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How is this a knockoff of Apple TV :rolleyes:

Should be obvious… It looks almost the same, has very similar functions, and is built very similarly (even close in specs). And they added a few of the rumored ATV features on top of that.
 
Granted Apple has down some good stuff but had they kept with the AppleTV they could have been the first ones.

You misunderstand.

Apple has spent far more time working on content deals than they would have adding Apps to the ATV.

It is a very safe assumption to derive from that the conclusion that Apple believes the key to further adoption is not Apps, at least not as of yet, but content.

While that isn't to say that Apps will not be coming, you are implying they have been resting on their laurels, when in fact the ATV home screen shows the direct opposite.

While the direction may not be one that you personally care for, and I think we can all agree the product has some limitations, I don't think it's fair to say they are ignoring it.

Karl P
 
"... one more thing. Amazon Prime will now be available on Apple TV."
(we can only hope :))

And, maybe there will be iTunes for Amazon FireTV also?

Maybe the content owners will also come out with their own boxes, too? I'm going to have to get a TV with a lot more HDMI inputs.
 
Oh ish....there's a Flixster App. That alone almost makes this worth it.....

Stupid UV Digital Copies....can't AirPlay and no app on the AppleTV.

oh dont get me even started on that crap. the Flixster app has 1 star on the german appstore. it doesnt even play any video and looks like an app built 5 years ago. horrible horrible. those studios should be ashamed
 
If it has Plex, I'm interested. Pandora is a plus.

Currently using Plex on iPad with my Apple TV using Airplay. It's doable but having the Plex client run on my big screen is much better.
 
oh dont get me even started on that crap. the Flixster app has 1 star on the german appstore. it doesnt even play any video and looks like an app built 5 years ago. horrible horrible. those studios should be ashamed

The app itself is great, I don't mind it. But the fact that many of the big studios have moved to the UV Digital Copies has driven me to pretty much buy from iTunes exclusively. That and the early release deals Apple has scored....

If Flixster was available on the AppleTV (like FireTV it seems), I would rather buy the hard copy + digital copy. Just need a way to stream....

Ha, the fact that Amazon scored the Flixster app deal for their FireTV might mean I start pre-ordering my movies from Amazon again. Loved release-day delivery and the price guarantee!
 
I don't agree. Apple stock would be down today if WS thought this was a big threat to Apple.

The market is up overall, and there are other factors affecting Apple stock. So that's not reasonable logic.
 
These things are always a non starter for me if they can't stream and organize local content.
Same here. Roku comes close, but their anomalous refusal to handle divx/avi files is a non-starter. Got a WDTV recently to see if it could replace my flaky Boxee Box -- it can't. SMB and AFP are a joke, and Plex doesn't do the job: it only sees half of my files, and there's no already-watched flag.
I had an ATV 2 and got fed up with jailbreaking and got a Raspberry Pi and it my setup has never been better.
Those ATV 2's go for surprising bucks on the used market. Are you running OpenElec on your RPi? I've been wondering if that hardware were up to the task and have been thinking of an Intel NUC.
 
Have you guys stopped to consider that everyone else is just now starting to catch up and copy what Apple essentially did in 2010, and most still aren't doing it as well. Amazon's only real upside for most people who would use it is the games, but otherwise, this is more or less a current Apple TV clone.

So if everyone's catching up now and Apple's had three and a half years since their last major overhaul, one you should stop and consider what they may have up their sleeve for the next release. While everyone else has been playing catchup trying to get something out that competes with what we have now, they've been working on something to replace what we have now.

I don't think we need to worry Apple TV, but I do think Apple needs to start spacing out product launches better. Like others, I'm thinking a new Apple TV is being delayed so it can debut with an SDK at WWDC. And at that point, it's unlikely we'll be able to actually buy the product for awhile. Is releasing everything in the the fall really the best idea? If you're only considering the engineering resources needed to sort out the bugs that inevitably follow product launches, it seems like spreading launches out would make at least some sense. I don't think Apple is as concerned about the hype angle, and they probably don't need to be, but given how many bugs have been creeping into software lately and how many product launches they have to support in such a short period of time, I'm wondering if this fall release schedule was really for the best.
 
Excited to test and review this product. I've been using a Roku XDS (1st Gen) since 2009 or 2010.

And for $44, I cant pass it up.
 

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I thought that the point of vomiting "quad core" to define something that is supposed to be faster than "dual core" was already gone.

Give specifics and be honest, or shut up. Some good people here have a 1.3 dual core that would easily smoke that processor and those 2 gb of ram.

Seriously tech companies, stop targeting the lowest common denominator. About the TV itself, it's just another Apple-TV like with Amazon services. Good for amazon clients, I guess.

