Apple TV+ Docuseries 'Home' Launches Featuring 'the World's Most Imaginative Dwellings'

[citysnaps]

That looks pretty interesting. Will check it out this evening.

I can see how it might not appeal to those who are not inspired by others' creativity.

 

[Sam Squanch]

Sure, according to some users only praise is allowed as a comment.

Nah, man... you said yourself that you haven't even activated the service meaning you haven't watched any of the shows offered so any comment you have is pretty much irrelevant. It really just comes across as trolling and Apple hate not an honest assessment.

I liked to varying degrees the first initial offerings. Servant came out and was really good. So I was excited and looking forward to Amazing Stories... and man it has been anything but Amazing. From mediocre to downright boring.

Zero interest in anything Oprah or the kiddy shows but over-all a pretty solid start for a new service. I also have Disney+ and even with their giant catalogue they have somehow dropped the ball, of Netflix, Prime video, AppleTV+ and Disney+ Disney is my least used app by a country mile.

 

[Kabeyun]

Looks uninteresting.

Most new content looks uninteresting. Couldn’t care less about others homes.

Here are hundreds of episodes more of real people's stories and their home projects: https://www.youtube.com/user/kirstendirksen/videos

Maybe, y’know, watch the show before snarking. I’m probably expecting too much from MR forums, but your post would suddenly no longer be irrelevant. We just watched the first episode and it was wonderful. If the second episode also goes beyond mere architecture, as the first one did, Apple did a very nice job here.

Sure, according to some users only praise is allowed as a comment.

Wrong. It’s relevancy we, and the mods, are looking for.

Basement dwellers unimpressed with show about beautiful houses. News at 11.

It’s not just about beautiful homes. Have you watched it? Didn’t think so.

 

[otternonsense]

Nah, man... you said yourself that you haven't even activated the service meaning you haven't watched any of the shows offered so any comment you have is pretty much irrelevant. It really just comes across as trolling and Apple hate not an honest assessment.

I liked to varying degrees the first initial offerings. Servant came out and was really good. So I was excited and looking forward to Amazing Stories... and man it has been anything but Amazing. From mediocre to downright boring.

Zero interest in anything Oprah or the kiddy shows but over-all a pretty solid start for a new service. I also have Disney+ and even with their giant catalogue they have somehow dropped the ball, of Netflix, Prime video, AppleTV+ and Disney+ Disney is my least used app by a country mile.

I agree it is irrelevant when you take it out of context. I was just replying to another user. You could make more out of my lack of interest than there is to it, but I don't think it matters much. In this cluttered and fragmented streaming landscape I just don't think Apple's offering is particularly compelling (especially to an international audience) from the get go, and I somewhat lament the sunken investment that could have ended up in possibly better tech, products or services. I streamed a couple episodes of the morning show before my 11 Pro offer (through less mainstream means) and it didn't really resonate. That's about as much as I can assess. Contentwise, and that applies to every provider, I reckon the more people are pushed to a plethora of different subscriptions for the sake of 1 or 2 flagship shows, the more likely they are to go back to less legal means to stream them and get done with it.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

That show looks good to me.

I've always been interested in the things we humans build, and how we build them, but particularly architecture.

That bamboo house looks amazing!

Having more shows that highlight "think different" could become Apple's differentiator and "trademark" in a crowded entertainment landscape.

 

[CWallace]

Started this one last night and watched the episodes in Bali (astonishingly beautiful), Hong Kong (totally spoke to me) and Maine. Will finish it up this weekend.

 

[jimthing]

This is SO Apple. Think about their product videos, showing the materials and "revolutionary"manufacturing process; this is the same thing, but for homes (for well-off people, at least. ;-).

 

[jimthing]

The Chicago guy is pretty inspirational.

US cities (like cities everywhere) have some incredible architectural gems, yet there seems very little conservation or listed building type things being done to protect them, and rejuvenate them back into life. A real shame, as it's the environment people live and work in, so doing so can invigorate communities back into improving their own economic and social existence.

