My initial impressions of AppleTV were correct. It's a half-baked attempt and it's been poorly thought out in it's presentation to the buying public. Really pathetic effort by Apple, and I don't honestly believe that Steve was behind it 100%. If he was, he wasn't thinking straight.
My initial impressions of AppleTV were correct. It's a half-baked attempt and it's been poorly thought out in it's presentation to the buying public. Really pathetic effort by Apple, and I don't honestly believe that Steve was behind it 100%. If he was, he wasn't thinking straight.
I disagree. the only thing holding back the AppleTV is content. I'm not sure if it's the logical problem of adding 720p content to the iTunes Store when the iPod can't play them or if content providers are keeping it from happening (read: contracts regulating the resolution).
Either way, the HD content will come and the AppleTV will become more popular.
There are certainly pitfalls to moving into Target with Apple TV but there is one major upside: soccer moms shop at Target. No, wait, let me correct that: soccer moms live at Target. Now, these customers may not be the number one target market for Apple TV (no pun intended) but they make a LOT of the buying decisions for families and if they think it's cool will talk to their husbands about it and bring it into the home.
All Apple needs to do is have a display showing how it works, train one or two of the kids working in the electronics department on how it works and bingo! Sales. Target may lose out on some sales of DVD's on account of this but if they push iTunes gift cards with it, they can easily make up these sales.
I think it's very smart for Apple to go mass market with these devices. They can move a lot of product and introduce what is clearly a niche product to the general public. Apple's next move should be to bring their entry level computers to Target.
This effort should result in additional eMachine and Dell media center machines.
Unless the salesman pushes the product and treats it fairly, they are not going to sell many, on top of that sounds like Apple is also not using good video samples, making them look bad in those large TV(s).
This is a consumer device. It's very easy to use. It's turned on, and working. All that has to be done is to go through the menu. No big deal. Even easier than going through most Tv's own menus.
I am not surprised that best buy hasn't sold any Apple TVs. When I went to my local BB the other day, I asked a salesperson and they said. . ."um, I am not sure about that, I don't think Apple makes TVs but let me check." After about 5 minutes, someone from the CELL PHONE department came up and told me they had 4 in stock. I told them I would take 1 and she said, "ok, well we have to find them first. I didn't see any out there in our stock"
I proceeded to watch 5 BB employees search for 20 minutes to find any of the 4 apple TVs. Finally the manager told me that they couldn't find them. I asked him if they were accustomed to misplacing 1200 bucks worth of inventory, and he assured me that they would "turn up eventually".
Most of you probably remember the trials that Apple had in the late 1990s with Best Buy and its lackluster representation of apple products. Many stores didn't set up demos of the iMac let alone remove the iMac from their warehouse. That was one reason Apple pulled their inventory from Best Buy and was slow to bring the iPod to Best Buy. . . its ashame we are seeing the same thing over again, because marketed correctly, the Apple TV can be a revolutionary device. Now if we could just get some software updates from Cupertino!
I love to hear from someone with a BestBuy store-in-a-store manned by Apple personnel. I bet there is a big difference in sales (of all kinds) and a big differrece in user experience.
This is a consumer device. It's very easy to use. It's turned on, and working. All that has to be done is to go through the menu. No big deal. Even easier than going through most Tv's own menus.
I do, it is likely to give a potential customer the wrong impression about Apple products. Those customers then talk to their friends and every one then thinks that Apple products are crap.
All Apple needs to do is have a display showing how it works, train one or two of the kids working in the electronics department on how it works and bingo! Sales. Target may lose out on some sales of DVD's on account of this but if they push iTunes gift cards with it, they can easily make up these sales.
With all due respect, have you ever been in a Target? I would be very surprised if they could keep someone on staff and available who was trained in demo'ing AppleTV. Most every time I've ever been near the electronics department at Target there wasn't an employee in sight.
Also, I have no idea of Target's margin on DVD's or iTunes gift cards; but I would think it is a pretty safe bet that they make much more money on dvds they sell than the cut they get for selling an iTunes gift card.
I do, it is likely to give a potential customer the wrong impression about Apple products. Those customers then talk to their friends and every one then thinks that Apple products are crap.
What part of an AppleTV demo is crap? The on;y thing I can see as a problem is if the content is from the iTunes Store. Besides that, the AppleTV should impress everyone with it's simple, iPod-like controls.
