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Eddy Cue Explains Why Apple TV+ is Now Apple TV

turbineseaplane said:
The hardware needs a different name.

The App & the Service can be called the same thing, but a discrete streaming box that does a ton of stuff completely unrelated to the Apple TV streaming service needs its own name.

Hopefully a coming hardware refresh will clear all this up.
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It does. As Eddy said in the article "Apple TV 4K'.

It doesnt need clearing up.

"I watched show X on AppleTV' - refers to the streaming service.
'I watched a show on Netflix on my AppleTV' - the latter not being necessary but context is very clear.
 
stocklen said:
...
'I watched a show on Netflix on my AppleTV' - the latter not being necessary but context is very clear.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Realistically, very few would refer to the hardware at all in casual conversation... because outside of tech circles like MacRumors, nobody even cares what hardware you used to watch a given show, let alone what that hardware is called; they're only interested in how you felt about the twist at the end of the episode and/or season.
 
stocklen said:
It does. As Eddy said in the article "Apple TV 4K'.

It doesnt need clearing up.

"I watched show X on AppleTV' - refers to the streaming service.
'I watched a show on Netflix on my AppleTV' - the latter not being necessary but context is very clear.
Click to expand...

I give up.
I totally disagree with you.

Let's move on. ✌️
 
Who talks like that?

Why would anyone say "I watched Foundation on my Apple TV"?

It'd be like saying "I watched Foundation on my NVIDIA Shield"

A normal person would just say "I watched Foundation last night"

Under normal circumstances, people don't just mention the set top box they used when discussing things like that.

Talk about inventing a controversy.
 
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Exponent said:
This is exactly analogous of the situation at Apple when Steve Jobs came back in at the end of 1996. They had a very confusing slate of products, poorly differentiated, poorly marketed.

Jobs wiped out the existing lineup, and introduced the "Four Quadrants" strategy that helped right the ship. Mac had 4 products: consumer portable (iBook), professional portable (PowerBook / MacBook), consumer desktop (iMac), professional desktop (PowerMac).

They need someone with clarity again at the top of the org. Tim Cook and Eddie Cue aren't such people.
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Apple’s home strategy is as coherent as their games strategy ie not very.

It’s almost like they’re envious of how confusing a typical Sony product line is and want to emulate that at Apple.
 
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dlondon said:
I don't think anyone ever calls the hardware 'Apple TV 4K' unless you work in an Apple Store or write tech reviews.
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Eddy Cue has been responsible for some of Apple’s worst decisions, let alone a name change. Apple c-suite really needs a shakeup. Johny Srouji is the only exec who’s delivering
 
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I’ve just finished the podcast. First, “what a mess” comments? Jeez, pull your head out of your ass. I genuinely don’t think most people know of the physical Apple TV box. I do believe most people think of Apple TV the streaming service when those two words are said out loud. So the decision to me, makes sense.

Talking about the actual interview; I loved the chaotic nature of the questioning from the host. And it’s not normally how I listen to Executives at Apple be propositioned; lots of pushback, and some pretty good answers from Cue. I recommend everyone listens to this!
 
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JUiCEJamie said:
I’ve just finished the podcast. First, “what a mess” comments? Jeez, pull your head out of your ass. I genuinely don’t think most people know of the physical Apple TV box.
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Please don't talk to others like this.
There are more respectful ways to show disagreement.

Re: most people not knowing of the physical ATV box ... that's not a good rationale for it to have the same name as the App & the Service. Are you, I'm assuming, insinuating it should get a new discrete name? If so, I agree.
 
turbineseaplane said:
Just call them all Apple and let people figure it out.
🤷‍♂️

"Watch on Apple"

View attachment 2568507
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Although you may be joking, "watch on Apple" actually seems quite accurate. A single seamless ecosystem of tech and content, accessible via an Apple TV, an iPhone, an iPad, a Mac, a browser, etc.

My issue is that the "+" signified a paid subscription service, and now that naming distinction is gone, so how do we distinguish paying for the streaming box versus the streaming service? My mother bought an Apple TV 4K and didn't understand that Apple TV+ content costs extra, but the box can be used for other things without the subscription. I had a hard time explaining it. Clear as mud now!
 