 

[Sam Squanch]

I agree it is irrelevant when you take it out of context. I was just replying to another user. You could make more out of my lack of interest than there is to it, but I don't think it matters much. In this cluttered and fragmented streaming landscape I just don't think Apple's offering is particularly compelling (especially to an international audience) from the get go, and I somewhat lament the sunken investment that could have ended up in possibly better tech, products or services. I streamed a couple episodes of the morning show before my 11 Pro offer (through less mainstream means) and it didn't really resonate. That's about as much as I can assess. Contentwise, and that applies to every provider, I reckon the more people are pushed to a plethora of different subscriptions for the sake of 1 or 2 flagship shows, the more likely they are to go back to less legal means to stream them and get done with it.

I didn't take it out of context, I am able to read. So, you watched a couple of episodes of Morning Show and it wasn't for you. That is cool, entertainment is subjective. I thought the Morning Show was going to be something else and I wasn't going to like it, turned out to be a show I really liked. Thing is to judge AppleTV+ on that very limited experience about their content does make your opinion irrelevant to others. All the shows are not like the Morning Show they vary a great deal and will appeal or not appeal in different ways.

If your distaste is solely about the fragmentation of streaming services well that is a reality thing and not an Apple thing. Like it or not that is the future and I get where you are coming from in spades. I stupidly signed up for a year of Disney+ based on The Mandalorian and have regretted it ever since. I just realized the decisions I'll have to make as far as streaming services go is what is necessary now and can only be done individually, other people might be very happy with Disney+ and that is cool but in its current form it isn't for me but I like what Apple has done with Apple TV+.

I honestly do not think that Apple has siphoned off any talent or money that is taking away from any other R&D. Services are a thing now and they aren't going to neglect their bread and butter with their tech products. They hired a whole new team to run AppleTV+ and it is just part of Apples growth. If anything their services will help keep other areas like iMac computers afloat and still around in the future.

 

[Ar40]

I didn't take it out of context, I am able to read. So, you watched a couple of episodes of Morning Show and it wasn't for you. That is cool, entertainment is subjective. I thought the Morning Show was going to be something else and I wasn't going to like it, turned out to be a show I really liked. Thing is to judge AppleTV+ on that very limited experience about their content does make your opinion irrelevant to others. All the shows are not like the Morning Show they vary a great deal and will appeal or not appeal in different ways.

If your distaste is solely about the fragmentation of streaming services well that is a reality thing and not an Apple thing. Like it or not that is the future and I get where you are coming from in spades. I stupidly signed up for a year of Disney+ based on The Mandalorian and have regretted it ever since. I just realized the decisions I'll have to make as far as streaming services go is what is necessary now and can only be done individually, other people might be very happy with Disney+ and that is cool but in its current form it isn't for me but I like what Apple has done with Apple TV+.

I honestly do not think that Apple has siphoned off any talent or money that is taking away from any other R&D. Services are a thing now and they aren't going to neglect their bread and butter with their tech products. They hired a whole new team to run AppleTV+ and it is just part of Apples growth. If anything their services will help keep other areas like iMac computers afloat and still around in the future.

This is the best post I've seen on these forums in a long time. Disney+ has been an abject failure for me (four shows worth watching, and I'm a Disney fanboy; Mandalorian, Jeff Goldblum; Imagineering Story, One Day at Disney - the rest is childish or a waste of my time) while Apple TV+ has delivered repeatedly excellent and prestige TV (12 shows I have absolutely adored), in a wide variety of genres. I never thought Apple would impress me this much, but they are so careful about the content they put out and how they curate it.

 

[ipponrg]

This is the best post I've seen on these forums in a long time. Disney+ has been an abject failure for me (four shows worth watching, and I'm a Disney fanboy; Mandalorian, Jeff Goldblum; Imagineering Story, One Day at Disney - the rest is childish or a waste of my time) while Apple TV+ has delivered repeatedly excellent and prestige TV (12 shows I have absolutely adored), in a wide variety of genres. I never thought Apple would impress me this much, but they are so careful about the content they put out and how they curate it.