I do, it is likely to give a potential customer the wrong impression about Apple products. Those customers then talk to their friends and every one then thinks that Apple products are crap.
I'm curious as to what wrong impression you are referring to?
I do, it is likely to give a potential customer the wrong impression about Apple products. Those customers then talk to their friends and every one then thinks that Apple products are crap.
That makes no sense. you haven't given a reason. These are big companies. Plenty of people buy from them. Apple is supposed to be setting up a demo area. I'd rather give it time before I criticize it.
With all due respect, have you ever been in a Target? I would be very surprised if they could keep someone on staff and available who was trained in demo'ing AppleTV. Most every time I've ever been near the electronics department at Target there wasn't an employee in sight.
Also, I have no idea of Target's margin on DVD's or iTunes gift cards; but I would think it is a pretty safe bet that they make much more money on dvds they sell than the cut they get for selling an iTunes gift card.
You know, there isn't more than a couple of minutes of training needed.
All that has to be said is that it either hooks to your computer with an Ethernet wire, or works through your wireless. If people are already using those, then that's it for the hookup talk. If not, then it simply has to be said that it has to be turned on, and it finds the computer itself. Big deal!
The rest is taking the remote, and going through the menu. Everybody knows how to do that. It doesn't even have to be explained.
You know, there isn't more than a couple of minutes of training needed.
All that has to be said is that it either hooks to your computer with an Ethernet wire, or works through your wireless. If people are already using those, then that's it for the hookup talk. If not, then it simply has to be said that it has to be turned on, and it finds the computer itself. Big deal!
The rest is taking the remote, and going through the menu. Everybody knows how to do that. It doesn't even have to be explained.
I hear you and hope this is true. I worry about the type of buyer in a Target electronics department though. Remember ATV requires Wi-Fi (well best to use it) and maybe support on that issue.
By way of example: I am still laughing about this... a friend called me only yesterday to say his internet had stopped working ... it was now asking him for a password. He was a switcher and new to his MacBook which he loves.
On checking I discovered he had no internet service rather his MacBook had picked up the neighbors Wi-Fi for the last few months... and his neighbor had just started WEP.
My friend didn't realize with Wi-Fi you needed internet service he though Apple provided it ... "I thought that was what 'Blue Teeth' was!" He exclaimed.
I can't imagine the AppleTV selling well in BestBuy or Target. The latter is just a joke. The AppleTV will be selling great once the HD content is available for DL, but until then it just won't be worthwhile for most people.
AppleTV does play 720p. What is not currently available is HD content from the iTunes Store.
Based on Apple's current marketing strategy, any store selling the iPod is a candidate to offer iTV. Although HD movies are limited, HD content via podcasts, HD iMovie, iPhoto, digital cameras and HD video cameras is abundant for those that use/have these applications and products.
It appears obvious that the success of the iPod since the implementation of video dictates that a product such as iTV offers a major opportunity to extend the viewing capabilities of what we are downloading and/or creating. As we all know, since the introduction of the digital camera consumer film and print use has diminished significantly. Unfortunately, the pictures and videos that we were or are taking are more often than not, not being seen by anyone else but the person who took them. Now a family with a couple of kids having their own iPods, downloading music, videos and taking pictures of their birthday parties, graduations, anniversary, vacations, etc., can now share like never before.
I think that we have to seriously consider that Apple's venture in the multimedia arena is not without purpose. Apple's multimedia software lineup is amazing inventive, but useless to anybody that uses them and doesn't have the means to really show them off in all their glory.
And a question. Where are all the hundreds, thousands of downlable HD Movies that Apple somehow is not making available via iTunes but others are?
And a question. Where are all the hundreds, thousands of downlable HD Movies that Apple somehow is not making available via iTunes but others are?
It is my #1 question too. They have to be working on something ... the way technology leaps forward I am 100% sure we will start to see 'higher' definition movies soon. Maybe a new codec is in the wings?
I hear you and hope this is true. I worry about the type of buyer in a Target electronics department though. Remember ATV requires Wi-Fi (well best to use it) and maybe support on that issue.
By way of example: I am still laughing about this... a friend called me only yesterday to say his internet had stopped working ... it was now asking him for a password. He was a switcher and new to his MacBook which he loves.
