“This fall a bunch of new streaming video devices launched, including the new Apple TV, Roku 4, the second-generation Amazon Fire TV, and new Google Chromecast dongles,” Lauren Goode writes for The Verge. “On the surface (and even under the hood), these top living room contenders share a lot of the same features, with the exception of 4K video support. Which means the best experience really comes down to the interface, the app ecosystem, and available content.”
“It was a tough call this year, but one new streaming-video device nudged its way past the others,” Goode writes. “The best streaming box you can buy this year is the new Apple TV. It might not be the cable-killer some were expecting, especially considering that Apple had waited two years before updating its “hobby-box” in any significant way. But Apple has made improvements to Apple TV in all the right places, and has wielded the power of the iOS ecosystem to wrestle into the top spot.”
“There are some very obvious downsides to Apple TV, though. For one, Amazon Prime Video isn’t available through Apple TV, so if you’re a paying Prime subscriber and you watch a lot of video through this service, then this will be a big source of frustration for you,” Goode writes. “And, at $149 for the base model (32 gigabytes of storage) and $199 for the top-of-the-line Apple TV (64GB), it’s one of the more expensive options.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The App Store is powerful enough to propel even the largely-unfinished-but-full-of-promise Apple TV to the top of a cluttered heap of cheap also-rans. We await future tvOS updates with bated breath.
SEE ALSO:
How to take screenshots of the Apple TV – November 17, 2015
Why Apple TV doesn’t need 4K Ultra HD video – November 12, 2015
Apple TV and the 4K Ultra HD conundrum – October 8, 2015
Amazon embarrasses Apple with new 4K Fire TV box or something – September 17, 2015
Amazon unveils $100 Fire TV box 4K video support, Alexa voice control – September 17, 2015
With the all-new Apple TV, Apple changes the game, yet again – September 14, 2015
Analyst: Apple TV streaming service on the way, could cost at least $40 a month – September 14, 2015
Local media streaming app Plex coming to Apple TV – September 14, 2015
What Apple got right in Apple TV’s user interface – and what needs work – September 11, 2015
New Apple TV has the potential to do for television what iPhone did for mobile phones – September 11, 2015
Apple preps to conquer living room with all-new Apple TV – September 11, 2015
Hands-on with the all-new Apple TV – September 10, 2015
Gruber: Apple TV will define how all TVs will work in a few years – September 10, 2015
Here’s how much RAM is inside Apple’s iPhone 6s/Plus, iPad Pro and new Apple TV – September 10, 2015
New Apple TV sounds great, but where’s the 4K? – September 10, 2015
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]