Report: Roku a more popular streaming device than Apple TV

The research firm of Parks Associates recently surveyed 10,000 US households with broadband connections and found that of all the households that use streaming set-top boxes, 37 percent use Roku devices, while only 24 percent use Apple TV. The survey was conducted during the first three months of 2013.

Is Apple's beloved hobby losing its mojo?

Not necessarily.

Recall a recent research study from Frost & Sullivan which found that more than half (56 percent to be exact) of all streaming devices sold in the US during 2012 were Apple TVs. Trailing far behind was Roku with a 21.5 percent share.

So how do we reconcile these seemingly contradictory reports?

Is it possible that a larger percentage of Roku owners actually use their device when compared to Apple TV owners? Is there any chance that the Apple TV peaked in 2012 and 2013 has ushered in the year of the Roku?

Given how well the Apple TV has been selling, I'm guessing "no" on both counts.

The real takeaway here, I think, is that any survey-based research report should be taken with a grain of salt.

One thing that we can't ignore, however, are cold, hard facts. That being the case, what we do know is that the Apple TV continues to sell like hotcakes, even if Roku happens to be making significant strides in the marketplace.

Remember that sales of the Apple TV in Apple's December 2012 quarter increased by 43 percent from the same quarter in 2011. Even more impressive is that Apple has, to date, sold over 13 million Apple TV units with about half of those sales occurring in 2013.