ATV or Roku for someone new to streaming.

[jaybar]

We have not yet gotten into streaming to the TV. Our TV only has one HDMI port. We use that to connect the cable box. We will be using with component cables or an HDMI switch box,to make an HDMI port available.

We are an Apple household, with an iMac, iPhones and iPads. We want to connect my iPad Pro to the TV, so we can stream Amazon Prime to the TV.

We have Fios. We have never rented or purchased a movie through iTunes. We are not ruling it out, but have had no need do far. We are new to streaming and except for Amazon Prime or the occasional TV episode on our iPad, we are just starting out and have no idea where this will lead. We only subscribe to Apple Music. We use Airplay to stream audio to the stereo.

Are we better off with ATV or Roku? Which is easier to set up? Which would have the ability to see the settings on my iPhone? I have difficulty seeing settings on the TV. If we can't free up an HDMI port on the TV, which I think we can, what are our options?

Thanks

 

[tanfan]

If you not invested in itunes, Roku is the best selling box for a reason, they have the most choices....about everything EXCEPT itunes.

 

[KUKitch]

I so much prefer the interface on the Apple TV, my parents have a number of Rokus throughout their house, and while it does a good job, it just looks dated... being able to airplay to the ATV is awesome, and if you ever start using something like Plex - I think it's better on the ATV.

Edit to add that Beamer is a great app for streaming media files from computer to ATV

 

[Rigby]

We are an Apple household, with an iMac, iPhones and iPads. We want to connect my iPad Pro to the TV, so we can stream Amazon Prime to the TV.

You won't need to stream Amazon through the iPad. Roku already has an Amazon channel, the Apple TV will get an app soon, so you'll be able to watch Amazon directly.

We only subscribe to Apple Music. We use Airplay to stream audio to the stereo.

What device do you use to Airplay? Again, the ATV supports Apple Music directly.

Are we better off with ATV or Roku? Which is easier to set up? Which would have the ability to see the settings on my iPhone? I have difficulty seeing settings on the TV.

What settings do you mean? While there are remote apps for both Roku and ATV, neither allows you to see the device settings on a phone.

General pros and cons:
- Roku devices are much less expensive than the ATV
- The ATV IMO has a better user interface
- The ATV has integration with other Apple products and services

Once the Amazon app for ATV is out, price will be the only reason to go for the Roku IMO.

 

[jaybar]

The settings that would normally appear on the TV. I have trouble seeing them from bed--looking at the TV.

 

[zhenya]

If you are fairly heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem and are used to using Airplay already, I would go with the ATV unless you have a very specific reason to choose the Roku. We use both in our house - ATV in the living room and Roku in the bedrooms because our TV provider's app is not available on the ATV. The Roku is a much more difficult interface to work with. Apps often stop working for no apparent reason and you have to hard reboot the box. Entering passwords is a pain - for years there was a bug in their iOS remote app that allowed you to copy/paste usernames and passwords but truncated them in the process - this is finally fixed - but this is the kind of lack of polish to expect from Roku. If you do decide to rent movies, there is no one central location to do so from Roku. There are multiple competing apps, etc. etc.

 

[techwarrior]

ATV4 will have A'zon Prime Video app soon. With Apple devices, ATV is the way to go, clearly.

You say 1 HDMI input to TV, and Airplay to stereo. Is the Stereo a Home Theater unit with HDMI in\outputs? If so, connect cable box and ATV to Home Theater inputs, and the one HDMI from stereo to TV. Some HDMI switches lack audio throughput, so use caution if going this route.

I like the Home Theater approach. ATV, and many Home Theater boxes support HDMI-CEC, as do most TV. The benefit is the ATV remote can become a 1 button access to powering on TV + Home Theater + ATV and controlling sound. The only need for other remotes would be for the cableTV. Many cable boxes will use CEC to power on the Home Theater and TV as well. Since there would be a single HDMI input on the TV, no need to tinker with it once it is all setup.

 

[jaybar]

The stereo is stand alone in the LR. It supports streaming via a DAC that is connected to an airport express via an optical cable. I can stream easily from my iPhone, iPad or iMac. I have no interest to steam audio to the TV in the bedroom. An ATV or Roku will only be used to stream movies or TV episodes to the TV in the bedroom. At this time, we are not planning to add a TV to the living room. We have a second TV in a small bedroom that serves as an office. At this time, we do not plan on streaming to that TV.

