Roku vs Apple TV? Thoughts?

[vonDubenshire]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

Roku moving one step closer to becoming an advertising platform (and the privacy violations that come with it):

https://variety.com/2021/digital/new...ng-1234918532/

"Under the agreement, announced Monday, Roku will obtain Nielsen’s video automatic content recognition (ACR) technology and dynamic ad insertion (DAI) system, which can replace ads in linear feeds with targeted, household-level spots on over-the-top streaming platforms."

See my latest post with the privacy information that they provide. OR rather LACK thereof.

Google's ability to track data yet give you TOTAL control is so different from the "evil" thing people think it is.

I just posted above a lot of info.

Privacy and Security https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r...ty-and-privacy

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by vonDubenshire

See my latest post with the privacy information that they provide. OR rather LACK thereof.

Google's ability to track data yet give you TOTAL control is so different from the "evil" thing people think it is.

I don't share your trust in Google with regard to privacy. Yes, they have lots of controls (if you know where to find them), but they often use dark patterns to obscure what they really do, and they have been caught multiple times circumventing various privacy protections. Once they even "forgot" to tell users that some of their home devices have an inbuilt microphone. At its core, Google is an advertising company that heavily depends on profiling users.

[CSM101]

With HBO Max, Apple TV supports Dolby Atmos. I’m not sure if Roku does as of yet.

I guess the Roku Ultra does do Atmos with HBO Max. Correct me if I’m wrong

[davcole]

Originally Posted by CSM101

With HBO Max, Apple TV supports Dolby Atmos. I’m not sure if Roku does as of yet.

I guess the Roku Ultra does do Atmos with HBO Max. Correct me if I’m wrong

My Roku TV does Atmos with HBO Max. I'm sure the Ultra does.

[Fiffy]

I think the worst part of this is the automatic content recognition. This is the same technology that some smart TVs use to detect what the user is watching by fingerprinting the screen content. This potentially gives Roku the capability to know what the user is watching not only in the Roku channel, but also in 3rd party apps or even locally streamed via Plex or DLNA. Total (corporate) surveillance.

[lgans316]

With TVOS 14.5, ATV will be the only streamer to support both 23.976 and 24 fps without resorting to any side loading or jail breaks.

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by lgans316

With TVOS 14.5, ATV will be the only streamer to support both 23.976 and 24 fps without resorting to any side loading or jail breaks.

The Apple TV IS the superior device, unless you want to count Nvidia Shield but I think the Shield caters to the gamer as well. People are put off by its cost and learning curve with the remote. It won't be long till the newly designed/improved ATV tech specs are released and I'm told the device will be ready to sell in April. A faster proc, more memory options (storage) a new remote and my fav....HDMI 2.1 support will make this the must-have for any true streaming enthusiast. Prolly won't be any cheaper but I've never had as much as a blip on my ATV 4K since I bought it, while I had to reset the Roku Ultra nearly weekly. IMO, buying a Roku is like settling for a $400 TV while an Apple TV is akin to a $2K+ OLED.

[bhampton]

I have a Roku 3 and an ATV4K

They both work but the ATV4K is the my favorite streaming gizmo ever.

The ATV4K is in the home theater and the Roku 3 in a bedroom plasma 720p 3D set that is still good.

-Brian

[flyry]

Originally Posted by tjritter79

The Apple TV IS the superior device, unless you want to count Nvidia Shield but I think the Shield caters to the gamer as well. People are put off by its cost and learning curve with the remote. It won't be long till the newly designed/improved ATV tech specs are released and I'm told the device will be ready to sell in April. A faster proc, more memory options (storage) a new remote and my fav....HDMI 2.1 support will make this the must-have for any true streaming enthusiast. Prolly won't be any cheaper but I've never had as much as a blip on my ATV 4K since I bought it, while I had to reset the Roku Ultra nearly weekly. IMO, buying a Roku is like settling for a $400 TV while an Apple TV is akin to a $2K+ OLED.

boo

[vonDubenshire]

I have a TCL 6 series (high end) with Roku. I have a friend with an Apple 4K TV (Several). I have had Chromecast Ultra (4k) for years now, not even the regular. I also have the 4K Firesticks and a Samsung smart TV, and an TCL Android TV that isn't too great but its alright.


Anyone who likes Roku is not smart. I can't stand it's stupidity. It isn't an all encompassing sevice.

I do not want to sound mean or condescending but "SMART TV APPS" running on a TV's Operating System is usually NOT good. It may be for some things but EVERYONE in here knows some apps have issues and they do not understand that it is probably just their experience with their TV.

My TCL Roku app for YouTube TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu, etc. is vastly different from my experience with the apps on my Android TV from TCL -- which is also fine. But neither are good because TCL can stop updating the OS and the TV may always look good, but the components for running modern apps will NOT in a few years.

Things like Amazon and Roku do horrible jobs at things like this, quoting the NYT Wirecutter piece I link to below:

A good search feature also makes it easier for you to find the content you want. Many media streamers search across a limited number of services or prioritize content from a source where they earn income. For instance, Amazon’s Fire TV prioritizes search results from Amazon’s own streaming service, even if that isn’t your preferred service. A streaming platform that looks across more services and provides both free and pay options helps you find your desired content at the lowest price.

AppleTV 4K or the new Google TV system are the only viable options.

Linking all your accounts to Google or Apple accounts allows the "CONTINUED WATCHING" and suggestions to sync across devices, your phone apps, the web, etc. and it is PHENOMENAL.

The apps for any service are always going to continue to exist on both services.

Roku, Amazon, and other streaming devices or TV operating systems are just not good long term and will ALWAYS have issues.

Google and Apple accounts are SECURE, very proven to work with anything, and while Apple has a "closed ecosystem" it is SO large they have a lot of sway.

