Received Apple TV and wondering what the point is

[Hookemfins]

Here's what I think the Apple TV needs to be a game changer for my use case:

• Cable-free subscription tiers of channels or a la carte at your choice (obviously)

That is totally the individual channels option and not Apple TV's. The exact same requirement is for all streaming devices. You're paying for those channels on Comcrap. Do you want someone watching for free channels you pay for as a sub?

and in the case of MLB, require an additional subscription to view anything live.

Not sure about Comcrap but at Directv we get free use of MLB.tv for getting extra innings.

Here is the simplistic answer. If you aren't happy or find no use for a, free gift of an ATV 4, than return it and use the $149 on something you can use.

I love my ATV 3 and have many uses for it along with DTV. When the MLB starts up in April I plan on getting ATV 4 for the enhancements to the MLB.TV.

 

[SeattleMoose]

I use my apple TV in my bedroom which has a non smart tv. Also, my smart tv downstairs in the family room sucks. It's not user friendly, constantly freezes and I have yet to be able to access rhapsody. I don't have a lot of iTunes content, but I use the apple tv every day.

Agree about the whole "SmartTV" thing. It is sort of like 3D TVs....gimmick. I mean who wants the "smarts" built-in? That means that the best case scenario is that the day you buy it everything works fine, but from that point on, it becomes more limited and obsolete every day due to lack of SW updates, ecosystem integration, speed of tech progress, etc. Besides the ATV and other similar devices are cheap and have more dynamic upgradeability. I want my "TV" to just be a screen. Nothing more. I don't want to pay for doodads and extraneous features that are best left to more dynamic companies.

 

[d21mike]

Fair enough, but in no way is this latest Apple TV any more "the future" than any other streaming box on the market. Granted that could change as developers add apps, but as long as live TV and live local sports are within the grasps of the major cable companies, Apple TV will continue to be just one of many "hobby" boxes.

Here's what I think the Apple TV needs to be a game changer for my use case:

• Cable-free subscription tiers of channels or a la carte at your choice (obviously)
• Once cable-free, there needs to be some guide to "what's on now" for live tv so you don't need to remember what channel everything is on
• Picture-in-Picture to view content from one app while navigating to another (absolute must have)
• 1st party Apple game controller to truly unlock console-quality gaming

Right now, Comcast's X1 platform has so much overlap with what Apple TV can offer me that it's hard to justify grabbing the Siri remote for anything other than just wanting to use something made by Apple.

If anything feels like the "future of TV", it's Comcast X1's ability to provide my entire cable lineup on any screen in my house (iMac, iPad, iPhone), and my entire DVR/OnDemand lineup to any device anywhere in the world. To me, the future of TV may not even include the TV itself!

How much do you pay per month for the Comcast's X1 Environment? You sound like you have a whole house full of equipment. I had 4 Verizon FIOS STB's (2 DVR, 2 Clients, Whole Home Sharing). I was paying $67 +tax per month for the hardwired alone. And that only covered 4 TV's (but I have 8). So to cover the other 4 would have been about $40 more (per month). I have now eliminated ALL of my FIOS STB's. I now only have Apple TV 4's on all of my TV's and only 1 remote on each. In the past I would have up to 3 remotes (not counting the ATV 3 Remote for TV's with them). Anyway, I am very happy with my current setup (same for the wife). I still do subscribe to FIOS TV for about $70 per month (not counting my Internet) and I get 386 channels. My wife and I want different channels. I think you will find that when you add up all the channels you and others in your household use they will add up to over $50 per month. For Live TV I have 6 HDHomeRun Turners (2 Cable Cards = $10 / month) and the Apple TV 4 Channels App with different favorites on each TV. I am also beta testing the DVR from the same company. But since Hulu (with no commercials) has most of my on demand content that I would normally record I am ok without a DVR I also have CBS All Access for some content but plan to drop that unless they provide it without commercials. My setup is not perfect even for my standards and they may not be good for you at all. But you ask for other opinions.

