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Apple today released iOS 12.3, the third major update to the iOS 12 operating system that first launched in September 2018. iOS 12.3 comes over a month after the release of iOS 12.2, an update that introduced the Apple News+ service, brought new Animoji, and included dozens of other changes.

The iOS 12.3 update is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update. As with all iOS updates, iOS 12.3 is free to download, but it may take some time for iOS 12.3 to propagate to all iOS users.

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Much of the iOS 12.3 update focuses on the TV app, which has been overhauled and enhanced with a new look and fresh functionality. Apple first introduced the updated TV app at its March 25 event, and after several weeks of beta testing, the new app is ready for its launch.

In the overhauled TV app, "Watch Now" and "Up Next" are still front and center for keeping track of the TV shows and movies that you're watching, but there's a new machine learning-based recommendation engine that offers up customized content suggestions based on your viewing preferences and history.

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The TV app's interface has been streamlined with sections for movies, TV shows, sports, and children's content, and on iOS devices, there's a bottom navigation bar for accessing the library, search, and Watch Now options.

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Apple added a new "Channels" feature in the TV app, which is a major component of the company's new services push. Channels are subscription services that you can sign up for and watch within the TV app without having to open up another app, and when you use them, Apple gets a cut of the subscription revenue.

As an example, if you come across a show you want to watch on iPhone or Apple TV that's on HBO, Showtime, or Starz and you don't already have a subscription, you can tap to subscribe right in the TV app and then watch the show right away without having to open a third-party app.

Some of the new Channels that will be supported include Acorn TV, CBS All Access, Starz, Showtime, HBO, Nickelodeon, Mubi, Tastemade, Cinemax, Sundance, EPIX, Smithsonian, The History Channel Vault, and Comedy Central Now.

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You're still going to get recommendations for content from services that aren't part of the Channels feature, but non-channel content will still need to be watched in a third-party app. You'll also find all of your iTunes TV shows and movies available in the TV app, and you can purchase new content too.

The new Apple TV app is available in more than 100 countries starting today, and with Family Sharing, up to six family members are able to share subscriptions to Apple TV channels. Channels content can be watched both online or offline.

Today's update also includes support for AirPlay 2-enabled TVs, allowing you to AirPlay content like TV shows and movies to compatible television sets from companies like LG, Samsung, Vizio, and more. When Apple's Apple TV+ service launches this fall, you'll be able to watch all of Apple's original TV shows and movies in the TV app as well as existing content.

Article Link: Apple Releases iOS 12.3 With New TV App and Channels Feature
 
Apple has unfortunately lost their way. I am hoping they find their way back.

Apple had a minor update that brought fixes, modest improvements, and a redesign of one of their apps, and that means they've lost their way?

I mean, I miss the old cover art in the library, and I wish they'd fix the bug where most movies imported from Movies Anywhere do not display "HD" tags even when they're in HD, but overall, I think the new redesign looks good.
 
Positivity and cognitive thought as always on MacRumors comments I see.

If you want positivity no matter what go to Apple Insider or iMore - the golden places for Apple shills. The rest of us entitled to express whatever attitude we deem worth it including criticisms.

...If only the release notes attached to the end of the article said, "This update also includes bug fixes and improvements." Kelly Clarkson!

which bears no value since

... the problem is they SUCK at release notes. The should have detailed release notes with bug ID and fixed etc

That and also they have a not so brilliant record of skipping mentions of bug fixes and modifications in their annotations to updates. See this, for example: Apple not mentioning a very remarkable feature used by editors and writers prior to updating to Pages 4.3 for Mac back in 2013, said feature being unexpectedly altered that cost many man-hours worth workflows https://tidbits.com/2013/01/26/pages-4-3-vs-bbedit-10-5-how-apple-doesnt-respect-its-users/
 
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If you already subscribe to some of the premium channels, like HBO or CBS All Access, can you log into them in the Apple channel version? I’ve seen some comments elsewhere that HBO’s quality is better from Apple, but I receive HBO from free from my cellphone carrier, so I don’t want to subscribe from Apple.

