So you want the Apple TV to become a game console? I think you'd be better off with an Xbox One or a PS4 - or even the last generation Xbox 360 or PS3 -- these products actually come from companies that understand and care for gamers...
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Apple TV Fell to Fourth Most Popular Streaming Media Device in U.S. in 2014
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So you want the Apple TV to become a game console? I think you'd be better off with an Xbox One or a PS4 - or even the last generation Xbox 360 or PS3 -- these products actually come from companies that understand and care for gamers...
I used to do this with my phone all the time but got rather annoyed at having to plug the phone in for long viewing and also not being able to use my phone...
It's actually already pretty amazing, but Apple was so slow to the game and quiet about it, that I think people hardly know. For example, if you use Apple equipment, AirPlay is incredibly powerful and handy. But, with the more recent addition of a direct WiFi connect, it's super-handy in situations like giving a Keynote presentation.
It only uses around 1W of electricity, yet streams from Netflix and a bunch of other sources. Compare that to game consoles like PS3, PS4, Xbox, etc. that use HUNDREDS of watts to do similar.
If you use apps like Beamer on OS X, you can easily stream your HD library to it. Once the stream is started, you can control it with the remote.
It accesses our whole iTunes based media library with the same 1W playback.
That's really pretty incredible already. But, if it can use an App like Plex (so I can browse a non-Apple media library), and then maybe play some games (hopefully we'll see some controllers, or a PS3/Xbox driver), it would be pretty incredible. The only reason someone would then buy one of the other ones is ignorance.
The biggest thing the interface needs is Search across services or "apps" that you have. And perhaps a consolidated "ToDo" list of things I watch regularly. Having to go find the program I want to watch is taking too many steps in my opinion. If the latest show that I watch regularly is available on Hulu, HBO, Showtime, Netflix, etc.... It should just float to the top of a single list.
I have high hopes for ATV4, I'm worried it's all rumors or that it'll be an AppleMusic scale of Fail...
I have high hopes for ATV4, I'm worried it's all rumors or that it'll be an AppleMusic scale of Fail...
Well that's what happens when you literally treat a product like a hobby.
Apple were one of the first to really see the potential here but are lagging badly behind. What they do this year will make or break the Apple TV (for me anyway). Whatever else Apple do they need to dump the "hobby" talk. It's really, really not helpful. Either commit or be honest and dump the product because the whole waiting around for apple to magically produce the goods is getting a little tiresome. I've been committed to Apple TV since the first generation but there has been little love for this product at apple for quite some time. I've got everything crossed they finally do something with it in september.
Apple were one of the first to really see the potential here but are lagging badly behind. What they do this year will make or break the Apple TV (for me anyway). Whatever else Apple do they need to dump the "hobby" talk. It's really, really not helpful. Either commit or be honest and dump the product because the whole waiting around for apple to magically produce the goods is getting a little tiresome. I've been committed to Apple TV since the first generation but there has been little love for this product at apple for quite some time. I've got everything crossed they finally do something with it in september.
I'm a hardcore Apple fan and I have a 3rd gen Apple tv that I use for mirroring and music to be played on my surround sound, but my tv and movie viewing is done on my Amazon Fire TV. It's way faster and the voice search is a great feature.
Nope. Those things are big, hot (power hungry), and expensive (compared to an Apple TV box and App store games).
But I would like a newer Apple TV to let me play the same sort of games I play on my iPhone and iPad, but on a much bigger display (the living room TV) so I don't need to use reading glasses, and without the added latency/lag of AirPlay.
Try the Roku remote on the i OS. Allows you to control multiple Rokus and has a virtual keyboard.
This quote from Gabe Newell seems a long time ago now, but could still happen if the recent rumours are true:
"The biggest challenge, I don’t think is from the consoles,” Newell said. “I think the biggest challenge is that Apple moves on the living room before the PC industry sort of gets its act together.”
EDIT: And of course with SteamLink and SteamBoxes hitting the shelves in November then Apples new ATV might just make a mark after all; but only if it delivers what the rumours are predicting.
You are doing it wrong. When you cast from the iPhone it does nothing more than set up the connection between the Google device and the Internet.
You can switch off your phone use it for something else or leave the house with the phone will have no impact on the casting.
Not surprised. Who is with the hobby of an ignored old box that does not do much.
As old as the current ATV is, I'm actually shocked it's not lower in the ranking.
i tinkered with the roku not too long ago but wasn't overly impressed. in all fairness, i've also been tempted to throw my appletv out the window. out of curiosity, what features make the roku a better streaming device?
To be more precise I was AirPlaying, not Google-casting. I didn't know Google was that much more advanced. Good to know :/
The Apple TV was the fourth most popular streaming media device in the United States in 2014, according to new data compiled by Parks Associates. Sales of the Apple TV were eclipsed by sales of devices from Roku, Google, and Amazon.
Roku continues to be the most popular brand when it comes to streaming media devices, representing 34 percent of units sold, while Google and its Chromecast were responsible for 23 percent of device sales. Amazon's Fire TV was the third most popular choice, while Apple came in fourth. In 2013, the Apple TV was the third most popular streaming media device, but in 2014, it fell behind the newly introduced Fire TV and Fire TV Stick.
Combined, streaming media devices from Apple, Roku, Google, and Amazon were responsible for 86 percent of all streaming media device sales to U.S. broadband households.
According to the data, almost 20 percent of U.S. households now own one or more streaming media players. When it comes to ongoing usage, Roku devices are unsurprisingly at the top of the list. 37 percent of households regularly use a Roku device, 19 percent use a Google Chromecast, 17 percent use an Apple TV, and 14 percent use an Amazon Fire TV/Fire TV Stick.
With a new Apple TV on the horizon, the streaming media device market could shift in Apple's favor in 2015 and 2016. The new Apple TV is a radical departure from the existing Apple TV, which has not been updated for several years. It will include a full App Store that supports games and apps, Siri integration, a refreshed design and operating system, more storage space, and a touch-based remote control.
The Apple TV won't be able to compete with devices like the Google Chromecast or the Amazon Fire TV on price, but it will bring a host of features not offered by other products.
Article Link: Apple TV Fell to Fourth Most Popular Streaming Media Device in U.S. in 2014
What do they expect with a single solution (Apple TV), i.e. a small market share and nearly zero advertising in many huge markets? And let us not talk about software/hardware updates!
Isn't there one available if you use the Roku app on iOS? Maybe there's an app for Android too. I know that the Remote app for ATV has a keyboard.
I find it pretty smooth to load media into iTunes on my Mac Mini and stream it right over to the ATV. It ties up a computer to be used as a media server (probably not ideal if you don't have a desktop Mac sitting around), but it works great. I do have to transcode occasionally, but pretty much all the files I get my hands on are iTunes-ready these days anyway. Also the app IVI does an amazing job of tagging it all so it shows up perfectly in the ATV interface.TV with the ability to connect an external HD that I can also access from the Mac on the network, VLC to play every media type out there, a browser and streaming options for NetFlix and Amazon...That would be a dream come true, after it's Popcorn Time *pun intended*
