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For Google, though, the large market for smart TVs and streaming media boxes makes it worth another try. While TV sales have been sluggish, sales of devices that plug into televisions and play video and music are expected to jump to 330 million units by 2017, double the tally from last year, according to market researcher Parks Associates. More than 50 percent of US households connect their TV to the Internet in some fashion, the researcher also said.

The market potential is ...read more

Good news, bad news for Google: Chromecast is holding onto its slice of the streaming-video device market even as new rivals like Amazon's Kindle Fire TV emerge, but Chromecast is being used less and less, according to new data.

As demand for video online increases and accessibility to TV on the Internet expands, more device makers are jumping into the market for over-the-top streaming-video devices that beam Internet video to the big screen in the living room. Though every ...read more

Consider usage, though, and the underdog's prospects start looking up. From a Parks Associates study, while Apple has sold more units globally, about 37 percent of US households with a streaming media device use Roku as their go-to product for the job. Compare that with only 24 percent of those that favor Apple TV.

From the article "Don't assume Apple will own the smart home -- here's why" by Rich Brown.

As Netflix and YouTube put video streaming into day-to-day lives, competition among streaming-media boxes has grown from the two-horse race -- Apple TV versus Roku -- to include Google's Chromecast launched last year. And now consumers have to factor in Amazon Fire TV, not to mention growing shipments of smart TVs that connect to the Internet.

What story do the numbers tell at this juncture? Apple said last year that to that point it had sold 13 million Apple TV boxes. Roku, ...read more

Though Roku doesn't release sales figures, some outside data back up the notion of Roku's marketplace traction. A study from NPD found that Roku owners stream more than owners of other devices, and Roku users are nearly three times as likely to use the device daily compared with Apple TV, currently Roku's biggest competitor.

A study by Parks Associates found that more broadband households report using Roku than any other streaming device.

From the article, "Now with Stre ...read more

Earlier this year it seemed that Apple would take a fall. Samsung and rest of the Android players were gaining momentum and share as Apple was slow to update its product portfolio and was seeing its profit margins decline. The stock went from from above $700 in September 2012 to below $400 in July 2013. Following the fall introduction of new products and good sales numbers for the holiday shopping season, however, the stock has climbed back above $560.

Even the Macintosh is ...read more

Apple has long been the most-desired brand for tablets, smartphones, MP3 players, and streaming media devices on US shoppers' holiday lists. And, for the first time, the company also got ranked as the top brand for desktops this year, according to data from market researcher Parks Associates.

"Apple topped the list of intended brands for desktop purchases for the first time this year," John Barrett, Parks Associates director of consumer analytics, said in a statement Wednesd ...read more

Chromecast's promise of working with more apps than just Netflix and YouTube took a step toward being fulfilled Wednesday as Google added Hulu Plus to the mix.

Hulu Plus support will allow owners of the $35 Chromecast HDMI dongle (read CNET's review) to stream over Wi-Fi, from Android or iOS devices to televisions, a variety of Hulu Plus-exclusive shows such as "Parks and Recreation" and "Modern Family." Updates to the Hulu Plus app will begin rolling out for Android phones ...read more