Apple TV Surpasses iPad in Netflix Streaming Popularity

[trip1ex]

To stream Netflix to a television, I've used a computer, xbox, wii, ps3 and Appletv 2. The latter has the best interface for navigating the queue in my opinion. The choices are laid out in 3D and navigating it is fast. On other devices you have to scroll slowly in a linear fashion.

Thought the Wii had the best interface until they dropped a killer feature when the interface was recently updated. They dropped the "scrub control" from the instant queue. You used to be able to go to any point in your instant queue instantly by dragging the scrub control. Now you can't. Lame. It is slow now to skim your instant queue.

Wii still has scrub control for the playback bar. You can instantly jump to any point during a movie.

I mostly liked the Wii's interface for this and just using the wiimote is a quicker because of the point and click . And quicker to go to the various options. ATV is a bit laggy at times. Wii's interface is also larger. Not as many movies shown at once, but easier to see the cover art and the title.



I'm just talking interface. Obviously Wii gets knocked down some because of the SD quality. Otherwise I'd probably use it more.

ATV has 2 other annoying things. First it doesn't show the year the movie was released. ARgh.

Second click on a movie in your instant queue then go back to the instant queue. Do you go back to the point where you left off? No. You go back to the beginning. Argh.

I do like the ATV's more info option. That rules. See a list of actors and the director in the film you are watching. Click on any of them and get a cover art screen of all the other movies they are in that are available to watch on Netflix. Click on any movie cover art to watch it.

 

[newagemac]

The Apple TV is by far the best Netflix experience you can get right now. My previous favorite Netflix device was the PS3. But the ATV2 Netflix stream looks better than the one on the PS3, the UI is far better, there are more options like viewing what other movies the actors and directors are in, the playback controls are better, and everything loads much faster.

Best Netflix experience hands down. I only use the PS3 for the occasional PS3 game and Blu Ray disc now which it is very good at and designed for. Absolutely love my ATV2!

 

[reezer]

ATV was crap with Netflix

So, I bought a ATV(2) in late December and did the Netflix 30-day trial thing.

The image quality is pretty good (typical 720p), but not as good as the 1080i from my digital cable (Comcast). The blacks in the streaming movies from Netflix didn't seem as dark as digital cable content either.

The problem I had was keeping ATV connected to the Netflix server. Random shows would not stream, but others would. Lots of Error 111 and Error 112. I'm used to my Apple products "just work"ing. So, I took it back within the 2 week period before the restocking fee was applied. I think they have now have a different return policy that is better.

Edit: You can fix the Error 111 and Error 112 by unplugging the ATV for 10 seconds and allowing it to reboot, but I found that unacceptable for an Apple product.

 

[DaBrain]

The devices with large installed bases - meaning Windows and Mac laptops, Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo Wii - are the most popular devices for watching instantly from Netflix. AppleTV has done very well for us, and in just four months has passed the also-growing iPad in Netflix viewing hours.

Funny how they forget to mention the Roku box! Tons of channels and free content beside subscription TV on it. We have 3 and Love them.

 

[ten-oak-druid]

To stream Netflix to a television, I've used a computer, xbox, wii, ps3 and Appletv 2. The latter has the best interface for navigating the queue in my opinion. The choices are laid out in 3D and navigating it is fast.

Oops. I meant 2D

Thought the Wii had the best interface until they dropped a killer feature when the interface was recently updated. They dropped the "scrub control" from the instant queue. You used to be able to go to any point in your instant queue instantly by dragging the scrub control. Now you can't. Lame. It is slow now to skim your instant queue.

As I recall the wii wasn't too bad to navigate. I think i didn't use it much though because the video wasn't great and the sound was in stereo. I switched back to the laptop using a toslink cable and and vga but this was a pain to hook up each time. So since I needed a blu ray player I picked up a ps3 and got used to that interface but the apple tv interface has been so much better. It also boots up netflix faster.

I guess I can't really rate the wii interface fairly since I didn't use it enough to remember. But the audio and video quality trumps that anyway. I can live with less than 1080p but they need to add surround sound to the wii.

