Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Actually, it's not from a front-line rep which is what the other person would've called. This probably would've come from a higher level rep since this was as a response to feedback.

Submit your own request through feedback. When they tell you yes, let us know. I submitted my own and they had no idea what I was talking about.
 
AirPlay Amazon Prime through ATV 3 works great...no need to upgrade!!

Except it pretty much defeats the purpose of having a streaming device.

In contrast, regarding Prime, many times I'll get Amazon deliveries a day early, even on Sundays. And have found their video offerings outstanding.

Now I have a reason to go with the new Apple TV.

It is pretty amazing some times. I ordered something yesterday morning and it must have come late last night because it was on my front porch when I got up.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: scapegoat81
let's not get all excited just yet, wait for it to actually be available on the appstore before cracking open the champagne
 
  • Like
Reactions: iPhilPHX
Except it pretty much defeats the purpose of having a streaming device.



It is pretty amazing some times. I ordered something yesterday morning and it must have come late last night because it was on my front porch when I got up.
True but still works well.

App will be great though so no wasting battery life
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shearwater
Well, that didn't take long. Are they going to start selling the boxes again too? Maybe they realized from their little experiment that people aren't going to buy an inferior Fire TV box just because that's the only thing Amazon allows you to buy.

Gotta say I've found the FireTV to be better than my AppleTV 3rd gen boxes, one of which appears to have died a mysterious death, and much smoother than my Roku stick. The UI isn't perfect but it's snappy and no UI in this space is even close to perfect anyways. It has apps for SlingTV, PlutoTV, Tivo and other stuff that Apple doesn't, some that Roku doesn't. Plus I can sideload KODI to use my NAS.
 
Wake me up when their full apps are on the apple tv.....

I'm not sure if you accidentally quoted me and/or if you were responding to the other guy?

Plus I can sideload KODI to use my NAS.

You're clearly not the average user, lol.

I've had my third gen since launch. Don't have cable and our antenna reception is awful so it gets used as our primary entertainment device. UI can be a little clunky, and I sometimes find myself sliding past elements when using the iOS remote. I'm hoping the new UI is improved. Amazon creeps me out though. My mom picked up a Fire tablet as a cheap backup for her iPad that she uses on the beach/at the pool and doesn't have to worry about ruining it or having it stolen because it's so cheap. But it has so many ads and Amazon tracks everything she does. It's creepy. She also has to reboot it all the time because stuff gets stuck. So I'm basing most of my opinion of the TV off of her experience and a couple other people I know who have owned their tablet. The other thing is that it can't do AirPlay, which I use a lot.
 
I am wondering how this is possible with Apples current model. They take 30% of the sale which takes profits to zero.
There would be no difference between an app on the Apple TV and the existing app for iPhone/iPad that Amazon is already supporting in that there's no money exchanged. You sign up to Prime on Amazon's website and simply enter your credentials in the app to get to the content. There's no opportunity for Apple to require the 30% as there's no sales occurring, it's just the delivery method for video.
 
  • Like
Reactions: aristobrat
Actually I'd say you misunderstood my post. My musings were on TVML vs iOS native code dev, which is obviously up to Amazon. Same with top shelf support. Siri may not have an open API yet but for a player as huge as Amazon they should get the special Netflix treatment.

After pulling the Apple TV (and Chromecast) from their store with the BS excuse that it was to "prevent confusion for our customers" I wouldn't expect any "special treatment" if I were Amazon.

Additionally, the services that did receive the universal search via Siri feature at launch were cooperative with Apple during development. Finally, unlike HBO, Hulu, Netflix and Showtime, Amazon is a direct competitor to the iTunes store, in that they rent and sell movies rather than being a strictly subscription service. So the only way they're getting access to universal search via Siri is going to be through the publicly available API. And that is as it should be.
 
It's great that Apple is allowing Amazon to create an app for IOS Apple TV.

but it begs a huge question, if devices are similar to computers. Why does the US Gov't allow them to be locked down at all?

Applications would be awesome for my home:

Slingbox
Spotify
Pandora
Sirius XM
Vudu (they have two kinds of apps, one where you can do PPV/Purchasing, or the similar to iOS iPad App where you can play back movies/tv content you already own) *note apple prefers to price VOD rentals at higher than competing outlets, which they think makes the sell through pricing look more attractive)

Amazon would be terrific to get (even more so if not just prime video, any Amazon Video, which again often has better VOD pricing than iTunes)

So would the ability to add third party applications which are not on Apple's content approval list. i.e. Roku which allows third party content providers.

If these devices are like operating systems /computers why shouldn't users be able to have them be open? and users be able to install whatever software or applications and content they want?

of course apple wants to lock it down to whatever provides them income, but as endusers we ought to be screaming to open up these systems.

Who is with me? lets ask apple repeatedly to open up these devices. lets hack the heck out of them

:)
The Government doesn't even require computers to be open, fyi. On top of which I don't necessarily /want/ these products to be open. That can create a terrible experience and more importantly, support won't be able to help.
 
