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Roku in Talks With Apple About AirPlay 2 Support

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Roku is in talks with Apple about supporting AirPlay 2, with the two companies currently working out details surrounding the partnership, according to a source familiar with the matter. The plans are not finalized and are subject to change.

roku-airplay-2-800x419.jpg

We're told that AirPlay 2 support is likely to arrive in the form of a Roku OS software update for Roku media players, which can be used with virtually any smart TV. The update would likely extend to smart TVs with Roku OS preinstalled, including select models from Sharp, TCL, Insignia, Hisense, Sanyo, and RCA.

It's unclear when the software update might be released or if it will be limited to select Roku players and TVs. We're told the partnership may extend to Apple Music, suggesting that Roku OS could gain an app to access the streaming music service alongside existing apps for Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

Last month, we asked Roku if it was willing to work with Apple on AirPlay 2 support and a spokesperson said "we don't have anything to share regarding this now." Roku did not immediately respond to our follow-up request for comment today, while Apple rarely comments on its plans in advance.

With AirPlay 2 support, Roku users would be able to stream video, audio, photos, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to their smart TVs. HomeKit is also coming to many smart TVs, enabling users to control volume, playback, and more using Siri or the Home app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Last month, Apple announced that select AirPlay 2-enabled smart TVs are coming from leading brands such as Samsung, LG, Vizio, and Sony. Samsung's latest smart TVs are also getting an exclusive iTunes app for movies and TV shows.

Article Link: Roku in Talks With Apple About AirPlay 2 Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/02/04/roku-apple-airplay-2-talks/
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My Hisense doesn't currently have a Roku app installed so does that mean I'm SoL with this announcement in terms of it being built in?
 
Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.
 
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Baymowe335 said:
Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.
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I'm fairly certain Roku WANTS AirPlay but need Apple's blessing. I doubt they are the reluctant ones in this equation.

Plus, the "nothing company" is the only set top provider I use as at one point they were the only box that had Amazon Prime outside of Amazon's FireTV (Yes, AppleTV finally has it as well, like 3 years after Roku)
 
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Baymowe335 said:
Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, pretty sure you've got that backwards. Apple is getting crushed in the streaming device market because like usual, they've created a niche device that costs 5x as much as what the competition is selling, without 5x the functionality to back it up. Getting AirPlay into devices like Roku and the new TVs that were announced at CES is a way for Apple to have an "in."
 
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lostczech said:
I'm fairly certain Roku WANTS AirPlay but need Apple's blessing. I doubt they are the reluctant ones in this equation.

Plus, the "nothing company" is the only set top provider I use as at one point they were the only box that had Amazon Prime outside of Amazon's FireTV (Yes, AppleTV finally has it as well, like 3 years after Roku)
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It really doesn't matter that it's the only provider you use.

It's a terrible business and it will be absorbed or will die on its own. They've never made money.
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Aldaris said:
Unless Apple makes a display they won’t be crushing anyone. Samsung, Sony, Vizio, etc are all players bringing different things to the table across this space. Apple is the one who is best served being more concerned with ‘services’.
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Apple can crush Roku without making a display, lol. Displays are a terrible business. Why would Apple want to do that?
 
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Baymowe335 said:
It really doesn't matter that it's the only provider you use.

It's a terrible business and it will be absorbed or will die on its own. They've never made money.
[doublepost=1549316177][/doublepost]
Apple can crush Roku without making a display, lol. Displays are a terrible business. Why would Apple want to do that?
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Wonderful sweeping statements made there. They were profitable in Q2 2018 (haven't bothered digging deeper, since I've already put more facts into this than you have), which is quite in contrary to "They've never made money"
 
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MattG said:
Yeah, pretty sure you've got that backwards. Apple is getting crushed in the streaming device market because like usual, they've created a niche device that costs 5x as much as what the competition is selling, without 5x the functionality to back it up. Getting AirPlay into devices like Roku and the new TVs that were announced at CES is a way for Apple to have an "in."
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Only because they haven't made it a priority. Apple can buy NFLX if they want to lead the industry today.

They aren't going to do that, because the industry is not profitable enough yet.
 
lostczech said:
Wonderful sweeping statements made there. They were profitable in Q2 2018 (haven't bothered digging deeper, since I've already put more facts into this than you have), which is quite in contrary to "They've never made money"
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Yeah, they made $500,000 (lol) ONE quarter and projected a $110M and $150M loss for full 2018.

Making money ONE quarter doesn't make you "profitable" particularly when it's less than some people make in a year. Maybe a full year, but anything can happen in a quarter.

ROKU is a joke, unprofitable company with literally nothing proprietary about their business model.
 
I still don't understand why Apple are doing this. Airplay was problematic at streaming just audio on many different brands of iPhone docks a few years back before many changed to Bluetooth. Streaming 1080p HD with a tiny buffer allowance will be an absolute nightmare if not correctly implemented. And then, Apple will get the blame from the end user!
Not sure if Apple's gone a little crazy, lost direction, both or is simply trying to make as much money as possible before all of the older guys retire! But to me, it's lacking direction and is simply throwing the Apple eco system and it's reliability along with everything that it stood for out of the window.
 
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MattG said:
Yeah, pretty sure you've got that backwards. Apple is getting crushed in the streaming device market because like usual, they've created a niche device that costs 5x as much as what the competition is selling, without 5x the functionality to back it up. Getting AirPlay into devices like Roku and the new TVs that were announced at CES is a way for Apple to have an "in."
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It wonders me if Apple allow them to support airplay 2 for free or asking to pay for a license to use it. Anyway, I think we can be sure the hobby AppleTV has come to an end.
 
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Airplay has always been lost on me. Why would I want to tie up my phone? I mean for a quick stream fine, but for a movie, no.
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MattG said:
Yeah, pretty sure you've got that backwards. Apple is getting crushed in the streaming device market because like usual, they've created a niche device that costs 5x as much as what the competition is selling, without 5x the functionality to back it up. Getting AirPlay into devices like Roku and the new TVs that were announced at CES is a way for Apple to have an "in."
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Disagree Completely.

I believe the ATV and Apple Watch are the 2 more fairly valued items Apple sells.
 
I hope this doesn't mean Apple has thrown in the towel on the Apple TV. Great new things in store for ATV 5, right?? :eek:

//
 
lostczech said:
I totally agree with you on Apple Watch, but on the TV side of things, if you want 4K playback:

AppleTV 4K: $179+

Chromecast Ultra: $69
Amazon FireTV Stick with 4K: $39
Roku Premiere: $39

That's not fairly priced to me for what you get.
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Do any of these devices provide any storage or game performance ability or or the strictly stream only?
 
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