The combatants in the Apple TV vs. Google TV throwdown. Source: TechRadar.
Tech companies haven't been shy about their plans to disrupt the business of entertainment. Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) joined this fray this week with the release of its Fire set-top box. Does have the specs to muscle in on the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV vs. Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL)(NASDAQ:GOOG) fight? Which shareholders will come out happiest when the war for the living room finally ends?
Host Ellen Bowman puts these questions to Fool analysts Nathan Alderman and Tim Beyers in this week's episode of 1-Up on Wall Street, The Motley Fool's Web show in which we talk about the big-money names behind your favorite movies, toys, video games, comics, and more.
Tim says that the Fire's disruptive potential hinges on gaming, though he expects both Apple and Google to serve games through their streaming devices at some point. In choosing between the two for the long term, Tim says he likes Google's strategy.
Why? Rather than focusing entirely on devices such as the Chromecast, the search king is also exploring ways to disrupt cable and satellite distribution via Google Fiber. A rumored plan to sell wireless service through a third-party carrier could also help bring entertainment directly to the home while bypassing the major cable operators.
Nathan agrees that Amazon is a scary competitor. Yet the market is also in its formative stages, and all three companies should continue to profit for the foreseeable future. But if Nathan has to choose one for the long haul, he'll take Apple for two reasons.
First, the Mac maker's only mission is to make customers happy. Hewing to that standard allowed Apple to sell 10 million set-top boxes last year, resulting in more than $1 billion in revenue and an 80% year-over-year increase. Second, Apple has a long history of producing innovative hardware that captures consumers' imaginations, such as the iPhone.
Now it's your turn to weigh in using the comments box below. What side would you bet on in the Apple TV vs. Google TV throwdown? Please watch the video as Ellen puts Nathan and Tim on the spot, and be sure to check back here often for more 1-Up on Wall Street segments.
Ellen Bowman owns shares of Amazon.com, Apple, and Netflix. Nathan Alderman owns shares of Amazon.com and Apple. Tim Beyers owns shares of Apple, Google (A and C shares), and Netflix. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Amazon.com, Apple, Facebook, Google (A and C shares), Netflix, and Pandora Media. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
