Apple Considering Low Cost Apple TV Dongle to Provide Wider Access to Upcoming Streaming Service

scottcampbell said:
I just don't have much faith in these rumors, after the 2018 iPad wasn't "sub-$300" and the XR was another premium phone.
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Hence the name “rumors”
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Cosmosent said:
Bold Prediction Time ...

That could be the very first product announced by the new CEO !

Tim Cook's days are numbered, & the AAPL Board is very-likely already interviewing candidates to replace him.

NOT Rocket Science !
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Only if the entire board ate bad mushrooms.
 
I don't see this happening - even the ATV remote is $65+!

If it does happen, hope it integrates with the HomePod to make it universal.

Why does the ATV remote have the volume controls on the right side, opposite of almost all remotes to ever exist?
 
zorinlynx said:
I love the fact that the Apple TV has wired ethernet, too. I like being able to plug it directly into my network and not have potential interference affect it when I'm watching stuff. Stuff like Chromecast and FireTV don't have that; you MUST use WiFi.
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Another benefit vs. the Chromecast is that you can connect the ATVs to a receiver and get 5.1 surround. The Chromecast can deliver surround but it has to be through optical out on your TV. Right now only the higher end sets still have optical out since HDMI is superior to optical. HDMI carries the lossless DTS Master and Dolby True HD. Dolby Atmos as well for those who have a high-end receiver.

I know that sound bars are all the rage today but audiophiles will always want a good receiver and good independent speakers and subwoofers to get the best home theater experience possible.
 
yet another dongle?

seriously, I'm quite happy with the apps on my LG OLED TV, all work very well. my apple TV3 is gathering dust as is redundant except for airplay, which I now very rarely use.

Apple should be about making this all simpler, not creating an unnecessary peace of additional hardware sticking out of your TV and consuming more power - it just is not needed to stream and should be discarded.

Access can easily be verified through your apple ID to verify you own the necessary apple products to use the service.
 
Apple Explained on Youtube suspects that Apple increases prices as sales go down to compensate. I know I spend more and get less. One day it will be over, and that will be when Dell manages to make a proper trackpad.

 
anthonymoody said:
I do wonder what you'd lose with this...presumably less (no?) storage for apps. But they'd have to allow for the obvious ones like Netflix, Amazon, etc.
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If it operates anything like Chromecast, the apps would only be the apps you already have on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. There would be no need to have any apps on the dongle device. It's simply a streaming conduit.

zorinlynx said:
I love the fact that the Apple TV has wired ethernet, too. I like being able to plug it directly into my network and not have potential interference affect it when I'm watching stuff. Stuff like Chromecast and FireTV don't have that; you MUST use WiFi.
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This is wrong. Afaik, even the original Chromecast could be wired via a dongle. So that argument doesn't hold water.
 
tromboneaholic said:
That's why I think it might not include a hardware remote at all, and rely on the remote app...
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I can already imagine the outrage that.you need an IOS device to use it. Some will even suggest it should be compatible with Android.

Goops I was a minute too late.
 
lec0rsaire said:
Another benefit vs. the Chromecast is that you can connect the ATVs to a receiver and get 5.1 surround. The Chromecast can deliver surround but it has to be through optical out on your TV. Right now only the higher end sets still have optical out since HDMI is superior to optical. HDMI carries the lossless DTS Master and Dolby True HD. Dolby Atmos as well for those who have a high-end receiver.

I know that sound bars are all the rage today but audiophiles will always want a good receiver and good independent speakers and subwoofers to get the best home theater experience possible.
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Just my opinion, but I think Apple's goal is to appeal to the general public, not audiophiles. They want to move product... and lots of it. An inexpensive Chromecast-like dongle would definitely help with that. Apple wants a goo-gob* of subscribers for their TV service. Making the cost of entry a moot point is a good idea. The Dongle helps with that.

The entire argument you presented is edge case in this instance. I'd be willing to bet good money a TV/Sound Bar or TV/HTiB is in the majority of households. That's where the dongle helps with penetration. Apple would still offer the set top ATV for those who want it, but TV services only survive with subscribers. A Dongle helps waaaay more than it hurts.

*goo-gob is a technical term that Webster's defines as hellalot.
 
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Richard28 said:
yet another dongle?

seriously, I'm quite happy with the apps on my LG OLED TV, all work very well. my apple TV3 is gathering dust as is redundant except for airplay, which I now very rarely use.

Apple should be about making this all simpler, not creating an unnecessary peace of additional hardware sticking out of your TV and consuming more power - it just is not needed to stream and should be discarded.

Access can easily be verified through your apple ID to verify you own the necessary apple products to use the service.
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I’ve also an lg OLED and don’t need my Apple TV any longer. Webos 4.0 from lg does the same and better. Apple TV doesn’t offer a thing so I removed it and put it up for sale.

I’m not interested in apple shows where nudity, violence isn’t allowed :cool:
 
zorinlynx said:
I love the fact that the Apple TV has wired ethernet, too. I like being able to plug it directly into my network and not have potential interference affect it when I'm watching stuff. Stuff like Chromecast and FireTV don't have that; you MUST use WiFi.
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Not so. I have 4k Fire tv wired directly from my router 5ghz using an Ethernet cable. Wired or wifi your choice.
 
lec0rsaire said:
This is a mistake. The ATV 4 and ATV 4K are worth every penny. At first I was underwhelmed with my ATV 4 but I know use it more than my PS4. It is fast, consumes just 5W and I get my full internet bandwidth over 5 GHz ac. The quality of Netflix is superb on it.

A cheap dongle like the Chromecast doesn’t belong in Apple’s lineup. They should stick to making premium products. Leave budget to everyone else.
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ABSOLUTELY! If anything drop the price of the older ATV4 to £99.
Leave the cheap crap to Amazon and Google.
 
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