Apple TV Updated with Revamped Channel for Upcoming iTunes Festival at SXSW 2014

[viacavour]

Well it would be nice if they'd actually take them out from under wraps once in a while and actually produce them. Anyone can look at an AppleTV and see how it can be greatly expanded & improved upon. Instead, it gets another update that adds to content bloat, while improving nothing about the functionality or usability of the device whatsoever. Gives the impression after a while that Apple either has no idea how far behind they're falling, no vision of how to improve, or no interest in any of it, & just declared "good enough" as-is. People expect big innovation from Apple, not a bare-minimum performer that's then neglected for years. There's no excuse for ignoring the AppleTV this long. It has been years since there were any real improvements. In all this time, THIS is what they think it needs? Unbelievable.

I don't know if adding content is adding bloat since you can hide those channels. After all, ATV is a content device. The more choices, the merrier.

Steve Jobs mentioned that the TV has a go-to-market problem, you can improve the hardware and software, but it's still just another box at the end of the day. They are probably working on the deals with the industry players.

Personally, the "real" TV for me is the iPad. I no longer watch TV per se. I watch shows on iPad and Mac (while I work), and AirPlay them to ATV where needed. With CarPlay, I can see them delivering even more entertainment to cars for passengers.

I find it intriguing that iOS apps can be controlled by TV remote, game controller, car mouse, resistive and capacitive touch input. It tells me that Apple is indeed generalizing iOS apps for a plethora of devices. AppStore for ATV, cars, and many other things is only a matter of time once they work out the UI guidelines across so many input _and_ output variations. According to the iHeartRadio people, it's fairly easy to add CarPlay support to a standard iOS app. I presume ATV/AirPlay should be similar too (looks less complicated than CarPlay).

 

[dkichline]

yawn

another channel that I will end up blocking to reduce the clutter.

 

[pftaylor]

I'm not into sports, but I can understand how obnoxious the huge gaping hole in (digital) sports access outside of cable.

That being said, why on earth would you want cable-style news?

I really meant "live" TV not necessarily cable-style news. To be even more precise, I want what I have now only with content choice delivered in a simple elegant manner.

 

[Count Blah]

First tree words? Are you Irish?

Nope, just typing on an iPhone, and it's oh so helpful with completing my words for me.

 

[ipedro]

One perspective that is being missed is that iTunes Festival is Apple as a content producer. If Apple were to add different types of their own exclusive content, they could grow into a major producer of content like Netflix and Amazon are aiming for.

The type of content that is still missing on AppleTV and has been a motivator for people to cling to cable is live content. Besides music festivals, Apple could focus on exclusive events in sports and entertainment. For example, partner with the NHL to organize something like the Winter Classic, broadcast only via AppleTV, iPads, iPods, iPhones and iTunes.

Perhaps they could partner with a news channel or help launch their own. A 24hours news channel with local branches pitching in local news casts would help fill one of the voids cord cutters face.

There's still a long way to go to fully get past the traditional cable delivery model but a lot of moves have been taking place recently and the momentum is growing for online to become the standard for delivering tv.

 

[Alenore]

64-bit is another area they scored when competition were limiting themselves to 32-bit.

Oh, and what can you do that you couldn't before ? Yeah sure.
Don't get me wrong, they're the first to do it and their A line is pretty impressive, but it's mostly an incremental upgrade. We'd have had it eventually, and it won't help the vast majority of people. There's very few apps who'll actually be concerned by this.

I was getting a bit tired of all that 64-bit thing, when it's mostly marketing stuff (it's apparently working).

 

[Parasprite]

Oh, and what can you do that you couldn't before ? Yeah sure.
Don't get me wrong, they're the first to do it and their A line is pretty impressive, but it's mostly an incremental upgrade. We'd have had it eventually, and it won't help the vast majority of people. There's very few apps who'll actually be concerned by this.

I was getting a bit tired of all that 64-bit thing, when it's mostly marketing stuff (it's apparently working).

I'm just happy the switch was made so I can forget thinking about architectures for a while.

 

[bearcatrp]

Yawwwwwwn. Wake me up when the NFL icon shows up.

 

[The Barron]

I hear you!

Yawwwwwwn. Wake me up when the NFL icon shows up.

Wake me when MLB & a few other choice sports networks appear for free.

