Apple is crazy for dragging their feet on what can be done with the Apple TV. The rout is in progress from greedy cable/satellite providers. Alternatives are announced every week and they all capture subscribers even though most suck. I admit I hadn't researched the market until the monthly tab from DirecTV became too much for this retiree.
We tried several freebies over a month and now spend about a third of our previous bill. Playstation VUE was the easy winner. Their GUI ain't 100% to my taste; but, it was an easy change. They're still learning about TV switchers instead of gamers...but, that's a market with 100 times more potential. I'd compare their approach to Apple when it comes to solutions, function and use. How they introduced a "jog" being a good example.
And Apple could run right past them if they tried. Just lose the oversimple remote. Trying to satisfy TV geeks without a mute button or easy access to a 30-second skip is archaic. I thought Apple learned years ago to leave decisions like that to designers instead of engineers.
Spend some time time reading through TV geek users forums in recent years. DirecTV was smart enough to follow - and introduce solutions suggested by thoughtful users. Of course, AT&T will put an end to that. No one plays the Cloud DVR like Sony - and AT&T intriduced DirecTV NOW with none. Pitiful.
OK. Longish rant - but, WWDC would be a good time to intro the Amazon Prime app and tell us when we can get the Gen 5 AppleTV. Just priming the pump.
Apple is crazy for dragging their feet on what can be done with the Apple TV. The rout is in progress from greedy cable/satellite providers. Alternatives are announced every week and they all capture subscribers even though most suck. I admit I hadn't researched the market until the monthly tab from DirecTV became too much for this retiree.
We tried several freebies over a month and now spend about a third of our previous bill. Playstation VUE was the easy winner. Their GUI ain't 100% to my taste; but, it was an easy change. They're still learning about TV switchers instead of gamers...but, that's a market with 100 times more potential. I'd compare their approach to Apple when it comes to solutions, function and use. How they introduced a "jog" being a good example.
And Apple could run right past them if they tried. Just lose the oversimple remote. Trying to satisfy TV geeks without a mute button or easy access to a 30-second skip is archaic. I thought Apple learned years ago to leave decisions like that to designers instead of engineers.
Spend some time time reading through TV geek users forums in recent years. DirecTV was smart enough to follow - and introduce solutions suggested by thoughtful users. Of course, AT&T will put an end to that. No one plays the Cloud DVR like Sony - and AT&T intriduced DirecTV NOW with none. Pitiful.
OK. Longish rant - but, WWDC would be a good time to intro the Amazon Prime app and tell us when we can get the Gen 5 AppleTV. Just priming the pump.
If Apple could ink deals with networks the same way the others have, then sure, I'm on board with your "Apple could run right past them" assessment, but we know that Apple has had an issue with networks ever since before the Apple TV ever launched. They're afraid of Apple getting too much control. A real or imagined threat, Apple's success is negatively affecting them in negotiations.
And Apple could run right past them if they tried. Just lose the oversimple remote. Trying to satisfy TV geeks without a mute button or easy access to a 30-second skip is archaic. I thought Apple learned years ago to leave decisions like that to designers instead of engineers.
Why do you need a dedicated mute button on a streaming device that can pause any content?
Why do you need a dedicated 30-second skip button when you can already right-side-click 10 seconds, or swipe-scrub anywhere almost instantly?
No, those things aren't needed on the ATV remote. A grippier design, sure, but it doesn't need a bunch of buttons.
Just received my 9.7 inch iPad Pro from FedEx Yesterday. I have not opened it yet and I'm considering returning it and waiting out the new iPad. Decisions, decisions...
I didn't realize FedEx made iPad Pros. Interesting.
No, what's interesting is how you signed up to post THAT as your first comment...
And Apple could run right past them if they tried. Just lose the oversimple remote. Trying to satisfy TV geeks without a mute button or easy access to a 30-second skip is archaic. I thought Apple learned years ago to leave decisions like that to designers instead of engineers.
Why do you need a dedicated mute button on a streaming device that can pause any content?