Google accounts are also VERY secure, and they are VERY into "universal" access. They want your Apple MacBook and iPhone to use all their apps\services just as much as an Android.

• Apple TV can run any app. Roku's app is on it. Amazon is on it. Netflix and HBO Max, everything.
• If you own an iPhone, already buy movies and shows from Apple's library (or subscribe to Apple TV Plus), an Apple TV may be worth the extra cash. It has every major streaming app, including Amazon Video, and the interface is slicker and easier to use than a Roku. (Opt for the 64 GB version so you don't run out of space.) The downside is the remote control. It's a bit wonky; some users have trouble finding its touchpad in the dark, and others have reported that it can be laggy if it's too far away. And if you own an iPhone or iPad, you can pretty much get the Apple TV experience there. Apple now has a Roku app, too!

AndroidTV has been okay for a long time as long as you had an nVidia Shield external box, it's an amazing hardware piece and Google consulted with nVidia on how to improve Android 12 TV OS (coming soon) and the GoogleTV platform.

That's why as a non-Apple user I can't help but LOVE that this made me feel good about not having to get stuck with a Roku, Samsung, LG, or my least favorite, AMazon Fire "operating systems" on my TV or their crappy sticks.

Thing about this is, an Apple user can just as easily use GoogleTV as it can its own stuff.

If I search for a movie in Google search, I can mark "Watched", or "Add to Playlist\Watchlist", and see what all services that movie can be purchased on IMMEDIATELY, right there.

https://tv.google/

NYT Wirecutter recommends GoogleTV too

The Best Media Streaming Devices by New York Times WireCutter.

The worst part of their article? They don't mention the things I did above about AppleTV and GoogleTV being "ALL IN ONE" services that are almost universal.

I have to say, Google's search ability integrating into their service is a HUGE plus.

The review they give points out the most important thing for a Chromecast device, too: ANYTHING can stream to a Chromecast either through native apps or through a Chrome browser that casts.

I could stream AppleTV+ shows from my PC, using Chrome, to my Chromecast Ultras.

If you had a bad experience with Chromecast in the past, you probably had a regular one. I have used the 4k Ultra since it came out and never have had issues, all 4K playsp erfectly.

[qupte]The Chromecast supports virtually every major streaming service, with the only exception being Apple TV+. If there is a service you want to watch that Google doesn’t support natively on the Chromecast, you can often stream it directly to the player from your computer or mobile device using the Cast option built into the app. But aside from Apple TV+, there wasn’t a service we wanted to use that the Chromecast didn’t offer.[/quote]

And AppleTV+ js now on Sony TVs using Android TV (soon to update to Google TV), and Google TV just got it too.

I can watch everything on my Google TV. In 4K. Perfectly.

I can't quit loving this guy's review -- it's not even from a Google fanboy, but I am so proud of Google making everything work so well that it isn't even CLOSE (Apple TV aside).

If you happen to get your live TV service from YouTube TV, the Google TV interface adds a Live tab that integrates this service so you don’t need to launch the app to see what’s on. This feature isn’t proprietary to Google and its services; other streaming TV services, such as Sling TV, are working to integrate their content into the Google TV menu in the future.

I have multiple streaming devices hooked up to my main TV, representing every major platform, and I keep coming back to the Chromecast with Google TV because the interface makes it so much easier to find what I want to watch and offers superior recommendations.

Privacy and Security

The only two companies I trust with any of my data is Google and Apple.

For all the hate Google gets for "tracking", they really don't. They actually have the best transparency controls of anyone, even topping Apple. You have TOTAL control over everything.

• https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r...ty-and-privacy

Anyway, I wanted to post that for someone the other day and this was my chance to write it out since I had some time.



Rant over!!!

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by vonDubenshire

[*]Apple TV can run any app. Roku's app is on it. Amazon is on it. Netflix and HBO Max, everything.

LOL, there is NO Roku app on the Apple TV or the Apple TV 4K.

[squatting hen]

ATV and fire stick were my least favorite. We have Rokus on every TV, but have basically “switched” to Google TV. We now have Goolgle TV on every tv we use. There is at least one app Google doesn’t have yet, so we have to use Roku for that.

Still, I don’t care for all that extra stuff on my home screen or all the tabs. I prefer to jump into an app and not see all the things I can “pay for” on the main screens.

[bocario]

Seems like ROW8 is important to Roku. It is the first rent/buy option you get when you search for a movie* on Roku, the other ones being Apple, Amazon, and Vudu.

It doesn't give an option to rent/buy from YouTube.

* - when using the Search on the home screen.

[gpete]

I have 2 Roku 4's and 2 Roku Ultras. I have had 2 Apple TV 4k's as well. At full retail prices the apple TV 4k is a fair value compared to the Roku ultra. When you can get three Roku Ultra's on black Friday for less than one Apple TV, to me it's impossible to justify the Apple TV. While they have differences I can't honestly say one is better than the other. We had both until the Roku got the Apple TV app and 80% of the time I went to the Roku. Once the Apple TV app came out for Roku I sold off the Apple TV 4ks

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by gpete

I have 2 Roku 4's and 2 Roku Ultras. I have had 2 Apple TV 4k's as well. At full retail prices the apple TV 4k is a fair value compared to the Roku ultra. When you can get three Roku Ultra's on black Friday for less than one Apple TV, to me it's impossible to justify the Apple TV. While they have differences I can't honestly say one is better than the other. We had both until the Roku got the Apple TV app and 80% of the time I went to the Roku. Once the Apple TV app came out for Roku I sold off the Apple TV 4ks

Apple have limited the bit rates on non-ATV devices for 4K content which means you are not getting maximum quality like you get via ATV 4K box plus the lack of extras aka special features.