Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Will ATV3 be discontinued soon?
- Thread starter watermelonbook
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Agreed. Would love a source also. They are going to have the sales absolutely tank if they aren't even going to bring Apple Music to the old device. I think it's pulled in the Spring.
It should be killed now and I personally think it should have been just one new Apple TV @ $129.
Apple has really really deviated from simplicity and focus on the product line offerings. Disheartening to see. This used to be a strength.
Just a guess, but I think they'll keep it around for quite a while for the same reason they are still selling the first iPad Air and iPad Mini 2: To have something that can compete with lower-cost offerings such as the Roku 2 and the various streaming sticks.
You mean like the simplicity and focus of the iPod product line? LOL
With the three different models (each with a significant variation of functionally compared to the others), offered in six different colors, and one model offered with all of that, and three different capacities.
And that's after Apple somewhat recently applied more "simplicity and focus". A few years ago all of the models had multiple capacities and even more colors. Good lord!
Anyhow, I don't think Apple keeping the Apple TV 3 around, to have something at a cheaper price point, is out of the question.
You are missing arguably the most important point.
iPods sold orders of magnitude more the the ATV. (Lots of market space and good reasons for the differing options - also, colors are options that are relevant and beneficial to handheld lifestyle devices)
It's hard enough to sell ATV's without the nebulous reasons for choosing one or the other.
ATV3: Want the piece of crap that's years old that we have no intention of updating?
ATV4: We aren't even sure who or why will need more storage, but hey...pay us more just in case there's a good reason later...maybe.
Nobody here can accurately answer that question.
I'm curious as to why you ask.
http://www.apple.com/tv/compare/ seems to make the nebulous reasons a bit easier to wrap ones arms around.
IMO, having a $69 entry-level Apple TV 3 that doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of the $149 Apple TV 4 is going to sell more Apple TVs overall vs just selling the Apple TV 4.
Umm- You did read what I wrote, right?
That page doesn't even mention that the ATV4 comes in 2 distinct storage tiers with no easily discernible reason.
You very nicely highlighted how much more sense a single storage amount makes - their own "compare" page doesn't even highlight that difference from ATV3 to 4 (usable onboard storage - sort of)
In fact, why does the ATV3 list "starting at $69"?
There are no options at all!
Man Apple. The details are slipping, even on the website.
Last edited:
Nobody knows for sure expect Apple, but I guess the ATV3 will be available until next generation Apple TV will be announced. Then they'll sell the ATV5 at $149 and ATV4 at a lower price, discontinuing ATV3
ATV3 is still good for AirPlay and for movies on iTunes, so if you don't want games and apps it is the best choice
ATV3 is still good for AirPlay and for movies on iTunes, so if you don't want games and apps it is the best choice
Their Mac compare pages don't explain why you might want a Mac with a 256GB SSD instead of a 128GB SSD either.
However, when you go to purchase the product, and you get to the part where actually have to make the size choice, they do give you additional context.
Based on your previous posts, I know you're going to have issues with Apple's reasons given. Fine. Everyone's opinion is valid. I just don't think that people are going to be as flummoxed with this 32/64GB choice as you seem to think. Nor do I think leaving the Apple TV 3 is going to cause any consumers heads to explode.
I don't believe Apple will keep ATV4 around when ATV5 is out. They would be too similar. They never kept the 2 around when 3 was out. I think it will just cause confusion.
I think the ATV5 and and ATV3 are different enough that both models can co-exist. Such as an Ipod Touch and an Ipod Shuffle co-exsist.
I think the ATV5 and and ATV3 are different enough that both models can co-exist. Such as an Ipod Touch and an Ipod Shuffle co-exsist.
It's a really bad comparison with computers. People have been routinely using computers for decades now and have a good grasp on what they need more storage for and why. They've had a long time to get used to that and understand it as well as purchase previous computers and know how that went with storage & need, etc.
I'm not sure it's a great assumption that average people are even close to as zero'd in on this stuff as it relates to TV/streaming products
The number one rule is: "Don't confuse people"
That image you linked really highlights how Apple should have laser focused and made one great model.
"You should be fine" with a given amount of storage is a really bad sales pitch, that's poorly worded and focused.
That whole graphic is ambiguity filled and really poorly worded frankly. The more times I read it the worse it gets.
You know what will though?
When everything about the ATV3 is outdated, there's no Apple Music nor updates for the latest photo offerings. It's even worse if they get online and read that a remote app & keyboard work with the old one, but not the new one and there are no apps on the old one but are on the new one...
Do you need an optical output?
Maybe you want a 2nd output?
Go old? Go new?
What wi-fi you have at home? Don't know? Don't care?
It's a mess that I'd expect from Dell, not Apple.
If they truly believe the new one is the greatest thing ever and the future, the old one should be gone now and only the new one should be around (iPod mini style)
Last edited:
It's the same with all of Apple's comparison pages. iPhones, iPads, and iPods all come with distinct storage tiers listed on the model comparison pages with no easily discernible reasons for why.