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onenorth said:
My issue is that the "+" signified a paid subscription service, and now that naming distinction is gone, so how do we distinguish paying for the streaming box versus the streaming service? My mother bought an Apple TV 4K and didn't understand that Apple TV+ content costs extra, but the box can be used for other things without the subscription. I had a hard time explaining it. Clear as mud now!
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It sounds to me like your anecdote suggests that the plus didn't actually accomplish its intended purpose in the first place... there was already market confusion, in spite of it. Perhaps Apple dropped it because they came to that same conclusion.

In any event: while I don't personally think that the naming of the hardware product actually matters to most consumers, I'm sure that it absolutely does matter to bean counters and market watchers. This is likely why it technically has a different, much more specific, name -- but nobody actually uses that name in full, as we've already discussed. The device is essentially invisible; its market presence has been subsumed by the much more successful streaming service which came after. Based upon this combination of observations, I strongly suspect that @turbineseaplane will get his wish, and Apple will rebrand the hardware offering at some point in the near future.
 
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zarmanto said:
The device is essentially invisible; its market presence has been subsumed by the much more successful streaming service which came after. Based upon this combination of observations, I strongly suspect that @turbineseaplane will get his wish, and Apple will rebrand the hardware offering at some point in the near future.
Click to expand...

It really deserves it's own distinct name & branding. It does SO much more than just play Apple TV content.

I don't even use Apple TV+ and never have, save for binging a couple shows on free trials.
 
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zarmanto said:
It sounds to me like your anecdote suggests that the plus didn't actually accomplish its intended purpose in the first place... there was already market confusion, in spite of it. Perhaps Apple dropped it because they came to that same conclusion.

In any event: while I don't personally think that the naming of the hardware product actually matters to most consumers, I'm sure that it absolutely does matter to bean counters and market watchers. This is likely why it technically has a different, much more specific, name -- but nobody actually uses that name in full, as we've already discussed. The device is essentially invisible; its market presence has been subsumed by the much more successful streaming service which came after. Based upon this combination of observations, I strongly suspect that @turbineseaplane will get his wish, and Apple will rebrand the hardware offering at some point in the near future.
Click to expand...
The "+" didn't seem to help, but taking it away is no better and arguably worse. At least I could say 'Apple TV+" is a subscription service. Now we say "Apple TV" is a subscription service, and my mother says "I have Apple TV." Yes, but also no.

So the naming does matter to consumers. They buy something with a name and think that it is one in the same with the other thing with the same name.

Roku has devices and content channels available through Roku boxes and other devices and apps. But the content is free so the name doesn't matter. They they added Howdy, which is a paid service. Clearly a different name.
 
onenorth said:
The "+" didn't seem to help, but taking it away is no better and arguably worse. ...
Click to expand...

Meh. I would argue that the plus is largely a failed marketing experiment which has never quite accomplished what the marketing guys intended, regardless of which service it was attached to. A quick AI check suggests that the list of "plus" services includes paid subscriptions, enterprise products, services which provide more than the name implies, services which provide only what the name implies, free services that were tacked onto physical products... and perhaps more to the point, multiple discontinued offerings. As I jokingly quipped earlier... the plus simply doesn't add anything of value.

onenorth said:
... So the naming does matter to consumers. ...
Click to expand...

I suppose on that, we're just going to have to agree to disagree -- at least as it relates to the plus moniker. Your anecdote about your mother notwithstanding, I still believe that the majority of consumers don't care in the least whether their subscription is called AppleTV or AppleTV+... so long as they can watch the next season of Severance*.

* If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend doing so. It's positively insane.
 
Yeah, literally no one in the consumer sphere calls the hardware Apple TV 4K, let alone Apple TV 4K for your TV. That's just revisionist justification. I've seen hundreds and hundreds of recommendations given online for people to pick one up, and 100.00% of them say "Apple TV." And I do the same in my every day life.