The TV that we want to stream to is our bedroom TV. By today's standards, it is not very large. It is only about 30 inches.

I hope this all helps anyone to understand our setup.

 

[lvavila]

You won't need to stream Amazon through the iPad. Roku already has an Amazon channel, the Apple TV will get an app soon, so you'll be able to watch Amazon directly.
What device do you use to Airplay? Again, the ATV supports Apple Music directly.
What settings do you mean? While there are remote apps for both Roku and ATV, neither allows you to see the device settings on a phone.

General pros and cons:
- Roku devices are much less expensive than the ATV
- The ATV IMO has a better user interface
- The ATV has integration with other Apple products and services

Once the Amazon app for ATV is out, price will be the only reason to go for the Roku IMO.

I appreciate a non-bios response. They are rare these days. I'm an Apple fan but there are many reasons to choose alternate solutions. I still have a composite projection TV that won't fricken die! So... Roku to the rescue!

 

[niteflyr]

Given you are an Apple Household now, there is little reason not to go with the Apple TV. You can Airplay Amazon Prime from your iPad to ATV now and when the Amazon Prime APP is ready for ATV, you can stop Airplaying and watch it directly. If you are not planning to upgrade to a 4K TV anytime soon, the current ATV4 with downloadable apps should be fine. Save $20 and pick one up in the refurb store.

https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/appletv

 

[archer75]

I own many streaming devices. Including 2 roku's. I would recommend the apple tv because it has more of the channels you would typically find on cable/satellite than the roku does. And the interface is better and the new TV app is great for bringing all that content together. I do NOT purchased any itunes content at all and never will.

 

[satcomer]

Apple TV will be updated Tuesday so wait until then to see if the new one goes to 4K!

 

[marty1980]

For about $25 you can get the standard Roku stick with remote. It does everything you need to and although it may be clunkier and slower than higher end streamers, its ecosystem and low price often offset the difference.

Apple TV starts at $129. That's over $100 above the cost of the low end Roku. The differences may be good or bad depending on your preferences. Some people would prefer a stands TV remote like the Roku. Others enjoy the touch interface of the Apple remote. Since most of the apps you need are free and available on both platforms it doesn't matter which platform you buy. (Amazon on Apple TV in the near future, but you can AirPlay from iPad, iPhone or Mac until it releases)

if the Apple ecosystem (share purchases across all iOS platform you own - enhance with Family Sharing and Parental Controls) is something you enjoy and want to work seamlessly across your home, then maybe he extra cost for Apple TV is worth it to you. Just remember that $129 is the Apple TV 4, not 4K. If you want 4K and HDR that's a mini minimum of $179. so consider that and the $25 Roku.

Roku has a whole line of devices that greatly improve the experience. So you can still get a great, fast box for around $80 (need to price check, sorry).

You may also consider Amazon Fire TV since you use Prime it would carry over well is is price competitive.

 

[AL2TEACH]

We have not yet gotten into streaming to the TV. Our TV only has one HDMI port. We use that to connect the cable box. We will be using with component cables or an HDMI switch box,to make an HDMI port available.

We are an Apple household, with an iMac, iPhones and iPads. We want to connect my iPad Pro to the TV, so we can stream Amazon Prime to the TV.

We have Fios. We have never rented or purchased a movie through iTunes. We are not ruling it out, but have had no need do far. We are new to streaming and except for Amazon Prime or the occasional TV episode on our iPad, we are just starting out and have no idea where this will lead. We only subscribe to Apple Music. We use Airplay to stream audio to the stereo.

Are we better off with ATV or Roku? Which is easier to set up? Which would have the ability to see the settings on my iPhone? I have difficulty seeing settings on the TV. If we can't free up an HDMI port on the TV, which I think we can, what are our options?

Thanks

Apple TV and Roku are really two different boxes. The Apple TV will of course fit your ecosystem. If you have movies on your hard drive, you can stream them to your TV through iTunes. This is what I use the Apple TV for mostly.
The Roku has movie channels. Hundreds of them in every genre and most are free. To see a sample, go to the Roku channel store if you have not been there.
Both have the same apps for the most part, HBO, Plex, etc...off the top of my head, Apple has games don't know if Roku has them because I don't play them.
Roku has Amazon and Apple will be getting it.

I have both.