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It's a blatant knockoff of the Apple TV, but I might have to get one if Apple doesn't offer better deals on the iTunes Store. Amazon Prime is a great deal. Apple's pricing is 2005-era, before there were competitors. It's like Microsoft and Office.

And no, not going to use Netflix. They have a horrible streamable movie selection, and they STILL haven't dumped Silverlight for their PC viewing.

I use PS3 to watch netflix and occasional Amazon prime streaming. Netflix is way better in quality and even in selection than Amazon.
 
I agree! but the Kindle... lol no thanks!

I like diving into the ecosystems....not really a mix and match guy. I love being all-in on Apple's ecosystem. Looks like Amazon has created a great entertainment one of their own.

Kindles are so cheap...would be cool to check out the second screen feature.
 
Yet another box that won't stream media from my NAS....and I mean without Plex. I don't want to tie up another machine acting as a Plex server. If someone would combine this (or the new Apple TV with apps/gaming) with the local streaming capability of a WD TV SMP, all for $99, it'd be a killer unit.
 
Glad to see that some people do see that Apple does not always innovate but replicate in hopes of attracting new customers.

Yes, but i doubt there's anything Amazon announced today that had Apple execs going "oh ****, we're screwed". Apple rarely cares about being first.
 
I have BOTH a Roku and an Apple TV in my house. The Roku gets used very little (not at all in the past month). The Apple TV is used EVERY DAY for hours a day. I'll give you why this is the case for US.

We use Netflix. Both offer Netflix. We like the Apple TV interface better. But that's just an opinion.

We use iTunes. Roku doesn't offer iTunes. Usually for stuff that we can't get on Netflix for free or Amazon Prime for free.

I have an Amazon Prime membership, but there is very little that is free on Amazon Prime Streaming that is any good. I go there once in a while to find good content, but rarely find anything I like.

We also have a library of abour 2,000 of movies and tv shows on our server downstairs. We like how Apple TV streams our collection better than the way Roku does it.

We view our photos on our Apple TV. iCloud automatically sends them to the Apple TV seconds after we take a picture. Not as easy on the Roku.

Then airplay - I watch tv shows streamed from my iPad through this. Can't do this on my Roku.

All subjective.
 
Still don't really get it. I have a Sony HDTV with wifi and it already has Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, Hulu, and Sony Entertainment Network built-in. Why would I want to overlap all of that with an external set-top box?

Can someone explain? Isn't this nothing more than an adapter to make non-smart tv's smart?
 
Especially when it comes to Wall St. (as this forum never fails to point out when Apple stock dips after their own announcements).

I love this segment, and I own a bunch: ATV 3, Roku 3, Chromecast, Oppo BluRay, smart hub on my Samsung TV. I will probably buy this one too.

A few thoughts:
- It's less "closed" than I expected (and MUCH more open than ATV) if it has Plex, Vudu, Flixter/Ultraviolet, etc.

- Voice search will be great IF they integrate it into the apps like Roku does. I'd love a quick, easy search across Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Showtime, and Vudu.

- Games look cool. My kids haven't warmed up to tablet gaming (controls) or the next gen consoles (price of games). I could see them embracing this middle-ground.

With FireTV and Chromecast getting more apps seemingly every week, Apple and Roku are really feeling the pressure now.

realistically though.... with netflix and the itunes library......do you really watch THAT much TV that you need all these different subscription-based sources of media?
 
I have both (ATV 3 and Roku 3), and I agree that Roku has more functionality. Beyond the much larger app selection, Roku also has very useful features like cross-app search, wireless headphone jack in the remote, speed test app, etc. They also have newer interfaces for Netflix and Youtube. ATV doesn't even support 5.1 surround in Netflix right now. I love Airplay, but other than that, ATV is limping towards the next update.


Very useful info, thanks! They Apple fanboys will still think they are neck to neck comparable but they are not.

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I like diving into the ecosystems....not really a mix and match guy. I love being all-in on Apple's ecosystem. Looks like Amazon has created a great entertainment one of their own.

Kindles are so cheap...would be cool to check out the second screen feature.

True, I owned and returned a Kindle Fire, just like iOS more but the speakers on the Kindle were simple AMAZING and put the iPad Air and iPad Mini speakers to shame.
 
