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Why Apple Is Wrestling With Relevance
- Thread starter maflynn
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KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
He did mention it. Netflix is rentals, vod. Digital download purchases are nothing compared to Blu-Ray sales, not to mention DVD sales. He did then go on to mention that for rentals though, vod was the clear winner, which includes services like Netflix.
Why are you trying desperately to prove him wrong when you're saying the same thing as he did ?
You mean like Macrumors does sometimes ? Shows only that they want hits for revenue. Every site is desperate according to your logic.
The problem with this line of thought is that it's stuck in the 70s something fierce. My mom has a hacked DS with a chinese cartridge she can upload roms to. The consumer is more and more tech aware, and face it, with my generation hitting the 30s and becoming "The Consumer", tech is not the black voodoo arts it once was.
The fact that most people on this site fail to realise this and envision that people are still the 60s guys, drinking a "6 pack" (joe sixpack) is just downright disconnected. I know construction guys who can barely make a computer function that can tell you everything you've ever wanted to know about A/V and their system doesn't lack a single buzzword.
belvdr
macrumors 603
They already had the interface. They could have just added Netflix.
In terms of hardware, let's face it. They heard the complaints about hard drive space and needing to move to SATA for increased storage. They responded by making it all rentals or streaming. In essence, they just simply removed the internal storage and added some options to the interface.
I really think Apple has taken a step back here.
KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
And since netflix is available on about every TV connected appliance and even on TVs themselves nowadays, I doubt the rentals bit is going to save the new AppleTV from being yahp (yet another hobby product). It's just too limited for the price.
And it looks cheap in glossy black, like any other run of the mill electronic appliance. I don't see what's elegant about it.
Stampyhead
macrumors 68020
I think this product fits me perfectly. We barely ever watch TV, we only just last month ditched our CRT TV for a flat screen. I'm not a gamer so I don't have a PS, Xbox, etc. If a TV show or film comes along that I do want to see I purchase/rent it from iTunes. I'd love to be able to watch them on the television intead of on the computer, and the new AppleTV is affordable enough that I can now do that. It may not be for everyone, but I plan on getting one.
If the main selling point for this device is netflix then its already lost. Why should I spend 99 bucks to get netflix when it already comes on some tvs, and other devices, like the wii/ps3 etc. Chances people who want a device that streams movies/tv shows to their tv already have a console/component that already can do that with netflix which makes it harder to justify getting apple-tv.
fanboys like you and others who want every apple made device will get one. Some other folks will certainly buy it, but their main to reach their main target audience they need to make it a must have device just like the iPod was back in the day and the iPhone is now. That's simply not the case. Its not a must have, it does not provide any more features then other competing products and dare I say it offers less function because its now stream only. I have more ability with a DVR and on demand programming from cable then with apple-tv.
mscriv
macrumors 601
Dagless are you saying there's a way to record content with a PS3? Can you please expound, I've not heard of this option before? What can you record and how?
Eidorian
macrumors Penryn
pooryou
macrumors 65816
Maybe it's a good thing that Apple still hasn't come out with the Mac mini tower I want. I'm still plugging away on my old Mac and waiting. I'm not about to buy any of Apple's other stuff if it doesn't have the computer I want. Look at all the trouble Apple is saving me from not having something between the mini and the Pro.
Eidorian
macrumors Penryn
You save plenty of money but you get tired of Apple releasing every other thing on Earth that's not what you want to buy.
I don't know anyone with a Netflix-enabled TV. And I certainly don't know anyone over the age of 35 who is a gamer.
Apple TV is aimed towards 35-60 year olds who are sick of cable and what HBO is offering them, and are too busy/tired to be fussing with anything other than streaming. I suspect it's going to be a huge hit.
Apple TV is aimed towards 35-60 year olds who are sick of cable and what HBO is offering them, and are too busy/tired to be fussing with anything other than streaming. I suspect it's going to be a huge hit.
I'm 45 and I have a wii and ps3
Sony and LGs both offer TVs that allow netflix streaming. A simple google will see the plethora of options available to the consumer
KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
Based on what exactly ? It's just the same thing as the first generation AppleTV, without storage or local playback or purchases. It's basically a crippled version with overpriced rentals tacked on.
The few people I know over 35 who are into this kind of stuff are also into gaming and already have PS3s or Wiis.
