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'Yahoo Screen' and PBS Come to Apple TV
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The ATV is such a sad case of a missed opportunity. I have a few and I think the technology is great. Small size, silent, $99 price. The original UI (of the ATV2) was clean and simple. Something more along the lines of what I'd expect from Jony Ives at his best (though something tells me that an upcoming ATV UI redesign will still have a screen-full of icons but with an all-white background on every screen).
I was hoping for an ATV app store, but a while back one of the XBMC devs indicated that based on what he saw with some changes in the codebase of one of the post-ATV2 iOS updates it looked like Apple was consciously moving *away* from a full-blown App store for the ATV. Now that a lot of time has passed, and the App store still hasn't appeared, I'm more convinced that they have no interest in doing it, and they instead prefer to keep the ATV closed and act as a gatekeeper to a few trusted partners. A real shame, since official Plex and XBMC apps would be awesome.
I could live with that if done right, but we're now seeing the worst of all worlds: Apps (from just a small set of partners), all of which with their own unique UI. If Apple was going to keep the whole thing closed down, they should be aggregating the content into a single UI. So, I choose TV shows, and then I can see all TV shows, sorted by genre, that are sourced from iTunes plus the partners of theirs that I subscribe to.
My other complaint, as a videophile, is that even if they allowed a Plex or XBMC app, the box's hardware doesn't support HD MPEG-2 video or 24Hz/fps video.
I was hoping for an ATV app store, but a while back one of the XBMC devs indicated that based on what he saw with some changes in the codebase of one of the post-ATV2 iOS updates it looked like Apple was consciously moving *away* from a full-blown App store for the ATV. Now that a lot of time has passed, and the App store still hasn't appeared, I'm more convinced that they have no interest in doing it, and they instead prefer to keep the ATV closed and act as a gatekeeper to a few trusted partners. A real shame, since official Plex and XBMC apps would be awesome.
I could live with that if done right, but we're now seeing the worst of all worlds: Apps (from just a small set of partners), all of which with their own unique UI. If Apple was going to keep the whole thing closed down, they should be aggregating the content into a single UI. So, I choose TV shows, and then I can see all TV shows, sorted by genre, that are sourced from iTunes plus the partners of theirs that I subscribe to.
My other complaint, as a videophile, is that even if they allowed a Plex or XBMC app, the box's hardware doesn't support HD MPEG-2 video or 24Hz/fps video.
That is my same exact setup, 3 APple Tvs, HD antenna in the attic, hulu plus and netflix subscription and a TiVo for dvr that I barely use, I used to pay $130 to direct tv now, I pay just hulu and netflix.
AppleTV is desperately in need of an OS-wide search for Content, which searches all Apps simultaneously, and returns attractive-looking search results, displayed as Cover Art/Name/Description.
If I type (or speak) through iPhone Remote App, "family guy", I should see top results from Hulu, Netflix and Yahoo, for example. If I type or speak "family guy season 1 episode 6", any App that has that episode would be a top hit.
If I type (or speak) through iPhone Remote App, "family guy", I should see top results from Hulu, Netflix and Yahoo, for example. If I type or speak "family guy season 1 episode 6", any App that has that episode would be a top hit.
Right. This is what I was posting about a couple of posts above yours. Either Apple takes a hands-off approach to the ATV and opens the store wide open (like for other iOS devices), or if they're going to lock it down as tight as they have, they should be aggregating the content into a single easy-to-use UI.
I don't disagree, but typically Apple would prevent such fragmentation of the user experience by setting tight developer guidelines that prevents such behavior. Ideally there would be a single-sign-in point for all apps that require authentication, and it should only prompt you to re-authorize on very rare occasion.
The fact that they are not doing this, and the kind of App Icon designs they are allowing in is indicative of how they feel about the ATV platform overall.
Boy you're really asking for a lot without thinking about the actual state of things. There's not going to be a "Single Sign In" for for all channels on the ATV because each service maintains it's own user database on their websites. You're not going to sign in to YouTube with your Apple ID. You're going to sign in with you Google ID. These separate services are not going to give up maintaining their own user databases. Also, users may have set up accounts with these services prior to obtaining an ATV and may have used different email addresses for each service. It's like you're wanting all these services to accept AppleID and Passwords for log in the way some websites will let you log in with a Facebook ID or Twitter ID or Windows Live ID etc. I doubt Apple is going to get involved in something like that. And, for the record no service on the ATV has ever logged me out automatically. Ever.
