Fast Company reports, “While not as big of a flop as some of the other dud devices of the decade, the Apple TV hasn’t been as wildly successful–neither financially nor in terms of mindshare–as Apple’s other iconic products of the decade (everything from the iPhone to the iMac and the Nano). The device lets you rent and buy TV shows and movies off of iTunes, as well as stream your PC’s photos, music, and other media on any TV in the house. But it’s sadly lacking in non-iTunes options other than YouTube, something that makes it a hampered choice when compared with broader offerings on Windows 7 PCs, Xbox 360, Tivo, Boxee, and even plain old Macs. But things may be looking up for the flat-little-media-extender-from-Cupertino (a dead ringer for the MacMini, looks-wise). Apple doesn’t give out sales figures for the Apple TV, but earlier this year it reported that sales had tripled over the previous year. And with a few tweaks to the product, Apple could easily resurrect this one for the 10s.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: While a silly, indefensible gaffe on Fast Company’s part, this should serve as a not-so-subtle hint to Apple’s marketing department. We love our Apple TVs (especially with our iPhones running Apple’s free Remote app), use them multiple times per week, and remain convinced that many others would too, if only they knew of Apple TV’s existence. People who own and use Apple TVs understand.
BTW, according to Piper Jaffray’s estimates, Apple has sold approximately 6.6 million Apple TVs to date, without a shred of marketing. For perspective: Apple TV sales are 3.3x the rosiest of predictions for Amazon’s total 2010 Kindle sales. Some flop.
To crown their idiocy, in the very same issue, Fast Company names Kindle among their “Gadgets of the Decade.”
Do you have a question or suggestion for Fast Company? Contact the publication via webform here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jai G.” for the heads up.]
Wouldn’t it be great if the TV turns out to be the gadget of the decade for the 2010s…
We I wouldn’t be without my ones
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> I think it’s brilliant for my needs.
Its day is coming.
I love my apple tv’s (yes I have two) I just wish apple would pay it a bit more attention and add iplayer support and hulu for the Americans this isn’t a big ask and iplayer shouldn’t effect apples bottom line. In the future blu ray intergration across the entire apple range would be nice too, but here’s to wishful thinking.
Hey guys, I am with ya. Mom loves hers and I do as well. Wonderful this TV really is. Does rentals and HD that looks great on the 40 inch screen. To Apple I say, Bravo!
That guy is right… Apple TV is doomed as it is today.
The problem is the set top box approach. It is too cumbersome for the benefits it brings.
I do not see myself buy an Apple TV in its current format.
However, I can see myself buy a TV set with cool extra features.
Therefore, to be hit, Apple TV should become a TV set.
I received a 100 dollar gift card for XMas which will help buy my TV.
Will all my AVI / Mov / MP4 files have to be converted before they’ll play over the TV?
@Kitch
Mac mini.
I have never seen the point of the AppleTV. If I’m going to connect a computerized media device, other than the cable box, to my tv I want it to act like a computer. So if I want to stream my media library I will hook up my laptop and turn my tv into a giant computer monitor. Video, photos, music, games, internet, etc, all on my tv.
So please tell me why I would by something that can only play iTunes/iLife stuff and Youtube, and only in 720p, not 1080p. And even at $250, for a one purpose device it seems like a waste to me.
So please, someone enlighten me.
I have an AppleTV and it is great! I’d love to buy a second unit for other rooms in my home, but not in it’s current form. I think we will see why Hulu and other free streaming sites have not been allowed on the AppleTV in just a few weeks. Apple and Steve have bigger plans.
Rev. Dr.
You don’t need an TV and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
@Ting
A decade from now is waaaaay to far away for my attention span. Apple should make Apple TV software available for Kindle.
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For the present I’m highly satisfied with my Roku box streaming Netflix and all the new additions such as Pandora and Revision3, plus DVDs or Blu-ray discs. It makes for a very economical setup.
Now, if Apple comes up with a subscription plan …
@Sandwich
I agree. Streaming will be huge for Apple for the next decade.
I hoping I can store the things I buy from iTunes Store on Mobile Me and have it streamed everywhere I go, to any device in my arsenal.
Just add ATVFlash by Fire Core & it makes the Apple TV way better!
I bought my tv when it first came out. Use it more often than watching cable TV. An Apple “flop” as compared to their other offerings, would be considered a wild success by most other companies. The tv will continue to grow in popularity as more content is made available. Most specifically, when people can use it to replace their bloated cable service with a more a la cart oriented iTunes service, including a more liberal movie rental time limitation.
I believe Apple is embarking down a path that will see it become one of the largest digital media distribution companies in the world. I believe a lot will be announced regarding digital media during the scheduled event at the end of January.
We love our Apple TV! but I did not find fault with the article, especially the last sentence
“And with a few tweaks to the product, Apple could easily resurrect this one for the 10s.”
also the links for ATV are pretty based articles
http://www.fastcompany.com/tag/apple-tv
Silly article.
As stated, Apple TV is still being sold, so how did it not survive?
Apple repeatedly states that the thing is a hobby but ‘journalists’ still have to declare it a failure.
In any case, the decade we are leaving was best named the ‘Naughties’ by one J. Clarkson I believe.
Now, what to name the next decade?
@G4Dualie
apple tv will handle your mp4 files but not avi or mov(not to sure on that one) but if you download handbrake (it’s free) this will convert them for you. I would sugest that the iPod legacy setting as this will allow you to play your files back on any of apples portable devices aswell without degrading the picture quality on television too much, hope this helps
I have two Apple TVs but I see why people dont feel as if they need one. Need no, good to have, yes.
I love my AppleTV, but I’m finding fewer and fewer uses for it as time goes on. I think the only thing I’m currently using it for is renting movies and watching podcasts. All of its other functions I can already do with other devices connected to my TV. AppleTV needs some new features to really make it worthwhile to use. For instance, add Netflix Instant Watch. I currently use my XBOX 360 for this, but I’d much rather use my AppleTV.
@ Dr. Rev.:
If you can’t find utility in a device, then it wasn’t made for you, now was it? If your current solution works for you, that’s great! The tv is a solution to a problem you don’t have; you obviously do not need one.
But say for a moment, you don’t have a laptop. You have a desktop computer. And say that computer is not sitting in the same room as your TV. Furthermore, you have several computers scattered around the house. Now I ask you, how would go about getting iTunes content from each of those computers to the TV in the living room? And not just some of the content, but access to entire iTunes libraries from every computer all at the same time?
…My roommate and I both have computers in our bedrooms that hold our iTunes libraries and are located on the opposite end of the apartment from the living room. Before the tv, we were limited to watching iTunes content in our rooms. With the AppleTV we can both access our libraries on our computers in our bedrooms from the TV in the living room. It makes perfect sense for us and we both use the tv a lot.
You must be doing something right as a company when you have a viable well-designed steadyselling product, and in comparison to all your other products, it’s considered a flop.
speaking of gaffes, thank you for providing sales figures for Kindle through 2010, which is still days away.
any other advance investment knowledge you can provide would also be helpful.
@Dualie
You da Man!
@Michael
“The tv is a solution to a problem you don’t have…”
I can’t see what problem it is that it solves so well.
I can see what you’re saying about computers all over the house, but even then it just seems like some kind of network hub and not a real multi media device (let’s not forget that the internet is full of, and is its self, media). Replace the Apple TV with a MacMini (yes I know it’s more than twice the price) and you can do the same thing and have more than a “dumb pipe” for iTunes/iLife media. Honestly, my first internet experience was WebTV, and that still seems more useful.
TV+1920x1080p+Internet+iTunes/iLife+BluRay(would be nice)= true multi media experience.