Advantage Apple TV has over SmartGlass

[tomtendo]

I was in a discussion with my friend about the new Xbox SmartGlass feature. We both own Apple TV's and Xbox 360's and enjoy them both.

But the one(big) advantage that Apple TV has (until maybe the next gen Xbox?) is the lower-power and instant/always on feature.

I truly cannot see my self having my Xbox always on - It would overheat and blow up! It's also a lot louder then the Apple TV and It takes about 30-40 seconds for you to start up the Xbox and connect to Xbox Live. It's just not logical to start up the Xbox for a 30 second YouTube clip you want to share with your friends in the room.

Until the Xbox comes out with a new low powered, quiet, instant-on feature system, SmartGlass is just not logical. The next Xbox system needs to include some sort of standby, but connected to the internet system that I can turn on as fast or faster than the current Apple TV.

What's your thoughts? I think this is a huge problem. SmartGlass is great, but the time waiting will be a huge let down.

 

[maturola]

IMO the "instant" on business is not really a big deal, the xbox doesn't take that long to boot, I don;t mind waiting a few second to watch what i need, specially when it on demand content and not live.

 

[SteveAbootman]

The next Xbox system needs to include some sort of standby, but connected to the internet system that I can turn on as fast or faster than the current Apple TV.

What's your thoughts? I think this is a huge problem. SmartGlass is great, but the time waiting will be a huge let down.

Exactly what Xbox needs to do with their next gen console. If both platforms offer the same services (Netflix, NBA, etc) I'm going to choose the one that I can access the quickest. If I have my iPhone or iPad, I open the Remote app, it wakes my aTV, and I'm off and running in like 10 seconds.

With SmartGlass, unless I can do the same thing with that App, I have to grab my controller, turn on the xbox, wait 30-45 seconds, and then use either the controller or SmartGlass to navigate to the content I want.

IMO the "instant" on business is not really a big deal, the xbox doesn't take that long to boot, I don;t mind waiting a few second to watch what i need, specially when it on demand content and not live.

Time and ease to access content is a huge deal. Life altering, no. But given a choice between 2 things, I'll always take the one that loads the fastest and is easiest to use every time. Also, both platforms do live streaming of sports content; not just VOD offerings.

 

[whooleytoo]

Time and ease to access content is a huge deal. Life altering, no. But given a choice between 2 things, I'll always take the one that loads the fastest and is easiest to use every time. Also, both platforms do live streaming of sports content; not just VOD offerings.

+ Lots!!!

The speed and convenience of the instant-on functionality is a huge advantage. It's the difference between "Yeah, I'll throw on some music" and "Nah, I won't bother".

I've all 3 consoles (and love them! Well, apart from the Wii) but I'll always use the ATV first for streaming music or video. Particularly with the Airplay or the iPad Remote app - convenience winning again.

 

[tomtendo]

Exactly what Xbox needs to do with their next gen console. If both platforms offer the same services (Netflix, NBA, etc) I'm going to choose the one that I can access the quickest. If I have my iPhone or iPad, I open the Remote app, it wakes my aTV, and I'm off and running in like 10 seconds.

With SmartGlass, unless I can do the same thing with that App, I have to grab my controller, turn on the xbox, wait 30-45 seconds, and then use either the controller or SmartGlass to navigate to the content I want.

Don't forget the Xbox takes 30-40 seconds to start up fully and connect to Xbox Live... THEN... load the Netflix app... which is another 1 min. Same for all apps on xbox

 

[maturola]

Time and ease to access content is a huge deal. Life altering, no. But given a choice between 2 things, I'll always take the one that loads the fastest and is easiest to use every time. Also, both platforms do live streaming of sports content; not just VOD offerings.

I don't disagreed with you, but 30 secs is NOT going to be a factor for "ME" (i said, ME, very personal Opinion), giving the choose from two identical devices? yes I would pick the one that boot faster. but they are NOT identical, the Xbox offers much more, much larger physical storage, and it also cost much more, so to me the 30sec boot time of the current device is NOT a factor.

 

[Daveoc64]

The Xbox 360 with the latest firmware installed actually takes about 19 seconds to get to the Dashboard (and signed in to Xbox LIVE).

It takes about 6 seconds longer for Kinect to be responsive though (if you have one attached).

The speed may vary depending on factors like your internet connection speed and how busy the service is.

 

[Carl Sagan]

My xbox slim is whisper quiet and doesn't overheat. Plus I just leave it on and it goes into sleep mode, one push of the media remote button and it's awake and ready to use.

I haven't bothered with Apple TV because it doesn't seem to have much on it. My xbox 360 has a whole load of apps now and more to come which provides all my viewing needs...

