In fact, online streaming media market is highly promising, is expected in 2017 reached $ 440 million in sales, this figure does not even include the living room HTPC and game consoles and other equipment. As of May this year, Apple has sold 13 million units Apple TV, Roku its competitors in April sold 500 units. But while Apple TV has formed a series, with multiple generations of products, but Google Chromecast the emergence of new markets may become dominant.
Market positioning: Chromecast cheaper
First, the two companies have their own distinct style, but also lead to different products experience. Apple TV is a more full-featured product, as long as you connect it to your TV, you can get a lot from the iTunes Store movies, TV shows and music through aluminum remote control operation. On the other hand, Google Chromecast you must rely on a computer or handheld device as a remote control, the advantage is more portable compact, but the drawback is that functionality is not very complete.
However, the final decisive factor is the price. Related analysts believe, Chromecast low price is very competitive, while using the phone / tablet as a remote control is also very creative, because it creates additional functionality.
Operating System: Chromecast more open
However, apart from the positioning of the surface looks different, the biggest difference between the two products is still very different from the system platform. Apple TV has run a stripped-down version of OS X, is now replaced by a special version of iOS. Although you can jailbreak the operating system, but can not install third-party software applications, there is no dedicated App Store, which is associated with the iPhone and other products in different places.
As Chromecast adhering Google products open source characteristics, so third-party developers can develop above some of the Web application, because the device is actually running Starter Edition Chrome OS, compared to competitors such as Roku, the difficulty of developing lower Therefore, this feature should attract more developers to join.
Hardware: pros and cons
Of course, Chromecast hardware is not strong, and even some underpowered compared to Apple's products to be slower, in fact, we might want to spend $ 50 more to make it more powerful hardware. However, pricing is too low, so the user is also more tolerant of some will ignore some of the shortcomings of one kind. In addition, Google itself has said that, Chromecast not perfect, third-party applications for the development of the tools will change, and will result in the previous version of the software is not available, this is a headache for developers to make a potential problem.
As for Apple, although Apple TV hardware more powerful, but obviously not as good as the iPhone and other product development, do not have independent software stores, while the third-party software developers are also many picky, which also results in the number of applications is not much.
However, for Chromecast, the hardware performance in general is not necessarily a fatal flaw, just as MP3 sound quality is not as good as CD the same, but the former is certainly more in line with the needs of the digital age; streaming media is the same, it is not the clearest video source, but When it comes to tmart.com review the consumer market, convenience factor will overcome everything.
