Apple Tv Versus Google Tv

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The competition between Apple and Google is getting a little more heated during the holiday season. Apple announced that sales of its second generation TV have officially hit the 1 million mark this week, an announcement that comes amid Google’s own announcement about the delayed release of its TV.

In addition to Apple’s TV success, the company has announced that iTune users are now renting over 400,000 TV episodes and over 150,000 movies per day. It doesn’t look like the momentum for any of Apple’s products will pause anytime soon among consumers. After all, sales of the new iPhone hit 3 million in only 3 weeks! Compare that to Google’s Android, 300,000 of which are being activated each day according to the company. Although not in the same ballpark, but 300,000 is nothing to sneeze at; it’s a sizeable chunk of the smartphone market.

In September, Apple released a smaller $99 version of its TV with the same access to streaming videos from Netflix that consumers have come to expect, as well as 99cent TV rentals ...
... from ABC and Fox. That’s incredibly cheap compared to what Google plans to ask for their TVâ€when the revamped version finally comes out. However, Google is getting a boost from Sony, who plans to integrate the Google TV on their internet TV Blu Ray disc players and some of their HDTV models. But overall, the news is still grim for Google.

Since Apple has never spoken openly about how their TV is actually doing on the market, the announcement of its success could indicate a shift in their intentions about aggressively trying to dominate the internet TV market.

The first generation Apple TV was not a success by any means, and the company declined to give any details on its sales or any real parameters on how much of a flop it was. In contrast the second generation model has outsold its predecessor of 3 years in only 3 months! Granted, it is drastically different from the older model, both in terms of hardware and software. Unlike the low grade Intel processor on the TV, the newer one has an A4 processor, runs on iOS and features hardware similar to an iPod Touch. Add to these improvements the incredibly affordable price point and we have a success.

In contrast, Google TV received a lukewarm reception among users, despite how appealing the concept was. In addition, its full functionality required a mouse and a keyboard, which on final analysis was thought to be unwieldy by many. It hasn’t helped that many online networks have decided to block Google TV access on their online content.

Supposedly Google is working out the bugs by enhancing the software interface and partnering with content providers to make the TV more appealing to consumers. But while they’re busy doing this, Apple will undoubtedly find a way to make Apps downloadable on the Apple TV, making its appeal even broader in the market. Then there’s the price point issue; no matter what, if the device is comparable, people default to the more affordable choice.

Google will have to sort that out to realistically compete against the Apple TV.