New Apple TV soon (Jon Prosser)

[The-Real-Deal82]

For many, I would argue that even $129 isn't that significant if you want superior user privacy, faster performance, Apple designed user interface, iCloud integration, Home(Kit) hub capability, wider selection of apps, full Apple TV app experience, and/or Apple Arcade.

I got my cube for £62 and the comparable Apple TV was £199 so it was a very significant difference. I was more than happy to go with the Apple TV until I started researching into it and compared what I actually wanted the box for. I wanted it for Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, 4OD, and BBC iPlayer. None of the Apple exclusive services were on our must-have list as iCloud, and games were not things we needed on our tv. HomeKit is redundant for us as we use Amazon Echo’s already with device links that are much more cost effective. It just boiled down to the fact Apples version couldn’t really compete for what it offered us. That’s life.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The biggest advantage to your purchasing decision is that Amazon are now carefully logging everything that you watch and stream with your new hardware and will be using this information to further violate your privacy in every way possible.

Should it bother me that Amazon know what I’ve watched though? They know what I am purchasing already as I buy products from them and have done for more than 20 years.

 

[rafark]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1258366598710206464

Is... is he asking for money? Isn’t that ilegal?

 

[Puonti]

Is... is he asking for money?

Nope, that's not what he's saying even between the lines.

 

[SaxPlayer]

Should it bother me that Amazon know what I’ve watched though? They know what I am purchasing already as I buy products from them and have done for more than 20 years.

I've just realised you use Amazon Echos too so you've already sold your soul and Amazon knows more about you than you do and is listening in to you 24/7, so just carry on as you are.

Seriously, some people don't worry about their privacy and in some ways that's liberating because it opens up your choices of what devices to purchase and you can happily use whatever you want without a care in the world.

Some of us distrust the Amazons of this world too much to take the risk...!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I've just realised you use Amazon Echos too so you've already sold your soul and Amazon knows more about you than you do and is listening in to you 24/7, so just carry on as you are.

Seriously, some people don't worry about their privacy and in some ways that's liberating because it opens up your choices of what devices to purchase and you can happily use whatever you want without a care in the world.

Some of us distrust the Amazons of this world too much to take the risk...!

I don’t really worry about it, you’re right.

 

[SaxPlayer]

I don’t really worry about it, you’re right.

Most people seem to be like that. In some ways I wish I was like you and didn't care about my privacy. Call me paranoid, but I won't have an Echo in the house (or a Google Assistant).

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Most people seem to be like that. In some ways I wish I was like you and didn't care about my privacy. Call me paranoid, but I won't have an Echo in the house (or a Google Assistant).

It’s not that I don’t care about my privacy, I just don’t tend to worry that I’m being listened to 24/7 as the chances of that are slim. I don’t think Amazon have the manpower to be listening to millions of households constantly. Some cultures are more paranoid than others too and for good reason but thankfully I’m not.

 

[SaxPlayer]

It’s not that I don’t care about my privacy, I just don’t tend to worry that I’m being listened to 24/7 as the chances of that are slim. I don’t think Amazon have the manpower to be listening to millions of households constantly. Some cultures are more paranoid than others too and for good reason but thankfully I’m not.

I hear what you're saying and you're not wrong. My concern is not that real people will be listening (I agree that's unlikely) but it's the algorithms and AI that are listening and tracking and logging everything you do. That's not paranoia, it's a simple fact of why they sell these gadgets so cheaply. The hardware is nothing to them, it's the data they're collecting from people that is of most value.

I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories about "evil companies out to get us" but I do, on a purely practical level, understand the corporate machine and that data will be used in all sorts of ways that I'm personally not comfortable with. This is something that Apple are getting mostly right IMHO. That's why I have HomePods. YMMV.

 

[nutmac]

The biggest advantage to your purchasing decision is that Amazon are now carefully logging everything that you watch and stream with your new hardware and will be using this information to further violate your privacy in every way possible.

My larger concern is how Amazon and Roku hold apps a hostage until they can agree on revenue sharing arrangement. Fox Sports (Roku only), HBO Max, and Peacock are prime examples. (Yes, I realize you can side load apps on Fire TV, but it's not all that friendly and users shouldn't have to fiddle with that.)

Just about all streaming apps are available on Apple TV whether they pay Apple or not. They just need to abide by not presenting subscription link on the app, and not providing 3rd party billing.

 

[convergent]

My larger concern is how Amazon and Roku hold apps a hostage until they can agree on revenue sharing arrangement. Fox Sports (Roku only), HBO Max, and Peacock are prime examples. (Yes, I realize you can side load apps on Fire TV, but it's not all that friendly and users shouldn't have to fiddle with that.)

Just about all streaming apps are available on Apple TV whether they pay Apple or not. They just need to abide by not presenting subscription link on the app, and not providing 3rd party billing.

I guess your are forgetting the period of time when Prime Video wasn't available on Apple TV and Apple TVs weren't available from Amazon. Or the Netflix isn't part of Apple TV app. Apple isn't immune to disputes and they definitely have their own "revenue sharing" thing.

 

[JBaby]

I guess your are forgetting the period of time when Prime Video wasn't available on Apple TV and Apple TVs weren't available from Amazon. Or the Netflix isn't part of Apple TV app. Apple isn't immune to disputes and they definitely have their own "revenue sharing" thing.

Prime wasn’t available to tv for YEARS!

 

[nutmac]

I guess your are forgetting the period of time when Prime Video wasn't available on Apple TV and Apple TVs weren't available from Amazon. Or the Netflix isn't part of Apple TV app. Apple isn't immune to disputes and they definitely have their own "revenue sharing" thing.

Apple does not have revenue sharing arrangement with Amazon, beyond App Store billing (Roku takes a cut from ad revenue). Amazon was holding Prime Video app for tvOS a hostage because (1) the company makes a competing product (Amazon.com stopped selling both Apple TV and Google Chromecast few years ago) and (2) Amazon wanted better a rate for $8.99/month "Prime Video Monthly" App Store billing.

Apple have not prevented Amazon from offering their own billing, provided the option is not presented in the app. I suspect a vast majority of Amazon Prime Video users are paying $1/month more for full Amazon Prime subscription anyway.