Fast forward to 2015 and the entire entertainment landscape has changed. Cable and satellite services are losing customers monthly to online streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, iTunes and others. There are also plenty of streaming gadgets on the market, from boxes like Roku, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV and others, to smart TVs and video game consoles. Despite a few updates along the way, the Apple TV was sadly behind the times. That's why Apple finally launched a brand new model.
In addition to being based on iOS so it can download and run Apple apps, the new Apple TV includes Apple's personal digital assistant Siri. Why does a video-streaming box need a personal assistant? Here are three things it can do that might convince you.
1. Easily find what to watch
Tired of the endless button pushing that comes along with browsing the thousands of movies and TV shows available on iTunes, Netflix and other streaming services? Siri can come to the rescue.If you know what you want to watch, just ask Siri to find you the movie. You can also ask for a specific episode of a TV show, such as "House of Cards, Season 1, Episode 4." The video you requested will appear along with the services that carry it. You can stream or buy it from your preferred service. Of course, sometimes you aren't quite sure what you want to watch.
If you're in the mood for a certain actor, just say, "show me movies starring Harrison Ford." You can refine an actor search further by specifying a genre of movie, such as action, comedy or romance. Or just skip the actor and ask Siri to show you movies in a particular genre.
If you're a real cinephile, you can request movies based on a director, studio or even writer. For families with teens or little ones, you can request videos based on age group, such as, "Find movies for teens," or "Find kid-friendly movies."
2. Powerful voice control
Have you ever wanted to turn on the subtitles for a movie, but after a few minutes of browsing through menus couldn't find the option? Maybe you want to pause the movie, but the remote slipped into the couch cushions.With Siri, just tell it what you want to do. "Turn on subtitles." Done. "Pause." Done. Or you can get more elaborate with commands like "skip ahead 5 minutes." A really useful one is asking, "What did he/she just say?" and Siri will rewind the video 15 seconds so you can listen again.
Of course, Siri's control isn't just related to video. The new Apple TV can also run other apps. You can use Siri to start apps, such as "Launch Hulu." If you know what app you want, you don't have to go hunting for it.
3. Get more information
Along with finding movies and launching apps, Siri can pull up more information you might want to know. For example, you can ask Siri what the weather is like and get an instant answer.You can ask it what time it is in other cities or check stocks. If you're a sports fan, ask for the latest sports scores for your team, along with their record, player statistics and even what games are coming up.
If you're watching a movie and can't remember an actor's name, you don't have to open up IMDb on your phone anymore. Just ask Siri, "Who starred in Lord of the Rings?" and you'll get the cast list.
And of course, if you can't remember what Siri can and can't do, just ask it what you can search for. It will give you a list of things it can discover.
Does Siri make the Apple TV a must-have purchase for you, or is it too much more expensive than competing models? Don't forget that Roku and Amazon both have voice control in their streaming gear as well, even if it's not quite as advanced. See how the Apple TV stacks up to its competition with our handy comparison chart. Then let us know your thoughts on the new Apple TV in the comments.
