Apps belong in your phone, not your receiver.

When in doubt, stick some apps in it. It’s become the electronics industry’s equivalent of “put a bird on it,” the default way to give that thing you’ve made some distinctive quality that sets it apart from your competitors… who are also doing the exact same thing.

Sure, those apps built in to your TV or receiver are useful - useful in bulking up the feature list with a nice long bullet point full of names you’ve heard of. Once you’ve actually fallen for it and bought the thing, the apps’ work is done. Their invariably clumsy interfaces and lack of regular (or any) updates will send you back to your phone, tablet, console, or TV stick - you know, those devices where apps actually work.

Notice that features list to the left. Notice how it doesn’t once mention Pandora, or Hulu, or YouTube, or Spotify, or Netflix. Notice how this Pioneer receiver concentrates on being a solid, entry-level 5.1-channel home theater, not a half-assed smartphone. Notice how the price does not include a hidden surcharge for a bunch of janky apps you’d never use anyway.

We figure you already have a way to use Pandora, or Hulu, or YouTube, or Spotify, or Netflix. You bring whatever apps you prefer, via whatever device you prefer. This Pioneer receiver will bring 4 HDMI 2.0 ports, a front panel USB port, built-in iPhone/iPad music playback support, and 5.1-channel surround sound with 80 watts per channel of clear audio. You can even put a bird on it (bird not included).