iPad Mini looks nothing like the Kindle Fire or Nexus 7. Do you honestly think Apple designed the iPad Mini(1st gen) in just 1 month after the Nexus 7 came out?
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Google Preparing 'Android TV' Set-Top Box with Native Apps, Simple Interface, Voice Search
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Everybody wants a piece of the action, and nobody wants to be left behind. Technological issues are not the main obstacle here. All those companies are struggling to find the 'magic formula' to win over consumers. Control of our living rooms is going to be huuuuge in the future; I suspect on par with, if not bigger, than the smartphone/tablet revolution, with which by the way, all these entertainment options are going to be tied in naturally. We're talking movies, games, tv shows, sports, cable content, pay-per-view blockbusters, internet content, etc.
So far most consumers are still holding their breath for that awesome combination of UI, content, versatility, compatibility/interoperability, ease of use, price, copyright restrictions for private use, and reasonable upgradeability to prevent premature obsolescence.
I know that's a mouthful, and will someone succeed in such consumer 'nirvana'? I hope so, and many people are looking towards Apple but I'm not sure they can hit a 'homerun' here either. (Where are Steve's legendary persuasive powers, when you need them most?) I doubt we'll get that whole list without any compromises, at least not initially.
I suspect it will be more of an evolutionary thing with more of these items on that consumer wishlist added gradually over the coming years, as some drastic new distribution models and adjustments will be needed at the content creation and distribution end of things.
At the risk of stating the obvious, change there is needed, and will be painful at first, but like in the music industry, will come eventually, and in the end has the potential to be better for everyone.
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Well, you have people here who think Samsung copied a non existent Apple watch and 12" iPad, so why not?
I'd hate you see your spouse....
Design is important and Apple built an empire based on it.
Google can do pretty good design when it focuses on it, as it did with Android 4.1 and above.
I am excited about all of these coming out, as I am frustrated with Apple TV, yet it is currently the best there is, IMO.
The Comcast integration, if true, will make me jump to Google.
Keep in mind that these things are all part of ecosystems and can influence future mobile devices buying decisions.
My comment has nothing to do with looks. I believe Apple reacted to the market demand for smaller tablets that was revealed by pioneering products from other companies (e.g. Galaxy and Kindle 7" tablets that were released in 2011 iirc). That's not controversial, is it?
That's sort of backwards. Amazon forked Android not Google, and because they forked Android they don't have access to Google Play Services (GPS). Not sure which partners you think they're pissing off. None of their partners have a set-top box or dongle on the market.
Amazon made the conscious decision to forgo GPS by forking Android. So Google can't withhold services which Amazon already doesn't have.
Based on your quote, fragmentation doesn't mean what you think it does.
Maybe you should go and read the memo that was just released from the Samsung lawsuit...
Apple is certain to release something someday. It is rumored they were thinking about 2016 for a new Apple TV... just to give competition a chance.
Why not? That's all they've been doing for the last few years, why do you expect that to change anytime soon?
"Focus" might be one of the problems with Android TV. According to The Verge article, Google will still sell Chromecast, which supports apps differently from Android TV. Developers will have to make two versions of their apps if they want it on both devices. Once again, Google is forking itself (unless of course they dump Chromecast).
Except is is trivially easy to get around geo-blocking. Eg:
http://www.unblock-us.com/
I have Amazon, Netflix and Hulu Plus, none of which are available in Australia.
you mean like AirPlay, AirDrop, TouchID, electronic textbooks, the revolutionary 2013 Mac Pro, first to have Thunderbolt on PCs, Magnetic connectors and so on?
I strongly suspect Google has 2 warring factions(Chrome OS vs Android OS) and it's getting ugly.
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The only obvious 2 cases I've seen as reactions are the notification center(copying Google) and flattened iOS7 UI(Metro, for god sake who knows why).
But presumably I couldn't have my roku setup to appear as if it is the US for the purpose of accessing amazon/Hulu and simultaneously have it appear in the UK for accessing UK-specific content (eg bbc iPlayer/Sky TV)?
Interesting how all these tv products are coming out now. I guess Apple TV was a little ahead of its time.
Really? because it explicitly provides information on this if you bother to actually read the article.
how many is this?
is this swing #4?
$300 tv ball: failure before it was even released
$30 chromecast: somewhat successful, limited availability and depends on another device to actually work
there was another tv thingamabob Google was pushing that I think Logitech really took a financial bath on
Obviously, you'll want to be first in line for this product, because you know it'll be good.
is this swing #4?
$300 tv ball: failure before it was even released
$30 chromecast: somewhat successful, limited availability and depends on another device to actually work
there was another tv thingamabob Google was pushing that I think Logitech really took a financial bath on
Obviously, you'll want to be first in line for this product, because you know it'll be good.
I disagree. With the Android TV, Google has growth opportunity with the crowd focused on their ecosystem. Same with Apple and ATV and Amazon with Fire TV. Their Chromecast is for those of us who aren't locked in to any ecosystem. It's my favorite on the go accessory. I can use it with any of my devices: GS3, iPad, Nexus 7, MBA, etc. I have 3 of them and a Roku, with the Fire TV arriving Monday. If the Android TV is ~$100 I'll pick up one just to see what's what.
Suspect based on what? The fact that they are designed for two completely different types of devices?