Why do you need a dedicated 30-second skip button when you can already right-side-click 10 seconds, or swipe-scrub anywhere almost instantly?
No, those things aren't needed on the ATV remote. A grippier design, sure, but it doesn't need a bunch of buttons.
I understand both issues here, some things in terms of navigation could use some tweaking. SLO motion and a pause screen that doesn't dim would be nice. The "scrub feature" could use some "granularity" right now it's kind of spastic, but those are software tweaks and I do like the simplicity of the remote despite the fact that its still way too easy to trigger it. ehile I would normally to just use pause as well, I do find it odd that Siri tell you "you can adjust the volume using the remote" when you give her command "mute".
Holy cow, these guys not only survived the switch to unibody MacBooks but also to the most recent designs, too? Their market is large enough to justify it? Wow,
I've come to prefer reading on my iPad mini to using a Kindle. The one thing I dislike is that it's very difficult to hold it without frequent inadvertent page turns and similar miscues, so, for my usage at least, "narrower bezels" isn't really a plus.
Soli said: If Apple could ink deals with networks the same way the others have, then sure, I'm on board with your "Apple could run right past them" assessment, but we know that Apple has had an issue with networks ever since before the Apple TV ever launched. They're afraid of Apple getting too much control. A real or imagined threat, Apple's success is negatively affecting them in negotiations.
Which is why I emailed the powers that be [frequently] to spend a few bucks and buy DirecTV. For years before AT&T did it.
Lots easier to amend existing contracts than write new ones.
How Apple handles the next IPad & (low level) Mac upgrades will be interesting because, right now they are half-pregnant: -- Their tablet can almost achieve laptop functionality -- Their laptop can almost achieve tablet functionality
Currently, if you need a touch screen you have to use a tablet. If you need a cursor or a file system, you have to use a laptop.
At one point, not long ago, the separation was necessary due to power limitations. Today that limitation is rapidly fading into history and the separation between the two form factors is a matter of convention rather than logic. It is no longer sustainable.
A good analogy is the IPhone: when it was created it was primarily a phone and a small device that fit easily into the hand made sense. Then, as its power increased it became more of a game device and web browser and a larger screen began to make sense. It took a while for Apple to break with its self defined convention, but eventually they had no choice if they wanted to stay competitive. The "tablet is only a tablet" and "laptop is only a laptop" convention will die the same death. It's not IF, its WHEN.
Just received my 9.7 inch iPad Pro from FedEx Yesterday. I have not opened it yet and I'm considering returning it and waiting out the new iPad. Decisions, decisions...
I didn't realize FedEx made iPad Pros. Interesting.
No, what's interesting is how you signed up to post THAT as your first comment...
Soli said: If Apple could ink deals with networks the same way the others have, then sure, I'm on board with your "Apple could run right past them" assessment, but we know that Apple has had an issue with networks ever since before the Apple TV ever launched. They're afraid of Apple getting too much control. A real or imagined threat, Apple's success is negatively affecting them in negotiations.
Which is why I emailed the powers that be [frequently] to spend a few bucks and buy DirecTV. For years before AT&T did it.
Lots easier to amend existing contracts than write new ones.
It's extremely common for media deals to expire if the company licensing them is bought out or files for bankruptcy.
How Apple handles the next IPad & (low level) Mac upgrades will be interesting because, right now they are half-pregnant: -- Their tablet can almost achieve laptop functionality -- Their laptop can almost achieve tablet functionality
Currently, if you need a touch screen you have to use a tablet. If you need a cursor or a file system, you have to use a laptop.
At one point, not long ago, the separation was necessary due to power limitations.
That was absolutely not, in any way, shape, or form the reason. In fact, the digitizer and display needed for Apple's interface required WAY more power than conventional cursor-and-pen-based cellphones (of which there were plenty, running Windows CE).
The reason was that it was a hand-held device. That reason has in no way "faded".
What has happened is that yes, their tablet can almost achieve laptop functionality, but crucially, it is not a laptop. And vice versa.