 

[marc11]

LOL, now the xbox overheats and blows up??!!??? I own both Apple TV and an xbox, the xbox boot time is no big deal. I mean really, do I need to see something RIGHT NOW!!!!!! That I cannot wait 30 seconds, over 3 seconds?

I am not saying the xbox is better or the Apple TV is better, both serve similar and different purposes, but to say your xbox will blow up if left on is utter crap. My kids have the xbox on sometimes all day long playing with friends or family and yet, I haven't seen it blow up. I have watched hours of Hulu on my xbox, and it has never overheated or blown up.

The new slim xbox boots fast, is pretty quiet and runs pretty cool. It has a TON of stuff the Apple TV does not and will not ever have. The complaints about xbox are mainly running runing a DVD for games or such. Just using an app, the thing is very queit...hell the fan in my DIrect TV DVR box makes more noise at times....or the fans on my MBP when airplaying a ripped DVD to my Apple TV, ha ha. People fail to accept that the xbox is far more powerful and thus needs more cooling than an generally singlularlly puposed Apple TV.

If all you want to watch is iTunes content without ever having to turn on your Mac (or buying a new iphone/ipad so you can mirror) the Apple TV is great, if you want to do just about anything else, games, other video and audio apps and stream any non iTunes content, save from jailbreaking your Apple TV or running your PC, the xbox comes out on top....oh and I have Hulu and Amazon on my xbox, something you cannot have on the out of the box Apple TV. The only argument perhpas that is valid is that the xbox uses more power than the Apple TV, but it is insignifigant really.

SmartGlass if implemented correctly will only add the same level of appeal to xbox that Airplay has to Apple TV. I fail to see how the OP sees Smartglass as not logical, you are misxing internet access, with instant on with Smartglass, the three are mutually exclusive in many ways...

 

[Stolz25]

I can't figure out why people are making any sort of deal out of smartglass at all. For the remote control feature, it's nice, but not anything to get worked up about. For the added media content it just seems to be a bunch of crap to distract you from whatever you were watching.

 

[maturola]

I can't figure out why people are making any sort of deal out of smartglass at all. For the remote control feature, it's nice, but not anything to get worked up about. For the added media content it just seems to be a bunch of crap to distract you from whatever you were watching.

Disagreed, I think it is actually pretty cool to have 2way Airplay, Sport with no watermarks and Score, position and stats on your mobile devices, races with multiple cameras and the map on your device, movies at full screen with the menues and control on your device..i can keep going but i think you get the point, possibilities are pretty much endless, gaming, recording, Picture on Picture...

 

[oskin]

I agree. Xbox as the entertainment console is still too cumbersome especially with its fannoise. However, I'm sure MS is coming up with a slicker new GEN xbox so I hope Apple will have some answer in the living room department.

 

[marc11]

I just wish people would stop comparing the Xbox to the Apple TV. They are so different. The Xbox is closer to a htpc like a mini than an ATV is. And given the age and old tech in the Xbox, what it does today is impressive. If you haven't used the Kinect for not only games but voice commanding the Xbox you would be blown away.

 

[Stolz25]

Disagreed, I think it is actually pretty cool to have 2way Airplay, Sport with no watermarks and Score, position and stats on your mobile devices, races with multiple cameras and the map on your device, movies at full screen with the menues and control on your device..i can keep going but i think you get the point, possibilities are pretty much endless, gaming, recording, Picture on Picture...

Again, these are nice features, but nothing at all I'd get worked up over. The only thing on there that I personally would use is the sports stats, and you can already do that on a phone or tablet, you just have to type in Espn.com. And it depends on the content provider setting up their programming for the 3% actually using the Xbox to watch sports.

They've had something similar for game of thrones on hbogo for iPad this season. A bunch of junk like maps and interactive features can pop up and distract you from the show. Yay!

The more I hear about this the more I think it might be the most overhyped feature ever.

 

[heisenberg123]

Again, these are nice features, but nothing at all I'd get worked up over. The only thing on there that I personally would use is the sports stats, and you can already do that on a phone or tablet, you just have to type in Espn.com. And it depends on the content provider setting up their programming for the 3% actually using the Xbox to watch sports.

They've had something similar for game of thrones on hbogo for iPad this season. A bunch of junk like maps and interactive features can pop up and distract you from the show. Yay!

The more I hear about this the more I think it might be the most overhyped feature ever.

so true nobody wants to just hit play and watch the movie/show any more they need to feel involved, I'm all for better organizing and UI than the ATV currently has but i don't need to do anything after i hit play