Apple TV iTunes Festival promo comes with $25 iTunes Gift Card

A new iTunes Festival promo for Apple TV buyers gets them a $25 iTunes Gift Card for them to purchase music from the festival performers.  So anyone who buys a new Apple TV for $109 will get a $25 gift card to splurge. 

iTunes Extras launches on Apple TV, adds bonus content to hundreds of titles

Just as we reported that Apple TV was falling behind Roku in the US, Apple's unleashed a whole gamut of content available to their puck-like streaming player. Some important information reveals how vital Apple TV really is and after generating $1billion last year, the device brings access to over 85,000 movies worldwide. More importantly, the iTunes Extras announced today will offer the latest blockbusters even before they appear on Blu-Ray or DVD, plus there are other bonues in the form of iTunes special Extras Scenes feature as well as enjoy deleted and alternate movie clips, short films, HD photo galleries; cast, crew, and character information; and other bonus material provided by the filmmakers.

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Roku adoption moves past Apple TV in the US

Roku has finally surpassed Apple TV in terms of popularity in the US. "The Evolving Market For Streaming Media Devices," by market research firm Parks Associates revealed that "44 percent of households that own at least one streaming device use a Roku," while Apple's avowed hobby, the Apple TV, accounts for "26 per cent of both sales and usage." Both the latest Roku and Apple TV sell for about the same price although there are various Roku models featuring lower prices and limited features.

While not acatually in the same league, Google's Chromecast has been making waves. Being a much cheaper (and functionally limited device) may have added to its popularity. Google and Roku sold an estimated 3.8 million streaming media devices last year, with Apple selling just over 2 million Apple TVs. 

While Apple has pushed modest updates to Apple TV in the US (more limited in Canada) and includes various new services, Roku's business model is to offer as much free content as possible as well as integrate the ability to play casual games with their wireless controller. Many believe that Apple TV is up for a redesign and a feature upgrade, perhaps in tandem with the upcoming iOS 8 release in the fall which could change the game in streaming media device market.

Source: Appleinsider

Apple TV sales push past $1 Billion in 2013, now Apple's fastest growing hardware

There may not have been much news about Apple TV, specially in Canada since newer US-only features haven't come across the border. The suprising news is that Apple TV sales in 2013 have pushed past $1 Billion making the diminuitive device Apple's fastest growing hardware. Not bad at all for a device that hasn't seen a physical refresh in close to three years.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook revealed as much during his company's annual shareholder meeting. He stated total sales of the Apple TV topped $1 billion in 2013. Priced at $99 each, that would mean sales were beyond 10 million for the year. Long acknowledged as a fringe product by Apple, Cook said that with these numbers, it's tough to continue to call the set-top box a "hobby" anymore.  

With new product categories in the pipeline for 2014 and expected updates to the popular iPhone and iPad line, it will be interesting to see where Apple will take Apple TV in terms of hardware, software, services and functionality.

Source: Appleinsider