Apple increases app size restriction for tvOS

[dauthiatull]

While Apple TV apps were limited to 200MB in size when the device was first announced back in 2015, Apple has announced this evening that it is now accepting larger tvOS binaries. This means that developers can now submit apps as big as 4GB.

https://9to5mac.com/2017/01/12/apple-tvos-app-size-restriction/

 

[Vermifuge]

While Apple TV apps were limited to 200MB in size when the device was first announced back in 2015, Apple has announced this evening that it is now accepting larger tvOS binaries. This means that developers can now submit apps as big as 4GB.

https://9to5mac.com/2017/01/12/apple-tvos-app-size-restriction/

Funny how people kept saying it was pointless to get the 64 GB version of the Apple TV. Now i'm glad i opted for 2x the storage.

 

[d21mike]

Funny how people kept saying it was pointless to get the 64 GB version of the Apple TV. Now i'm glad i opted for 2x the storage.

I agree. But even before this on my main tv I am using > 32gb for the last couple months. It did take a while to get there. But with this I would expect to need more then the 64gb at some point. I have 1 game on my iPhone that is close to 2gb and 2 others around 1gb. All three of these are on my ATV. And about 5 more > 200mb.

 

[Cordorb]

guess we then can expect "Netflix offline mode " for Apple TV ?

 

[mellofello]

I think apple really shot themselves in the ass with the restrictions they placed at launch. If they would have allowed full size games, and ones that required dedicated controllers the new ATV may have actually taken off. I fear it is too late at this point.

 

[JeffPerrin]

I think apple really shot themselves in the ass with the restrictions they placed at launch. If they would have allowed full size games, and ones that required dedicated controllers the new ATV may have actually taken off. I fear it is too late at this point.

I don't believe storage restrictions were ever the issue (on-demand download is not a big deal to implement).

My solution is that Apple should build and market a "gaming edition" Apple TV as a competitor to the Sony/MS console systems, complete with an included Apple-built controller. The current console gaming experience is tolerable at best (I have a PS4), and Apple is missing (missed?) out on an opportunity to take on that market. That the ever-popular Minecraft barely ranks in the top 20 tvOS apps chart should speak volumes to Apple...

 

[Richard8655]

But doesn't Apple manage apps by swapping out to offline less frequently used apps if running into space issues? Then those apps will be downloaded again from the cloud if selected. So I see it as wanting to keep all your apps always downloaded, which for most folks isn't necessary.

 

[d21mike]

But doesn't Apple manage apps by swapping out to offline less frequently used apps if running into space issues? Then those apps will be downloaded again from the cloud if selected. So I see it as wanting to keep all your apps always downloaded, which for most folks isn't necessary.

My understanding is games do not like the download of game levels which is mainly what happens and that takes away for the game experience which was required. It was just a requirement by Apple that other game consoles do not require. This of course is worse for those with a slower connection. A one tine download is better for most. Also, the restriction of not allowing a game controller only game was not receive well. These changes should have been there from the beginning. Actually a customer should be able to decide on size based on memory size of their Apple TV but 4gb seems like a good start until we have larger memory options (like 256gb to start).

But I do not believe it is too late. We should have a Apple TV Pro Option. We should have memory choices like with the iPad. 32gb, 64gb, 128gb, 256gb, 512gb etc. Or maybe a USB C option which I am not expecting.

Also, of course they need to add 4K support.

So much potential for Apple like with Amazon Echo and WiFi Mesh. With all of their resources seems they just can not do multiple things right at the same time.

 

[JeffPerrin]

But doesn't Apple manage apps by swapping out to offline less frequently used apps if running into space issues?

Yes, but on demand download is pretty flexible. Content can be added:
- with install
- and/or downloaded immediately after install
- also/and/or as needed throughout the lifetime of the app

So for example, early game levels could be included with the install, while other levels are downloaded in the background as the player nears those events. It's all up to the developer. Moreover, developers can mark different content with different "priority levels" to guide tvOS with which files to delete if it needs to make space.

And yes, my proposed "Gaming Edition" Apple TV would obviously have more on-board storage (in addition to beefier CPU and GPU)

[doublepost=1484583295][/doublepost]

It was just a requirement by Apple that other game consoles do not require. This of course is worse for those with a slower connection.

Consoles are much worse. For ex., I have three highly popular PS4 games which required multi-GB downloads before I could even begin to play. And despite being delivered on Blu-ray disc, these three games hog a nearly half the space on my 500GB hard drive!

 

[mellofello]

Apple TV will never compete with ps4 pro on graphics, but they could have locked up the casual gamer if they shipped it with a game controller, or allowed games that used them from the start.

By now people have written it off myself included.

 

[Richard8655]

Yes, but on demand download is pretty flexible. Content can be added:
- with install
- and/or downloaded immediately after install
- also/and/or as needed throughout the lifetime of the app

So for example, early game levels could be included with the install, while other levels are downloaded in the background as the player nears those events. It's all up to the developer. Moreover, developers can mark different content with different "priority levels" to guide tvOS with which files to delete if it needs to make space.

Yes, that was exactly my point. Apps can be automatically downloaded pretty flexibly as needed in the unlikely event (for the typical user) of a space crunch.