 

[Snoopy4]

Ok, so I resisted getting an Apple TV since it's inception, but received one for Christmas and my initial feelings towards it have been justified thus far --- mainly, what is the point of this device if you already own a relatively new TV that has "apps" (YouTube, Amazon Video, Netflix, etc)?

In our house, its simply the ability to leave the physical BD collection in the main viewing area while providing instant access to the vast majority of our collection in other rooms where TV size makes the picture quality less important. It also provides an independent music source in each room and I hope with apps some whole home functionality over time. We looked at Kalaidescape as a way to do this before digital copies took off, and this saved a fortune.

Hind sight I may have gone with Roku but I really felt AppleTV would go with an App Store and really open up a world of possibilities (they did and at some point it likely will do what we want it to do). I felt Apple would stay ahead of the game, instead its a bit of a mess at this point. Their hardware launched with dated specs (no UHD), limited content and now UV is all but abandoning iTunes in the digital copy world which is essentially defeating our purpose for it.

We're a bit frustrated (okay I am, but wife acceptance is critical here) and in limbo right now and could really use an app to access UV content as this would make AppleTV 4 the great content provider we hoped for when we decided to pull the trigger and go with Apple products. Another solution would be for apple to work out their differences with the UV Alliance and link to UV.

For now we have ATV4's because they're faster, plain and simple, and the vast majority of our collection came with iTunes digital copies. As to content, unless we get a digital copy for both UV and iTunes in the box the sheets will sit on a shelf waiting for redemption until right before expiration and hopefully by then the situation will be clear. The small stack of sheets we have now don't start expiring until next summer so I'm good for now.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Ok, so I resisted getting an Apple TV since it's inception, but received one for Christmas and my initial feelings towards it have been justified thus far --- mainly, what is the point of this device if you already own a relatively new TV that has "apps" (YouTube, Amazon Video, Netflix, etc)?

You still need a cable subscription for virtually everything (along with an embarrassingly cumbersome litany of logins for every app), so why not just access most of this content on Comcast's Xfinity OnDemand platform and avoid reaching for another remote and another UI to deal with? Heck, even Comcast's latest X1 remote has built-in voice search that can search their entire catalogue of content.

Lastly, I'm not convinced that digging through channel apps to find content is better than having a Comcast viewing guide of content to choose from regardless of what channel it's on. In the end, I'm left with a duplication of content I can already access through Comcast X1 and a handful of iOS game ports. I'm very much "meh" on the product and hoping someone can show me the light. This certainly doesn't feel like "the future of TV."

Completely and totally agree. Apple TV, roku, etc. do not work the way that we watch TV. Watching TV is based around the TV schedule. Apple TV offers none. I much prefer the TiVO experience because it mirrors how people use TV. Imagine watching 10 different channels to get your content. On Apple TV that would require accessing 10 different apps just to watch new episodes of your shows. And there is no way for Apple TV to inform you of new episodes! You have to just know, psychically, when a new episode airs, what network it airs on, and what app to use to find that network.

Apple TV is a total fail. This is NOT the same thing as Jobs saying he has "cracked TV". This incarnation of Apple TV is for someone who has never used a TV. And no, Apple TV is not for watching "internet content on your tv". It's for watching TV! It is to replace your cable and dish provider.

Apple needs to go back to the drawing board on this one. What a junk.

 

[colodane]

It will be a few more years before Apple (and probably others) find a way to negotiate more individual content from the big providers, but I do think the day will come. In the meantime, however, it is expensive on a per-hour basis unless you are a big TV viewer.

I have Comcast. Don't watch any nighttime TV series as they come out. Prefer to watch them via NetFlix instead after they are older. Don't watch HBO. Only use the Comcast feed to watch CNN sometimes, NFL on Fox and CBS, an occasional Monday night game on ESPN and a few Indy car races each year on NBC Sports. So live news and sports are why I have cable. But, thanks to the occasional need for the ESPN and NBC Sports show, I end up needing a package that is upwards of $90 a month! Once a year I go to the local Comcast office and complain about the cost and say I want to drop down to a less expensive package. They then suddenly discover "a new discount" and reduce my bill by $20 a month with my present package for another year. I hate dealing with them. Their pricing and offerings are anything but transparent.

