Amazon's Apple TV Competitor Expected to Debut at April 2 Media Event

[Izauze]

I don't think they're going too stripped down, and I also don't think it will be revolutionary high end either.

Due to its game support though, it should be safe to consider it an evolutionary device.

I also don't expect it to be a dongle, btw. Indications are that it's more robust.

It will be far more feature rich than the current Apple TV, but it may not be long before they're leapfrogged.

 

[demodave]

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


Following rumors of a March launch, it looks like April 2 will be the day Amazon introduces its Apple TV competitor, as Re/code notes that the company has sent out invitations to a "video business" media event for that date. The invitations feature a photo of a couch and popcorn, strongly suggesting that the event will indeed involve the rumored streaming video device, and Re/code's sources indicate that this will indeed be the topic for the event.

XXX

Amazon's launch comes as Apple users continue to await the introduction of a revamped Apple TV. Rumblings had suggested Apple was considering a launch late last year, but nothing materialized. Newer rumors have suggested that Apple might make a March or April announcement ahead of a launch later in the year, but there have been no specific signs of an imminent event from Apple.

Article Link: Amazon's Apple TV Competitor Expected to Debut at April 2 Media Event

I wouldn't expect any kind of Apple TV announcement until WWDC, at which point I would expect Apple to release an Apple TV SDK (or whatever they call it), and at that point I would expect a time window for developers to develop before the device actually appears. Kinda like many aspects of the iPhone model.

Targeting the Holidays is about perfect for this device.

Of course, the degree of iPhone/iPad app friendliness to the Apple TV may drastically minimize that time window.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

And yet again, Apple continue to fall behind the curve.

Sigh. So much for shareholder value.

 

[knightlie]

why would anyone want this when apple tv already does everything we need as consumers? the amazon experience is substandard and has much less content than the iTunes store.

Apple TV doesn't do everything I need as a consumer In fact, it does virtually nothing that I need. I don't pay iTunes' bloated prices for movies and TV shows, I stream media from a network share and I watch TV through a satellite dish. Apple TV isn't any use to me.

I'm looking forward to see what Amazon can do.

 

[Tech198]

oh, so close...

They should have made this April 1st...

The press would be all over that one

 

[jnpy!$4g3cwk]

Apple TV doesn't do everything I need as a consumer In fact, it does virtually nothing that I need. I don't pay iTunes' bloated prices for movies and TV shows, I stream media from a network share and I watch TV through a satellite dish. Apple TV isn't any use to me.

I'm looking forward to see what Amazon can do.

Apple TV does most of what I need: Netflix over my internet connection, interface to a local Mac to run iTunes, and, not put in my credit card number. It would be nice if it also interfaced to Amazon.

The Amazon device may also do most of what I need: stream Netflix, and interface to Amazon. I don't expect it to share content from iTunes on a local Mac.

Too bad I need two devices. I don't expect either device to solve the generic movie access problem because the studios/content owners don't want to do that.

 

[johnnyturbouk]

Wow! Judged & rejected without even seeing what it is. Wow!

One cannot judge whether something unseen & unknown is a viable alternative for one's needs (unless one thinks this is about an orange couch or used popcorn). For all we know it might be a gateway to everything ever made in 4K or 8K able to be viewed on any device (Apple or not) for free if you've ever bought one thing from Amazon? Probably not, but no one can know or judge- even for themselves- until they at least see what it is.

Something new? Not from Apple? It must be bad. Not for me (or you either).

Something new? From Apple? Shut up and take my money! I'm already in line. How did we ever get by without this?



Competition is good- even for Apple. I hope whatever this turns out to be is WOW, WOW, WOW great!!!

Guilty as charged!
when it comes to content quality i am a blind believer of itunes; and for the record i have a google nexus somewhere gathering dust - from a whimsical expedition in to android, and also samsung TV [will be buying sony next-time]