Please, you are obviously not a Disney fanboy 😉 . I'm not even a fanboy, and I enjoyed way more than the 4 Disney Originals (including Clone Wars, the Cooking competition, a lot of the Nat Geo content, etc). The fact of the matter is Apple TV+ content appeals more to you than Disney at the moment. Being careful about the content is actually not a good long term strategy for Apple. I hope they bundle their Originals with more content (music/movies/etc). Right now, they don't have the brand power and content to be an elitist in this situation.

They certainly can afford to ride like this for a while though. Maybe that's what they want to do until they figure out how where Apple TV+ belongs.

 

[Sam Squanch]

I hope they bundle their Originals with more content (music/movies/etc). Right now, they don't have the brand power and content to be an elitist in this situation.

They certainly can afford to ride like this for a while though. Maybe that's what they want to do until they figure out how where Apple TV+ belongs.

Beyond either buying, another entertainment business, like let's say Warner Bros. or buying syndicated shows like Netflix does I don't see any other route other than creating their own content. I don't have any magical inside knowledge but I don't know how much sense it'd make to do the above. I mean you'd think that Apple looked hard at other streaming services and tried to learn from them and watching Netflix pivot from licensing and go hard at original content had to have said something.

Sure they aren't fleshed out, not nearly as much content as Netflix or Prime but man they ain't even one year old yet.

I disagree with your assessment about going for quality, it seems to me that it is essential to stand out amongst the streaming services. Like, hate or disinterested in their shows so far, you can't say the production is shoddy. I haven't been impressed at all with Amazing Stories (Which made me sad I was looking forward to it) and as much as I am unimpressed with the stories they chose I can't say they look like garbage.

Are they trying to be elitist? I certainly don't get that.

 

[Ar40]

Please, you are obviously not a Disney fanboy 😉 . I'm not even a fanboy, and I enjoyed way more than the 4 Disney Originals (including Clone Wars, the Cooking competition, a lot of the Nat Geo content, etc). The fact of the matter is Apple TV+ content appeals more to you than Disney at the moment. Being careful about the content is actually not a good long term strategy for Apple. I hope they bundle their Originals with more content (music/movies/etc). Right now, they don't have the brand power and content to be an elitist in this situation.

They certainly can afford to ride like this for a while though. Maybe that's what they want to do until they figure out how where Apple TV+ belongs.

I'm not a fanboy, really? I have WDWMagic.com set as one of my most visited bookmarks and have seen every Disney Parks documentary out there. I am a Walt Disney World/Parks mega-nerd. I listen to TheDIS Unplugged podcast regularly. I may no longer be a child, but I heavily enjoy the elements of Disney which are marketed and geared to adults like the parks and Marvel/Star Wars/Fox.

The key reason TV+ is a breath of fresh air for me is that every single show is something I know will be worth my investment of time (with rare exceptions like Truth be Told). I cannot say the same with Netflix or Disney+.

I consider Apple TV+ in the mold of classic HBO, but with more of a moral core and aiming to include adult content only to serve the story not to titillate ala Game of Thrones and HBO. Apple has a clear brand and style with their streaming service and that is it. "Prestige HBO'ish TV with a heart."

 

[CWallace]

Beyond either buying, another entertainment business, like let's say Warner Bros. or buying syndicated shows like Netflix does I don't see any other route other than creating their own content. I don't have any magical inside knowledge but I don't know how much sense it'd make to do the above. I mean you'd think that Apple looked hard at other streaming services and tried to learn from them and watching Netflix pivot from licensing and go hard at original content had to have said something.

And with every content owner trying to launch their own streaming service, where would Apple license content?




