Tag: apple tv

Apple TV To Transform Into Smart Home Hub

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original article on: BuzzFeed

Apple will be releasing a major update of Apple TV at its upcoming WWDC in June, and it will reportedly be equipped with an App Store, an official SDK, Siri support, increased onboard storage, and perhaps most importantly, a long-awaited HomeKit integration that uses Siri to command connected home devices. Previously, Apple has been reported to be testing and positioning its set-top box to become the central hub for all smart home devices supporting Apple’s HomeKit, and it seems like the Internet of “iThings” will become a reality soon.

By The Numbers: The Shifting Market Of OTT Streaming Devices

Posted on by Lab Team

According to a new report by Parks Associates, Google’s Chromecast has surpassed Apple TV as the No.2 most popular media streaming device on the U.S. market. Despite a considerable slip, Roku’s lineup is still the most popular this year, with a solid 29% of market share, while Apple TV fell to third place with 17%.

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Apple TV sales have always been lukewarm for an Apple device, and its recent slide in market share could be reasonably attributed to its comparatively hefty price tag, as well as its closed ecosystem. The Cupertino company needs to add more value to their set-top box if they wish to continue competing with the likes of Roku and Chromecast, boasting accessible prices and better compatibility.

Moreover, the recently introduced Amazon’s Fire TV box and stick came in fourth place with an impressive 10% share.  As new media streaming devices, be they dongles or set-top boxes, continue to emerge, the market for OTT devices will maintain its grow amid swiftly shifting competition.

How The New Update Of Apple TV Is Making It The Smart Home Hub

Posted on by Lab Team

The central hub of your connected smart home could soon be the Apple TV, as Apple’s latest beta software officially brings HomeKit support to its set-top box originally devised for streaming iTunes media. The beta reportedly includes support for Apple TV as a remote access peer, which would allow the user to automatically sync information from connected home devices to the TV accessory. With this update, Apple is one step closer to building a future internet of “iThings”.

ABC News Viewers Loves Watching Live on Apple TV

Posted on by Lab Team

ABC News channel launched its native streaming app on Apple TV a month ago, and the viewers seems to be loving it. Due to the closed nature of Apple’s ecosystem, stats on app usage on their platform are rarely publicized, but today, ABC reported that ABC News users watch 50% more live video on Apple TV than on desktop and mobile combined. This report once again proves that the American audience is embracing over-the-top video channels.

Apple TV To Replace iPod In Apple Store

Posted on by Lab Team

In a sales call to talk about Apple’s numbers over the past quarters, Tim Cook acknowledged an increasingly prescient fact: iPod’s are in decline. iPod sales dipped precipitously by 52%, while revenues dropped by 54%. That means the iPod accounts for merely 2% of Apple’s overall income. Cook wants to focus on the Apple TV instead, and has immediately done so by listing the Apple TV in its own section, upgrading it from what Steve Jobs called a “Hobby” to a full-fledged product line. The new section of the store also features Apple TV accessories, old refurbished versions of the device, and a Q&A section. The dedicated product section very likely means that there will be substantial upgrades coming to the device soon, and that persistent rumor of a new Apple TV with a TV tuner, additional gaming, and wireless router options could just come to pass. 

Roku 3 Adds YouTube Channel

Posted on by Lab Team

As an addition to its already impressive stable of video services, Roku has finally added the grandaddy of all online video streaming services, YouTube, to its latest Roku 3 hardware.  The update is only available for users in US, UK, Canada, and Ireland, but it shows that Roku is keeping pace with competitors like Apple TV and gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.  Still, Roku maintains a lead in the space for having over 750 “channels” of content including Netflix, Hulu, HBOGo, and Pandora, among others.

Sony Announces PS Vita TV

Posted on by Lab Team

Sony is taking on Apple TV, Ouya, and other boxes like Roku all at the same time with its PS Vita TV. It’s a 6 by 10 centimeter console and set-top box that connects to a TV. Based on Vita hardware, it plays Vita, PSP, and PS1 games, while offering wireless PS4 connectivity; it lets users play PS4 games on another TV screen if, say, the PS4’s screen is occupied at that given time. What’s more, it also offers video apps like Hulu, the LiveTweet Twitter client, and Reader ebook software. At $99, it looks set to take on many competitors in the set-top box environment while offering a robust gaming proposition. Thus far it’s only available in Japan, but when it comes to America it could make big waves indeed. 

Google Launches Chromecast

Posted on by Lab Team

Google finally entered the streaming fray with a thumb-drive-sized product called Chromecast that promises to deliver digital content to your TV with unprecedented ease. Chromecast is a step above other streaming devices in multiple facets: it’s size makes it simple to transport, Google says that the interface is as simple as plug-and-play over any WiFi network, and it’s only $35 – cheaper than any other similar option on the market (like Roku, Boxee, Xbox, or Apple TV). Chromecast also provides for phone integration, but it’s an open interface; it won’t prevent different makes and models from connecting to the HDTV. It has native YouTube, Google Play, and Netflix apps, but you can also watch video from any streaming device you want. The real kicker, though, is the ability to open new Chrome browser tabs on the TV; there’s finally a way to stream content on an HDTV in the same way as users are used to streaming content on their laptops. So although it’s not quite as sexy as Google promises – you do have to charge the device with a cord that takes away from the sleek aesthetic – at a $35 price point, there will be plenty of willing guinea pigs.  

CW Network Comes To Apple TV

Posted on by Lab Team

CW Network has announced that it will be delivering a dedicated app to the Apple TV ecosystem, allowing users to access their content directly through the set-top box. This marks a big shift in terms of traditional TV programming entering the connected TV space. The enhanced interactivity on these platforms creates plenty of opportunities to innovate, without the need for second screen programs. Content will be available a day after the TV broadcast and will be ad-supported.