Here's a surprising stat: Apple TV now accounts for almost a third of all set-top media streamers sold this year, according to a report. That's right, a third. Not too bad for something Apple describes as "a hobby".
That's compared to things like the Boxee Box and the Roku -- not cable or satellite PVRs such as Sky+ or TiVo -- but it's still impressive. It's also sure to fan flames about Apple's rumoured upcoming TV set.
Apple TV accounts for 32 per cent of all connected televisions sold, according to a report from Strategy Analytics, spotted by the Washington Post. Of the 12 million set-top boxes sold in 2011, nearly 4 million were Apple TVs, the report says. About 7 per cent of European households have a set-top box, compared to 8 per cent of US homes. But then, Americans are usually a lot fatter than us.
This is all the more surprising because Apple TV is a pretty lacklustre prospect on these shores, with fewer channels and services than the US equivalent, and no hard drive. Apple hasn't pushed it as a flagship product, instead preferring to dip its toe into home cinema offerings. But then, it is simple to use, and brand loyalty undoubtedly counts for a lot.
It also bodes well for Apple's rumoured standalone TV set: the great man himself Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson he wanted to "create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use... It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."
This prompted a flurry of rumours, top of the list being that it'll be controlled by Siri, Apple's voice recognition software. Other rumours include Sharp getting the nod to make the screen, and that it'll go on sale at the end of 2012 or in 2013.
Rest assured we'll be glued to this one. Apple making a TV? If it gets it right, it could be product of the year. Check out our full rumour rundown here.
Do you use Apple TV? And would you buy a standalone set made by Apple? Let us know below or over on our Facebook page, telly addicts.
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Comments 4
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Alimus 14 December, 2011 10:20
This report means absolutely nothing, it's just statistics that have been manipulated to create a headline.
If we look at it another way:
8% of US Households have a set top box :- 115m Households = 9.2m boxes
7% of European Households have a set top box :- 195m Households = 13.7m boxes
Total boxes = 22.9m
We dont have figures for the total Apple TV sales, so lets use the 32% of this year for comparison, so total Apple set top boxes = 7.3m
Now if we count the number of PS3's and XBox's total sales:
Xbox (Europe and US only) = 32.3m
PS3 (Europe and US only) = 31.7m
And the number of Samsung smart TVs sold = 1.4m
When we add all these markets up we get a total market size of 88.3m so Apples market share of online TV (which is what seems to be implied) is actually closer to 8%, not 32%. Plus these quick sums I did don't account for HTPCs, other brands of smart TV other than Samsung, the fact that the sales figures I had for Xbox and PS3 were from Dec 2010, or the fact that the study has an inherent sampling bias as it was based entirely online. All of which combines to dilute Apples market share even more.
These 'reports' are simply headline grabbing sensationalism, and even though I have no experience in the field some simple maths shows how misleading it is. The fact that cnet would report on this without even so much of a thought to other methods of consuming online content through your TV, or analysing what the report is saying is very disappointing.
anonymous 14 December, 2011 10:31
Ok, so this only includes set-top boxes that are connected to the net?
Seems a pretty useless report to be honest as most of the people I know use a PS3 or 360 to access online content as the post above implies. This also doesn't take into account that a lot of people do not need a set-top box as it's just another item around an already crowded TV area. I know of one person with an Apple TV and it is currently collecting dust as it has no use in comparison to what his TV and PS3 already offer.
Can't wait for the lawsuit regarding a TV that looks like other TV's lol....
Grier78 14 December, 2011 11:42
So out of all of the set-top boxes, of the kind that people don't buy because they are crap, Apple sells a third. Good story.
georg55 14 December, 2011 13:26
This is getting crazy all the tech blogs do these days is look for stories to make apple seem dominant in all tech.this started in USA on slashgear.com few days ago now cnet.instead of helping the strap cash poor in the uk find cheap good gadgets we are encouraged to buy overprice apple stuff. Some people can't even buy a meal.the British high street in decline.please encourage Bush elec or Alba to make a good British set top box and sell it cheap /with same components as apple stuff but with right price tag and help save the economy.I am a tech support guy and it can be done.By the way I have 2 set top boxes one Hyundai streaming box an Ac Ryan box both good at what they do plus Xbox.why do we need an apple box too.