Netflix was very fortunate in launching their streaming service when nobody saw how it could be important so they were able to make inexpensive deals for a huge amount of content to pad out their service. Once those licensors realized how valuable that content could be, they either refused to extend the license or asked so much money that it was often no longer worth Netflix extending the licenses. This is why they started investing so heavily in their own content so they could control it themselves and now while they still have a huge library of licensed content, it's significantly from foreign sources or content that appeals to much smaller audiences.

Amazon saw this so they have focused heavily on both their own in-house content and offering third-party content via "channels" - offering to host those content providers who now have their own streaming services as something watched through the Amazon Prime app. Apple is doing the same with AppleTV+.

Are they trying to be elitist? I certainly don't get that.

*nods head* Agreed.

It was widely rumored AppleTV+ would launch at $9.99 a month or more, with Apple charging a large premium because, well, they're Apple and they charge a large premium for everything. Instead, it launched at $4.99 and was also free for the first year to anyone who purchased an Apple iPhone (and not just a new iPhone direct from Apple - my father just bought an iPhone 6 from a cellular provider and received the same one-year offer).

And maybe they did intend to do just that, but when Disney+ launched at $7.99, they pivoted and dropped the price. But that in itself shows that Apple was willing to change their plans - not something an "elitist" company would likely do.

 

[chucker23n1]

*nods head* Agreed.

It was widely rumored AppleTV+ would launch at $9.99 a month or more, with Apple charging a large premium because, well, they're Apple and they charge a large premium for everything. Instead, it launched at $4.99 and was also free for the first year to anyone who purchased an Apple iPhone (and not just a new iPhone direct from Apple - my father just bought an iPhone 6 from a cellular provider and received the same one-year offer).

And maybe they did intend to do just that, but when Disney+ launched at $7.99, they pivoted and dropped the price. But that in itself shows that Apple was willing to change their plans - not something an "elitist" company would likely do.

It's unlikely that pricing leaked. It almost never does with Apple, because 1) it's something discussed in small circles (there's no need to, say, discuss iPhone pricing with Foxconn, or have a software engineer know in advance about the price of Final Cut Pro X), and 2) they can basically decide on it almost last-minute. In this case, it's a digital product, so they didn't even need to put stickers on a retail box.

So, those rumors were likely based on little more than guesswork. I'm sure $9.99/mo was a number Apple considered internally, but I'm also guessing they rejected that fairly quickly; the back catalog to justify it just isn't there.

 

[ipponrg]

I disagree with your assessment about going for quality, it seems to me that it is essential to stand out amongst the streaming services. Like, hate or disinterested in their shows so far, you can't say the production is shoddy. I haven't been impressed at all with Amazing Stories (Which made me sad I was looking forward to it) and as much as I am unimpressed with the stories they chose I can't say they look like garbage.

I think "quality" is being defined very loose here. Apple's shows look great, but they fail to really get people to talk about it outside of Apple niche circles. They really need to develop content that gets people to continue trending it.

Let's take a glance at Netflix on what probably classifies as less quality shows yet has people talking about it:
- Exotic Joe: look at all the memes, jokes, and headlines about it.
- Money Heist: probably one of the most overrated IMO but highly popular Spanish shows out there. Trends a lot globally, and people love it.
- Stranger Things: what if you took out the 80s nostalgia? Would it still be "good"?

I'm not a fanboy, really? I have WDWMagic.com set as one of my most visited bookmarks and have seen every Disney Parks documentary out there. I am a Walt Disney World/Parks mega-nerd. I listen to TheDIS Unplugged podcast regularly. I may no longer be a child, but I heavily enjoy the elements of Disney which are marketed and geared to adults like the parks and Marvel/Star Wars/Fox.

The key reason TV+ is a breath of fresh air for me is that every single show is something I know will be worth my investment of time (with rare exceptions like Truth be Told). I cannot say the same with Netflix or Disney+.

So you're a fan of the Disney parks, but not everything Disney. You're not really the target audience of the Disney+ streaming service. It's boring to you because there's not enough park-relevant content for you.