Yes, but i doubt there's anything Amazon announced today that had Apple execs going "oh ****, we're screwed". Apple rarely cares about being first.

Or so it would seem. Steve (when he was alive) certainly didn't want to be lagging behind based on the information released today in relation to the Samsung lawsuit...
 
I don't have it on mine and don't see it here.

VEVO but not VUDU.

Agreed... no app on ATV that I've seen. This is one of my biggest frustrations with Apple, and the surprise from today's Amazon announcement. Both companies want you to buy from their ecosystem, but Apple doesn't give you the choice: no Vudu (which is my go-to rental service due to the high quality), no M-Go, no Flixter/Ultraviolet, etc. Amazon will probably bias the their search, but at least I can rent a Vudu HDX movie on it!
 
It doesn't help much, but I don't "do" Flixster. UV movies can be watched many places now - including Vudu and Target Ticket (apps on my Roku).

I actually redeem all of my UV thru Vudu because I get the highest quality version there. Always HD.

For Frozen, I did Vudu, just because of where I wanted to be able to watch it... then I noticed the iTunes and Disney Movies version was still there... so I tried it. It worked. I have it in iTunes with the extras, and in Vudu.

Oh, and Vudu lets you download to your device... it is wayyyyy better than Flixster ever tried to be. The mere mention of the Flixster name makes me want to puke.

Vudu for the save!!

Now, update the ATV Apple so I can finally buy one!!

I can download the movie from Flixster to my device as well....in the end its all the same to me - its another app which stores my movies. I prefer to have them all in one place (iTunes). Unfortunately, I've been caught with a few movies I really wanted to have blu-rays of using only the UV -> Flixster digital copy.

At this point, digital HD movies from iTunes are plenty high-quality and are usually $19.99. Would I rather have both the dc and blu-ray for $22.99? Yes, but not if the dc is UV.

If Flixster's app is on the FireTV, perhaps it'll be opening up on iOS.
 
Very useful info, thanks! They Apple fanboys will still think they are neck to neck comparable but they are not.

The roku fanboys think they're vastly superior, and they're not. For certain use cases, each one has its merits. For a roku fanboy not to see this.... well, it just shows they are a roku fanboy! :)
 
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.

It depends. My Sony Smart TV has a Flixster app, and that doesn't do my UV movies. It's only trailers.
 
Very useful info, thanks! They Apple fanboys will still think they are neck to neck comparable but they are not.

----------



True, I owned and returned a Kindle Fire, just like iOS more but the speakers on the Kindle were simple AMAZING and put the iPad Air and iPad Mini speakers to shame.

I took Amazon up on their "free trial" they had a little while ago. Display was awesome (compared to my wife's iPad mini) and it was a nice little device, but ultimately we had nothing to pair with it. As a one-off device, not really all that worthwhile.

Now for a kid? I could totally see it. And with a FireTV box, perhaps a little more useful.

The truth is, I just like having different types of tech around the house....no matter how redundant they may seem! Haha, my wife hates it....until I remind her she can only carry one purse at a time, which makes the other 12 somewhat redundant in a similar way :p
 
Absolutely nothing imo but they offer more channels, more future proof hardware and a better experience for myself.

The Apple TV is complete garbage to me, always has been which is why I never owned one. Had Apple just added Amazon Prime, I would have bought one and never even considered a Roku and now an Amazon box.

While I own MBPr, iphone 5s, iPad mini, I also am an Amazon Prime member and Netflix, I dont want multiple devices to stream both, I want one. Roku and Amazon box allow me to do this and millions of others, Apple does not. End of story for me and my needs.

I will be utterly and completely shocked if the Apple TV hardware that is eventually released this year doesn't run circles around any of the TV hardware out today.

And if there's an SDK and an App Store, the app issue will become a mute one. If Amazon decides not to put out an Apple TV app then, it likely won't be on Apple. It exists on the iPhone and iPad already, so I think we'll see it on Apple TV as well.

And I think you're missing the point of what I'm saying. Sure, some boxes have come out that do a bit more since the Apple TV redesign. Nothing major has happened unless you count the bump to 1080P. But no one has come in and done something revolutionary in the meantime. Some have a few more channels. Some have voice search. Some have a few games. But they're still all ultimately following in the the footsteps of the Apple TV 2/3 design.