On checking I discovered he had no internet service rather his MacBook had picked up the neighbors Wi-Fi for the last few months... and his neighbor had just started WEP.
My friend didn't realize with Wi-Fi you needed internet service he though Apple provided it ... "I thought that was what 'Blue Teeth' was!" He exclaimed.
It's a scary World out there in support land
You're always going to find a certain percentage of people who think like a doorstop. That can't be helped.
But, whether this sells or not is up to Apple.
This needs Tv ads, ads in major magazines, etc.
If Apple has a Tv ad that's done properly, they can explain all that's needed right there. People walking into the store won't even have to ask about how it works, they will know.
Apple can simply say that if your Mac or PC has wireless, then plugging this into your Tv, turning on your computer, and then the Apple Tv and Tv will be all you need to do. They even don't have to go further and explain about wired connections, but they can mention that it can be wired, like a printer, which they are familiar with, instead.
Then show someone lying back on their couch with their family, and clicking in the menu briefly, and then have a movie come on.
A voiceover should then simply say something like "AppleTv, it makes viewing your downloaded movies and music easy". Or something to that effect.
What part of an AppleTV demo is crap? The on;y thing I can see as a problem is if the content is from the iTunes Store. Besides that, the AppleTV should impress everyone with it's simple, iPod-like controls.
Why even bother separating content from the hardware in the discussion about Apple TV? It's a consumer electronics device. Ripping HD content from other sources, and placing it in iTunes just so you can stream it to your TV is not a need that most consumers are looking to fill.
If Apple wants to sell Apple TV's, then they should have offered HD content from iTunes from launch time. Then I could at least see some kind of sense in buying one -- View HD movies from iTunes and bypass Blu-Ray/HD-DVD (tho I still wouldn't buy one for a number of reasons already stated a million times by others).
Having said all that, I could possibly see Apple selling a lot of these things on hype alone, kind of like a crappy movie that breaks box office records on its opening weekend. Does anyone yet know how these things are selling?
Comments
It's a simple equation.
No matter what some here may think, people I know who have seen this at the Apple store were impressed.
I'm sure the AppleTV won't sell well.
Understatement of the year.
My initial impressions of AppleTV were correct. It's a half-baked attempt and it's been poorly thought out in it's presentation to the buying public. Really pathetic effort by Apple, and I don't honestly believe that Steve was behind it 100%. If he was, he wasn't thinking straight.
Understatement of the year.
My initial impressions of AppleTV were correct. It's a half-baked attempt and it's been poorly thought out in it's presentation to the buying public. Really pathetic effort by Apple, and I don't honestly believe that Steve was behind it 100%. If he was, he wasn't thinking straight.
I disagree. the only thing holding back the AppleTV is content. I'm not sure if it's the logical problem of adding 720p content to the iTunes Store when the iPod can't play them or if content providers are keeping it from happening (read: contracts regulating the resolution).
Either way, the HD content will come and the AppleTV will become more popular.
They may need to sell that with the Apple TV as customers maybe have only B or G with a lot of interference.
All Apple needs to do is have a display showing how it works, train one or two of the kids working in the electronics department on how it works and bingo! Sales. Target may lose out on some sales of DVD's on account of this but if they push iTunes gift cards with it, they can easily make up these sales.
I think it's very smart for Apple to go mass market with these devices. They can move a lot of product and introduce what is clearly a niche product to the general public. Apple's next move should be to bring their entry level computers to Target.
Unless the salesman pushes the product and treats it fairly, they are not going to sell many, on top of that sounds like Apple is also not using good video samples, making them look bad in those large TV(s).
This is a consumer device. It's very easy to use. It's turned on, and working. All that has to be done is to go through the menu. No big deal. Even easier than going through most Tv's own menus.
I am not surprised that best buy hasn't sold any Apple TVs. When I went to my local BB the other day, I asked a salesperson and they said. . ."um, I am not sure about that, I don't think Apple makes TVs but let me check." After about 5 minutes, someone from the CELL PHONE department came up and told me they had 4 in stock. I told them I would take 1 and she said, "ok, well we have to find them first. I didn't see any out there in our stock"
I proceeded to watch 5 BB employees search for 20 minutes to find any of the 4 apple TVs. Finally the manager told me that they couldn't find them. I asked him if they were accustomed to misplacing 1200 bucks worth of inventory, and he assured me that they would "turn up eventually".