I consider Apple TV+ in the mold of classic HBO, but with more of a moral core and aiming to include adult content only to serve the story not to titillate ala Game of Thrones and HBO. Apple has a clear brand and style with their streaming service and that is it. "Prestige HBO'ish TV with a heart."

Agreed. That's a good description of Apple TV+, and why it doesn't trend as much.

 

[Ar40]

So you're a fan of the Disney parks, but not everything Disney. You're not really the target audience of the Disney+ streaming service. It's boring to you because there's not enough park-relevant content for you.

You don't have to be a "fan of all things Disney" to be a Disney fanboy. There are many species of fans out there. There are Star Wars fanboys/nerds who swear by the original trilogy. Some who love the new movies. Others who are book nerds and prefer the extended written canon. So too, there are Disney fanboys who obsess over the parks and couldn't care less about the cartoons. Other Disney fans who hate the new live movies but make fairytale Disney weddings because they still love the original cartoons. Disney fans who are obsessed with the Disney Channel series, or the classic TV cartoons.

You don't get to decide which segment of the fanbase is the correct one. Disney+ needs to cater to all the segments, not just the ones who are into children/tween programming (the Lizzie Mcguire/Disney channel nerds - which is what it currently mostly caters to).

If my segment of the fanbase wasn't part of Disney's Disney+ target audience, why did they make 1) Imagineering; 2) One day in Disney (movie, series, coffee table book); 3) Disney Insider; 4) Disney Fairy Tale Weddings.

Don't forget - without the parks, Disney would never have become the company it has. The parks were Walt Disney's dream and crowning achievement.

To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.

 

[Sam Squanch]

I think "quality" is being defined very loose here. Apple's shows look great, but they fail to really get people to talk about it outside of Apple niche circles. They really need to develop content that gets people to continue trending it.

Let's take a glance at Netflix on what probably classifies as less quality shows yet has people talking about it:
- Exotic Joe: look at all the memes, jokes, and headlines about it.
- Money Heist: probably one of the most overrated IMO but highly popular Spanish shows out there. Trends a lot globally, and people love it.
- Stranger Things: what if you took out the 80s nostalgia? Would it still be "good"?

How can you say "quality" is loosely defined? Popularity does not equate always to quality, as you pointed out. All I said was Apple has clearly chosen to produce well-made productions, not quick, cheap fillers. We'll see if that strategy has legs.

 

[ipponrg]

You don't have to be a "fan of all things Disney" to be a Disney fanboy. There are many species of fans out there. There are Star Wars fanboys/nerds who swear by the original trilogy. Some who love the new movies. Others who are book nerds and prefer the extended written canon. So too, there are Disney fanboys who obsess over the parks and couldn't care less about the cartoons. Other Disney fans who hate the new live movies but make fairytale Disney weddings because they still love the original cartoons. Disney fans who are obsessed with the Disney Channel series, or the classic TV cartoons.

Yeah, that's why they call it "Star Wars fanboys". Are they Disney fanboys? No. Yeah you can be a park fanboy, but that also doesn't make you a Disney fanboy. Today, Disney isn't just the park.

You don't get to decide which segment of the fanbase is the correct one. Disney+ needs to cater to all the segments, not just the ones who are into children/tween programming (the Lizzie Mcguire/Disney channel nerds - which is what it currently mostly caters to).

You're right. But the data shows that your segment, i.e. "I only care about park relevant content", is not the correct one. Disney seems to be exploring another avenue of attracting people to the parks via Disney+ as opposed to targeting enthusiasts, hence why they have some park stuff that ties into their other content. In other words, Disney+ is more of a gateway into a drug than the drug itself. It makes much more sense.

If my segment of the fanbase wasn't part of Disney's Disney+ target audience, why did they make 1) Imagineering; 2) One day in Disney (movie, series, coffee table book); 3) Disney Insider; 4) Disney Fairy Tale Weddings.

