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How are all of these devices Roku, ATV, ChromeCast, FireTV, etc... still around? Don't most TV now come with built in SmartTV at fraction of the cost they use to be a few years ago. I have a Samsung LED SmartTV that I purchased a few year ago has built-in wifi, and just about all the same channels as the competitors devices. Now that same TV that I spent $700+ is now less than $300.

I got a FireTV Stick for $19 during the Prime member pre-order deal... but I have zero clue what to do with, why because all my devices (Macbook Pro, Mac Mini, iPad, iPhone, Windows Computers, XBoxOne, Smart TVs) do the exact same thing as this Stick. Brings me back to Apple TV, I want one but its not doing anything unique or am I overlooking something?

I have two smart TVs and a Blu-Ray player that has all the same apps that my TVs do. I rarely use the apps though and just watch what I have purchased through iTunes on my ATV.

This function is the one thing none of those other boxes can do.
 
How are all of these devices Roku, ATV, ChromeCast, FireTV, etc... still around? Don't most TV now come with built in SmartTV at fraction of the cost they use to be a few years ago. I have a Samsung LED SmartTV that I purchased a few year ago has built-in wifi, and just about all the same channels as the competitors devices. Now that same TV that I spent $700+ is now less than $300.

I got a FireTV Stick for $19 during the Prime member pre-order deal... but I have zero clue what to do with, why because all my devices (Macbook Pro, Mac Mini, iPad, iPhone, Windows Computers, XBoxOne, Smart TVs) do the exact same thing as this Stick. Brings me back to Apple TV, I want one but its not doing anything unique or am I overlooking something?

There is certainly less of a reason to have on of these media sticks with a smart TV, but not everyone has a smart TV. I have 3 TV's in the house, two are not smart TV's, one is but pretty limited in functionality, it's one of the very first ones. For me, I'd rather not go out and buy another 55" TV set even if they are cheaper than they were before, because they're still a whole lot more than a $20 Fire Stick, a $40 Chrome Cast or a $99 ATV

Personally, unless one my TV's dies on me, I don't plan on buying another until OLED becomes more mainstream/affordable.
 
Still around? they are getting more popular because the smart apps on TVs are terrible. Try watching content from your computer with a smart TV app, best of luck with that attempt
 
More worthless channels. Where in the heck is the NFL channel so I can watch current games! I know it will be subscription so no need to comment on the worthless one they have now. 1st streaming device to come out with it gets my business. And no, I don't want to watch it through my xbox!
 
Amazon Instant Video is never coming to the AppleTV, you'd be waiting forever. You can watch Amazon Instant Video on your AppleTV using AirPlay from your iPad or iPhone. Amazon Instant Video is a competitor to iTunes movie rentals and purchases and there is no way Apple is going to help Amazon in this way. They are a competitor. Spotify is the same. You can use it on your ATV using AirPlay for your iPad or iPhone. Otherwise, it's a competitor to Beats now. It's never going to happen either. Not sure why people keep thinking that Apple might ever add those apps.

I would Totally agree with this statement if I didn't see a "YOUTUBE" Channel app right there on AppleTV. Seems like Apple picks and chooses who they want/don't want. Amazon would be more of a competitor than Youtube but still, Youtube is a competitor none-the-less.

Amazon is slated to release a FireStick Remote app on the Apple AppStore pretty soon.
 
I don't see how youtube is a competitor to iTunes at all. I mean, it's internet based and its videos, that's about all they have in common. The content is drastically different
 
I would Totally agree with this statement if I didn't see a "YOUTUBE" Channel app right there on AppleTV. Seems like Apple picks and chooses who they want/don't want. Amazon would be more of a competitor than Youtube but still, Youtube is a competitor none-the-less.

Amazon is slated to release a FireStick Remote app on the Apple AppStore pretty soon.

No, it's really not a competitor to iTunes movie rentals and purchases. No.
 
On the iPhone/iPad, you can only hide certain apps using restrictions in settings.

"restrictions"? I still have no idea what you guys are talking about. AFAIK, there's no way to remove or hide the default apps on an iPhone (other than by putting them in their own folder on their own page).
 
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