I would LOVE a more ala carte approach from Apple or from the networks I watch.

I have a 3G Apple TV and use it sometimes for AirPlaying video. For audio AirPlay it is more convenient to stream it directly to my receiver. Holding off on the 4G for now, as don't think it offers enough new advantages. But maybe by 5G time there will be some more cost-effective ways to purchase small quantities of content.

 

[JoeShades]

Anyone thanK think the Comcast XI sytem or Smart TVs are decent need a menat evauatioon

Completely and totally agree. Apple TV, roku, etc. do not work the way that we watch TV. Watching TV is based around the TV schedule. Apple TV offers none. I much prefer the TiVO experience because it mirrors how people use TV. Imagine watching 10 different channels to get your content. On Apple TV that would require accessing 10 different apps just to watch new episodes of your shows. And there is no way for Apple TV to inform you of new episodes! You have to just know, psychically, when a new episode airs, what network it airs on, and what app to use to find that network.

Apple TV is a total fail. This is NOT the same thing as Jobs saying he has "cracked TV". This incarnation of Apple TV is for someone who has never used a TV. And no, Apple TV is not for watching "internet content on your tv". It's for watching TV! It is to replace your cable and dish provider.

Apple needs to go back to the drawing board on this one. What a junk.

Apple tv is not total fail for me or millions of others, what arrogance to come here and say nonsense like that because you don't like it. Also i use Apple tv to watch content i have through Plex, Netflix and other Apps which are Internet content. Is that Ok with you?

 

[d21mike]

Completely and totally agree. Apple TV, roku, etc. do not work the way that we watch TV. Watching TV is based around the TV schedule. Apple TV offers none. I much prefer the TiVO experience because it mirrors how people use TV. Imagine watching 10 different channels to get your content. On Apple TV that would require accessing 10 different apps just to watch new episodes of your shows. And there is no way for Apple TV to inform you of new episodes! You have to just know, psychically, when a new episode airs, what network it airs on, and what app to use to find that network.

Apple TV is a total fail. This is NOT the same thing as Jobs saying he has "cracked TV". This incarnation of Apple TV is for someone who has never used a TV. And no, Apple TV is not for watching "internet content on your tv". It's for watching TV! It is to replace your cable and dish provider.

Apple needs to go back to the drawing board on this one. What a junk.

We do need a Global Watch List. But most of what you are saying is not correct. The future is Apps like Hulu (no commercials) and Netflix etc..

 

[bigdog5142]

I have 150 movies on iTunes (or so) and have iTunes Match, so it makes sense for me. I have an Xbox One as well and could use that for the other apps, but i enjoy the Apple TV. Only reason I upgraded to the newest one is for the added apps/games (and I had Christmas money).

 

[le.bouch]

I have to agree with the OP.

And I'm so weary of threads where someone dares to criticise an Apple product you get the the inevitable hurt-feelings response of "well, take it back for a refund if you don't like it."

I decided to keep mine because a) I'm lazy and b) I'm curious as to what the future holds for the little box.

Here in the UK it doesn't solve the confusion of attached-devices to your tv - it just adds to it. The future here seems to be catch-up TV via several apps (although only the BBC iPlayer is available so far on ATV).

But as mentioned above, without a guide how do you know what's on / what's been on? The simple answer to me would be yet another app, but one that is open by default (if you want) that shows what's on and let's you go backwards through the schedule. Select a show and that opens the correct app and plays your show. Anytime TV via Freesat works a little like that now.

 

[OllyW]

I have to agree with the OP.

And I'm so weary of threads where someone dares to criticise an Apple product you get the the inevitable hurt-feelings response of "well, take it back for a refund if you don't like it."

I decided to keep mine because a) I'm lazy and b) I'm curious as to what the future holds for the little box.

