Amazon Planning March Launch for Apple TV Set-Top Box Competitor

[OrangeSVTguy]

App Store and local storage options. Hdmi pass through. I'd love a cable subscription where I can choose what channels I want instead of paying for 900 other channels I never watch.

With the App Store and storage, it would become a awesome gaming console.

 

[S.B.G]

I'd be happy if Apple and Amazon would play nice together and bring Amazon instant to the Apple TV. Then I'd have all that I want on it.

 

[Dave532]

As I mentioned in an earlier discussion I work for a company that writes apps for smartphones, tablets and connected TV's and I recently overheard one of the managers there talking about going to a meeting regarding the Apple TV. So either Apple are planning on opening up development or they're developing an Apple TV app for one of these TV channels that regularly appear.

At the moment I'd say Roku offers just about everything you could want except for AirPlay. I can't see what Amazon could bring to the table, all they need is a Roku app and support AppleTV if they do open an app store.

The Kindle Fire is a terrible user experience. All the good stuff of Android stripped out and a not very well thought out user interface put in its place. The Kindle Fire is the only tablet I'm aware of that comes with ads by default. I can't see how they'd manage to do a better job on the TV than Roku.

 

[NedSchneibly]

that would have it easier on the customer - and if there weren't legal/ licencing issues, it would be kind of like apple saying - we're above that.

I don't see how there could be any issues.. unless I COMPLETELY misunderstand what Amazon Prime is. In my mind- it is a service, not unlike HULU Plus or Netflix.. both of which are already on ATV, soooooooo- what could be the legal issue with Amazon Prime that these other two services have somehow skirted??

 

[AppleScruff1]

Samsung, Google, Intel, Microsoft, etc. all spend more on R&D/infrastructure than Amazon does. Of course they're in different industries that have higher margins. One of my problems win Amazon (or at least the people who support it's valuation) is this idea that they could be raking in the profits if they wanted to and that when the time comes they can just flip a switch and the profits will start flowing. Thing is Amazon supporters have been saying this for years. At what point does someone call their bluff and say "show me the profits"?

If Amazon continues to deliver what their customers want, who cares if they don't make a big profit? As long as the services are sustainable the consumer could care less about the companies profits.

 

[synergy]

Not possible.

Issue 1: Apple makes their profits on hardware. $100 does not cut it if Amazon comes out swinging. Amazon could do free and still be happy with prime subscriptions. One free box with each prime account sounds right.

Issue 2: Apple is not treating Apple TV seriously. It’s a hobbyist device.

Apple made 12.9 billion dollars from iTunes in 2012. Those are strictly software sales. So yes they make profits on hardware, but that is not all.

Even charging 100 for an Apple TV if they could include App Store, games and more they will make plenty off of it.

 

[sixrom]

I'd really hate to see Apple lose the web TV box race.

Unfortunately Apple has become old, fat and slow. Lots of talk but nothing of substance. After wasting all of 2013, allowing Google, Android and Samsung time to set the standards with lots of choices and great products, Apples not looking very promising.

Even if rumors come true and a 4.7" display appears on the upcoming iPhone, it still fails without a modern swiping keyboard. Yet most consumers that are Apple followers will buy anything with the logo so Apple will continue business as usual, even if it's boring and inefficient. That's what brand power does for them.

 

[Mike MA]

Nice, as I hope this will accelerate Apple's efforts a bit.

 

[vpndev]

me too

Ugggh...I just want one box that does it all. Wish ATV would just do Amazon Prime.

Me too. And I can't even use AirPlay from my iPad - dunno what Amazon is thinking with that restriction.

 

[macUser2007]

Unfortunately Apple has become old, fat and slow. Lots of talk but nothing of substance. After wasting all of 2013, allowing Google, Android and Samsung time to set the standards with lots of choices and great products, Apples not looking very promising.

Even if rumors come true and a 4.7" display appears on the upcoming iPhone, it still fails without a modern swiping keyboard. Yet most consumers that are Apple followers will buy anything with the logo so Apple will continue business as usual, even if it's boring and inefficient. That's what brand power does for them.

Not really the "brand power" in my case, but the design and the workmanship. I am happy to pay a premium for good design.

But yes, Apple is "fat" and slow. iOS is getting stale (no decent system-wide keyboard is one of my pet peeves, too), so I do use an Android as a daily driver.

ATV is also stale in the iU and content front. Yes, it is expanding, but basically we only get channel tiles that Apple has decided we should get (struck favorable deals with the providers, I assume), and a good portion of the new channels are not something I would want.

If I wanted someone else to decide what I have to watch, I might as well have stayed with cable.

 

[enigma2118]

Jail broken ATV has an Amazon "app". Too bad the ATV3 still hasn't been jail broken.

Hopefully amazon box will take an iPad airplay stream.

Boxes are cheap, and the ATV for example, is so low powered and solid state, I don't expect it to break anytime soon. Maybe ever only reason to upgrade would be for extras, or newer hardware, these boxes don't need to be replaced for wear and tear (PS3 motor dies or chip comes un-soldered )

What I mean by this is that the real money they get out of these boxes is from the content. So, yes, why wouldn't Amazon and Apple want the other's device be able to stream from them?

 

[suprakc]

Well that's neat.


I'll stick with my aTV.

 

[KdParker]

All this is great...I guess?

I just want to be able watch what I want when I want. And stop paying every increasing cable bills.

Simple -- watch what I want without being gouged.

