Comments on: Apple is tops in the connected set-top box market

By: Robin Ashe

Robin Ashe — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:19:00 +0000

Yeah, there’s something similarly screwy going on with their tablet marketshare. I’m sure it’s still a majority, but Windows 7 tablets aren’t being counted.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Airplay is awesome… Think about it… $49 for a hdmi cable for your HTC or $99 for uber wireless solution for all your idevices..

Not bad for a little hobby… I would say..

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:59:00 +0000

I have wdtv… It’s functional but It’s no appletv, that’s LOL funny.

Xbmc on apple tv trumps all.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:59:00 +0000

My thoughts exactly.

By: charlitos

charlitos — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:51:00 +0000

I understand what you mean 100% but I just feel like the article is limited to comparing what sells the most of a specific category and nothing else. There are particular advantages about owning an Apple TV that also were not mentioned, like mirroring iOS compatible devices with AirPlay, but really its still kinda irrelevant. I had no clue Apple TV was selling “well” compared to other settop boxes, come on all we hear is this is “Apple’s hobby”, “Did Apple kill Apple TV?”, “Apple TVs are gathering dusts” and so on, so I find the info in this article somewhat interesting and concise. For your particular questions there has to be a separate article that offers more precise information about settop boxes comparisons and also the alternatives to consider.

By: koller

koller — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Maybe they are selling this amount, because average people dont know any other brand or product that can do the same things and they even dont know what this product realy do. If people get to know what products like the WD TV or other like others mentioned here that can do a lot of things and better I am sure the sales of this product would be a lot lower. About the rented movies, well what else can an Apple TV owner can do with it? not to much!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:41:00 +0000

I didn’t say there was anything “untrue” in the article. I’m complaining about what is missing which are actual numbers and trend information. Let’s see what is trending–especially with popular boxes like the Roku–and see how usage and sales of Apple TV compare to other devices that offer up nearly the exact same functionality…

Again, I OWN one. I’m not just saying this to be anti-Apple. I would rather have more more information instead of having to go try and hunt it down on the Internet just to find out what the current reality is…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:37:00 +0000

Bzzzz…Im sorry the correct answer was Xbox…Xbox.

By: charlitos

charlitos — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:31:00 +0000

There was nothing in this article that was not true. They are talking about settop boxes not devices that can kind of serve as a settop box. The article is not trying to compare anything else rather than that and didn’t make any statements beyond that. That does not mean there are not “alternatives” to settup boxes.

edit: sorry about typos b4 sent from iphone

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

I have to completely agree with you here. This is one of the most ridiculous stories I’ve seen posted on Slashgear or anywhere else in a while because the Apple TV’s functionality for what the majority of people out there might use it for is currently duplicated on so many other types of devices like gaming consoles, DVD and blu-ray players, local media streamers, computers and laptops, and even smart TVs that don’t even require an external set-top box anymore.

The article also doesn’t mention the actual break-down of devices (Apple TV vs a box like the Roku for example) nor give any year to year trending information on any device. It would also be so much more helpful if this article stated how many of the “12 million units” of set-top boxes that are supposed to sell next year do they actually believe will be Apple TVs vs boxes from Roku or other competitors. I find it hard to believe that Apple TV devices are selling more than Roku right now given their limited native abilities–sans jailbreaking…

This is coming from ME, an actual Apple TV Gen 2 owner. For the majority of consumers, the Apple TV, without jailbreaking, is a nearly useless device IMO and doesn’t even offer up the same native functionality that the Logitech Revue/Google TV offers at this point. If the Revue had been available last year at the same $99.00 price, I would never have purchased the Apple TV for my own use. The only reason I own it was because I could jailbreak it and install “unapproved” apps on it (like XBMC and now Plex that give me a rich, consistent and integrated media center experience) to stream movies to a second TV in the bedroom. Without that, it’s worthless as I can get Netflix, Youtube, Pandora, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant on my TV without it. Google TV devices (like the Logitech Revue) and the Roku have Plex available as approved and working Apps. No jailbreaking necessary. The Revue even has a full web browser integrated into the OS. Except for its excellent low power consumption, the Apple TV can’t even come close to competing in functionality–and the Roku even matches that if I remember correctly. Airplay functionality for video mirroring of iDevices is, quite frankly, the Apple TV’s only saving grace at this point. If that parlor trick is worth $99.00 to some people, then that’s just fine.

Another thing that the Apple TV is able to do is speak to people who are sight impaired. That is actually a great function that is built into the device that helps people like one of my best friends, who is blind, to be able to navigate the device and use most of its functions pretty well. This is a functionality (screen reading) that seems to be built into most Apple iDevices and is a noteworthy feature that other mobile operating systems should emulate. There are screen-readers available for Android OS (my same friend uses one on his Sprint Android phone), but I have no idea if they work with Google TV’s implementation yet.

As for the Apple TV’s ability to install and run Plex Media Center (and its very diversified system of media pluggins), that functionality is even coming to smart TVs either on its own or through Google TV 2.0 that may very well be shipping on several TVs and disc players in the next year. So, unless you are absolutely wedded to the iTunes movie and TV show purchasing experience, the Apple TV box has pretty much been outdone and outdated for the majority of consumer needs right now. And, again, this is coming from someone who actually OWNS one of these little hockey pucks…

There are obviously still many people out there who really need to step away from the distortion field and breathe the free air again…

By: Tlewis615

Tlewis615 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:42:00 +0000

Xbox is nice for Netflix but the PS3 really out competes the Apple TV. In addition to being a great game console it has a blue ray player and a DLNA client for in network media streaming. Its only 100.00 more than an Apple TV 2. Don’t get me wrong I love the 360 but the PS3 is a more complete media device.

By: ralph

ralph — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:36:00 +0000

wonder how much apple pays these guys to actually write something thats for its device. it should be noted that xbox is not included in this segment coz its not a dedicated set-top box. but im pretty sure xbox has a larger market share. although i dont really have any proofs to back up my statement.