What you need to know about the NEW Apple TV and how your business can benefit from it.
The new Apple TV console went on sale Monday with deliveries expected later this week. The new device represents a significant shift in Apple’s approach with content on consumer’s home televisions.
The team at Echo Interaction Group has been working with the latest Apple TV developer’s kit and recently shared some valuable insights into how it may revolutionize the ways users engage with content in their homes.
First, and the most exciting thing for the group at Echo, is that Apple opened up the platform to third-party developers. This means that the breadth of applications you are used to using on your mobile phones and tablets now comes to your TV. And for businesses this means an entirely new way to reach consumers.
While the old Apple TV allowed for “mirroring” of mobile devices and computers, now native applications can take advantage of the rich environment of the home television. “Already, we are seeing apps that showcase content in richer ways that mobile devices simply couldn’t do” said Carlos Carbonell, CEO at Echo.
So, what businesses are immediately gravitating to the Apple TV platform?
Retailers, in particular, love the ability to show consumers their products in vivid, large-format photographs. The scale of the Apple TV allows users to view multiple images from a single product at once. Something even the computer experience doesn’t allow. “The visual experience of content on a television screen is one that cannot be mimicked on other devices. It is more rich and immersive,” said Amy Jantzer, SVP at Echo.
Video content owners are also finding a new outlet for their content. Previously, getting on demand video into customer homes required complex distribution deals with cable operators or aggregators like Hulu, Netflix, etc. Now, with the ability to create third party applications on Apple TV, entities with video libraries can share easily share this through simple applications.
Imagine all of the sources of video – Colleges can share videos produced on campus including classes, lectures, guest speakers, theater performances, concerts, etc. Enterprise businesses can distribute important information straight to employees’ homes through authenticated applications. Museums can add videos showcasing their new exhibits. Health related applications are now including full screen videos to help you with your living room workouts. The possibilities are endless.
Other new features of the Apple TV are highly compelling
In addition to opening Apple TV up to third party applications, there are a variety of other features that the group at Echo find very exciting.
First, is the unified searching capabilities. No longer do you have to know which application has your favorite movie. Apple TV now combines all content into one single search and tells you where to find it.
Second, the integration of Siri makes navigating the platform much easier. Without a connected keyboard, Apple TV was difficult to enter data. Now, Siri takes a lot of the effort away through voice-controlled navigation.
Finally, gamers celebrate! Not only will Apple now allow third party secondary devices like controllers but new and innovative party games are already being developed for the Apple TV that allows users to participate in group game play.
Echo Interaction’s Work
Echo has developed over 80 applications for mobile devices, tablets, and wearables. Echo is now expanding into Apple TV support. Many innovative businesses are already starting to engage Echo on unique ways to extend their current applications onto Apple TV as well as develop new applications that take advantage of the capabilities of the new platform.
