Apple TV App Coming to 'Chromecast With Google TV' Early Next Year and More Android TV Devices in Future

[CarlJ]

Like others have mentioned, the price is ridiculous. $129/$99 should be the top end of these devices. If they add a M1 chip and that vastly improves gaming, sure the price is justified.

I keep hearing this. I look at it as, my ATV4K is the least expensive piece of my home theater system (and no, I don’t have one of those giant OLED screens, my TV is pretty modest), yet it’s the piece that I interact directly with the most - it’s my UI for everything I ask of the system, and I vastly prefer the ATV4K to past experiences with Roku and FireTV, so the cost doesn’t bother me at all - if they come out with a new model with some modest incremental improvements and a more ergonomic remote (keep the same control layout) I will be rushing to buy it to improve the experience that much more.

 

[Herrpod]

As someone who's only owned one chromecast, and returned it after a week, what does it do that Apple TV doesn't?
Doesn't it require a personal device to "cast" the video from? Or does it have a regular menu system with apps like ATV and Roku have?

You're talking about the awful Chromecasts that came before. This new one is like any other streaming device where all the apps are on the device and it simply streams content.

 

[JoeShades]

Yeah the Apple TV hardware is done for. Can’t see why Apple would do this if they plan to release a new Apple TV.

I agree, when Amazon Prime released their app everywhere they stoped selling the fire tv, and when I turn on my Apple tv Ther is just 1 app the Apple tv + APP so why do we need an Apple tv box

 

[Herrpod]

Yeah the Apple TV hardware is done for. Can’t see why Apple would do this if they plan to release a new Apple TV.

I mean their marketshare is pretty awful now, but that's their own fault for only offering stupidly priced streaming boxes with a remote that ensures older people will never own one.

 

[CWallace]

I think what makes AppleTV expensive (beyond Apple's product margins) is that it uses an A-series SoC and has 32GB of RAM on-package and those are more expensive than the "commodity" SoCs and much lower RAM capacities that Amazon and Google use in theirs.

And yes, the A10X Fusion is "ancient", but I don't believe Apple uses it in any other product so the fab costs might not be that low compared to using an A13 or A14 which are in mass production.

 

[CarlJ]

I agree, when Amazon Prime released their app everywhere they stoped selling the fire tv, and when I turn on my Apple tv Ther is just 1 app the Apple tv + APP so why do we need an Apple tv box

When I turn on my Apple TV there are several dozen apps, and the Apple TV is not the one I use the most. Maybe you’re using it wrong.

 

[steevn]

As someone who's only owned one chromecast, and returned it after a week, what does it do that Apple TV doesn't?
Doesn't it require a personal device to "cast" the video from? Or does it have a regular menu system with apps like ATV and Roku have?

That’s actually what I liked the most when Chromecast first came out, but now it’s much better to have a dedicated device with an interface.

The new Chromecasts do have an interface and a remote, so you don’t have to cast from a device like before if you don’t want to.

 

[nutmac]

It feels odd how they've been pushing TV app, airplay and HomeKit to so many TVs, devices, etc yet we still have relatively expensive and old TV devices for sale.

They need a clear direction on what they want to do with the TV at this point. I almost wonder if they're thinking about discontinuing it once they really have TV+ everywhere. I hope not though.

With Apple TV app available on a wide range of 3rd party devices, I think Apple should pivot Apple TV as an entry level gaming console.

• $199
• Includes few months of Apple Arcade subscription
• Includes Apple-designed gaming controller
• Faster GPU that can keep up with 4K
• tvOS designed with Apple Arcade in mind (e.g., Arcade tab, optimize storage for Apple Arcade)
• HDMI 2.1

 

[Darth Tulhu]

My new Sony TV has Android as its OS. I don't even need my FireStick 4K anymore in my living room... it's been moved to my bedroom and kids' rooms.

Apple doing this is the smart thing to do to get the opportunity of subscribing.

Whether or not this'll kill the Apple TV hardware side is up in the air. People deep in the Apple ecosystem seem to be well-heeled enough that most if not all own a smart TV already, negating the need for Apple TV hardware, I think.

 

[Topfry]

With so many 'dumb' TVs, a small cheaper dongle makes sense.

Heck even my 'smart' 2018 Sony can't and won't be able to run AppleTV+ app because it can't run Android TV 9.0.

Casting content via Airplay2 should be seamless in 2020, but it isn't. But I'm not going to drop $200 on an expensive AppleTV device.

The long ruminated next logical step would have been an actual Apple television, except that you can now nearly do it all in software; we’ve just brought a 2020 Sony with the app, HomeKit compliant and airplay, and it’s great, I can turn the tv on with the home app or homepods- replaces our ATV hd with 4k etc the only thing missing is sending audio to my stereo pair homepods (which I do miss). I really want to reduce the amount of boxes plugged into the power socket though. These newer TVs are multi discipline also, which I would not be able to do with an ATV- should I want to, I can also use google, google tv, Alexa and so on... and all the formats are compliant and integrated - pretty much what I would loved to have seen from Apple a few years back...

 

[Topfry]

My new Sony TV has Android as its OS. I don't even need my FireStick 4K anymore in my living room... it's been moved to my bedroom and kids' rooms.

Apple doing this is the smart thing to do to get the opportunity of subscribing.

