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Roku CEO Calls Apple TV a 'Money Loser', Says Product is 'Essentially' an Accessory for iPad
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Once I could stream Prime from my iPad, my Roku went into the closet.
This is a great way to get publicity, though. Lots of people are Apple haters, so he'll get that market at least. Plus Roku needs to stay relevant, especially once Amazon releases their box.
The funny thing is that Roku basically said "if you have an iPad, you should get an Apple TV not a Roku." I guess Roku will be the ATV for Android devices?
This is a great way to get publicity, though. Lots of people are Apple haters, so he'll get that market at least. Plus Roku needs to stay relevant, especially once Amazon releases their box.
The funny thing is that Roku basically said "if you have an iPad, you should get an Apple TV not a Roku." I guess Roku will be the ATV for Android devices?
Yes for the standalone Roku devices, I'm talking (and the CEO is talking) about the app built into TV's. We all know that apps on TV's get updated a few times and then thats it, they get dropped because new model tv's come out and older models don't get updated anymore. I seriously doubt Roku is going to support all old tv models once they start embedding in TVs (which they showcased at this years CES).
You forgot d) Have a life and better things to do than read about tech you don't need because you already have a device to view content.
I'm willing to bet I know more about the latest refrigerators because I happen to be in the market for one. Doesn't make you ignorant just not interested right now. I happen to know about the Roku because I researched how I could watch Netflix on something else besides my XBox to save the cost of buying XBox Gold every year. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't know what it is, either.
I was streaming on Roku before the original Apple TV came out. I have both now, but I sorta wish I hadn't even bought the AppleTV because we really don't use it. It comes in handy every once in a while when I want to use Airplay
but that's it.
If you BUY lots of iTunes content an Apple TV makes sense, as you are buying into that ecosystem. People like myself who RENT movies and don't have much already invested in iTunes would be much better served by a Roku. More content, more providers, and a universal search that allows you to find the best price on the content you want to rent.
People who mock the Roku (which is the template on which the new streaming Apple TVs are based on) have no clue how good the boxes really are. I own Apple EVERYTHING, and the Roku still comes out far ahead IMO.
Ask me anything about it if you're curious.
If you BUY lots of iTunes content an Apple TV makes sense, as you are buying into that ecosystem. People like myself who RENT movies and don't have much already invested in iTunes would be much better served by a Roku. More content, more providers, and a universal search that allows you to find the best price on the content you want to rent.
People who mock the Roku (which is the template on which the new streaming Apple TVs are based on) have no clue how good the boxes really are. I own Apple EVERYTHING, and the Roku still comes out far ahead IMO.
Ask me anything about it if you're curious.
And, apparently, it's your job to belittle them. What was the interview process like for that job? I'll never understand some people's extreme discomfort with other people's brand loyalty. Ignore their "fanboy" comments. You don't need to "school" them. People who like the AppleTV say why, people who like the Roku say why. If someone on the other side says something that isn't true, the other side corrects it. It called a "FORUM".
Well, if you purchase content from the iTunes store you can stream it directly from the store without needing to have your computer on. Obviously, if you're not purchasing content from the store that doesn't help you, but it is a really great feature. And Apple's streaming is much better than Netflix's. I never notice a drop in quality.
Better platform perhaps, but their dogged refusal to play divx/avi files prevents me from buying one.
Eh. It really depends on the individual. I have a friend who's very into tech and he actually replaced his Roku with an ATV because he felt that it integrated into his home setup better.
I've had a roku for a couple years. It has worked great for us and I can't really think of a reason I'd want to switch to aTV. Airplay sounds cool but I can't think of a situation where I'd actually use it.
Does aTV even support PLEX, at least without needing hacks to do it?
That said, Roku is really dropping the ball with support on models other than the latest ones. If they can't get things like Youtube and Netflix multi user support working across their product line (which may include some models they're still selling) it makes me wonder if they genuinely have technical problems getting simple things to work, or if they're intentionally crippling older products that could easily support those features, neither of which would give me much faith in the company.
Does aTV even support PLEX, at least without needing hacks to do it?
That said, Roku is really dropping the ball with support on models other than the latest ones. If they can't get things like Youtube and Netflix multi user support working across their product line (which may include some models they're still selling) it makes me wonder if they genuinely have technical problems getting simple things to work, or if they're intentionally crippling older products that could easily support those features, neither of which would give me much faith in the company.