Most of you probably remember the trials that Apple had in the late 1990s with Best Buy and its lackluster representation of apple products. Many stores didn't set up demos of the iMac let alone remove the iMac from their warehouse. That was one reason Apple pulled their inventory from Best Buy and was slow to bring the iPod to Best Buy. . . its ashame we are seeing the same thing over again, because marketed correctly, the Apple TV can be a revolutionary device. Now if we could just get some software updates from Cupertino!
I love to hear from someone with a BestBuy store-in-a-store manned by Apple personnel. I bet there is a big difference in sales (of all kinds) and a big differrece in user experience.
I don't see a problem moving to Target.
This is a consumer device. It's very easy to use. It's turned on, and working. All that has to be done is to go through the menu. No big deal. Even easier than going through most Tv's own menus.
I do, it is likely to give a potential customer the wrong impression about Apple products. Those customers then talk to their friends and every one then thinks that Apple products are crap.
All Apple needs to do is have a display showing how it works, train one or two of the kids working in the electronics department on how it works and bingo! Sales. Target may lose out on some sales of DVD's on account of this but if they push iTunes gift cards with it, they can easily make up these sales.
With all due respect, have you ever been in a Target? I would be very surprised if they could keep someone on staff and available who was trained in demo'ing AppleTV. Most every time I've ever been near the electronics department at Target there wasn't an employee in sight.
Also, I have no idea of Target's margin on DVD's or iTunes gift cards; but I would think it is a pretty safe bet that they make much more money on dvds they sell than the cut they get for selling an iTunes gift card.
I do, it is likely to give a potential customer the wrong impression about Apple products. Those customers then talk to their friends and every one then thinks that Apple products are crap.
What part of an AppleTV demo is crap? The on;y thing I can see as a problem is if the content is from the iTunes Store. Besides that, the AppleTV should impress everyone with it's simple, iPod-like controls.
I do, it is likely to give a potential customer the wrong impression about Apple products. Those customers then talk to their friends and every one then thinks that Apple products are crap.
I'm curious as to what wrong impression you are referring to?
I do, it is likely to give a potential customer the wrong impression about Apple products. Those customers then talk to their friends and every one then thinks that Apple products are crap.
That makes no sense. you haven't given a reason. These are big companies. Plenty of people buy from them. Apple is supposed to be setting up a demo area. I'd rather give it time before I criticize it.
With all due respect, have you ever been in a Target? I would be very surprised if they could keep someone on staff and available who was trained in demo'ing AppleTV. Most every time I've ever been near the electronics department at Target there wasn't an employee in sight.
Also, I have no idea of Target's margin on DVD's or iTunes gift cards; but I would think it is a pretty safe bet that they make much more money on dvds they sell than the cut they get for selling an iTunes gift card.
You know, there isn't more than a couple of minutes of training needed.
All that has to be said is that it either hooks to your computer with an Ethernet wire, or works through your wireless. If people are already using those, then that's it for the hookup talk. If not, then it simply has to be said that it has to be turned on, and it finds the computer itself. Big deal!
The rest is taking the remote, and going through the menu. Everybody knows how to do that. It doesn't even have to be explained.
You know, there isn't more than a couple of minutes of training needed.
All that has to be said is that it either hooks to your computer with an Ethernet wire, or works through your wireless. If people are already using those, then that's it for the hookup talk. If not, then it simply has to be said that it has to be turned on, and it finds the computer itself. Big deal!
The rest is taking the remote, and going through the menu. Everybody knows how to do that. It doesn't even have to be explained.
I hear you and hope this is true. I worry about the type of buyer in a Target electronics department though. Remember ATV requires Wi-Fi (well best to use it) and maybe support on that issue.
By way of example: I am still laughing about this... a friend called me only yesterday to say his internet had stopped working ... it was now asking him for a password. He was a switcher and new to his MacBook which he loves.
On checking I discovered he had no internet service rather his MacBook had picked up the neighbors Wi-Fi for the last few months... and his neighbor had just started WEP.
My friend didn't realize with Wi-Fi you needed internet service he though Apple provided it ... "I thought that was what 'Blue Teeth' was!" He exclaimed.
