Providing Market Intelligence for 40 Years

In The News

Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku 4: Which Should You Buy This Holiday Season?

"Roku continues to lead streaming media device sales in the U.S. with 34% of units sold in 2014. Google is second with 23%, and new entrant Amazon overtook Apple for third place," said Parks Associates Research Director Barbara Kraus. "The market consolidation around these four brands forces new entrants to develop more creative features and functionality to tap into the strong consumer demand for streaming content."

Three of the four companies, Amazon, Apple, and Roku have new top-tier devices for the holiday season. Google, too, has a new version of its Chromecast stick, but the $35 device can't be compared to the higher-end streaming boxes.

With these devices likely to be a popular holiday gift, here's a look at the three major players offering top-of-the-line, full-functioned boxes.

From the article "Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku 4: Which Should You Buy This Holiday Season?" by Daniel B. Kline.

Previously In The News

What Happens When Amazon Acquires a ‘Real’ Security Company Like Vivint, Guardian or Brink’s?

Professional security dealers report 36% of their alarm systems include networked cameras, according to smart-home research firm Parks Associates. The pros even manage to attach smart thermostats t...

Top 5 Home Tech Trends and Opportunities for 2017: From Voice Control to VR

Parks Associates research indicates 40 percent of U.S. smartphone owners use voice-recognition software, generally eclipsing the use of phones for streaming music to speakers or video to a second scre...

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Smart Locks

Smart locks contribute enhanced convenience as well as increased security, two of the principal driving factors in any smart device sales. In fact, a recent Parks Associates study found that 45% of sm...

DIY Security, Home Automation: What’s a Pro to Do?

One chief reason for the meteoric rise in DIY competition, of course, is market penetration — read: the historical lack thereof. According to the latest Parks Associates research, 75% of U.S. househol...