I saw the Apple TV on the news yesterday...

[Archae]

It was hard to see exactly what it could do, since the network, (ABC) only devoted less than a minute to the story.

Anyone planning to get it?

What exactly are the advantages Apple TV offers?

[hobbit709]

1. Advantages to you or to Apple?

[still_one]

2. To me it is essentially an interface update, allowing SIRI and gestures among other things to control selections.

I have no doubt that the Apple products introduced yesterday will sell, but I was underwhelmed

[Archae]

4. Likewise.

Seems that the Apple TV is made for those too lazy to look at the cable or satellite guide on their current setup.

[Action_Patrol]

8. It does the same thing a Roku does

The new interface searches all of your available streaming services (Amazon/Netflix/Hulu). I don't have cable.

I use the current version as a hub for my network. It turns my tv with my soundbar into a virtual jukebox for all of my music and movies.

[still_one]

10. They finally became current to the competition, and of course the terrific marketing makes it appear

that this is revolutionary.

They are also charging 140 dollars, which I think is too much.

What might have been a game changer is if they actually had they introduced their own streaming type service like Netflix or even Amazon, but that didn't happen

[tammywammy]

12. I have a Roku

Apple TV is good is you're a Mac house and want to integrate your Mac Book, iPad, iPhone, iPod, etc all together.

Otherwise, Roku is the best option

[Action_Patrol]

15. You're exactly correct.

[kairos12]

28. We are an Apple household, but use Roku and think it is great.

[Kotya]

32. Just bought at Roku II a few weeks back

It replaced and older generation Apple TV that for some reason would no longer find my wifi.

I could've sprung a little more for a Roku III but I don't see myself using the extra features and the Roku II now has the same speed processor that the Roku III has.

I'm very happy with this product. And I'm a big Apple fan.

[tammywammy]

34. I have what is now the Roku 2

It was a 3 when I bought it. Love it. I really like how you use the apps versus the smart TV set up.

I was at a friends and we were watching something on Netflix via her smart tv and it was almost dysfunctional. I got her the same Roku that I have and she loves it.

[Action_Patrol]

14. They already have the iTunes store

I'm glad there isn't yet another streaming service would rather them partner with someone than start another.

[still_one]

17. I am referring to a competition to cable TV and satellite, because that is what was being discussed.

much of the content on the iTunes store, like much of Apple's products are over priced.

[Action_Patrol]

20. I get my local channels

Via a digital antenna. I can't imagine Apple partnering with networks to make 'broadcast' channels available. Other than that, I don't know what else they could do to compete.
I can't argue against their prices. Hell, I still use my local library to rent most of my movies.

[still_one]

21. There were rumors about talks earlier this year about it though

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/04/apple-web-based-tv-service/

[Action_Patrol]

24. Oh, I believe you

I just find it hard to believe a service that is strictly customer committed will ever exist.

[still_one]

25. I just wanted to let you know I didn't make it up. Obviously, the rumor didn't pan out, so Apple

agrees with you

[Action_Patrol]

26. At no point did I think you were making it up.

Big hugs. We are all getting screwed on this together

[still_one]

27. I know, thanks

[cleanhippie]

13. "...Apple TV is made for those too lazy to look..."

I think someone is too lazy to look at what Apple TV is, and what is does, so instead spews their ignorance.

[HuckleB]

16. The product is actually aimed at people who are dropping cable and satellite.

That percentage of the population is increasing daily, after all.

I'm not saying it's a great product, but it is a product that anticipates the continued erosion of the cable industry.

[still_one]

18. supposedly, they were in talks with various media outlets to produce their own alternative to cable

and satellite. That didn't happen

[HuckleB]

19. I'm sure they're still working on it.

The whole business is likely to be ridiculously divided, however. It's going to be hard for consumers to know what to do. Instead of getting what we've wanted for years, which is an ala carte system, we're just going to be stuck with smaller packages. Ugh.

[brush]

6. I'm sure more functionality is in the pipeline . . .

for Apple TV but so far, the new guy is no Steve Jobs in coming up with new products.