Here in the UK it doesn't solve the confusion of attached-devices to your tv - it just adds to it. The future here seems to be catch-up TV via several apps (although only the BBC iPlayer is available so far on ATV).

But as mentioned above, without a guide how do you know what's on / what's been on? The simple answer to me would be yet another app, but one that is open by default (if you want) that shows what's on and let's you backwards through the schedule. Select a show and that opens the correct app and plays your show. Anytime TV via Freesat works a little like that now.

Good points. I'm using various apps on my smart TV, Virgin Tivo box, Now TV box and Apple TV3 and a fully integrated all in one viewing solution still seems to be a pipe dream.

 

[BradWould]

Not every product Apple releases can be useful to every person on the planet. All of the reasons brought up on why the Apple TV isn't worth buying are good ones (for that individual). I happen to love mine. I do not have a smart tv and I need the ability to stream my own content. While there may be other solutions out there, Apple has proven to me time after time that their hardware/ software worth giving them first crack at my business.

I feel I have no use for the iPad pro. That's not to say it's good or bad, pointless or useful. I just have no need for it. It wasn't created with my situation in mind. That's fine by me.

If Apple ever does release a product I want that doesn't live up to my expectations I wouldn't think twice about returning it.

This thread is one of the better ones for people trying to figure out whether the new Apple TV is what they really want. Well thought out reasoning and no bashing. I hope people searching for that kind of info find it. It may cut back on the "atv4 is so dumb" threads. The new Apple TV still has every feature it advertised when it was launched. If people were expecting more (cable cutting/ 4K/) that's nobody's fault but their own.

 

[cynics]

Completely and totally agree. Apple TV, roku, etc. do not work the way that we watch TV. Watching TV is based around the TV schedule. Apple TV offers none. I much prefer the TiVO experience because it mirrors how people use TV. Imagine watching 10 different channels to get your content. On Apple TV that would require accessing 10 different apps just to watch new episodes of your shows. And there is no way for Apple TV to inform you of new episodes! You have to just know, psychically, when a new episode airs, what network it airs on, and what app to use to find that network.

Apple TV is a total fail. This is NOT the same thing as Jobs saying he has "cracked TV". This incarnation of Apple TV is for someone who has never used a TV. And no, Apple TV is not for watching "internet content on your tv". It's for watching TV! It is to replace your cable and dish provider.

Apple needs to go back to the drawing board on this one. What a junk.

Clearly the AppleTV isn't for someone that prioritizes TV to such an extent as yourself.

The AppleTV, Roku, etc are good alternatives for many of us that want to cut the cord and get away from these over priced bundled packages the cable companies offer but still have some form of entertainment. Or someone that wanted easy access to either their iTunes library or iTunes store when it comes to AppleTV.

How can you say "It is to replace your cable and dish provider" which it is CLEARLY AND OBVIOUSLY not? Its like you have yourself thoroughly convinced this is a different product and you are pissed about. Haha

My cable bill per month was > the cost of netflix + Hulu + the cost of the AppleTV box. I refuse to believe anyone would think that its a replacement for cable/dish without compromises.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Much of what needs to be said is said here. I'll just offer a few other points...

OP is right in that many competitors have caught up or passed TV in various ways. Apple was somewhat the immediate leader when the first generation box rolled out. It had many innovations in one box. Remember how we used to store a library of music (CD changers), a library of movies (DVD changers), photos (paper photo albums), home movies (VHS tapes or DVD discs), etc. Before TV1 how did the masses get a podcast/vodcast playing on their TV? Internet radio playing through the best sound system in the house? How did we rent a movie that didn't involve driving a car to a video rental store? Etc.

It was one big hop forward. And then...? Apple shifted it into hobby mode.

Meanwhile, other players looked at all of that innovation and started up their copying machines. Apple got competitors making TV-like boxes and showed TV and cable/satt box manufacturers other kinds of content/apps to try to weave into their offerings. And they did.

When they generally caught up to TV, they had to innovate forward and some of them did too. And that can make even the "4" seem like it's more of the same rather than something that might be called "the future."