See above, but I think targeting your segment is pretty futile. You obviously are not the target audience for this service. Have you seen the Pixar in Life shorts? Have you been to the Disney store in NYC? Plenty of fans who haven't visited the parks and know of the content. The parks and some of the catalog content connect to each other, but they are not mutually exclusive. Just... think of it like a venn diagram.

Don't forget - without the parks, Disney would never have become the company it has. The parks were Walt Disney's dream and crowning achievement.

Not sure what this has to do with anything, but yep agreed. But off topic now. Back to Apple TV+.

 

[Ar40]

Yeah, that's why they call it "Star Wars fanboys". Are they Disney fanboys? No. Yeah you can be a park fanboy, but that also doesn't make you a Disney fanboy. Today, Disney isn't just the park.

No. You are simply wrong about that. Your definitions are not the ones adopted by the Disney fanbase. You need to read what I wrote more carefully. I explained to you how there are different breeds of Star Wars fanboys, and different breeds of Disney fanboys. Just read what I originally wrote and then re-read it.

 

[ipponrg]

How can you say "quality" is loosely defined? Popularity does not equate always to quality, as you pointed out. All I said was Apple has clearly chosen to produce well-made productions, not quick, cheap fillers. We'll see if that strategy has legs.

Some people reference quality to a technical achievement (high bitrates / color space), but most people in these forums reference quality as "great" story telling with subjective moral topics. I will say the latter strategy hasn't worked for Apple TV+ so far based on the press and non-Apple crowd. Buzz (or popularity as you said) is very important because that's how you attract new customers and retain old ones.

 

[Ar40]

Some people reference quality to a technical achievement (high bitrates / color space), but most people in these forums reference quality as "great" story telling with subjective moral topics. I will say the latter strategy hasn't worked for Apple TV+ so far based on the press and non-Apple crowd. Buzz (or popularity as you said) is very important because that's how you attract new customers and retain old ones.

When he said "well made productions" he clearly was referring to acting, storytelling, and production, rather than simply video/audio quality.

Because all the Apple TV+ shows have displayed all markers of quality TV product by all accounts.

His point was that you shouldn't equate "popularity" with "quality." Netflix shows are garbage quality but since it is established it gets away with it and is popular. Apple is an unknown quantity still and the reviewers are actively trying to sabotage Apple with their Apple hate.

 

[ipponrg]

When he said "well made productions" he clearly was referring to acting, storytelling, and production, rather than simply video/audio quality.

Because all the Apple TV+ shows have displayed all markers of quality TV product by all accounts.

His point was that you shouldn't equate "popularity" with "quality." Netflix shows are garbage quality but since it is established it gets away with it and is popular. Apple is an unknown quantity still and the reviewers are actively trying to sabotage Apple with their Apple hate.

I think people usually describe arguably bad content as entertaining. Heck even I watched Too Hot to Handle with my partner because she wanted to, and it was bad but stupidly entertaining.

I don't think all reviewers are actively trying to sabotage. Just look at a recent post with a grain of salt from the Reddit crowd:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleTVPlus/comments/fxsf7w

 

[ipponrg]

No. You are simply wrong about that. Your definitions are not the ones adopted by the Disney fanbase. You need to read what I wrote more carefully. I explained to you how there are different breeds of Star Wars fanboys, and different breeds of Disney fanboys. Just read what I originally wrote and then re-read it.

You get a gold star for a convincing reply. You didn't mention you were a part of D23. Are you just basing your definition of fanbase because it fits your rhetoric?

You need to read what I wrote because I explained to you why you are not the target audience of Disney+.

 

[Ar40]

You get a gold star for a convincing reply. You didn't mention you were a part of D23. Are you just basing your definition of fanbase because it fits your rhetoric?

You need to read what I wrote because I explained to you why you are not the target audience of Disney+.

I am a member of D23 as a matter of fact, not that that should be a measuring stick. I am done - you are trying to peddle a subjective opinion as objective fact. That just doesn't work in real life.