Tablets are hand-held devices, and retain direct-manipulation hand-held interfaces. Traditional desktop computers retain the abstraction of a remote-controlled cursor.
This is fundamental to Apple's interface strategy.
Just received my 9.7 inch iPad Pro from FedEx Yesterday. I have not opened it yet and I'm considering returning it and waiting out the new iPad. Decisions, decisions...
I hear you. I'd return it.
I've been using my iPad Mini 2 as my main computer for about 2 months now w/ a Logitech KB. A bit too small, but I've enjoyed it. I haven't used my MacBook Pro (2009) at all, (maybe twice). I'm really enjoying iOS.
So much, in fact, I'm considering upgrading to the new iPad Pro w/ an Apple KB instead of a new MacBook.
Comments
We tried several freebies over a month and now spend about a third of our previous bill. Playstation VUE was the easy winner. Their GUI ain't 100% to my taste; but, it was an easy change. They're still learning about TV switchers instead of gamers...but, that's a market with 100 times more potential. I'd compare their approach to Apple when it comes to solutions, function and use. How they introduced a "jog" being a good example.
And Apple could run right past them if they tried. Just lose the oversimple remote. Trying to satisfy TV geeks without a mute button or easy access to a 30-second skip is archaic. I thought Apple learned years ago to leave decisions like that to designers instead of engineers.
Spend some time time reading through TV geek users forums in recent years. DirecTV was smart enough to follow - and introduce solutions suggested by thoughtful users. Of course, AT&T will put an end to that. No one plays the Cloud DVR like Sony - and AT&T intriduced DirecTV NOW with none. Pitiful.
OK. Longish rant - but, WWDC would be a good time to intro the Amazon Prime app and tell us when we can get the Gen 5 AppleTV. Just priming the pump.
Why do you need a dedicated 30-second skip button when you can already right-side-click 10 seconds, or swipe-scrub anywhere almost instantly?
No, those things aren't needed on the ATV remote. A grippier design, sure, but it doesn't need a bunch of buttons.
The one thing I dislike is that it's very difficult to hold it
without frequent inadvertent page turns and similar miscues,
so, for my usage at least, "narrower bezels" isn't really a plus.
Lots easier to amend existing contracts than write new ones.
-- Their tablet can almost achieve laptop functionality
-- Their laptop can almost achieve tablet functionality
Currently, if you need a touch screen you have to use a tablet. If you need a cursor or a file system, you have to use a laptop.
At one point, not long ago, the separation was necessary due to power limitations. Today that limitation is rapidly fading into history and the separation between the two form factors is a matter of convention rather than logic. It is no longer sustainable.
A good analogy is the IPhone: when it was created it was primarily a phone and a small device that fit easily into the hand made sense. Then, as its power increased it became more of a game device and web browser and a larger screen began to make sense. It took a while for Apple to break with its self defined convention, but eventually they had no choice if they wanted to stay competitive. The "tablet is only a tablet" and "laptop is only a laptop" convention will die the same death. It's not IF, its WHEN.
It's extremely common for media deals to expire if the company licensing them is bought out or files for bankruptcy.
In fact, the digitizer and display needed for Apple's interface required WAY more power than conventional cursor-and-pen-based cellphones (of which there were plenty, running Windows CE).
The reason was that it was a hand-held device. That reason has in no way "faded".
What has happened is that yes, their tablet can almost achieve laptop functionality, but crucially, it is not a laptop.
And vice versa.
Tablets are hand-held devices, and retain direct-manipulation hand-held interfaces. Traditional desktop computers retain the abstraction of a remote-controlled cursor.
This is fundamental to Apple's interface strategy.
I've been using my iPad Mini 2 as my main computer for about 2 months now w/ a Logitech KB. A bit too small, but I've enjoyed it. I haven't used my MacBook Pro (2009) at all, (maybe twice). I'm really enjoying iOS.
So much, in fact, I'm considering upgrading to the new iPad Pro w/ an Apple KB instead of a new MacBook.
best
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/01/12/10-5-inch-ipad-pro-mathematical-argument/