What's needed here? Focus. Apple needs to bring hard focus on making the "5" leap ahead of the pack. For example, what does Roku most tangibly offer that TV lacks? Roku has long since and is way ahead on content deals. Is Roku richer than Apple and thus able to buy many more such deals? No. Does Roku have more human resources to forge such deals than Apple? No. So how does Roku do it? They have much more focus on this kind of product than Apple.

To OP's "what's the point?" question, I think it currently comes down to just a few things:

• how much iTunes DRM'd content does one own? If it's much, the ONLY way to easily play it on home AV equipment is through Apple hardware like TV. Comcast X1, Dish, etc can't play iTunes DRM content
• how many TVs does one have in a home? X1, Dish, etc require leased rental boxes hooked to each TV. Those leases can add up. If an TV can deliver much of the same to alternate TVs, it will be cheaper to use TVs over time.
• what does the TV do that X1, Dish, etc boxes can't do? This is probably a small handful of iOS-specific (proprietary) features that Apple won't share with X1, Dish, etc. Is any of those features important to a potential TV buyer?
• how into the Apple ecosystem is someone? Buying content through TV makes it sharable to other Apple hardware without jumping through any hoops. Buying content through non-Apple hardware may require some hoops to get it playing on iDevices or Macs. Etc.

There's probably a few more points I'm leaving out. Is that an impressive list? Eye of the beholder. Hop back to shortly after TV1 launched and the list would be much longer. Unfortunately, Apple has somewhat dragged it's feet with this "hobby" for almost too long, giving the copycats time to replicate much of the "what's special" and even add a few things Apple's box does not (yet) have. Again, much of the bigger picture answer comes back to FOCUS. If Apple would go at TV like it goes at other Apple products, it could probably leap out well ahead.

Personally, I really like TV and I have Dish and app-capable "smart" TVs too. Both of the latter can run the same, most-used apps that tend to be most used on the TV, so I could easily make a good case for why we wouldn't need our TV boxes if pressed. Nevertheless, we like our TVs vs. the other options. And that might be THE "answer" for many.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

We do need a Global Watch List. But most of what you are saying is not correct. The future is Apps like Hulu (no commercials) and Netflix etc..

Apple TV, Roku and the rest lack a feature that makes discovering content easy. Like I said earlier, the app model breaks down once you have to track content across multiple apps. It doesn't make sense. The TiVO model works much better for content access and discovery when your main purpose is watching TV shows and movies.

Apple tv is not total fail for me or millions of others, what arrogance to come here and say nonsense like that because you don't like it. Also i use Apple tv to watch content i have through Plex, Netflix and other Apps which are Internet content. Is that Ok with you?

I'm very happy for you. What is arrogant is criticizing others for stating their opinion. You shouldn't let your Apple TV define who you are, then you won't take honest criticism of the platform so personally. I hope that is okay with you.

Clearly the AppleTV isn't for someone that prioritizes TV to such an extent as yourself.

Yes, I believe that's what I said above.

The AppleTV, Roku, etc are good alternatives for many of us that want to cut the cord and get away from these over priced bundled packages the cable companies offer but still have some form of entertainment. Or someone that wanted easy access to either their iTunes library or iTunes store when it comes to AppleTV.

How can you say "It is to replace your cable and dish provider" which it is CLEARLY AND OBVIOUSLY not? Its like you have yourself thoroughly convinced this is a different product and you are pissed about. Haha

So wait a minute, you say that Apple TV, Roku, etc. are good alternatives for many of us who want to cut the cord and get away from cable companies, but then you tell me that the purpose of Apple TV is NOT to replace your cable or dish provider? How do you reconcile those two statements? The latter completely contradicts the former. Not sure about your credibility here.

My cable bill per month was > the cost of netflix + Hulu + the cost of the AppleTV box. I refuse to believe anyone would think that its a replacement for cable/dish without compromises.

I normally look at how products can be made better, not lower the bar to the very bottom and then be thankful that it gives me something better than the bare minimum. Do you apply that same methodology to your life goals as well?

