Google Chromecast Leapfrogs Apple TV as the Aging Media Player Loses Ground to Rivals

[iPadPublisher]

Psh. Whatever.

The "aging media player" is doing just fine in my house, connected to three TVs and still streaming my (growing) iTunes media library with virtually no problems.

The interface could use a little love, but I'm fine.

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Agreed.... But I wouldn't consider buying ATV if they continue to block Amazon Prime video.

Do we know it's Apple blocking Amazon vs. Amazon abstaining from Apple? I honestly don't know, which is why I ask. I always kind of assumed it was Amazon...

 

[tbone7467]

All apple needs to do to win this race is open up appleTV to run apps. This would allow things like AirVideo. AirVideo allows playback of multiple video formats, allowing multiple video formats would be a game changer for appleTV. This is the reason people like Kodi, Plex, XBMC etc.... also a reason the other players are ranked higher then the appleTV.

 

[Rogifan]

Besides Pay is there anything under Eddy Cue's responsibilities that doesn't need either a massive upgrade (TV) or major work (iCloud, iTunes, AppStore, maps)? Either we get a crap load of stuff next year or perhaps he needs to be replaced?

 

[radus]

I keep my apple tv only for old content I bought.
The netflix app and amazon fire tv offers more and better content (4k) for less money.
Why should I pay more for apple-hosted content ?

 

[DaveN]

Funny. I just bought a $100 iTunes card for $75 on eBay so I could watch more iTunes movies. I'm about tapped out on YouTube. AppleTV and other devices are the only way to watch YouTube. Using a web browser and getting forced to watch a two minute commercial so you can see a 30 second video is crazy stupid.

 

[3NV7]

I just got a Fire TV Stick for $19, and other than the tight iTunes integration (which I don't really use or need), the Fire TV beats the Apple TV hands-down.

 

[alent1234]

Funny. I just bought a $100 iTunes card for $75 on eBay so I could watch more iTunes movies. I'm about tapped out on YouTube. AppleTV and other devices are the only way to watch YouTube. Getting stuck with a two minute commercial to watch a 30 second video is crazy stupid.

i just bought a bunch of blu rays with digital copies even cheaper than itunes prices

 

[DDaddyx2]

Once I get my Firestick, I don't imagine I'll use the Apple TV except for streaming video from iTunes. Apple TV keeps adding useless channels while missing out on ones people need: Amazon Prime Video, Pandora, Spotify, etc. I know these somewhat compete with Apple's offerings and thus are excluded, but then don't whine when people go elsewhere for streaming devices.

 

[genovelle]

Apple is going down the same road as with iOS -- sit on their hands and watch a cheaper product grab tons of market share. In this case, multiple cheaper products.

Really stupid.

But those smart competitors are loosing money or like Samsung seeing their profits crash, while apple makes all the profit in the market. They just lost the losers.

 

[recklesslife85]

Price and what it can do is why the Chromecast is a steal. Apple TV is a rip off and doesnt really offer anything in the UK.

 

[aperry]

I bought a FireTV Stick for $19 last week at Staples. Even when you take cost out of the equation, the FireTV Stick is a more capable device compared to Apple TV. The Amazon App Store, the ability to sideload any Android app, the superior UI, and the form factor make it a no-brainer, even before you get to the part where it's a third of the price. Within minutes I had mine running XBMC. By comparison, how are installable apps coming along in the Apple TV?

 

[cocky jeremy]

Well, update the $%$# thing with something new/useful. Otherwise, a $30 stick that does everything you do for $99 is going to take market share from you.

Here's the thing.... they don't care.

 

[gotluck]

Had 2 ATV’s for years. Just sold them and replaced them with Amazon Fire TV.

It beats ATV hands down. Does everything ATV does (including AirPlay) and so much more. Faster, smoother and smarter.

Can it do airplay screen mirroring? I keep reading mixed reports.

chromecast does everything I want but screen mirrioring from iOS. I know some non-apple tv devices can do airplay, but the only thing I know for sure that can do screen mirroring is rasberry pi. Do you use rplay?

 

[meegwell]

The new TV should look like this:

Regular TV: stick version sub $50 of current model with updated OS, customizable menus, App Store for third party development. One stop sign-in for you cable provider apps.

