Providing Market Intelligence for 40 Years

In The News

Why is Apple customers' appetite for its products insatiable?

Besides new phones, Apple is expected to significantly upgrade its Apple TV set-top box, which has barely changed since it went on sale in March 2012. The key difference in the new one, expected to cost about $149, will be voice-activated searching (using Siri) and control across multiple sources of content such as Netflix and iTunes, plus the App Store allied to a motion-sensitive controller, rather like Nintendo’s Wii.

The changes look timely, if not overdue. Apple TV is outsold by challengers including Amazon and Google, according to market research firm Parks Associates. Amazon’s Fire TV set-top box already has a voice-controlled interface, and Google’s Chromecast plug-in stick can be used to ‘cast’ content directly from a computer or phone to the TV. But there is plenty of room for growth, as only 20% of US households with broadband have a streaming device, the report found.

The refreshed Apple TV could also add the capability to play games and other apps. With gaming already a huge pursuit on smartphones, the prospect of it on a TV is exciting to iPhone developers, who for years have been wishing for a new Apple platform for apps. 

From the article "Why is Apple customers' appetite for its products insatiable?" by Charles Arthur.

Previously In The News

Video Protection Requirements Are Evolving as Streaming Services Reach Mainstream Audiences

In the early streaming era, distributors often accepted lighter security requirements from emerging platforms hungry for content. That leverage has reversed. Major studios now mandate specific protect...

New Homes Save Homeowners Money, But Builders Face Rising Defect Claims

According to new research from Parks Associates, the connected home market is moving beyond gadget obsession and into something more practical. Consumers increasingly want smart systems that deliver e...

Best 4K Streaming Device: What Consumer Reports Really Scores

Streaming devices now reach roughly 68% of U.S. internet-connected homes, according to Parks Associates data cited by Consumer Reports. At that penetration, this is a mature market. Most buyers aren't...

The Smart Money: FCC Router Ban Leaves 109 Million Homes at Risk

According to Parks Associates, ISP-issued routers account for approximately 70% of home internet households in the U.S., with the remaining 30% represented by retail brands including NETGEAR, Eero...