 

[MistrSynistr]

Comcast is the worst company and service in the history of the world. It's so bizarre you made a post tooting it's horn whilst trying to throw Apple TV under the bus.

 

[winstars]

Comcast is the worst company and service in the history of the world. It's so bizarre you made a post tooting it's horn whilst trying to throw Apple TV under the bus.

I am essentially happy with TW for my internet, have DISH for TV which I am essentially happy with. My sister has Comcast and hates them...

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/2...gger-leads-isp-pack-consumer-complaints.shtml

It isn’t surprising that Comcast received the most complaints, since it’s the largest ISP in the US and has regularly ranked at or near the bottom of its industry in customer satisfaction. Comcast also is the subject of much negative media coverage and attention from consumer advocacy groups, which may encourage more customers to file complaints.

Whatever the reason, it’s clear Comcast receives far more complaints on a per-customer basis than do other top ISPs. Comcast has 22.9 million broadband subscribers, compared to 15.8 million for AT&T, 13 million for TWC, and 9.2 million for Verizon, Leichtman Research Group reports. For wireline broadband, that means AT&T, TWC, and Verizon have a combined 38 million customers—about 15 million more than Comcast, even though the three firms together receive far fewer complaints.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughtful opinions on the topics I originally raised. I just think I wanted the Apple TV because I felt like I may be missing out on this whole "cord-cutting" revolution, and what I found was largely a disappointing, fragmented mess of services (Netflix, Hulu) and apps that still require cable subscriptions to access content.

"Cord-cutting" is still jam packed with compromises, many of which are deal breakers for someone like me (e.g. watching live sports or news with ease). It seems like it only truly works for show junkies of fictional tv dramas that like to binge watch old seasons with their free time. I have little interest in that so perhaps I'm just the wrong target for streaming services and boxes.

Throughout coming to this conclusion, I began to realize that my cable package really isn't all that raw a deal in the end. Especially considering that even if I canceled cable, $50+/month of my ~$140 bill would still be going to Comcast for high speed internet. So is ~$90/month worth it to me to have easy access to live national and local sports, >300 channels to consume and discover, and mobile apps to access all my cable content on any device in my home? I think so. Especially vs this supposed utopia of a la carte channels that would quickly approach a monthly figure that wouldn't be all that life changing vs what I'm paying for cable.

I'll be keeping my Apple TV 4 mainly because I'm an Apple geek, and I want to see if this product grows into more than what it is now with the App Store involved. At the very least, I'll use it to AirPlay things occasionally and maybe to access a movie or two that Comcast doesn't have available OnDemand. But, it doesn't appear I will be canceling cable any time soon, and I guess I am ok with that now.

 

[satcomer]

I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughtful opinions on the topics I originally raised. I just think I wanted the Apple TV because I felt like I may be missing out on this whole "cord-cutting" revolution, and what I found was largely a disappointing, fragmented mess of services (Netflix, Hulu) and apps that still require cable subscriptions to access content.

"Cord-cutting" is still jam packed with compromises, many of which are deal breakers for someone like me (e.g. watching live sports or news with ease). It seems like it only truly works for show junkies of fictional tv dramas that like to binge watch old seasons with their free time. I have little interest in that so perhaps I'm just the wrong target for steaming services and boxes.

Throughout coming to this conclusion, I began to realize that my cable package really isn't all that raw a deal in the end. Especially considering that even if I canceled cable, $50+/month of my ~$140 bill would still be going to Comcast for high speed internet. So is ~$90/month worth it to me to have easy access to live national and local sports, >300 channels to consume and discover, and mobile apps to access all my cable content on any device in my home? I think so. Especially vs this supposed utopia of a la carte channels that would quickly approach a monthly figure that wouldn't be all that life changing vs what I'm paying for cable.

I'll be keeping my Apple TV 4 mainly because I'm an Apple geek, and I want to see if this product grows into more than what it is now with the App Store involved. At the very least, I'll use it to AirPlay things occasionally and maybe to access a movie or two that Comcast doesn't have available OnDemand. But, it doesn't appear I will be canceling cable any time soon, and I guess I am ok with that now.

