Six Colors:
Apple’s getting its lunch eaten by competitors, and the hits just keep on coming. The most recent numbers have Google’s Chromecast and Amazon’s Fire TV pulling ahead of Apple’s set-top box, and you know what? They should be. Right now, they’re better products: they have support for more services, they have more flexibility, and they’re cheaper.
The Apple TV, on the other hand, hasn’t gotten a meaningful upgrade since 2010.
He’s not wrong. I used to recommend the Apple TV wholeheartedly but it’s far too long in the tooth now.
It’s unfortunately obvious apple has other things they care about, like selling $5000 watches. $99 apple tvs mean nothing to them, even thought they make money off the back with iTunes.
I didn’t realize chromecast & Fire tv could play stuff from iTunes.
What they should fix is the streaming connection.
Five years in and connecting to my Mac’s iTunes library from my iPad is still lengthy and crappy at the best. (AirPlay HD connects instantly, and I mean instantly, to any shared folder on my Mac. It shows up Video on the iPad every damn time!)
It’s not much better from my ATV. I have the 1st gen and the latest (3rd) and generally, a restart of iTunes AND the ATV is involved before things start working correctly. I know it’s a software issue as in that time I’ve changed routers, ATVs, and Macs and the issue persists.
It’s balls.
Because that’s all people want to do, is buy shit on iTunes? If apple wants to keep apple TV to basically being an iTunes player, so be it, but I’m not coming for that ride.
You know very well they can’t. Your point?
Perhaps you should check your network connections. I’ve not had any problems with any of these devices.
I don’t really have one.
The design and latest model have been around for a while. I have one that I bought refurbished in Jan 2013. I wonder how many chromecasts or fire tvs will last that long while adding support for new services along the way.
Honestly, a TV device doesn’t need a hardware refresh every year or 4, especially when many homes go years without buying new TVs.
thanks, but this has occurred over two different networks and setups. frankly i’m baffled.
My Apple TV gets worse with each update. It loses its connection to iTunes, doesn’t always properly wake from sleep, and sometimes stops putting out a TV signal. I have to unplug it and plug it back in to get it to work.
I think the point is obvious to anyone who tries — ATV has services chrome cast doesn’t, like iTunes. I have a massive investment in my iTunes content and my set top must support that. For this reason alone I would whole heartedly recommend Apple TV.
Can you link to a single rumors article that suggests Apple TV will be a device that streams iTunes content alone? Because since day 1 that isn’t how it’s worked. And today, years later, it has dozens of non iTunes channels in addition to whatever is in your local library on the network.
Or are you just full of FUD?
Your conclusion that it must be the Apple TV because it’s happening to you is faulty. By your logic, because it’s not happening to me at all, it’s your shitty network.
But neither of those statements is a properly vetted conclusion made after thorough troubleshooting.
Ssshhhh! Stop making sense! Sure 1080p has long been the pinnacle of viewing, but we need MOAR! new form factors. Slimmer bezels, etc…
Right…right?
They make a billion off Apple tv and conent. What makes you think it means nothing to them? Got a quote of cook saying that? Love to see it.
Or, could it be that Apple doesn’t announce new Updates or road maps until they’re ready to go (watch aside for reasons discussed elsewhere)…. You know, just like how they do updates for every single other product…
I swear it’s like some of you long time readers still have no idea how Apple operates. Baffling.
The premise of the piece is a faulty assertion. The data cited is for sales. The newer two devices have been selling more units than the Apple tv. The data does not speak to: 1) total devices sold. 2) active use market share.
Easy to get caught up in the doom hysteria tho.
Me, I’m fairly certain they’re bullding a new version with at least games and probably apps, based on p2p wifi and the extension model enjoyed by iOS 8 apps such as keyboards.
Apple TV + Apple Watch. Just “watch” what happens next. We have to remember Apple is patient. We should ask ourselves “what has to be in place for the next big thing?” E.g. Siri, extensions, clearly heard voice commands given to the thing you can put up to your mouth. Apple TV will be one of the array of things we control at home by talking to our wrist. An updated Apple TV might give away the surprise. Be patient.
“Long in the tooth” is such a cynical expression, please don’t use it.
My conclusion is the software. As the problem has persisted over two different service providers (unrelated to the local net), three different routers, two different Macs, two ATVs and one iPad.
So, yeah, logical conclusion. Oh and bully for you that you haven’t had problems. Count yourself lucky.
The persistent rumours from Rene Richie at iMore are that next spring is when Apple will finally take the wraps off new aTV hardware, and presumably a new strategy for content.
There’s a couple of interesting things tangentially that may play into what’s coming up.
First, Apple may bring h.265 to the aTV, allowing for better quality at lower bit-rates, and/or perhaps bringing the possibility of 4K content to the iTunes Store.
Second, numerous broadcasters have said that they’re planning to bring cable-free subscription services to various platforms in 2015. HBO probably most importantly- but several other services followed suit. This cold set the stage for ala Carte TV subscription service via platforms like aTV, which is what I’m sure Apple has been pushing for years.
People still buy stuff from iTunes? How quaint! 😉
I put zero stock in “persistent rumours” of things that have been rumoured, persistently, for years.
Excuse me? What’s cynical about it?
Me neither, but I put stock in people who’ve earned trust, like Jim. Rene has that kind of reputation for me.
He doesn’t generally play the rumour game- and he’s always clear about context when he speaks on these points.
Plus he’s Canadian, and you can always trust anything we say…
I don’t understand. My AppleTV did X and Y when I bought it. It now does X, Y and Z. In fact, it does literally anything I want from it. It hasn’t had an update, but there’s literally two things on Dan’s list that I think would improve the AppleTV. One of them, Siri, is probably not practical since it’s a tiny box on the other side of my room. Maybe via my iPhone. The other one, games, would make it into a different product entirely.
This smells like “Change it because it needs changing!” rather than “Make it better.”
No problems, ever, use it all the time. Check your network.
Edit: Oh, an additional idea. If you have any Android devices on your network, check the apps you have installed (not just “running”). We found an Android app for streaming to AppleTVs that disrupted connections quite badly. It tried to open connections without the user telling it to. Caused real connections to be broken all the time. I don’t remember what it was called.
The unproven External Smart TV Components market is crying for a revenue race to the bottom & 100 day refresh cycle! -TECH MEDIA … This is just this year’s ‘Apple needs to make a Netbook’
Not at all. TV is crying out for a big makeover- but unlike in any other business Apple operates in, TV is a morass of ownership and regional distribution agreements. This is what I think Apple has been waiting for and where I hope we’re getting close to.
The hardware wouldn’t necessarily have to be changed to implement this- but a revision is due, since h.265 processing will need a beefier chip inside than what’s currently in the AppleTV.