Not to mention with Apple's attitude towards it, I doubt it'll get much exposure.
roadbloc
macrumors G3
*LTD*
macrumors G4
Nor does that have anything to do with Apple's "relevance."
Apple is currently far more relevant in the consumer space than even Microsoft. In fact, Apple is so relevant that the industry watches their every move and then rushes to be a part of the risks on which Apple has capitalized. The strength of Apple's mindshare is enormous.
Apple's relevance is currently not in question. I'd be a helluva lot more worried about the also-rans fighting it out over the dwindling profits at the bottom of the volume-sales barrel.
So what? I know more people that lack game consuls than those that do. I also know more people with perfectly good televisions that lack the ability to stream netflix. I don't even own a television. It's all anecdotal. Do you honestly recommend that such people should buy a game consul just because it does more or to buy a new television because it has the ability to stream netflix?
Given the last 4 years' history, you'll have to excuse skepticism directed towards the articles that wrestle with Apple and relevance.
belvdr
macrumors 603
But you're still old and irrelevant. 😛
I'm 35 and have a Wii and 360, as well as an LG BluRay that is Netflix enabled.
I was old and irrelevant even when I was 20 😛
No my point is that there many people to whom apple is targeting this device may already have netflix capable devices, be it a game console, or tv or some other appliance.
The bottom line is that apple-tv is not giving the tv aficionados any more then what they probably already are capable of, save a nice interface. What justification is there for someone to spend 99 bucks for that, when they already have capable devices in house
I just don't think this is a terribly important.
The bottom line is that Apple could have released a device that has a blu-ray drive, DVR, 500 GB hard drive, and the possibility of external USB-storage and your statement: "apple-tv is not giving the tv aficionados any more then what they probably already are capable of, save a nice interface," most likely continues to hold true.
The Apple TV continues to be a very limited, niche product as long as there are not fundamental changes in the way that networks and content providers do business (something that I do not think Apple, Google, or any other company at the moment has any real say in.)
I think it's more fruitful for Apple to offer a small, silent, and cheap device that offers movie rentals and seamlessly streams content from a computer to a TV rather than offer a "multi-tasker" for the same price as the old Apple TV.
By 2010, people have either been sold on the idea of having something in addition to a cable box and a DVD player or they haven't. A nice interface is not going to bring these people over into having a consul type device. A simple, cheap device that does a few things well might have more appeal.
To the larger point of the article, I don't see the rationale for focusing on one clearly peripheral interest for the company (a self-admitted peripheral interest) and an increasingly peripheral interest for the company (iPods.) Ironically, Apple is more a "computer" company now than it was a decade ago.
There are two areas where Apple is very comfortable with its relevance.
First, offering consumer appliances that run a desktop class OS, Mac OS X.
Second, offering consumer appliances that run a mobile class OS, iOS.
The above quote is particularly ridiculous. The iPod nano is no longer a core market for Apple and the Apple TV has never been a core market for Apple.
Rodimus Prime
macrumors G4
Well lets start looking at the 45+ age group and remember that a lot of them have teenage kids. Many of which like to play games so they will have a PS3 or a 360. Both of which can stream netflix.
the Wii can stream netflix now I believe and that is kind of the casual gamer consul of choose.
Another very quickly growing common device people are putting on their main TV is a bluRay player. Guess what most BluRay players on the marked now days can stream Netflix so yet again another device that can do it.
You mix in game consuls, TV, and BluRay players and you pretty much took up most of the 45+ market that can stream netflix and the Apple TV is yet again kind of trapped in a nitch market that is not that good.
Exactly. I'm in the market first and foremost for a computer. It is what I use the most. I would like to find a new computer that fits my needs and desires. After I make that purchase is when I will become interested in other products. If Apple had the computer I wanted I would be much more inclined to look to Apple for other products.
Why go to the parts counter and buy Mopar brand aftermarket gear for a Jeep if Chrysler isn't making the Jeep I want? Same with Apple. Why buy the phones and music players (and battery charger) if Apple isn't making the computer I want? Apple talks about how all these devices are supposed to easily connect and share with your computer. So the computer is the hub, the core device. The seed at the middle of the apple.
The thing is Apple TV is good for those who want "media streaming PC for dummies". For the rest of us who want much more control and options, you get a Mac Mini. For the future I wish Apple would come out with the "mac Medium" with core i7 and all that.