Some cable customers, especially ones close to TV stations use digital attennas. When I was near DC I used a digital attenna like this one and received over 28 stations in 1080i! This way if it appeared on network TV I didn't miss it!

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Ok, so I resisted getting an Apple TV since it's inception, but received one for Christmas and my initial feelings towards it have been justified thus far --- mainly, what is the point of this device if you already own a relatively new TV that has "apps" (YouTube, Amazon Video, Netflix, etc)?

You still need a cable subscription for virtually everything (along with an embarrassingly cumbersome litany of logins for every app), so why not just access most of this content on Comcast's Xfinity OnDemand platform and avoid reaching for another remote and another UI to deal with? Heck, even Comcast's latest X1 remote has built-in voice search that can search their entire catalogue of content.

Lastly, I'm not convinced that digging through channel apps to find content is better than having a Comcast viewing guide of content to choose from regardless of what channel it's on. In the end, I'm left with a duplication of content I can already access through Comcast X1 and a handful of iOS game ports. I'm very much "meh" on the product and hoping someone can show me the light. This certainly doesn't feel like "the future of TV."

I'm afraid I share your bemusement.

The moment Tim Cook said that the future of tv was apps, I frowned. I just don't think apps are the future of tv. I think it is an inefficient model that is inferior to channels that have existed since tv was invented.

I'm not even sure there is some bright future of television to be invented. Is it voice? No. The best I can think of is some new extremely fast user interface, but what? And is there any big benefit anyway? Is there any big hassle with finding something to watch? No. Perhaps the dull truth is that there simply is no exciting future of television to look forward to. There is a wealth of content from the present and the past that is easily accessible. What is there to be solved? Nothing.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

I'm not even sure there is some bright future of television to be invented. Is it voice? No. The best I can think of is some new extremely fast user interface, but what? And is there any big benefit anyway? Is there any big hassle with finding something to watch? No. Perhaps the dull truth is that there simply is no exciting future of television to look forward to. There is a wealth of content from the present and the past that is easily accessible. What is there to be solved? Nothing.

Yea, exactly. The "future of television" seems to just be Apple, Google, and Amazon competing with slick ways to navigate to on demand content, all while fighting against the immovable tide of cable companies who have long locked up content distribution rights for their own benefit.

Like I mentioned earlier, the most futuristic thing I've seen from tv lately is Comcast allowing me to turn any screen in my home into a television (iMac, iPad, iPhone) and making their OnDemand and my DVR content available over the Internet to my devices anywhere. To have my full channel lineup on my iPad on the couch while my wife watches a show on the big screen tv is as cool as anything I've seen in awhile. As cable companies continue to invest in their UI's and embrace mobile viewing options (like Comcast's X1 platform), their monthly subscription fees become more and more tolerable when compared to the alternative - especially when you're already purchasing high-speed internet from them anyway.

The only thing that Apple TV could do is this (my revised version of change the game features):

- Live tv of ~25 channels I can choose from (both local and national) for about $30/month with iCloud DVR service
- iTunes serves as my new OnDemand for movie rentals and tv shows as part of the service (with newer releases requiring additional cost just like cable)
- Service is available on Apple TV, OS X, and iOS anytime and anywhere

Done and done. That is essentially what people want I think. If Apple has to buy Netflix, Hulu, and Comcast to do it, they can and should.

 

[Rigby]

I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughtful opinions on the topics I originally raised. I just think I wanted the Apple TV because I felt like I may be missing out on this whole "cord-cutting" revolution, and what I found was largely a disappointing, fragmented mess of services (Netflix, Hulu) and apps that still require cable subscriptions to access content.

"Cord-cutting" is still jam packed with compromises, many of which are deal breakers for someone like me (e.g. watching live sports or news with ease). It seems like it only truly works for show junkies of fictional tv dramas that like to binge watch old seasons with their free time.