 

[viacavour]

Oh, and what can you do that you couldn't before ? Yeah sure.
Don't get me wrong, they're the first to do it and their A line is pretty impressive, but it's mostly an incremental upgrade. We'd have had it eventually, and it won't help the vast majority of people. There's very few apps who'll actually be concerned by this.

I was getting a bit tired of all that 64-bit thing, when it's mostly marketing stuff (it's apparently working).

Dude ! Check the original post I replied to. This is exactly what he's talking about. Investing in a niche first before it gains mass adoption.

Besides, there are already OS level optimization for 64-bit. The A7 processor also makes the 5s camera app snappy. All that slow-mo, EIS stuff are done by the APU. Fingerprint enclave is another area where Apple lead. If you are on the 7.1 beta, you'd see that the recognition is perfect now too.

It's not just marketing.

The basic speed improvement is transparent to all the apps; the apps use the 64-bit and other A7 features by just recompiling. If the developer optimize for A7 further, then it will fly. I look forward to that one-man company Apple bought to hand optimize camera performance.

 

[bbeagle]

I thought iTunes was bloated... Apple TV definitely takes the cake!

Apple TV is useless and has no apps.
Apple TV is bloated - it has too much.

Which is it? iHaters get together and decide before you look bad!

 

[helicon1]

Hope the performers are not all required to wear black for the performances too.

 

[TsMkLg068426]

I think Apple should worry about the Netflix issue where HD streaming snaps back to SD happening since December 2013 and no it is not my internet connection talked to my ISP and Netflix about it. I wonder if Apple really cares about Apple TV or they just want Roku to do better.

 

[nelmat]

I think Apple should worry about the Netflix issue where HD streaming snaps back to SD happening since December 2013 and no it is not my internet connection talked to my ISP and Netflix about it. I wonder if Apple really cares about Apple TV or they just want Roku to do better.

That is a streaming issue, not a hardware/software issue. Your ISP or your router are to blame. ISPs lie, but it could be a router issue as well.

 

[jnpy!$4g3cwk]

It's as if Apple's purpose for the Apple TV is to give us content they select for us, rather than allowing us to pick our own. Call me crazy, but that's not what I was after when I bought it. Don't get me wrong, I use it all the time for iTunes content, but all this other crap yet no apps for TV channels here in the UK (dunno if the big stations have apps on there is the US?), it's madness, MADNESS!

And yet, the one extra feature/channel that would be useful, they don't have. Amazon.

 

[TsMkLg068426]

That is a streaming issue, not a hardware/software issue. Your ISP or your router are to blame. ISPs lie, but it could be a router issue as well.

I have a Apple Airport Extreme the new one extending my 4th gen Apple Extreme and the new Airport Extreme also to the first gen Airport Express can not see anything wrong.

 

[Bibbler]

That being said, why on earth would you want cable-style news?

Yeah, why on Earth would anyone think for themselves and decide what they want to watch. Everyone should be satisfied with only what Apple offers and someone calling himself "Papasprite" on Apple Fanboards wants you to watch.

Fall in Line

 

[Parasprite]

Yeah, why on Earth would anyone think for themselves and decide what they want to watch. Everyone should be satisfied with only what Apple offers and someone calling himself "Papasprite" on Apple Fanboards wants you to watch.

Fall in Line

I think you may have missed my point but at least you got my drift, I think.

I'm not entirely sure what your point is. I mean you're obviously mad at something but I can only assume it's a bit of a proxy to your annoyance at the current state of the Apple TV, so I forgive you.

 

[technopimp]

Am I the only person who still has no idea what "SXSW" even is?

 

[Parasprite]

Am I the only person who still has no idea what "SXSW" even is?

*Raises hand*

I assume it has something to do with music, movies, and other media, but I'm not interested in those things enough to have known already.

 

[brinary001]

More bloat. I have not had this many useless channels on a device since am fm radio

Hahaha yea that's why I decided to return my ATV. There was just too much unnecessary crap on it. :/

 

[Tech198]

Music

No user should miss SXSW, and as long as Apple keeps streaming to as many of their devices as possible, as they come out... then all good.

 

[peteullo]

Apple TV is useless and has no apps.
Apple TV is bloated - it has too much.

Which is it? iHaters get together and decide before you look bad!

iHater? I don't have to LOVE everything that Apple does. The AppleTV software clearly needs a redesign. All I see is massive amounts of clutter. If you're telling yourself otherwise then maybe you need to get off the iNuts.