Genius Recommendations for Movies and TV Shows Appearing on Apple TV

MacRumors · Feb 3, 2012

Several Apple TV users have reported a new addition to the menus of their devices, with the new option bringing Genius recommendations for movies and TV shows in their libraries. Curiously, early reports noted that rather than carrying a correct menu title, the movie option carried the name "ATV.Menu.MOVIE.GeniusItem", suggesting that the new feature may have appeared prematurely. Apple seems to have fixed the issue, however, with the menu option now showing properly as "Genius".

Improperly-displayed (left, via @cthielen) and properly-displayed Genius option for Movies on Apple TV

Despite the strange display of the menu option, the feature does appear to have been functional since its initial appearance yesterday, with users being able to access Genius recommendations for their content.

Genius movie recommendations on Apple TV (via @benfurneaux)

Genius recommendations for movies and TV shows have been offered for some time in iTunes itself through the iTunes Sidebar, but those recommendations have not been available on the second-generation Apple TV. Genius recommendations are also available through the iTunes app on iOS devices.

Article Link: Genius Recommendations for Movies and TV Shows Appearing on Apple TV

Joe-Diver · Feb 3, 2012

I look forward to checking this out!

benspratling · Feb 3, 2012

"ATV.Menu.MOVIE.GeniusItem"
is a "key" used by developers to specify a text resource. The system would look up this unique "key" and find the correct text for the user's locale (language and location) preferences. By default, if the system can't find the text resource, it simply hands back the key that was passed in. If developers used readable text as their keys, that works fine, but since Apple's obviously using developer-centric keys, to more easily identify the exact resource, it displayed something not quite legible.

dckcentaur · Feb 3, 2012

I noticed this last night and thought it was very bizarre. I thought my apple Tv had a glitch in it. HA HA

VanMac · Feb 3, 2012

Interesting feature. Looking forward to them delivering the whole TV.

rti92391 · Feb 3, 2012

New Features

They seem to be there on mine...but its only a Genius for movies you've purchased from the iTunes Store.
Also, there's a section called TV Networks...Not sure that was there before or not

Pippy007 · Feb 3, 2012

Also, Netflix is now on iTunes in the UK which I presume is part of this update but everything is either very slow or hanging.....

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Also, Netflix is now on iTunes in the UK which I presume is part of this update but everything is either very slow or hanging.....

wickerman1893 · Feb 3, 2012

This is all just part of leading up to Apple's event showing off their new TV's. Whenever that is...

Pippy007 · Feb 3, 2012

Pippy007 said:
Also, Netflix is now on AppleTV in the UK which I presume is part of this update but everything is either very slow or hanging.....

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TV networks works ok but Netflix is not responding but why can't we get rid of this silly MLB & WSJ crap, why would we want that in the UK???

We should be able to customize our ATV....!

WestonHarvey1 · Feb 3, 2012

benspratling said:
"ATV.Menu.MOVIE.GeniusItem"
is a "key" used by developers to specify a text resource. The system would look up this unique "key" and find the correct text for the user's locale (language and location) preferences. By default, if the system can't find the text resource, it simply hands back the key that was passed in. If developers used readable text as their keys, that works fine, but since Apple's obviously using developer-centric keys, to more easily identify the exact resource, it displayed something not quite legible.

The "strange appearance" of the key provides a namespace to differentiate similar keys used elsewhere. Had they used "Genius Item" as a key, they would run into collisions with other keys that would also be named "Genius Item", say for a Song Genius Item.

lord patton · Feb 3, 2012

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Did this show up without a software update?

ipedro · Feb 3, 2012

In the meantime, Apple got rid of Genius where it's most important: music. If you have iTunes Match, you lose this feature. I hope they fix that, it's become one of my favourite things about the iTunes ecosystem.

vicliner · Feb 3, 2012

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All "tv networks" seem to do is show me Genius results. Glad it wasn't just me. Thought I was going crazy.

charlituna · Feb 3, 2012

wickerman1893 said:
This is all just part of leading up to Apple's event showing off their new TV's. Whenever that is...

Or Apple not having an event before quietly releasing their updated little black box which could be all they have ever been planning to do

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Pippy007 said:
TV networks works ok but Netflix is not responding but why can't we get rid of this silly MLB & WSJ crap, why would we want that in the UK???

There are Americans etc living in the UK just as there are Brits in the US. As they get deals with 'local' sports etc both sides will likely see those things added.

subatomicsatan · Feb 3, 2012

Last night, I was watching Netflix via my AppleTV, when it suddenly sort of rebooted...I say sort of because it didn't seem to go through the full boot up; Netflix suddenly quit, the screen went dark for a bit, and then I was at the main menu with the new menu option (the dev key version).

So, no software update, but a weird reboot.

MacSince1990 · Feb 4, 2012

Why is this FP news? MR has really gone to the dogs.

Aeolius · Feb 4, 2012

One has to wonder with tweaks to the AppleTV, AirPort/Time Capsule Firmware Updates, and the release of AirPort Utility 6.0 if Apple isn't quietly readying for 802.11ac.

lowonthe456 · Feb 4, 2012

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I'd be happy with purchased movies in the cloud, like they did with tv. I'd probably purchase previously ripped movies just to get them off my MBP.

peejer · Feb 4, 2012

I was getting the Apple TV ready last night for the baby sitter and noticed the new feature. Of course being a geek I pointed this out to my wife who could have cared less.

I think it's a pretty good idea.

ebengtso · Feb 6, 2012

ipedro said:
In the meantime, Apple got rid of Genius where it's most important: music. If you have iTunes Match, you lose this feature. I hope they fix that, it's become one of my favourite things about the iTunes ecosystem.

In ios 5.1 you get this back, yet the to make up the mix, Genius needs the music downloaded to your device.

I would rather have a Mix with musics on the cloud and locally.

milo · Feb 6, 2012

Weird to see a new genius thing considering Apple removed Genius from iOS devices when iTunes Match is enabled.

mikecorp · Feb 6, 2012

cool but......

i would love to use it, but we have really small selection in movies. hopefully it will improve soon.

Genius Recommendations for Movies and TV Shows Appearing on Apple TV

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