not sure about netflix, that might have been due to network speed. but youtube hd-playback was still slow.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Google Chromecast Leapfrogs Apple TV as the Aging Media Player Loses Ground to Rivals
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
not sure about netflix, that might have been due to network speed. but youtube hd-playback was still slow.
Never had a problem. I think you have a defective unit. Or a bad wifi situation. Or you're making this up
Not my experience at all, but with everything YMMV. Btw, you don't need a touchscreen device. You can cast from computer (Mac or Win).
That's my thought as well.
Really? I meant cheap..as in price not quality.
Just to name a few, any of the inexpensive phones below are quite capable or were capable for their time.
Moto G
Moto X
One Plus One
Nexus 5
Nexus 4
Apple's upper-most management is a blundering bunch of cruise-control executives.
They have done little to advance their company to the forefront since Jobs passed away. Instead they tend to linger incurrent paradigms and merely work on established technology. The iWatch is NOT a groundbreaking piece of technology--it is a faded copy of another device.
Plenty of room for improvement has been vacant for the last decade, especially in their software. iTunes has needed some major work for a long time. None of the improvements are particularly difficult, but Apple overlooks them despite the obvious.
Hardware has gotten shafted by Apple. Only the iDevices get serious attention as if there are no profits in computers anymore. Infantile progress coupled with tragic space between updates has left their other products seeming ancient and overpriced in the current market.
And the big deal with this is what? I understand it's a preference thing. Like I wrote earlier, I don't mind. And I am far less likely to lose a phone or tablet than a small remote. Further, having it on a phone/tablet offers greater flexibility and more control options.
I've ditched my AppleTVs due to the fact that they're nothing but conduits to Apple's online content and not flexible enough to play whatever files I throw at them.
I have two Android powered MyGiga boxes that can play any file format I can throw at them without having to first convert them to whatever Apple wants. Granted I have a large movie and TV collection stored on a 16TB Drobo that's connected to one of the boxes. I'm not intro streaming content so even a Roku or a Chromecast is not attractive to me.
I have two Android powered MyGiga boxes that can play any file format I can throw at them without having to first convert them to whatever Apple wants. Granted I have a large movie and TV collection stored on a 16TB Drobo that's connected to one of the boxes. I'm not intro streaming content so even a Roku or a Chromecast is not attractive to me.
My point is that continued revenue from services can be way more profitable than just a one time hardware profit in this case.
How much would you guess an AppleTV+remote cost for Apple? Even if the net profit was a whopping 30-40%, they'd be only making $30-40 per device at most (for a product with say a 5 year life span). It seems hardly worth the endeavor.... basically they are just giving it out at that point... they probably make more money on iphone cases...
Why did Apple strip down the $299+ AppleTV down to $99 to have it stream only? (and at *that* time $99 was quite cheap). Apple will always be at the higher end, but selling $100 devices just for a bit of profit and no competitive advantage doesn't sound like something Apple would do. It's their ecosystem that they want to tie all their devices to and profit from. With hardware that cheap, the real profit is in selling services or apps, etc. Google, Amazon and Apple all know it.
Last edited:
By refusing to buy digital media locked to just one ecosystem. I personally buy my digital media that can play on any gosh darn product I wish to buy no matter what the OS is. It's extremely liberating once you go that route.
Buy an iPad, watch and listen to whatever I want. Buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, same thing. Buy a Roku, Chromecast, FireStick, Xbox or what ever, I can play my media. Buy it on iTunes, you're out of luck chuck.
----------
Been hearing about this refresh for years. Never has happened.
Apple also lacks advertising for AppleTV from what I can tell. Wouldn't hurt to throw a few bucks that way. My experience with AppleTV was very positive. Video played back smoothly, color reproduction was great etc... didn't have much bad to say about it. Mirroring worked very well but it is a YMMV of course. Also really enjoyed sending shows from netflix and HBOGO to the TV and using an iPad to skim to sections I wanted to see again.
Looks like a great market through with lots of competition and great choices from those charts. Good stuff IMO. Everyone is winning.
Looks like a great market through with lots of competition and great choices from those charts. Good stuff IMO. Everyone is winning.