Funny how they forget to mention the Roku box! Tons of channels and free content beside subscription TV on it. We have 3 and Love them.

I may be wrong but I believe the Roku is solely a neflix player. Perhaps youtube and other internet providers. But it can't link to computers and share itunes or iphoto right?

I think Roku has a market right now for people with non-hdmi television sets. If netflix is your primary reason for purchasing one of these boxes then it makes no sense to buy a new TV just so you can use Apple TV instead of Roku for netflix. But as the years go by hdmi will be more common.

 

[blackberrypilot]

Well I watch Netflix through my Apple TV.... its great.

 

[reezer]

I might have got a bad unit, but I'm not the only one:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1041152/

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=12545755

I do think that it is a good product, but I don't stream enough content from iTunes to justify an Apple TV for basically a Netflix box. I did think that the integration with the new Remote App was nice and the ability to push content from your phone to the ATV was sweet. I do see the appeal of the device and I know others have had better experiences.

However, from what I've read, the best unit for Netflix is the Roku XD and XD|S since they both support 1080p, but I haven't tried either of them. They also have the ability to access streaming channels like Twit and services like Hulu Plus and Amazon On-Demand.

I think all of us can agree that the content available from the Netflix streaming catalog should be expanded beyond its current library. There are many titles, both movies and TV shows, that should be available by now via streaming and not mail order.

 

[optophobia]

Freezing issues (on a fully wired ATV2) really piss me off.
Macrumors stories like this really piss me off. Seriously, you are surprised that the Apple TV is more popular with Netflix than the iPad ? FFS. Next thing you're going to tell me that you are surprised that you sell more feminine products in a Women's restroom that a Men's restroom....

 

[reckless2k2]

I'm just wondering, does anyone here watch netflix movies on their iPad?
if so, how hot does the iPad get from watching Netflix movie?

I do and it doesn't get hot. Battery life remains good as well. As for the other person mentioning the streaming quality, I only see that issue for the first few minutes when streaming over 3G. The quality improves as I watch if it's done on the iPad. If I watch on the iPhone, it does not. I'm sure it's some kind of browser sense since iPhone will take you to mobile sites in many cases where ipad will not.

 

[Yebubbleman]

As noted by Business Insider, Netflix today revealed in its quarterly earnings release (PDF) that the new Apple TV released at the end of September has already surpassed the iPad in terms of number of hours of Netflix content streamed.While it should not be a surprise that the Apple TV is seeing strong performance when it comes to Netflix streaming due to its position as a set-top box for viewing content on a traditional TV, it is somewhat remarkable given the disparity in sales volumes between the two Apple products.

Apple's most recent earnings release revealed that the company has sold nearly 15 million iPads, while the Apple TV only reached the one-million mark at the close of the year. While not all of the sales of either device have occurred in markets where Netflix offers streaming content, iPads still likely outnumber Apple TVs by at least an order of magnitude in Netflix's markets.

Article Link: Apple TV Surpasses iPad in Netflix Streaming Popularity

Shocker!

 

[Winni]

Another non-news for non-Americans...

Not only that: I doubt that the world needs even more TV than we already have.

 

[omro]

It's a shame that Apple and Netflix didn't weigh in on the CRTC ruling here in Canada. Streaming is doomed here now

 

[Reddmanz]

I would of picked one up by now if I lived in the US. It'll have to wait for now.

 

[SemperMac]

When will we finally have Apple TV(latest edition) in Denmark (Scandinavia) ... what's taking so long!?!?

 

[0815]

How many appleTVs were sold compared to iPad devices (US only)?

Guess makes sense even if iPad numbers are much higher since the iPad is probably more used for occasional streaming where the appleTV is a dedicated device for streaming connected to the TV.

anyway - congrats to apple for all the success and getting a step closer to have the appleTV a real product, not a hobby - all we need now is an AppStore for appleTV some wii like remotes (and/or iPod Touch remotes).

I'm just wondering, does anyone here watch netflix movies on their iPad?
if so, how hot does the iPad get from watching Netflix movie?

