amazon's only business (if I had to guess I imagine they both make virtually nothing from the boxes/sticks they sell, it's more about locking people into their ecosystem in terms of purchasing content/adding value to Prime). The response was directly to praising the genius of Jeff Bezos and how he's smarter then Tim Cook. He may absolutely be, but the company Cook stewards actually accomplishes the goal of large companies; Apple's profit continues to rise while Amazon has yet to raise anything but revenue. Creating a web based Walmart while throwing every bit of possible profit at trying to enter every industry imaginable does not make someone a genius.
Most of us probably already have an ATV. I can't see any additional function here to make it worth changing.
Lots of horsepower. Don't know why.
Lots of horsepower. Don't know why.
You make some great points, and I too am waiting for something big from Apple TV. But people need to stop comparing the Fire Stick to Apple TV in this thread. Amazon did build something comparable to Apple TV: it's called Fire TV, and it costs the same.
Fire Stick is a streaming dongle. Apple TV is a media throughout hub with a range of connectivity including optical out. Plus, I don't see that Fire Stick lets you play media you OWN. I have a NAS with 8 TB of movies and TV shows I own. How does Fire Stick get THAT onto my TV screen? For that, a Fire TV may fit the bill (Plex has an app for it, although the UI sucks) but price wise now suddenly it's comparable to Apple TV.
Apple TV's real weakness, besides being closed to devs for the time being, is lack of processing horsepower, so media library throughout must rely on a Mac for the real decoding heavy lifting. It's irritating that Apple won't either lower the price or beef op the CPU. But it's incorrect to draw comparisons to Fire Stick (or Chromecast for that matter).
My 2¢.
Yawn. Tell me more when these types of systems become more robust and household penetration rates begin to exceed 50%*. It'll only be due to higher user demand that Apple TV and its competition will get better.
*http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-aug2013-connected-tv
*http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-aug2013-connected-tv
They copy the Roku Stream Stick and that's innovation?
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They must have borrowed that from Apple and the iMac
People understand that they need to plug an iMac into the wall. People won't understand that they need to do the same for this little stick.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/08/what-is-mhl-and-why-should-you-care/index.htm
It essentially happened 2 years ago, but it's not been widely adopted.
I think you're missing the point.
Do you like Siri? They call it a gimmick, Apple calls it a major feature. You're doing the same thing but in reverse.
Outside of keeping a keyboard on your couch (just plain ugly to lug out a keyboard when using your TV), you can speak right into the remote (hey-- just like you can speak to Siri
They have all of the channels you have, PLUS games (not everyone wants a horrific looking xbox in their living room, but sometimes kids want to play some games). But hey, might as well add some xbox controllers to your bluetooth keyboard, right?
Plus, you paid 2.5x the cost for your Apple TV (for Prime members right now, the Apple TV is 4.5x the cost), and the remote requires line of site and another product next to your TV. But hey, if you have a bluetooth keyboard, xbox controllers, and an xbox staring at you as you sit on your couch, what's an Apple TV to boot?
So the feature you're really paying for now is extending your desktop on your TV. But guess what? I use my computer... on my computer.
So while there still may not be "ANY features" that interest you on "a super over-spec'ed Fire TV or whatever," hopefully your cluelessness as to the appeal of these products has been reduced somewhat.
Hey, whatever floats your boat. I'm just saying NONE OF THAT CRAP APPEALS TO ME. Go speak into your remote. Enjoy yourself. You're also playing a fun little trick where you compare the features of the more expensive Fire and the (temporary) price of the little stick one. Cool, whatever. Also it sounds like you maybe live in some bare spartan lair with about two objects in it. Neat!
Line of sight: a) who gives a crap, is your TV under a bunch of rocks or something? Mine is (you guessed it) within line of sight of my couch, that kind of being the point of a TV. b) If that was somehow a problem, my iPhone functions as a remote through wifi. Could also use any other iOS device if I had one. Next?
Keyboard: again, wrong. I happen to have an extra Bluetooth keyboard around (and yeah, it's really CLUTTERING UP my living room LOL) but if all that insane amount of clutter was too much for my spare aesthetic, I could use my iPhone's keyboard. I could also talk into my phone through Siri if I wanted to to input into text fields, but I don't becuase it's slow and stupid and I'd just as soon type. Next?
games: Are you really comparing fully formed Xbox/Playstation platforms with years and years of games libraries available to whatever "games" you can play on the Amazon Fire? Not even remotely in the same league, but ok, have fun "gaming" in your uncluttered living room dude! You'll be playing $h*** games but at least you won't have to hurt you precious eyes by seeing a game console. Next?
Streaming from my computer: you didn't mention this. I do it EFFORTLESSLY from a huge library of video sitting on my Mac. Maybe you don't see any value in this, but I sure do. I guess you can do it with Plex or something on other devices? Cool. I happen to have my stuff in iTunes and this is as "plug and play" as it gets.
Short version of all this: if you're invested in Apple stuff already, ATV plugs beautifully into all of it. If you aren't, sure, you might as well get a generic Roku/Amazon/Chrome streamer and save a few bucks, if $50 or whatever means so much to you.
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BINGO. My point earlier.
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Deal breaker? Give me a break. You act like your TV doesn't have power cable. Unless you use it on a battery operated TV, that's not an excuse.
Since I would have to remove my tv from the wall mount to access the outlet or run an extension cord down the wall and over to another outlet. Yes, it is in fact a deal breaker.
The main appeal of these little dongles for me is portability. Needing an additional power outlet and having to carry the large power adapter detract from that appeal greatly.
My appletv works fine with my Lenovo laptop, netgear wifi router, Sony TV and Yamaha/Klipsch sound system. And my ipad and iPhones, too.