We have 2 Apple TVs (v3) and have rarely connected our iPad or iPhones to it. If we do it's either because we can't find the remote or family is over and we screen share pics. We use ours mainly for iTunes, Netflix and Hulu plus. Like many of us, I am really hoping that the next version will be something other than a refresh and actually address gaming and al la cart programming. I know.....wishful thinking.
So why don't any Roku other than the 3 support things like Youtube and NF user profiles? Those were promised months ago (maybe) and neither has showed up. Right now the only way to get those features is to buy a new one since those feature updates are still vaporware.
Actually agree with you but thats rarely the case on either end.
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I have a Roku (1st Gen) XDS and dont get NF profiles
I've debated on buying a 3rd Gen Roku, but have been waiting and waiting to see what the new ATV offers. Such a long wait.
YouTube limitation is not roku but YouTube and Google. Same issue regarding the YouTube on windows mobile. Google demands certain things In the app like html5 that the roku doesn't support.
However playing YouTube is easy via Plex. I queue up YouTube clips in plex and watch them easily on the roku through it.
I don't think any streambox supports divx/avi without transcoding ala plex/airplay
Corrected that for you.
$1B revenue =/= $1B profit. Profit determines whether or not it's a money loser. None of us knows how much profit Apple makes on the ATV, including Mr. Wood.
Corrected that for you.
$1B revenue =/= $1B profit. Profit determines whether or not it's a money loser. None of us knows how much profit Apple makes on the ATV, including Mr. Wood.
The fact that they sell it at all indicates they make a reasonable profit on it. Apple doesn't really do "loss leader" on hardware.
I've owned the ATV2 and the ATV3 (currently have three ATV3s in my house) and love them. They perform smoothly, I like the interface and menu style over some of the other streaming boxes out there (Roku and WDTV). Netflix on it works great compared to my SmartTV Vizio and my Samsung BR player which I never use.
I use the ATV to watch my itunes library (movies, tv shows, music, home movies). When I download a movie off the internet but haven't converted it to itunes friendly format or imported it into itunes, I use my iphone 5 and Airvideo to airplay the video to my TV. Works great for me. I do use my ipad with it here and there but really it functions on it's own most of the time. I wish there as live streaming CNN and Weather Channel apps on it but oh well.
I have tried a Roku 2 and one of the older Rokus. My dad has the Roku 2 now since he doesn't have any idevices or itunes. He watches Hulu, amazon instant video, Netflix on it. That is about it. It isn't a bad device but I prefer the functionality of my ATV3s and how well they integrate into the rest of my home's entertainment setup.
I use the ATV to watch my itunes library (movies, tv shows, music, home movies). When I download a movie off the internet but haven't converted it to itunes friendly format or imported it into itunes, I use my iphone 5 and Airvideo to airplay the video to my TV. Works great for me. I do use my ipad with it here and there but really it functions on it's own most of the time. I wish there as live streaming CNN and Weather Channel apps on it but oh well.
I have tried a Roku 2 and one of the older Rokus. My dad has the Roku 2 now since he doesn't have any idevices or itunes. He watches Hulu, amazon instant video, Netflix on it. That is about it. It isn't a bad device but I prefer the functionality of my ATV3s and how well they integrate into the rest of my home's entertainment setup.
I guess he doesn't use a lot of Apple products. I have used My ATV with my iPad, and my iPhone, and my Macs--and of course by itself. So that tells me it is a very versatile product--and even more so when used with other Apple products. Oh well, I guess he won't be added to Apple's profit line by buying one.
I think they put out the ATV as a conduit to sell more iTunes assets, much like printers are low-priced to really sell ink replacements. Now that it has caught on more, it'll become less a conduit to iTunes and mature to a legitimate entertainment device on its own, probably with a commensurate rise in price more along the lines of an XBox. Competition may or may not temper the rise in price but considering other Apple products, I wouldn't count on it too much. I think there will be a premium to Comcast to be able to stream live tv and that price will be passed along to us. Ideally, it would be an optional feature for those of us who like the convenience of cable tv but want to eliminate the expense of a dvr box rental. I wonder how it will affect the bundle discount with cable internet access hope it still happens.