As far as icons, Apple doesn't tell developers how to design their icons for iPhone and iPad, so, I doubt their going to do the same for ATV. Plus, the icons are going to reflect the branding of the service. You're not going to see Apple telling Disney Channel (and those icons are ugly as heck) to make their icons a flat minimalist Mickey head with only two colors. The icons are going to reflect the branding the service wants to project.
Wow.. Look at all the channels Apple is putting on ATV... And in a short amount of time too.
Who says content providers are terrified of streaming services..
Doesn't look like it to me... Oh wait.... Yes they are, because they they still require a cable subscription to make it happen.
I stll can't understand why cable companies can't unbundle, nkt as an aternative, as we knkw they win't do that, but as extra addition.
cable companies kerp their local cable subscribed users, while we non-cable users can also enjoy the benifiets of them too..
Everyone wins
No-one has an answer to this. The only answer is "they'll loose monry", but thats on,y if tbey offer streaming on,y, which i'm nlt saying.... Offer it in *addition* to what they already have.
Why can't that work too??
Who says content providers are terrified of streaming services..
Doesn't look like it to me... Oh wait.... Yes they are, because they they still require a cable subscription to make it happen.
I stll can't understand why cable companies can't unbundle, nkt as an aternative, as we knkw they win't do that, but as extra addition.
cable companies kerp their local cable subscribed users, while we non-cable users can also enjoy the benifiets of them too..
Everyone wins
No-one has an answer to this. The only answer is "they'll loose monry", but thats on,y if tbey offer streaming on,y, which i'm nlt saying.... Offer it in *addition* to what they already have.
Why can't that work too??
Actually, that is exactly what I would expect from Apple with their TV offering. What you describe above is the problem with the current state of online video content. It is fragmented and difficult to find what you want. That's exactly the kind of experience that Apple excels at fixing. (or at least they used to). Insisting that they cooperate with a single sign on system in that eases things for the end users in exchange for getting on the ATV would be right up Apple's alley.
Do you think that before the iPhone was released anyone would believe that Apple would get a phone that could be bought online cutting out the cell carriers network of stores, with no network branding, and at-home activation?
Yet Apple completely revolutionized that industry. Apple is truly treating the ATV as a hobby right now. I'd expect something along the lines of this to happen if they bring true television to market.
Exactly
Yes.. What's wrong with a reasonable request? If an app store for the ATV existed in the near future, with a subscription service providing this content, why not?
I've gotten plenty of use out of my 3DTV and blu ray and glasses, and it still works perfectly, so I'll get plenty of use out of it for some time to come. So I'm truly fine with that.
The world will move to 4K? I hope so! I've had this TV for 2 years and I plan to upgrade when 4K or other technologies are mainstream (not prohibitively expensive). From the sound of your response, you may assume that I plan on keeping my TV forever, but I actually have a pretty sensible upgrade cycle for all my electronics (as long as the technology is a true leap forward and already popular enough for reasonable pricing)
Yes.. What's wrong with a reasonable request? If an app store for the ATV existed in the near future, with a subscription service providing this content, why not?
I've gotten plenty of use out of my 3DTV and blu ray and glasses, and it still works perfectly, so I'll get plenty of use out of it for some time to come. So I'm truly fine with that.
The world will move to 4K? I hope so! I've had this TV for 2 years and I plan to upgrade when 4K or other technologies are mainstream (not prohibitively expensive). From the sound of your response, you may assume that I plan on keeping my TV forever, but I actually have a pretty sensible upgrade cycle for all my electronics (as long as the technology is a true leap forward and already popular enough for reasonable pricing)
Um, the services will say "Screw You, we don't need to be on the AppleTV". The television industry is a whole different ball game. You want to destroy the prospect of future Apple TV products? Then Apple should do it your way. The iPhone? It had no competition. AppleTV has competition. XBox. Play Station. Roku. Chromecast. DVD Players with services built it. TV's with services built in. Heck, cable TV and Satellite are competition. It's not the same game. It takes more finesse.
Thanks! Too bad I don't have the required hardware (as I am not a gamer, and don't own a Playstation).. Hopefully ATV will be included soon!
I think you completely forget what kind of power the music industry and the cellular phone industry commanded prior to Apple getting involved. It was thread after thread of exactly the same kind of comments as your own.
Remember Flash? Another technology that Apple pretty well killed single-handedly. Apple isn't going to get buy-in with the current ATV hobby, but with a truly desirable television set that is likely to sell by the millions, don't count them out.
Crapple TV
It might be wonderful in the US, but where I live (NZ) We get none of the new channels we basically get a choice of American Baseball or American Basketball, none of which is of any interest to anyone overseas.