Apple's next generation product and software platform remains to be seen. Time will tell, and ultimately it may be a snooze, but I don't think they're taking it near as lightly as some think, and when it does hit, I wouldn't be shocked if it made everything else on the the market look archaic. But again, one thing I absolutely have no doubts about is that it will feature hardware that absolutely and completely smokes anything else on the market. No doubt about that one at all.
 
These low powered set top boxes will not be able to run anything other then casual games with low graphics. I guess that's fine for some people needs. You just can't beat a PS4 or Xbox One for super immersive, high end gaming.

This box isn't that exciting--it doesn't even have all the options that the current Apple TV has. I was expecting a game changing feature here but it just doesn't deliver.

The first box to offer stand alone subscription packages for HBO or Showtime will win the match.
 
The truth is, I just like having different types of tech around the house....no matter how redundant they may seem! Haha, my wife hates it....until I remind her she can only carry one purse at a time, which makes the other 12 somewhat redundant in a similar way :p

Hahahaha....

same in my household.

We've got competing Apple TVs and Rokus, Kindles and iPads, Macs and PCs, and Wiis and Playstations. It's nice to own all the technologies and never be worried about missing out.

Those that only own one and try to defend their device to the bitter end baffle me.
 
The roku fanboys think they're vastly superior, and they're not. For certain use cases, each one has its merits. For a roku fanboy not to see this.... well, it just shows they are a roku fanboy! :)

I own a Roku XDS (1st gen) and have been dying for Apple to JUST give Amazon Prime and they haven't. I would have jumped ship long ago, so technically, I would be considered more of an Apple fanboy, but the Apple TV is just CRAP for me and my needs.

The Roku XDS has been good to me but its no longer supported and updated so the Amazon box look very promising to me as a Prime member.

And lets be real, I will not and do not own/buy and digital movie content, its the same thing as an Office 365 ipad app subscription. Pay to rent the movie whenever I want? No thanks.

I want to own it, not pay to rent via streaming. iTunes just took off Disney content within the last year or so and apple/disney were reamed for it. I want to avoid this stuff. But if you take away my streaming, then I simply stop paying my monthly dues and cancel. Problem solved for me.
 
$99 for this? I'll pass. Being a Prime Member this should be one or more of the following

1) Discounted to $79
2) More movies added to Prime (selection is very limited)
3) Free warranty coverage as long as you are a Prime Member, if new box comes out and old doesn't exist anymore, then you get credit towards the purchase of a newer model.
4) Free phone support, if needed.
 
Hahahaha....

same in my household.

We've got competing Apple TVs and Rokus, Kindles and iPads, Macs and PCs, and Wiis and Playstations. It's nice to own all the technologies and never be worried about missing out.

Those that only own one and try to defend their device to the bitter end baffle me.


I agree lol. Hate MS, own an XBOX, then the PS4 came out and now I think the XBOX ONE is just inferior.

Have PCs, Mac, iPhones, iPads, Samsungs Android devices, Roku, and now a Amazon box, I like to test and play with crap to see what I like best. Sometimes I keep others, sometimes I return them.

Im biased to WHAT WORKS FOR ME, thats it. Not Apple. Not Samsung. Not Amazon.
 
Depending on price, I might get one of these to go with the 3 AppleTVs we have in our house. The AppleTVs are on each of our TVs, but we have Prime and it would be nice to have the option to use Prime Video on my TV without Airplaying it.

First World Problems, jrzwizzle?
 
Hahahaha....

same in my household.

We've got competing Apple TVs and Rokus, Kindles and iPads, Macs and PCs, and Wiis and Playstations. It's nice to own all the technologies and never be worried about missing out.

Those that only own one and try to defend their device to the bitter end baffle me.

Oh don't get me wrong, I still think Apple is the greatest and have been called a fanboy plenty on these forums.

The reality is, I give credit where I see credit due. Android has never really appealed to me. I'm all about ecosystems - which is why I'm such a huge Apple fan. And why I'm really digging what Amazon is doing here.

I'd love to get into the Xbox One and all that, but (1) I hate Windows and (2) I don't have enough TVs to set up all these "living room experiences" haha.
 
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