Last edited by a moderator:
Ultimately that model can only sustain so long if your customers decide to jump to another platform.
In order for Apple to remain profitable with their iTunes (tv/movies) - in addition to the iPad (naturally) - they should pay more attention to their TV device.
Funny, I have a Chromecast in all 3 of my TVs and they get used daily. Same with most of my friends and family. ATV is collecting dust.
The Chromecast is a major disappointment of a product. Sounds okay on paper, then you try to make one work and you pull your hair out. Setting up the WiFi connection can be a nightmare. And few of the apps that are supposed to work actually do. I'd go so far as to say it is the worst technology product I've purchased in a decade.
The Roku Streaming Stick and Amazon Fire TV Stick are both much, much better products. And they include remote controls and don't rely on a phone/tablet for the UI. And they're both less than half the price of the Apple TV. Best bang for the buck in that category by far.
The Apple TV is fine, but it is aging, and it is too big and expensive compared to its rivals. Time for an update.
The Roku Streaming Stick and Amazon Fire TV Stick are both much, much better products. And they include remote controls and don't rely on a phone/tablet for the UI. And they're both less than half the price of the Apple TV. Best bang for the buck in that category by far.
The Apple TV is fine, but it is aging, and it is too big and expensive compared to its rivals. Time for an update.
Yes agreed. Which is why I don't own an AppleTV for home... I see no huge advantage to. Unlike the iPhone which has apps, on a nice platform and UI (which I like), the ATV doesn't (IMO)... Netflix on AppleTV or another device is the same... meaning there's no attraction to the device for me, but there is an attraction to the service (Netflix).
Maybe I'll breakdown and buy one because it's only $99... but I'm in no rush.
All those mentioned just leave the user wanting a more
----------
Google it.
I think that's the
Watch. Who needs a 70" 4k screen when you can stream iTunes content to a 1.5" screen on your wrist? Just magical. Once they launch the MagnifyingGlass, it will be an awesome experience and the whole old-school bulky TV industry better watch out because the Watch is going to disrupt them.Besides, live content like sports and news is so last century. Nobody wants to see things as they happen anymore, this 2014 and if you can't stream it from iTunes, nobody needs to see it.
My Panasonic smartTV has netflix and crunchyroll... that's all I need for now. For iTunes content, I have an iPad with HDMI output adapter.
Setting up wifi on the Chromecast is a much nicer experience compared to using the ATV remote's directional keys to input a wifi password. That has to be one of the most frustrating things to do.
I'm kind of surprised Roku is doing so well considering how crappy their support of older devices is (still no Netflix profiles, a year after they promised it). I guess I should be slightly happy they finally got youtube working.
At some point we'll replace our old Roku but based on their lack of legacy support it will be one of the other alternatives.
At some point we'll replace our old Roku but based on their lack of legacy support it will be one of the other alternatives.
Is it ecosystem agnostic (honest question)? Or is it highly Google centric for it's content ... like movie rental, music?
My parents bought a Chromecast and I was able to set it up with my Mac and test it out without a hitch. There isn't very much propriety usage of a Android or PC device that I see that is needed by being a mac user. Everything seems to run smoothly using Chrome Browser. When you install the Chromecast Software onto your Mac, a new button option appears on the browser bar that lets you "Cast" your screen or youtube videos onto your tv directly from computer. The reason I wasn't a huge fan of the unit is the simple fact that it's reliant of having a device (smartphone, computer, tablet available in order to make anything happen. This is where AppleTV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV win in my opinion. You just turn them on and start using them.
I purchased an Apple TV last week because I was tired of waiting for the next best thing from Apple in this category. I was simply looking for the best option to play videos that I've downloaded onto my computer and onto my tv screen without having a long HDMI cable going across the room. The Apple TV solves this issue for me and that's all I need. I don't have any subscriptions to HULU or Netflix, or HBO, etc. It's nice that these other apps are available but I don't find myself wanting to use them for the time being. Now if Apple can just open up their API and allow 3rd partiers to get in and also end the restriction of only play files from your iTunes library without using Beamer/Airplayer, all would be happy.