Can't someone do that?

 

[MattG]

All this is great...I guess?

I just want to be able watch what I want when I want. And stop paying every increasing cable bills.

Simple -- watch what I want without being gouged.

Can't someone do that?

It's just gonna get harder and harder...Comcast absorbing all these companies, ISPs and bandwidth limits...the system sucks

I'd be happy if Apple and Amazon would play nice together and bring Amazon instant to the Apple TV. Then I'd have all that I want on it.

I really just don't understand why they don't. I mean doesn't everybody win? Apple gets more people buying aTV since it really can do it all (other devices can't play iTunes protected content), Amazon sells more Prime Subscriptions. Can't we all just get along?

 

[blackcrayon]

Ugggh...I just want one box that does it all. Wish ATV would just do Amazon Prime.

You want one box that does all of the services... But I'd settle for any one service that had all of the available content

 

[Lord Hamsa]

It always amazes me that people are quick to brand a company a "tax cheat" when in reality they are just following the rules put in place by the government. Until government changes the rules or they are caught red handed actually really cheating on their taxes then the peoples uproar should be with the government and not Amazon, Apple or google or any other large world wide company that legally takes advantage of tax laws to lower their tax exposure. They shouldn't have to give the government one penny more then they have to just like each one of us.

Not just "shouldn't have to" - in the United States, at least, publicly traded companies are risking shareholder lawsuits if they fail to do everything (legal) in their power to minimize taxes, because they have a fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders.

 

[hortod1]

[/QUOTE]
Amazon has stepped up its streaming content offerings in the past year, producing 14 original television pilots and using feedback to decide which get made into full shows, as well as spending significant amounts of money to secure exclusive rights to popular shows like Downton Abbey and The West Wing. [/QUOTE]

I don't understand what is meant by securing exclusive rights. I've been watching The West Wing on Netflix.

 

[Elbon]

They are a very good cheap hardware company which they use as loss-leaders to their additional sales.

What I mean is that I don't personally equate the Amazon brand with hardware. I tend to think of them as providing the content, while other companies provide the vehicle for delivering that content.

 

[nfl46]

This will be interesting. I'm curious about the pricing.

 

[ellsworth]

Don't get me wrong, competition is grand. It pushes companies to up the ante on products, devices and services that consumers want, but it boggles my mind why they just don't all work together to have a standard system instead of 50 bawd-damn units that theoretically all do the same thing but have crappy channels because they all can't seem to deal/work together for the better of mankind.

 

[IJ Reilly]

If Amazon continues to deliver what their customers want, who cares if they don't make a big profit? As long as the services are sustainable the consumer could care less about the companies profits.

Seriously? A company can really operate at a loss forever?

Please tell me how that's done.

 

[azentropy]

Why? Amazon supports it's other services on iOS even though it competes w/ Apple w/ Kindle. Based on history, it seems only Apple is holding back an Amazon video app. If ATV is ever opened to devs I'd expect an Amazon video app of some functionality.

Pretty simple - Right Amazon does but Apple generally doesn't. Since AppleTV is NOT open currently and Amazon has to negotiate with Apple to get their app on AppleTV. The likelihood goes WAY down if Amazon releases their own competing device.

Now if Apple does open up AppleTV then I would fully expect Amazon to release an app for it.

 

[KdParker]

This will be interesting. I'm curious about the pricing.

I am going to go with high....and not enough choices in content.

 

[Deuce2]

...just as ISP's are fighting against streaming content.

http://consumerist.com/2014/02/11/netflix-streaming-speeds-getting-worse-for-comcast-and-verizon-fios-customers/

Another device to allow more convenient streaming is just another service for ISP's to throttle.

Comcast as a primary access point to the internet, and also a key content provider, is a controlling factor in this debate. Another set-top box poses only a minor threat to their core business.

What's really needed is an ISP competitor with an infrastructural reach to rival Comcast and other major industry players. Verizon FIOS once filled that role, but have recently entered into an unofficial detente with Comcast. As a result, Verizon has significantly slowed or completely halted expansion of its fiber optic network into Comcast strongholds -- preferring instead to focus on its mobile network and its subscriber base. Consequently, customer service has suffered while cable bills are skyrocketing (I speak from personal experience). For the consumer, cable options are limited. Google Fiber shows some promise, but is a long way from being a threat in major markets.

A recent court ruling damaging to net neutrality further strengthens the hand of the ISP gatekeepers. For consumers, that may seem like a bleak landscape, option-wise -- but there's still much we can do to force the hand of providers and regulators alike. Aside from writing our elected representatives (good luck with that), we can send a strong message with our combined purchasing strength.

A movement similar to the "Move Your Money" campaign that forced big banks to curtail their onerous practices is what is needed. I, for one, plan on cancelling my family mobile accounts with Verizon at the earliest opportunity, and moving to T-mobile. They may have an inferior mobile network, but it's my way of personally protesting the monopolistic practices of the major telecoms.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Seriously? A company can really operate at a loss forever?

Please tell me how that's done.

AppleScruff1 said "big profit" not "no profit" and was talking from the consumer perspective of as long as quality goods/services are delivered for a reasonable price the end user typically doesn't care how the companies bottom line is doing. To that, I doubt we'll ever hear an end user say, "Well, my Comcast service is horrible, the monthly bill is insanely high but I'm glad their stock price is doing so swell."

The people running the business and the shareholders probably have a different perspective though.