I wonder why Apple did not stick with dual core for their MacPro. Trying to mislead consumers?

Just replying because I think you may not have gotten their point. I'm not the most tech savvy guy when it comes to processor specs, but I think I got the gist of what he was saying from reading past articles on here.
I'm sure the reference of dual core vs quad core was more in mobile chips, such as the A7 chip. It being dual core will still benchmark faster than many (most?) of the quadcore offerings that other companies put into mobile (non-PC) devices. They are all using different chips for their devices, and some of the quad core offerings are in an arms race for best specs for the sake of specs and not really thinking of the device itself.

I think dual vs quad on a PC basis (intel processors) is entirely different and not what they meant. At that point you're comparing an intel dual vs intel quad, oranges to oranges, a difference that can clearly be seen with a benchmark. It's not so clear cut in mobile where different companies are creating different chips.

I did a quick google search and found this, but if you're interested I'm sure there are many more references available: http://gigaom.com/2013/09/19/tests-...re-still-beats-quad-core-android-competitors/
 
Put prime and showtime anytime on apple tv and it's the clear winner to me, but until then, I have to airplay those two off my laptop, which sucks.
 
Should be obvious… It looks almost the same, has very similar functions, and is built very similarly (even close in specs). And they added a few of the rumored ATV features on top of that.

Ridiculous.

It doesn't look the same. Every streaming box has similar functions. Specs aren't remotely the same (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-complete-guide-to-apple-tv-channels/) and rumored functions are just that - rumors. WOW.

Also - judging by the comparison chart - they're really gunning for Roku's business. If they "matched" anyone here - it's Roku, not Apple.
 
Have you guys stopped to consider that everyone else is just now starting to catch up and copy what Apple essentially did in 2010, and most still aren't doing it as well. Amazon's only real upside for most people who would use it is the games, but otherwise, this is more or less a current Apple TV clone.

So if everyone's catching up now and Apple's had three and a half years since their last major overhaul, one you should stop and consider what they may have up their sleeve for the next release. While everyone else has been playing catchup trying to get something out that competes with what we have now, they've been working on something to replace what we have now.

I don't think we need to worry Apple TV, but I do think Apple needs to start spacing out product launches better. Like others, I'm thinking a new Apple TV is being delayed so it can debut with an SDK at WWDC. And at that point, it's unlikely we'll be able to actually buy the product for awhile. Is releasing everything in the the fall really the best idea? If you're only considering the engineering resources needed to sort out the bugs that inevitably follow product launches, it seems like spreading launches out would make at least some sense. I don't think Apple is as concerned about the hype angle, and they probably don't need to be, but given how many bugs have been creeping into software lately and how many product launches they have to support in such a short period of time, I'm wondering if this fall release schedule was really for the best.

No one is catching up to the apple tv lol, they have surpassed it. While the ATV is a good product, its ridiculously dated and limited.

Roku 3 and this Amazon box are better in many ways and also worse in some, such as if you're too invested into iTunes content, there is no point or if your life revolves around AirPlay, other than that, they have more apps, channels, better hardware, etc.

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I don't have it on mine and don't see it here.

VEVO but not VUDU.

VEVO is music videos (MTV...old school)
VUDU is HD Movies.

MTV old school was... awesome.
 
I love how in the Spec page for the Fire TV, Amazon lists 'Popular Services' and includes Amazon Instant Video on there, but NOT iTunes.

Way to not include the #1 'Popular Service' on your list. Amazon wants people to know that Apple TV can't play Amazon content, but not that Fire TV can't play iTunes content.
 
Have you guys stopped to consider that everyone else is just now starting to catch up and copy what Apple essentially did in 2010, and most still aren't doing it as well. Amazon's only real upside for most people who would use it is the games, but otherwise, this is more or less a current Apple TV clone.

Catch up? Are you serious?
 
No one is catching up to the apple tv lol, they have surpassed it. While the ATV is a good product, its ridiculously dated and limited.

Roku 3 and this Amazon box are better in many ways and also worse in some, such as if you're too invested into iTunes content, there is no point or if your life revolves around AirPlay, other than that, they have more apps, channels, better hardware, etc.

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MTV old school was... awesome.

And what does that better hardware do for them right now?
 
I love how in the Spec page for the Fire TV, Amazon lists 'Popular Services' and includes Amazon Instant Video on there, but NOT iTunes.

Way to not include the #1 'Popular Service' on your list. Amazon wants people to know that Apple TV can't play Amazon content, but not that Fire TV can't play iTunes content.

While I agree, Im not at all invested into iTunes, I've never purchased anything but music, and that's so far and in between its a mute point for me. But I see your POV and couldn't agree more.
 
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