I honestly do not think this is going to be nearly as complicated and confusing as people make it out to be, but it certainly could be thought out more.
 
btw if you think Apple is bad, look at the Roku product history:

• Roku DVP
• Roku SD
• Roku HD-XR
• Roku HD
• Roku HD (updated)
• Roku XD
• Roku XDS
• Roku 2 HD
• Roku 2 XD
• Roku 2 XS
• Roku LT
• Roku Streaming Stick (MHL)
• Roku LT (updated)
• Roku HD (updated)
• Roku 3
• Roku LT (updated)
• Roku 1 (SE)
• Roku 2 (updated)
• Roku 2 (updated)
• Roku 3 (updated)
• Roku TV (initial series)
• Roku 4
• Roku Streaming Stick (updated)
• Roku Express
• Roku Express+
• Roku Premiere
• Roku Premiere+
• Roku Ultra
• Roku Express (updated)
• Roku Express+ (updated)
• Roku Streaming Stick (updated)
• Roku Streaming Stick+
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Premiere (updated)
• Roku Premiere+ (updated)
• Roku Ultra (repackaged)
• Roku Streaming Stick+ Headphone Edition
• Roku Express (SE/LE)
• Roku Express+ (updated)
• Roku Premiere (updated)
• Roku Ultra LT
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Streambar
• Roku Express 4K
• Roku Express 4K+
• Roku Streambar Pro
• Roku Streaming Stick 4K
• Roku Streaming Stick 4K+
• Roku Ultra LT (updated)
• Roku LE
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Express (updated)
• Onn Roku TVs
• Element Outdoor Roku TV
• Roku Select Series TVs
• Roku Plus Series TVs
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Streambar SE
• Roku Streaming Stick (updated)
 
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thettareddast said:
btw if you think Apple is bad, look at the Roku product history:

• Roku DVP
• Roku SD
• Roku HD-XR
• Roku HD
• Roku HD (updated)
• Roku XD
• Roku XDS
• Roku 2 HD
• Roku 2 XD
• Roku 2 XS
• Roku LT
• Roku Streaming Stick (MHL)
• Roku LT (updated)
• Roku HD (updated)
• Roku 3
• Roku LT (updated)
• Roku 1 (SE)
• Roku 2 (updated)
• Roku 2 (updated)
• Roku 3 (updated)
• Roku TV (initial series)
• Roku 4
• Roku Streaming Stick (updated)
• Roku Express
• Roku Express+
• Roku Premiere
• Roku Premiere+
• Roku Ultra
• Roku Express (updated)
• Roku Express+ (updated)
• Roku Streaming Stick (updated)
• Roku Streaming Stick+
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Premiere (updated)
• Roku Premiere+ (updated)
• Roku Ultra (repackaged)
• Roku Streaming Stick+ Headphone Edition
• Roku Express (SE/LE)
• Roku Express+ (updated)
• Roku Premiere (updated)
• Roku Ultra LT
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Streambar
• Roku Express 4K
• Roku Express 4K+
• Roku Streambar Pro
• Roku Streaming Stick 4K
• Roku Streaming Stick 4K+
• Roku Ultra LT (updated)
• Roku LE
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Express (updated)
• Onn Roku TVs
• Element Outdoor Roku TV
• Roku Select Series TVs
• Roku Plus Series TVs
• Roku Ultra (updated)
• Roku Streambar SE
• Roku Streaming Stick (updated)
Click to expand...
And if you listen to the complainers, they would say things like "I watched Severance from AppleTV on my Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ last night"

You know since all normal people go into great detail of what device they watch things on.
 
turbineseaplane said:
Please don't talk to others like this.
There are more respectful ways to show disagreement.

Re: most people not knowing of the physical ATV box ... that's not a good rationale for it to have the same name as the App & the Service. Are you, I'm assuming, insinuating it should get a new discrete name? If so, I agree.
Click to expand...
You seem to be replying to a lot of comments like mine; my point stands — I think Eddy’s very very succinct answer, was for it to not get any more news, not to get any more snippets, it’s a simple sentence. And it isn’t that confusing for the layman user.

Apple TV IS the streaming service to those people. From an Executive position at the company, I think they’ve made the correct choice.
 
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Turns out Apple Park also doubles as Venn diagram of the only people calling it "Apple TV 4K" in everyday talking.
Reminds me a bit of Phil Spencer of Microsoft's Xbox Division who (officially) was caught blindsided by the "Xbone" nickname. Weird either way.
 
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