The only thing it's good for is Airplaying streaming media off my Mac...but of course it's still the same price!
As far as I'm concerned it's a lot of money for very little functionality.
The WD TV box next to it has an ugly interface, horrible remote but is used 95% of the time.
It might be wonderful in the US, but where I live (NZ) We get none of the new channels we basically get a choice of American Baseball or American Basketball, none of which is of any interest to anyone overseas.
The only thing it's good for is Airplaying streaming media off my Mac...but of course it's still the same price!
As far as I'm concerned it's a lot of money for very little functionality.
The WD TV box next to it has an ugly interface, horrible remote but is used 95% of the time.
but this IS the updated UI.... it was bad when it came out, worse now that the app rows keep growing.
This is a little more glossy version of the roku... (which still needs some ui love in the pretty department)
At least on the roku, you can add and delete whatever channels you want without a parental controls thing as a work around for content filtering.
Once again, you forget, the iPhone was a completely new product (previous "smart" phones like the Palm Treo didn't compare). It had no competition. And the Music Industry? They were dying. NO ONE was paying for digital music, and they were desperately looking for a way to get people to pay for digital music. Apply said, "We'll show you the way out" and the music industry was desperately seeking a way out. The film and television industry is not in the same position.
The Smart phone was booming when Apple got involved, and the iPhone was seriously deficient in many respects upon release. It had a TON of competition, most of it offering a lot of power and promise but in a poor UI tied to providers that nobody liked. Apple had to compete on user experience. I would argue that there are significant similarities between the cell phone industry pre-2007 and the tv industry of today. (Who likes their cable company or their provided cable box?)
Their was nothing on the market at the time like the iPhone. Period.
Nobody likes their cable company or cable box. But Apple needs content. The content providers don't need Apple. People are paying for that content today, without Apple's help. It's a different ball game, like I said.
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Yes, and yet you don't see the similarities? Just like the cell phone industry at that time was ripe for someone to reinvent it, that's exactly where the television industry is today. Customer service is terrible. Cable box UI's are ridiculously bad. People feel like they are being ripped off by paying for hundreds of channels they never watch, and everyone is stuck subsidizing the sports channels. People want content on their own terms - even if they have to pay for it. The parallels with what Apple has done elsewhere in the past are obvious.
People were paying plenty for cell phone service when the iPhone was released. We would have ended up in much the same place without it, but with much worse phones, and many more carrier restrictions.
Yes, all of that, but, Apple isn't going to convince content providers to make their content available through the AppleTV by laying down rules about single sign on and icon design. Apple doesn't have the same leverage in this space that they did with the music industry, which was in a desperate position, and the cell phone industry, which wanted nothing to do with Apple until they saw the gangbusters profits that AT&T were making selling the iPhone. The cell phone service providers were clamoring to get in on the iPhone, once it was proven. Television content providers are currently NOT clamoring to get their content on to the AppleTV. Remember, Cingular (and then through acquisition, AT&T) took a blind leap of faith with the iPhone. And then the iPhone was proven as a profitable device for the mobile service providers to sell. Apple needs to prove to content providers that they can still profit by offering their content through the AppleTV and cutting out the middle man of cable television and satellite companies. Your view of this situation is overly simplistic and you keep ignoring the fact that television is a more complex arena. This has been written about extensively in the tech press.
Why do people from other nations believe apple has any say in what content owners/providers allow to be broadcast in their countries???
Every market has to be negotiated.
It's not a simplistic view, it's a realistic one based on Apple's previous history. As I say, with it being a hobby, I can see why Apple is letting it go at this point. You can bet it will be sorted out before they release a high-end device in this space. The entire purpose of Apple entering the TV market is to help solve the real issues we've discussed here. That's not to dismiss the challenges that must be overcome, which are likely a big reason why there is no product on the market yet. Those issues haven't been solved.
It's kind of her job, to promote her album
And the Amazon deal was just there cuz they were promoting the new music service sooo.
Ii think everyone knows but not many care sorry bud
Amazon usually sell albums for $1.99 around thanksgiving, and older greatest hits for $.99, never have they released a $1 new album before . Heck billboard changed their rules because of that little stunt...
The current ATV experience certainly isn't up to the bar they've set elsewhere.
It sounds like you think they could release a high-end Apple television today based on the existing ATV. Why do you think they aren't doing that? Integrating the ATV electronics into a nice panel would take all of a few weeks.
When Apple releases a tv, it will be far more polished than this current interface.