Apple TV and A9 chip

[TallManNY]

So do folks think that Apple will include the new A9 chip in the new Apple TV? Or would it be more reasonable for that to be withheld for the new iPhone? Apple could direct the A8x chips to be redirected to use in the new Apple TV.

But now that some potentially faked but still reported A9 stats are coming out, I suppose we can start to speculate about the game play ability of a new Apple TV. I guess since gaming on an iPhone works okay (setting aside the controls issue of using a touch screen) then I guess we should see perfectly fine gaming on the new Apple TV. It won't have the processing power of the current generation consoles. But will it be as good as an XBox 360? According to some specs the A8X seems solidly in that range.

So what do folks think about the Apple TV as far as it being a gaming console?

 

[oneMadRssn]

I don't think it will be a game console. I think it will be capable of playing some games, similar to how Roku does, but it will not be a gaming machine.

The reason simply is price. Gamers are willing to pay $300 for a console, plus more for accessories. People who want only a good streaming box aren't willing to pay over $100. You can't please both at once.

 

[foobarbazqux]

So what do folks think about the Apple TV as far as it being a gaming console?

It won't be. It will be a streaming device capable of playing the types of games you see on mobile devices.

 

[TallManNY]

I don't think it will be a game console. I think it will be capable of playing some games, similar to how Roku does, but it will not be a gaming machine.

The reason simply is price. Gamers are willing to pay $300 for a console, plus more for accessories. People who want only a good streaming box aren't willing to pay over $100. You can't please both at once.

Ah, but you can easily put an A8x chip into the current Apple TV box and sell that for $99. We know this is the case because Apple is selling that box for $69 and we know the price difference between the A5 and A8x is not nearly $30. The A8x chip will play games at 1080p, right? The OS is basically just a port from an old iOS which you've already done most of it with the current Apple TV OS. Then the gamers buy their own controller. So can you please the casual gamer with basically a box that is more powerful than the current iPhone 6? Judging by the numbers of games sold on the App store I suspect that you can.

 

[TallManNY]

It won't be. It will be a streaming device capable of playing the types of games you see on mobile devices.

I agree it will be like those games. But I've also got XCom Enemy Unknown on my iOS device and the game is just as good as the PC version. Plenty of mobile games seem perfectly fine, except for the fact that they are on a small screen using touch controls that takes over that screen. The tech seems very achievable at a $99 price point just using the current iPhone 6 parts.

 

[nutmac]

The reason simply is price. Gamers are willing to pay $300 for a console, plus more for accessories. People who want only a good streaming box aren't willing to pay over $100. You can't please both at once.

I think 4th generation Apple TV will essentially share 6th generation iPod touch's underpinning: A8 running 1.1GHz and 1GB RAM, and 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1.

While iPod touch's A8 may be much weaker than PS4 or Xbox One, I suspect it is plenty powerful for more casual gamers.

16GB iPod touch costs $199 and given that Apple TV probably won't come with EarPods, rechargeable battery, and smaller screen on the remote, I think it's possible for it to be priced at $99, $149 tops.

 

[TallManNY]

I think 4th generation Apple TV will essentially share 6th generation iPod touch's underpinning: A8 running 1.1GHz and 1GB RAM, and 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1.

While iPod touch's A8 may be much weaker than PS4 or Xbox One, I suspect it is plenty powerful for more casual gamers.

16GB iPod touch costs $199 and given that Apple TV probably won't come with EarPods, rechargeable battery, and smaller screen on the remote, I think it's possible for it to be priced at $99, $149 tops.

Well I'm skeptical about Apple asking us all to buy an expensive remote when our iPhones and iPads are all around the house. So I'm not thinking a screen will be necessary. The chip might be the same, but it will be tweaked to run faster because of access to continuous power stream and less heat issues. Really there is no reason they couldn't release the device at $99. And Apple could choose $149 just to have a hefty profit built in. The parts really are that cheap.

 

[nutmac]

Well I'm skeptical about Apple asking us all to buy an expensive remote when our iPhones and iPads are all around the house. So I'm not thinking a screen will be necessary.

Right, just like Amazon Fire TV's Game Controller ($39.99), perhaps the fancy remote can be an optional purchase.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Well I'm skeptical about Apple asking us all to buy an expensive remote when our iPhones and iPads are all around the house.

Depending on a readily usable mobile device being around the house only works well for single people living alone. Else, every time you take that "good remote" out with you, those you leave behind have to grapple with something else or wait until you (and the good remote) get back home. iDevices are fine remotes but they should always be optional instead of essential. A dedicated remote for the box makes the box work for any home (and a dedicated remote has little reason to go out with anyone when they leave the house).

I agree that it doesn't necessarily need a touch-screen but I don't see it being a good product decision to assume an iDevice as THE remote for all potential buyers. iDevices are made for mobility. TV is made to stay home.

 

[foobarbazqux]

Plenty of mobile games seem perfectly fine, except for the fact that they are on a small screen using touch controls that takes over that screen.

Which is a big reaon why I don't play games on my iPhone. They either can't hold my attention for more than 5 minutes or they suffer from the problems you mentioned. When it comes to non-portable gaming, I'd rather play the real versions on a real console or PC instead of some watered down version. I just don't see the AppleTV taking off as a real gaming console alternative.

I can, however, see people making more casual/family oriented and board-type games on an AppleTV.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Ah, but you can easily put an A8x chip into the current Apple TV box and sell that for $99. We know this is the case because Apple is selling that box for $69 and we know the price difference between the A5 and A8x is not nearly $30. The A8x chip will play games at 1080p, right? The OS is basically just a port from an old iOS which you've already done most of it with the current Apple TV OS. Then the gamers buy their own controller. So can you please the casual gamer with basically a box that is more powerful than the current iPhone 6? Judging by the numbers of games sold on the App store I suspect that you can.

I think the reason gaming has been successful on the iPhone is because it fills downtime that had previously been filled with nothing. Riding on the subway, sitting on the toilet, waiting for someone at a bar or coffee shop, waiting while your SO tries things on at the mall, etc. If you look, most of the successful iOS games are ones that allow you to jump in to the action right away and quit whenever.

This same concept won't translate to TV, where gaming is more an active choice as to how to spend your free time.

 

[TallManNY]

I think the reason gaming has been successful on the iPhone is because it fills downtime that had previously been filled with nothing. Riding on the subway, sitting on the toilet, waiting for someone at a bar or coffee shop, waiting while your SO tries things on at the mall, etc. If you look, most of the successful iOS games are ones that allow you to jump in to the action right away and quit whenever.

This same concept won't translate to TV, where gaming is more an active choice as to how to spend your free time.

I bet a lot of games start that way. But I also suspect that a decent amount of games are being played by people at home just because the game is fun and handy. Not just during travel and downtime.

 

[TallManNY]

I was looking at one estimate of Next gen consoles. So far PS4 and XBox One in North America have estimated 17 million sold together. If Apple released an update to the Apple TV at a compelling price point, don't you think it could match those sales pretty quickly?