It's a scary World out there in support land
I can't imagine the AppleTV selling well in BestBuy or Target. The latter is just a joke. The AppleTV will be selling great once the HD content is available for DL, but until then it just won't be worthwhile for most people.
AppleTV does play 720p. What is not currently available is HD content from the iTunes Store.
Based on Apple's current marketing strategy, any store selling the iPod is a candidate to offer iTV. Although HD movies are limited, HD content via podcasts, HD iMovie, iPhoto, digital cameras and HD video cameras is abundant for those that use/have these applications and products.
It appears obvious that the success of the iPod since the implementation of video dictates that a product such as iTV offers a major opportunity to extend the viewing capabilities of what we are downloading and/or creating. As we all know, since the introduction of the digital camera consumer film and print use has diminished significantly. Unfortunately, the pictures and videos that we were or are taking are more often than not, not being seen by anyone else but the person who took them. Now a family with a couple of kids having their own iPods, downloading music, videos and taking pictures of their birthday parties, graduations, anniversary, vacations, etc., can now share like never before.
I think that we have to seriously consider that Apple's venture in the multimedia arena is not without purpose. Apple's multimedia software lineup is amazing inventive, but useless to anybody that uses them and doesn't have the means to really show them off in all their glory.
And a question. Where are all the hundreds, thousands of downlable HD Movies that Apple somehow is not making available via iTunes but others are?
And a question. Where are all the hundreds, thousands of downlable HD Movies that Apple somehow is not making available via iTunes but others are?
It is my #1 question too. They have to be working on something ... the way technology leaps forward I am 100% sure we will start to see 'higher' definition movies soon. Maybe a new codec is in the wings?
I hear you and hope this is true. I worry about the type of buyer in a Target electronics department though. Remember ATV requires Wi-Fi (well best to use it) and maybe support on that issue.
By way of example: I am still laughing about this... a friend called me only yesterday to say his internet had stopped working ... it was now asking him for a password. He was a switcher and new to his MacBook which he loves.
On checking I discovered he had no internet service rather his MacBook had picked up the neighbors Wi-Fi for the last few months... and his neighbor had just started WEP.
My friend didn't realize with Wi-Fi you needed internet service he though Apple provided it ... "I thought that was what 'Blue Teeth' was!" He exclaimed.
It's a scary World out there in support land
You're always going to find a certain percentage of people who think like a doorstop. That can't be helped.
But, whether this sells or not is up to Apple.
This needs Tv ads, ads in major magazines, etc.
If Apple has a Tv ad that's done properly, they can explain all that's needed right there. People walking into the store won't even have to ask about how it works, they will know.
Apple can simply say that if your Mac or PC has wireless, then plugging this into your Tv, turning on your computer, and then the Apple Tv and Tv will be all you need to do. They even don't have to go further and explain about wired connections, but they can mention that it can be wired, like a printer, which they are familiar with, instead.
Then show someone lying back on their couch with their family, and clicking in the menu briefly, and then have a movie come on.
A voiceover should then simply say something like "AppleTv, it makes viewing your downloaded movies and music easy". Or something to that effect.
Bingo!
This is what's missing right now.
What you asked 10 seconds after they received them instead of waiting a day or two?
All 3 Best Buys by me sold out of their stocks twice already!
Here's some ideas:
1) Do research at MULTIPLE stores.
2) Find out when the stock came in, when it was put out on the floor and when and if any sold when they sold.
After you do this then maybe I'll listen to you. Until then this article should be completely re-written by someone willing to do actual "research".
What part of an AppleTV demo is crap? The on;y thing I can see as a problem is if the content is from the iTunes Store. Besides that, the AppleTV should impress everyone with it's simple, iPod-like controls.
Why even bother separating content from the hardware in the discussion about Apple TV? It's a consumer electronics device. Ripping HD content from other sources, and placing it in iTunes just so you can stream it to your TV is not a need that most consumers are looking to fill.
If Apple wants to sell Apple TV's, then they should have offered HD content from iTunes from launch time. Then I could at least see some kind of sense in buying one -- View HD movies from iTunes and bypass Blu-Ray/HD-DVD (tho I still wouldn't buy one for a number of reasons already stated a million times by others).
Having said all that, I could possibly see Apple selling a lot of these things on hype alone, kind of like a crappy movie that breaks box office records on its opening weekend. Does anyone yet know how these things are selling?