14 DAY TRIAL // Despite selling fewer of these than almost any other product, Apple is enjoying a great deal of popularity with its Internet-connected set-top box that allows everyone with an HDTV to access loads of videos on demand.
Yahoo today declares the Apple TV the top holiday search, followed by Christmas wreaths, Thomas the Train toys, women’s slippers, best desktop computer, holiday dresses 2014, Sodastream, men’s pea coat, nespresso machines, and promise rings.
Just below the Top Holiday Searches box, the Trending Now section lists Angie Everhart, Amanda Peet, Ashlee Evans-Smith, Karlie Kloss, cable TV, Jessica Padgett, mortgage rates, Jenelle Evans, KitchenAid stand mixer, and Keke Palmer. Imagine being popular enough to make that list, but being less popular than cable TV. Speaking of which...
Why Is Apple TV suddenly popular?
First off, we need to note that this metric is for the United States. Secondly, there could be any number of reasons why Yahoo is listing Apple’s black box as the top searched for holiday item. The list doesn’t seem to include any expensive things. Not surprisingly, considering that most of the world’s population isn’t rich. And that goes for the US as well.
Another thing we need to consider is the fact that Apple TV has been adding channels like crazy as of late. Sure, the thing doesn’t do any live programming, but people these days prefer to get their content, ad-free, when and where they want it. Which is bad news for cable companies and one massive win for Apple, which has been relentlessly trying to get the labels aboard for the television revolution to no avail. Well, maybe they’ll start to play ball forcefully once they check their numbers again.
Apple TV is also quite cheap. It’s not exactly a revolutionary device, but the company sells it for just $99 in the US and €99 in Europe, which is affordable for every kind of pocket. Retailers like Best Buy sell it even cheaper: $89 (€72). You’ll be amazed what “$10 off” can sound like to the shopping-crazed individual.
What’s on Apple TV?
To answer that question in a nutshell, “basically whatever you want.” Except for live programming, as mentioned above.
But as far as video-on-demand is concerned, you get a massive selection of blockbuster movies and TV shows, bonus content (behind-the-scenes stuff, cast and crew interviews, deleted scenes, etc.), HD movies with iTunes Extras, and channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, HBO GO, SHOWTIME ANYTIME, WatchESPN, and others. Even flickr is on it.
AirPlay support ensures that you can stream pretty much anything you want to your big screen, including iOS games, and the interface is something to die for even if you’re not an Apple fan.