I do Netflix streaming on the iPad (and my kids do it even more often) ... doesn't get hot at all and the battery life is just magical - perfect device for netflix streaming

 

[rsocal]

Apple TV

I have had my Apple TV for a few months now and It works excellent!

Streaming Netflix from ATV is and has been wonderful, I like the UI and I haven't had any freezing or lagging. The same goes for my iPad and iPhone.

Having ATV and Netflix saves me money now by getting rid of all movie channels from my DirectTV biil. Netflix is only $7.95, iTunes rentals are very reasonable and I can watch movies or TV shows when I want.

 

[NoNameBrand]

Apple's most recent earnings release revealed that the company has sold nearly 15 million iPads, while the Apple TV only reached the one-million mark at the close of the year. While not all of the sales of either device have occurred in markets where Netflix offers streaming content, iPads still likely outnumber Apple TVs by at least an order of magnitude in Netflix's markets.

At least! But, wait, no more than one— the iPad has only sold a single order of magnitude more than the Apple TV in total. If it were bigger by more than one OoM in a market, the Apple TV sales must be pretty concentrated. (e.g. if they sold 10M iPads in US, and only 100,000 Apple TVs in US).

Yes, I'm a pedant.

 

[Yankee617]

Another non-news for non-Americans...

Interesting point. How many of those 15 million iPads and 1 million ATVs
were sold here in the USA? Nonetheless, people buy ATVs purely for
entertainment (i.e. Netflix) purposes while they buy iPads for many
purposes unrelated to simple entertainment. So I'm not particularly
surprised by this report.

 

[-=XX=-Nephilim]

Not only that: I doubt that the world needs even more TV than we already have.

I haven't switched on TV since 2003 when Britain decided to join US in aggressive neo-imperialistic war and when it used TV to spread its brain washing propaganda filth and lies.

I feel like a new born and celebrate that date as a 2nd birthday

Kill your TV together with that rubbish Apple black box!

 

[Yankee617]

Not only that: I doubt that the world needs even more TV than we already have.

We need the content owners to loosen their grip. We have cool devices to display the content and advancing networks to deliver that content, but the content owners want too much. A well-made film will sell over-and-over again.

Perhaps a pricing model whereby they have a rental charge that diminishes as the number of views increases. Thus, first run films that don't become "classics" still pull in good revenue (return on investment) while those "classics" provide a continuing stream of revenue for insignificant additional investment and without gouging the customer.

 

[grmatt]

Funny, I have both and actually watch more Netflix on my iPad. I guess it's because like to watch in bed before sleeping.

 

[Consultant]

If you have Netflix, then Apple TV is perfect.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Add to that the $7.99 per month (I think) entry price with Netflix, and it's a doubly good deal.

Yep. One-time $100 + $8/mo works for me.

I meant to add: iPhone as remote is the secret sauce. So elegant. So responsive. And, more importantly, one... less... remote. That alone is worth the price of admission.

 

[res1233]

Another non-news for non-Americans...

Then move here. Problem solved. But you'd rather just have it all brought to you I'm guessing.

 

[newagemac]

I might have got a bad unit, but I'm not the only one:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1041152/

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=12545755



However, from what I've read, the best unit for Netflix is the Roku XD and XD|S since they both support 1080p, but I haven't tried either of them. They also have the ability to access streaming channels like Twit and services like Hulu Plus and Amazon On-Demand.

Netflix doesn't stream in 1080i or 1080p to ANY device so that point is mute. And it's funny how people always mention Roku's many "channels" as if they are the only one doing that. The Apple TV streams Twit, Revision3, and thousands of other sources of free TV content channels as well. Apple just doesn't promote that part of it so no one really talks about it and they refer to them as video "podcasts" rather than "channels" but it is the same thing. Apple just doesn't come out and say we have Twit or Revision 3 or the many other free "channels" available on the Apple TV.

So the premium stuff like MLB.tv and Hulu are great additions to the Roku but the other multitude of "channels" are really no different than Apple's thousands of video podcasts on the Internet menu of the Apple TV.