Well, that sounds a little biased. Services like Hulu, HBO and Showtime offer current shows in addition to older ones. On Hulu, episodes usually go live on the day after airing, on HBO it's simultaneous. Hulu also has a lot of reality, game and comedy shows, so if you want to "keep up with the Kardeshians", you can. So it's certainly not just for old-season binging drama junkies.

Your are right about the fragmentation, but there are certainly solutions for that that will hopefully be implemented (like a global watch queue). Or perhaps it will be solved by streaming providers such as Hulu or Amazon by integrating other services under their roof like they do today with Showtime.

For me, services like Hulu and and Netflix almost perfectly match my viewing habits, since I'm really not interested in live TV. I remember the times when I had to navigate confusing TV guides, sit in front of the TV at a certain time, or program DVRs. I much prefer just sitting down and watching when I want and have the time. But I understand that other people have different needs. But I suspect a lot of it is just about breaking with old habits.

 

[d21mike]

Well, that sounds a little biased. Services like Hulu, HBO and Showtime offer current shows in addition to older ones. On Hulu, episodes usually go live on the day after airing, on HBO it's simultaneous. Hulu also has a lot of reality, game and comedy shows, so if you want to "keep up with the Kardeshians", you can. So it's certainly not just for old-season binging drama junkies.

Your are right about the fragmentation, but there are certainly solutions for that that will hopefully be implemented (like a global watch queue). Or perhaps it will be solved by streaming providers such as Hulu or Amazon by integrating other services under their roof like they do today with Showtime.

For me, services like Hulu and and Netflix almost perfectly match my viewing habits, since I'm really not interested in live TV. I remember the times when I had to navigate confusing TV guides, sit in front of the TV at a certain time, or program DVRs. I much prefer just sitting down and watching when I want and have the time. But I understand that other people have different needs. But I suspect a lot of it is just about breaking with old habits.

You are not alone. Hulu with no commercials reduced the amount of shows I was recording by about 60%. I also use CBS All Access for some shows. But I still have Live TV mainly because I do not live alone.

 

[3rdiguy]

I'm a 'all-in' Apple guy so the new TV fits perfectly for me. I'm coming from 3rd gen, have Apple Music subscription, iPhone,iPad, and a MacBook. When I want to sit back and play a game, I can. Watch various videos either on TV or via AirPlay, I do. It fits perfectly into my digital lifestyle

 

[Snoopy4]

I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughtful opinions on the topics I originally raised. I just think I wanted the Apple TV because I felt like I may be missing out on this whole "cord-cutting" revolution, and what I found was largely a disappointing, fragmented mess of services (Netflix, Hulu) and apps that still require cable subscriptions to access content.

"Cord-cutting" is still jam packed with compromises, many of which are deal breakers for someone like me (e.g. watching live sports or news with ease). It seems like it only truly works for show junkies of fictional tv dramas that like to binge watch old seasons with their free time. I have little interest in that so perhaps I'm just the wrong target for streaming services and boxes.

Throughout coming to this conclusion, I began to realize that my cable package really isn't all that raw a deal in the end. Especially considering that even if I canceled cable, $50+/month of my ~$140 bill would still be going to Comcast for high speed internet. So is ~$90/month worth it to me to have easy access to live national and local sports, >300 channels to consume and discover, and mobile apps to access all my cable content on any device in my home? I think so. Especially vs this supposed utopia of a la carte channels that would quickly approach a monthly figure that wouldn't be all that life changing vs what I'm paying for cable.

I'll be keeping my Apple TV 4 mainly because I'm an Apple geek, and I want to see if this product grows into more than what it is now with the App Store involved. At the very least, I'll use it to AirPlay things occasionally and maybe to access a movie or two that Comcast doesn't have available OnDemand. But, it doesn't appear I will be canceling cable any time soon, and I guess I am ok with that now.

Technically, there's no such thing as cord cutting. It's more like cord swapping. AppleTV for us is another source to manage content, but I think the damn thing actually causes us to spend more money on subscription based services so that we have the full range of entertainment choices. With the App Store it can only get worse.

Damn you Apple!