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Apple TV: Best
From the blog
Middle Class Tech
Media Streamer?
Streaming Media Devices
Market has gotten more crowded in 2014 —Apple TV
—Roku lineup
—Amazon Fire TV
—Chromecast
—Google’s new Nexus Player
Apple TV —Biggest criticism: “Not much content” (Macworld)
—Now offers 58 channels
58 Channels
Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Vimeo, etc. — Bloomberg TV for financial news — Vevo for music videos — Crackle for Sony content (including Seinfeld) — Yahoo’s Flickr for crowdsourced photos
Lifehack: You can even use Flickr photos for Apple TV screen saver images — Use metadata tags to search for image topics — Can even upload your own images to Flickr and then
have them appear in the Apple TV screen saver
Mainstream TV Channels
Channels that require no cable/sat TV subscription, including:
—ABC
—CNBC
—Smithsonian Channel
—Fox Now
—Britain’s Sky News
Canned episodes, not a live stream
Old School TV Channels
These channels require an old school cable/sat TV subscription (that includes the channel)
—Disney’s three channels
—PBS and PBS Kids
—FX Now (featuring all episodes of The Simpsons)
—A&E (strong on reality TV)
—History channel
Premium Cable Channels
Apple TV features access to many subscription-based “premium” TV services
—HBO GO
—Showtime Anytime
—ESPN
These will serve only to taunt you on Apple TV if you don’t have cable/sat TV service + dedicated subscription to these
Amazon Fire TV
Same price as Apple TV: $99 — All major streaming boxes are $99
— Roku 3 = $99
Prime Instant Video subscribers will get the most from Amazon Fire TV — $99/year Amazon Prime required for Prime Instant
Video access
— Supplement or substitute for Netflix
— Prime Instant Video offers smaller selection
— Like Netflix, there is original content
Amazon Fire TV
Offers some features not on Apple TV —More intelligent remote control
Continually pushes you into Amazon’s entertainment ecosystem —Available only with $99/year Amazon Prime
Amazon Fire TV can be used without Amazon Prime, but…. —Amazon Fire TV is really designed for users
who subscribe to Amazon Prime
Roku Lineup
Includes four models —Priced from $49 to $99
—More models than any competitor
The top shelf Roku 3 competes with Apple TV
All Roku devices offer 1,200+ channels —Largest channel selection of any
streaming media box company
—Agnostic: Doesn’t push you into a particular ecosystem (different from Apple and Amazon)
Roku Lineup
Roku best for those who: — Not dedicated to a particular ecosystem
— Love Roku’s cross-channel search feature
Those who use Apple’s iTunes or Amazon’s Prime Instant Video are best served by streaming boxes from those respective companies
Roku if you want largest selection of channels — Many, however, are junk channels
— Much foreign language content
— Not everyone likes this much crap content
Apple AirPlay
Wi-fi enabled media casting tech
Built into all Apple devices and computers
Send music and video from your iOS devices and Mac computers to your TV and surround sound speakers
Some AV receivers have AirPlay built in
—Like some models from Denon, Yamaha, and Pioneer Elite
Apple AirPlay
Apple TV is the best, least expensive way to AirPlay-enable your TV or home theater — If you don’t already have it built into your AV receiver
AirPlay leverages your investment in Apple’s hardware — Supported by all iPads, iPhones, iPod Touches,
and Mac computers
For those with iOS and OS X devices, not using AirPlay is missing great casting functionality — Your mobile devices can act as remote controls — Said CNET in August 2014: “AirPlay is just awesome”
The Remote Control
Apple’s sleek cold aluminum remote is smallest, slickest, most attractive on the market
Problems: — Only IR (Infrared; a beam of light) — Because no radio frequency (wi-fi or Bluetooth),
must point remote at the Apple TV box — This is a pain in some living rooms
Both Amazon Fire TV and Roku 3 offer radio frequency remotes — No line of sight requirement — Fire TV also offers voice navigation from the remote
Your Digital Ecosystem
Best streaming media box depends on your digital ecosystem — Those with many Apple iDevices in their home
are best served by Apple TV
— Those who use iTunes for music, TV episodes, and movies best served by Apple TV
Fire TV best if: — You’re into Prime Instant Video
— You have Amazon hardware (Fire tablet)
Roku 3 if you’re ecosystem agnostic
Apple TV Best for Who?
Those who use iTunes for music, movies, and TV episodes —To purchase or rent
People who love Beats Music for on-demand music streaming
Those who use iTunes Radio for Pandora-like music discovery
If you can’t do without your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, or other Apple hardware
Where Do You Fall?
If you simply suck down a ton of Netflix and Hulu Plus: — All major media streaming boxes will serve
you well
If you’re into a particular hardware/service ecosystem, go that route — Amazon Prime Instant Video devotees
should go with Fire TV — iTunes fans should adopt Apple TV — Those in the middle should consider any
of these boxes—or go with Roku 3
Apple TV the Best?
Apple TV best for those who have multiple Apple devices floating around their home — AirPlay alone makes it worth while
Intuitive navigation Slick interface Apple’s minimalistic design DNA
— If you’re a fan of Apple’s design and approach to all things digital, you’ll love Apple TV
Apple quality — Missing from some competing devices
These slides are derived from the Amazon Kindle book
Home Theater
for the Internet Age
Other Books by Curt Robbins
Understanding Personal Data Security
Understanding Digital Music
Understanding Cutting the Cord
Understanding Home Theater
About Curt Robbins
Publishes a blog: Middle Class Tech
Flipboard magazine: Middle Class Tech
Twitter: @CurtRobbins
Surround Sound Formats
Excerpt from Home Theater for the Internet Age