Whether or not this'll kill the Apple TV hardware side is up in the air. People deep in the Apple ecosystem seem to be well-heeled enough that most if not all own a smart TV already, negating the need for Apple TV hardware, I think.

Same

 

[himanshumodi]

I agree. I still can't get over the fact that they have 2 storage options (of which a user has no way to see or manage storage) for a $20 difference in price. Of all companies, Apple is best at simplifying options for users. The number of times I've had friends / family ask which they should purchase...

I have newer TVs that have decent UIs, but I still prefer a dedicated TV myself. The whole UI is much more polished, smooth and in 4K as well.

Yep... Apple TV is something that would feature in a fantasy game riddle or something. What is it? I have been an Apple customer for a while, but never could figure out the use case of Apple TV. Is it just a solution to airplay iPhone stuff on TV?

 

[sw1tcher]

Excellent news.

Apple really needs to fix the branding though. I can’t count the number of people I talk to IRL or on Twitter who think you need an”Apple TV” or other Apple device to watch “Apple TV+”. I wish Apple would call the TV devices something else, like Apple Home or Apple Hub.

Apple would have used iTV but that's already taken

 

[CWallace]

I still need an Apple TV device to access my iTunes media library on my Mac (via Computer / Home Sharing). I also like having Infuse to play files that are not in an iTunes-compatible format (like MKVs).

 

[JoeShades]

When I turn on my Apple TV there are several dozen apps, and the Apple TV is not the one I use the most. Maybe you’re using it wrong.

I thought the sarcasm was pretty obvious

 

[JoeShades]

I still need an Apple TV device to access my iTunes media library on my Mac (via Computer / Home Sharing). I also like having Infuse to play files that are not in an iTunes-compatible format (like MKVs).

and Apple fitness, apple arcade, apple podcasts, apple Music are not anywhere else, maybe you can access Apple music

 

[ipedro]

If it weren’t for the Fitness app, I’d just get a Google Chrome. Tired of waiting for a new AppleTV at this point. I mostly watch tv+ shows and YouTube. Apple is dropping the ball on TV hardware.

 

[ipedro]

Excellent news.

Apple really needs to fix the branding though. I can’t count the number of people I talk to IRL or on Twitter who think you need an”Apple TV” or other Apple device to watch “Apple TV+”. I wish Apple would call the TV devices something else, like Apple Home or Apple Hub.

I’ve been saying this for a couple of years now and it makes more sense the more time passes: I envision the HomePod taking the central role of entertainment in the home. A HomePod with a more powerful chip, coupled with an AirPlay dongle for TVs without AirPlay, would stream tv+ and other content to TVs around your home. This fits in with the strategy of making every tv equipped with AirPlay natively.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Yeah the Apple TV hardware is done for. Can’t see why Apple would do this if they plan to release a new Apple TV.

They have had Apple Music released on Google Home and Alexa had it forever yet they did just give us the now sold out HomePod mini.

 

[AirunJae]

As an owner of one, I was hoping it would come to the Chromecast as it's such a nice little device. That said, I would love to see Apple get a little more competitive price-wise with their Apple TV. Also, they need to fix their remote as Google has a great one.

 

[Kabeyun]

Makes sense. Getting out in front of being forced to.

 

[Kabeyun]

As an owner of one, I was hoping it would come to the Chromecast as it's such a nice little device. That said, I would love to see Apple get a little more competitive price-wise with their Apple TV. Also, they need to fix their remote as Google has a great one.

I’m expecting an “Apple TV Mini” within the next year.

 

[CWallace]

I’m expecting an “Apple TV Mini” within the next year.

The HomePod Mini uses the Apple Watch SoC instead of the iPhone SoC and that has to be much cheaper. So perhaps Apple will make a custom "TV" SoC that handles video and audio decoding only (with say 8GB of RAM to cache content) and would be small enough and cheap enough to fit in an "Apple TV Mini" dongle that could be like $99.

Apple could then offer the "full size" Apple TV with the A14X SoC and 32/64GB at $179 with Apple Arcade support (and whatever apps might need the power of an A14X).

 

[Kabeyun]

The HomePod Mini uses the Apple Watch SoC instead of the iPhone SoC and that has to be much cheaper. So perhaps Apple will make a custom "TV" SoC that handles video and audio decoding only (with say 8GB of RAM to cache content) and would be small enough and cheap enough to fit in an "Apple TV Mini" dongle that could be like $99.

Apple could then offer the "full size" Apple TV with the A14X SoC and 32/64GB at $179 with Apple Arcade support (and whatever apps might need the power of an A14X).

Precisely what I expect.

 

[profets]

With Apple TV app available on a wide range of 3rd party devices, I think Apple should pivot Apple TV as an entry level gaming console.

• $199
• Includes few months of Apple Arcade subscription
• Includes Apple-designed gaming controller
• Faster GPU that can keep up with 4K
• tvOS designed with Apple Arcade in mind (e.g., Arcade tab, optimize storage for Apple Arcade)
• HDMI 2.1

I've thought this for a while as well. I dream (though I know it won't be a reality) about an Apple - Nintendo partnership. Nintendo clearly has no issues selling consoles, but imagine Nintendo bringing a good controller + library of first party titles to an inexpensive TV box made by apple?