[still_one]

11. that is for sure. Though their marketing tries to say otherwise, nothing earth shaking has really

resulted since Cook took charge. That isn't meant to dis Tim Cook, but just stating the obvious. Just a rehash of the same products with small evolutionary changes in my view

[haikugal]

31. We use Apple TV, 2nd generation, and while we like the innovations...

We want to know if it supports YouTube, Amazon etc. We were hoping they'd improve the AirPlay but they didn't mention it. (A Mac nerd friend says they have.) When we get the information we need we'll probably upgrade one if not both (two households).

The user interface is supper slick and beautiful. Everything works with Siri commands now...(voice). They've developed a new operating system tvOS that's separate from iOS which is open to third party developers and has it's own ap store. This, among other things, adds games to Apple TV. We hope for Amazon prime, YouTube and anything else we can get on an iPhone or iPad...just for convenience, user ease.

The new remote is blue tooth, not infra-red, so it's wireless not line of sight. It's also motion sensing and has touch sensitive glass so you can swipe and tap as you do on the phone or pad. This should make it much nicer to navigate and use. It also doubles as a wii joystick for games. The hardware is much more powerful bringing it up to speed with current generation iPhones and iPads..you have a choice of 32gb or 64gb storage.

To sum up, we really like how Apple products work in general...much less clunky. I have a new Samsung tv that's a horror to navigate (for instance)...I do everything through the Apple TV and it's much better. The new Apple TV looks to be a vast improvement over our current Apple TV's.

Global Siri has great potential. With all the different sources for content now, (Netflix, Prime, Hulu, You tube, iTunes store etc.), you can speak any crazy search to Siri and it will find the content in any of those platforms. Currently you have to go into each platform and do an individual search by hand. This is true for any device including current iPads and iPhones.

Most of this information comes from my son who knows way more about these things than I do.

The downside is the price, we'll pay the price for the quality of the product and user friendliness. YMMV

[marmar]

3. I have Apple TV, and honestly it doesnt do much more than my laptop can with an HDMI hookup.

[Glassunion]

30. The one thing that I liked most about it, was it was only $99

My laptop does not have an HDMI out. So it was a very cost effective purchase.

[Renew Deal]

5. You can find info here

http://www.apple.com/tv/

Click "watch the keynote" to get the in depth announcement.

[Blue_Adept]

7. I prefer the app functionality of it all

I've got three in the house of the previous model and being able to stream the work I do through it and having a range material from my own computer accessible is a plus.

Yeah, you can throw your laptop up to a tv as well and have the same or more depending on what you want to do.

But I like the compact nature and the connected aspect of it for my music and videos on my desktop.

It's also great to be able to, while using either my ipad or iphone, I can throw pics and videos there.

Also works great for my less than tech savvy family members with a simple interface and remote.

[hexola]

22. LGs WebOS is an excellent product.

I didn't even know it existed until 10 months ago when I walked into BestBuy to buy a new TV.

We use OTA as our core -and embellish it with Netflix and Hulu.

[Orrex]

23. I believe that it's optimized to suck money out of your wallet more efficiently.

[leveymg]

29. Smells like fresh mown astroturf in some patches around here. n/t

[Blue_Adept]

33. hands-on demo/experience

Some good things to absorb from this piece.

http://www.imore.com/apple-tv-hands-preview

[stevenleser]

35. And of course, existing Apple TV's can't be upgraded to the new OS right?

That's pretty annoying. If the same thing happens with the watch I'll be really upset.

[hunter]

36. Apple...

http://joyreactor.com/post/661683

[Warren DeMontague]

37. I think that is correct.

I'm not too hung up on it, because I got an appletv as like a groupon or something for fifty bucks a while back, and it does exactly what I need it to- sling itunes, hbo go, netflix etc.

I don't need it to play video games or have a wii style remote.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. I have one. I think the advantages are that it's pretty cheap, easy to use

and if you don't have an alternate means to sling hbo go, or netflix, or other streaming services to your TV, it will handle all that for you. (edited to add: It's SMALL, like 3"x3"x1", which is also a plus)

The thing is, that functionality is already included, in part or in whole, with a host of other devices, from video game consoles to blu-ray players, so in many ways the apple tv has the potential to be redundant.

IF you have a lot of content on itunes, and/or you like to buy/rent movies or tv shows on itunes, it's probably a good way to go because I don't know what other options there are (if any) to get that content over to your tv.

But it covers a lot of the same ground as other devices. Like I said, though, it's relatively cheap; 60 or 70 bucks as opposed to a few hundred, so that's a big plus.