Microsoft Developing Low-Cost Xbox Streaming Dongle That Could Rival Apple TV

[bobcomer]

Apple TV doesn’t set the bar very high as a rival. It’s pretty decent if you live solely inside Apple’s bubble and don’t mind half-baked media software with zero library management features, but that’s about where it ends. It’s functional at best and really not that great at any one thing. Should be half the price they ask for it.

I actually like Apple TV, the UI wins over any other media consumption device for me, but I really do have to say it could have been so much more.

I have most of the kinds of streaming boxes, but I pick Apple TV to do almost all my streaming. I know, weird, most people would say I'm not one of the people that are high on Apple for most things. The only thing I don't use it for streaming is something that doesn't make an App for Apple TV.

Now the Apple TV app on the Mac, now that's a pile, somehow they took iTunes and made it 100 times worse. I don't even shop for new movies or shows with it, I'll use my Windows PC's iTunes instead.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Microsoft also developed a portable music system to rival the iPod. That went well.

Stick to making proper consoles Microsoft, you do it well.

A really dumb comment. Microsoft had no chance with their Zune player because the iPod was the dominant force at the time just as the iPad was as well. However the Zune player from a technical side was solid. The SQ was much better than what the iPod's offered and it also had FM Radio HD. I have a Zune HD player to this day and it's one of my favorite MP3 devices, excluding Cowon players.

Now the tables have flipped and now Microsoft is the dominant player in the videogame streaming services. There isn't another service like XBOX Game Pass. So what Microsoft is trying to offer with their dongle should do quite well. I have streamed AAA titles at 4K thru Game Pass and it works great.

 

[Abazigal]

A really dumb comment. Microsoft had no chance with their Zune player because the iPod was the dominant force at the time just as the iPad was as well. However the Zune player from a technical side was solid. The SQ was much better than what the iPod's offered and it also had FM Radio HD. I have a Zune HD player to this day and it's one of my favorite MP3 devices, excluding Cowon players.

Now the tables have flipped and now Microsoft is the dominant player in the videogame streaming services. There isn't another service like XBOX Game Pass. So what Microsoft is trying to offer with their dongle should do quite well. I have streamed AAA titles at 4K thru Game Pass and it works great.

That’s basically Microsoft in a nutshell. They have all these great ideas, but tend to fumble at the execution stage.

 

[Bodhitree]

It makes you wonder what is the holdup, it seems a slam-dunk from Microsoft’s perspective to make a Chromecast type dongle, bundle with an Xbox controller and start selling subscriptions.