Submit your own request through feedback. When they tell you yes, let us know. I submitted my own and they had no idea what I was talking about.
I didn't, but others on this thread got a yes if I read correctly
 
Gotta say I've found the FireTV to be better than my AppleTV 3rd gen boxes, one of which appears to have died a mysterious death, and much smoother than my Roku stick. The UI isn't perfect but it's snappy and no UI in this space is even close to perfect anyways. It has apps for SlingTV, PlutoTV, Tivo and other stuff that Apple doesn't, some that Roku doesn't. Plus I can sideload KODI to use my NAS.
All those apps can be developed for the new Apple TV as well
 
I am wondering how this is possible with Apples current model. They take 30% of the sale which takes profits to zero.
Not if, like the iOS versions, the AppleTV version doesn't allow you to actually purchase/rent titles and only view them
 
Vudu as a video platform is available on a ton of devices - Roku, Xbox, TV's, TiVo, etc. So for a lot of people that haven't wanted to get locked into Apple products, they've gone with Vudu. With Apple it's their devices or nothing. With something like Vudu or even Amazon, you have a choice of the device.

Vudu can also be linked to your Ultraviolet library - so for some digital copies (the slips you get with Blurays to redeem a digital copy) when you redeem them they will go into a provider like Vudu. Some studios provide an iTunes code as well, however some don't - so the only way to get a copy is through UV and something like Vudu.

Pricing wise, I tend to find Vudu slightly cheaper overall - maybe by a dollar.

I too would love to see Vudu come to the new ATV. With that and Amazon it would make it THE box to have.

-Kevin

Thanks for the info. I guess I should have phrased my question better. What I was asking was why anyone who is using an Apple TV would want Vudu, since the iTunes store handles that service on the Apple TV. Obviously there would be people who want a more platform independent model, but it would be unnecessary if you're using ATV. And I personally haven't bought physical video media for years, so I have no interest in a physical media/digital copy scenario.

Anyway, I guess to each his or her own. If it shows up on ATV, and people have a desire to use it more power to them. Regardless of technical issues I still wouldn't want to put any of my $ in Walmart's pockets if I could help it.
 
I guess I should have phrased my question better. What I was asking was why anyone who is using an Apple TV would want Vudu, since the iTunes store handles that service on the Apple TV.

Mainly because of the digital copy environment. We have no intention of abandoning physical media because streaming is junk on a large display system. Vudu is the best UV content streamer for titles that no longer come with iTunes digital copy (which are becoming few and far between) so that content can be streamed to smaller sets or taken on the road. It would be easier if Apple would work on linking to UV as they do with Disney. Problem solved.


After sending in a request for info to Vudu I got this today, so not holding breath....

"There are no plans to have a Vudu App for AppleTV 4 due to licensing restrictions. This is due to the fact that AppleTV (and its iTunes service) is a direct competitor with Ultraviolet and its compatible hardware providers".

Ouch. Sounds like UV has some restrictions on where UV players/apps can be ported. Okay for a portable device, not so much for in home products.
 
Last edited:
There would be no difference between an app on the Apple TV and the existing app for iPhone/iPad that Amazon is already supporting in that there's no money exchanged. You sign up to Prime on Amazon's website and simply enter your credentials in the app to get to the content. There's no opportunity for Apple to require the 30% as there's no sales occurring, it's just the delivery method for video.
Yeah I suppose if there is no purchasing available that is one thing. I had heard mumbling of Apple's profit share model changing a bit awhile back. I was hoping that they would have made this change to open up the field a bit, but that would be wishful thinking on my part.
 
I am wondering how this is possible with Apples current model. They take 30% of the sale which takes profits to zero.
As others have mentioned, Amazon could have purchasing disabled. They could also just increase the pricing on AppleTV to cover the costs.
 
I dont understand your response? Amazon Prime not available on ATV 3 except by streaming through iPhone or iPad....but works great. What's not to like?... Or how does this defeat any purpose?

1. Why should you have to occupy your iPad/iPhone while watching TV? Defeats the purpose of having the streaming device.
2. There are some bandwidth limitations that adversely impact picture and audio quality when doing this.
 
As others have mentioned, Amazon could have purchasing disabled. They could also just increase the pricing on AppleTV to cover the costs.
Increasing prices just prices you out of the market. Purchasing on the web then accessing through the app is a better choice. It's just not optimal from a user experience standpoint. There is no percentage in it for apple to open it up for other TVOD platforms as opening up the pricing takes away from apples share in the market.
 
1. Why should you have to occupy your iPad/iPhone while watching TV? Defeats the purpose of having the streaming device.

You can switch out to other apps while APV is running. Did this last night while watching Ex Machina (finally got around to watching it, outstanding film). I hopped to to Safari and the native IMDB app, and while watching the movie, the APV app has "X-Ray" which let's you explore the movie cast, gives you a description of upcoming scenes, etc., pretty neat.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.