Analyst firm Parks Associates has released a new report (available for purchase) titled “The Streaming Media Device Landscape”. According to the paper’s abstract, the Apple TV has now slipped down to 17% behind the Roku, and Google’s Chromcast.
This really shouldn’t come to a surprise to anyone. The Apple TV 3 was introduced in March 2012 and has remained essentially unchanged aside from a minor specs bump to add support for 1080p video in March 2013.
Since then, there really hasn’t been a compelling reasons to purchase one over the Ruko or the wickedly inexpensive Google Chromecast stick. To be honest, I really like the Ruko feature that allows you to listen to your video over the wireless remote with a pair of headphones. I almost purchased one for my bedroom over the Apple TV just so I don’t wake my sleeping wife. In the end, the stickiness of Apple’s ecosystem won out as I have tons of content that I’ve purchased from the iTunes Store since it’s launch back in the early 2000’s.
Home automation with HomeKit, apps, games, or whatever Apple has planned for the rumored refresh coming this fall will be a welcomed update by many Apple fans. My kids can’t wait for the new Apple TV to drop just so they can get my two Apple TV 3 boxes. For me, I’d just love to have the ability to stream the audio over Bluetooth to my wireless Beats earbuds.
You can read the full Parks Associates abstract on their website.