TV Plus or some other catchy name:

Geared toward the higher-end media crowd. All the features of the regular, but a Box version with external storage input (dedicated home for all your media no need to have a Mac running iTunes if you so choose), latest chip with 4k capabilities, Dolby Tru-HD 7.1 and DTS Master Audio 7.1 capability, maybe Dolby Atmos...home automation hub. You move your iTunes library to this centralized media and home automation hub. High end capability to run your home theater or hi if a/v system. This system stands apart from the pack and is the undisputed high quality high end leader in this space.

On both versions, keep the IR remote so your typical tried and true universal remotes remain the only remote needed for your A/V system. Throw in gaming and a game controller where it makes sense (plus version only or both).

 

[nburwell]

It's a $25 device. It should be outselling the Apple TV. I bought one just to have one. Didn't hurt my pockets at all. The Apple TV is hands down better than the cromecast though.

Well said. Apple TV is hands down better (I actually use my ATV more often than watching cable sometimes). But for the price, you can't go wrong with Chromecast.

 

[iMerik]

I've never rented or purchased a movie or TV show from iTunes, because I refuse to purchase an Apple TV for what is offers right now and because I can't play/stream the media on my Roku. If Apple isn't going to get serious about the Apple TV, at least develop an app for other devices, like the Roku, to free up your content to be playable on other devices. I would spend money with you if you did that.

 

[allanfries]

Who cares!! Still does everything I need to do!

 

[Old Muley]

Our Samsung Smart TV is very quirky about remaining connected to the internet, which makes Netflix and Hulu somewhat unreliable. I figured if I ran those services through a different device it would help, but I'm not going to pay for two-year-old technology. Unless an amazing update to ATV finds its way to market soon, we will probably pick up an Amazon FireTV stick.

 

[aperry]

Well said. Apple TV is hands down better (I actually use my ATV more often than watching cable sometimes). But for the price, you can't go wrong with Chromecast.

Even without the price difference I would take either Chromecast or Fire TV ahead of an Apple TV. They're just more versatile.

 

[ItWasNotMe]

Most people with a "hobby" spend a fortune on it.

Apple doesn't even spend loose change

Just like the Mini

Couldn't see either in its flagship UK store the other day.

 

[mdelvecchio]

I gave up waiting for a new Apple TV and bought two Amazon Fire TVs yesterday.

how do you view your itunes content on those? for instance i have a season pass to Walking Dead, and tons of music & videos ive bought on itunes. id like them to just, you know, show up.

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If they'd spent less time on yearly iOS / OS X releases, we might have had an Apple TV app store by now.

yes, surely the richest and most profitable tech company in history doesnt have different teams working on different things....

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To this list I'd add bug fixes. My Apple TV's audio cuts out randomly when I haven't used it in a few hours, and the only fix is restarting it. It's been this way since the last update.

i wouldnt say thats a bug, because it doesnt do it for me. never heard of that as a widespread issue, either.

 

[zorinlynx]

The Apple TV has so much potential, if Apple would only OPEN THE DAMNED THING UP a bit.

Let people develop apps for it! I would go from merely thinking my Apple TV is "okay" to LOVING IT INSANELY if XBMC or PLEX media players were available for it.

It's just too restrictive, while other media players are much more open and support more formats and services. I pretty much use my Apple TV only for Netflix and YouTube, and guess what... all the other guys support those too!

 

[tdtran1025]

D'oh! Chromecast is $35, ATV is $99. Dumb as I am, still able to figure that out. Besides, most people own cheap Android tablets so the ecosystem falls into Google's hand. Roku is still the best all around player, minus the Airplay.
Wait, hold your breath! Apple may come up with a refresh. Then all bet are off.
4K baby!

 

[cardsdoc]

ATV definitely is overdue for a major update as many here all have said. All other devices are cheaper, more powerful, and can do more. I think the exception is the integration with the apple ecosystem which is limited to the ATV and what keeps me using it frequently. Airplay is super easy and handy from any modern mac or ios device. There is itunes and itunes match integration, itunes radio. If you are not hooked into all apple products than it is not worth it. I myself still use it all the time. I have cut the cord and use a Tivo with local OTA HD broadcasts. I have a slingbox 350 that can play tivo content on any device or other rooms with an ATV. I convert all blurays/dvds for playing via ATV (itunes or Plex). I will also rent movies from itunes, listen to itunes radio or my itunes match content, and watch netflix. So still works well for me but would love to see an update.

 

[bdkennedy1]

The Apple TV UI dates back to 2006. It has barely been updated since then. Why do I still have to vertically scroll through hundreds of movies to get to the one I want to watch??