People have been routinely using smartphones and tablets for long enough now that the 'average person' interested in an Apple TV is highly likely to understand the concepts of "App Store", "App Store downloads require storage space", and "storage space can't be upgraded on these devices".
I've never seen any specific guidance from Apple on how many apps you can fit on a XXGB iPhone/iPad, and it doesn't seem to be a hurdle when it comes to buying them. I wouldn't expect Apple would start giving specific guidance for Apple TV 4 storage, nor do I think that's going to be a hurdle when it comes to buying them, either.
Oh brat - great name by the way.
iOS device storage (and computers really) needs are because people understand their music, photos and movies - all in user control - are the main variables & there is extensive experience dealing with those variables for most people in 2015-2016.
Different deal on TV. Really easy to see the differences here.
Back to Apple TV "choosing storage" thing. Yikes it's bad.
"If you plan to use your Apple TV primarily to stream movies, TV shows, and music or to play a few apps and games, you’ll probably be fine with 32GB of storage. If you plan to download and use lots of apps and games, choose the 64GB configuration.1 Keep in mind when making your decision, that some apps, when in use, do require additional storage."
What's "a few" vs "lots" in Apple's mind? "probably be fine"? And "some apps" (when in use - umm, ok) do require additional - Which kinds of apps? How much additional?
I've been in sales for a long time - If your goal is customer satisfaction (Tim's words) - That's flat out awful and doesn't answer anything in a helpful fashion guys - No other way to describe that.
Should have pinched a touch and simply made "The New Apple TV" w/ 64gb @ $149-ish
Anyways - done talking about it
iOS device storage (and computers really) needs are because people understand their music, photos and movies - all in user control - are the main variables & there is extensive experience dealing with those variables for most people in 2015-2016.
Different deal on TV. Really easy to see the differences here.
Back to Apple TV "choosing storage" thing. Yikes it's bad.
"If you plan to use your Apple TV primarily to stream movies, TV shows, and music or to play a few apps and games, you’ll probably be fine with 32GB of storage. If you plan to download and use lots of apps and games, choose the 64GB configuration.1 Keep in mind when making your decision, that some apps, when in use, do require additional storage."
What's "a few" vs "lots" in Apple's mind? "probably be fine"? And "some apps" (when in use - umm, ok) do require additional - Which kinds of apps? How much additional?
I've been in sales for a long time - If your goal is customer satisfaction (Tim's words) - That's flat out awful and doesn't answer anything in a helpful fashion guys - No other way to describe that.
Should have pinched a touch and simply made "The New Apple TV" w/ 64gb @ $149-ish
Anyways - done talking about it
Last edited:
It does make me wonder why Apple sells iPhone 6s Plus 16GB.
That almost seems criminal to me.
The ATV3 will probably hang around until either:
- The mythical Apple streaming service launches (likely won't be available on ATV3 so Apple will want to push people to the ATV4)
- The 4K ATV5 is launched
I put my money down on Trump getting elected as the next POTUS. Don't get me wrong, I won't be voting for the guy. I don't think it's likely that the ATV5 will have 4K.
I doubt the ATV3 will be discontinued any time soon.
if somebody is in the market for a streaming device. the $69 ATV3 is more expensive than the other low-cost options BUT it plays iTunes and AirPlays which could be a nice incentive to purchase. if they only had the ATV4 (for $150-200) then those in the low-tier market would probably skip that and go with a competitor.
Now, the idea is not to continue to bring in big bucks with ATV3 (not that they ever brought too much to Apple's bottom line) but to get people used to the ATV experience and then want more...which leads to an ATV4 or next-gem device.
I have the ATV3. had it a few years now. it works fine (ok, slow to load up all iCloud movies) but overall as a device i use it for, it works just fine. I had some thoughts on the ATV4...actually tried it out last week at the AppleStore and now convinced NOT to buy one. (unless the right app becomes available). heck it is a nice starter gift for someone
if somebody is in the market for a streaming device. the $69 ATV3 is more expensive than the other low-cost options BUT it plays iTunes and AirPlays which could be a nice incentive to purchase. if they only had the ATV4 (for $150-200) then those in the low-tier market would probably skip that and go with a competitor.
Now, the idea is not to continue to bring in big bucks with ATV3 (not that they ever brought too much to Apple's bottom line) but to get people used to the ATV experience and then want more...which leads to an ATV4 or next-gem device.
I have the ATV3. had it a few years now. it works fine (ok, slow to load up all iCloud movies) but overall as a device i use it for, it works just fine. I had some thoughts on the ATV4...actually tried it out last week at the AppleStore and now convinced NOT to buy one. (unless the right app becomes available). heck it is a nice starter gift for someone
I think it will interesting this holiday season. I've seen a few retailers advertising discounts on the ATV3, but you can't easily tell that it's only the ATV3 from the ads. They just list the model. I think there will be quite a few people who see the new ATV only to purchase the old one and find out it doesn't do the same things.