It seems to know what I'm subscribed to... It as columns showing "Featured on Hulu"... "Featured on CBS All Access"... I see a column for every service I'm subscribed to. But I've been updated for ten minutes and so far the app is taking forever to do anything... Must be overloaded at the moment.
 
I am seeing an update called iTunes Device Support Update today with no details.
I am intentionally staying at iOS 10.3.3 and iTunes 12.6.3.6 to preserve app downloading/storage and to keep Apple Music from ruining my mp3-based music collection system on an iPod Touch. (I cannot even bring this up on Apple Discussions because there are some vigilante trolls there who shout down and scold anyone not keeping up with the very latest iOS and MacOS versions.)
Do I need to worry about downloading it?
Thanks
 
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Apple never said they would be standardized as that is up to the different channels and there's no way they would all be able to agree on a price, and that may even be illegal price fixing. You're likely referring to speculation that Apple would charge $9.99 for each of its new services.

"It will make it easier for people to subscribe with a single click to channels such as Starz, Showtime and HBO, with which Apple has been negotiating to offer their shows to users for $9.99 a month each, people familiar with the talks said."
https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-t...le-bets-its-future-on-tv-and-news-11553437018

"..Apple TV Channels suggested that Apple could sell HBO, Showtime, and Starz for $9.99 per month each."
https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/03/30/apple-tv-channels-big-change-subscription-model.aspx

"..the company has been negotiating with premium channels HBO, Showtime, and Starz to offer a standardized $9.99 monthly subscription each.."
https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/24/...-for-hbo-showtime-starz-original-content-news
 
Has anyone figured out how to make live TV (Spectrum, PSVue, DTVNow) work in the app yet?

It was (and is) an advertised feature for the TV app in 12.3 (https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app/), but I have yet to be able to figure out how to watch any live tv "right in the Apple TV app," like it says. For now, it just pops out to the Spectrum app like it always has. I'm logged into Spectrum as my TV provider and I've got Spectrum connected to the TV app in settings, but ... no change.

Did I misread this marketing copy? Are we supposed to be able to watch live TV "right in the app" or not?
 
Looking at this, it seems as though original content will only be part of the service. Do you think they will offer licensed content as well from other providers?

AppleTV+ will be Apple's original content brand.

I do think that the subscription will include Channels, which is why they've been built into the Apple TV app. $9.99 for a Channel would include AppleTV+. Maybe they market it the other way around: AppleTV+ for $9.99 includes a choice of a channel or maybe more than one. Perhaps a higher price for an all inclusive package with all channels and AppleTV+.

AppleTV+ alone won't be able to compete with Netflix which has its own content plus licensed content and has been around for long enough to build up a very large library. Apple has to offer third party content in order to compete with Netflix and I believe that access to Channels will be how they do it.
 
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Can someone not subscribed to CBS All Access tell me if it shows up in list of available channels? It does not for me, and I'm assuming it's because it knows I'm already subscribed (directly with CBS). But as others pointed out, clicking on anything in the featured list launches the stand alone app. Would I have to first cancel with CBS... Then sign up through Apple TV to ditch the stand alone? I be tempted, depending on price difference...
 
Apple has unfortunately lost their way. I am hoping they find their way back.


More people switching from Android than ever before. Huge increase in iPad sales. Number 1 watch in the entire world. Number 1 in wireless sales in the entire world. #1 in premium headphone sales. Number 1 in customer satisfaction. #2 Music Streaming Service in the world. # 1 News App in the entire world. #1 by far premium smart phone in the entire world. First trillion dollar company. Retail sales number 1 per square foot in the entire world. #1 all in one computer in the entire world. 85% of the premium tablet market in the entire world. 85% of the entire market for contactless payments in the US. Most used digital assistant in the entire world with the most languages. #1 App store in the entire world.

I could go on, but I hope you detect the pattern of success as Tim Cook and Apple wander the world "hopelessly lost."
 
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Has anyone figured out how to make live TV (Spectrum, PSVue, DTVNow) work in the app yet?

It was (and is) an advertised feature for the TV app in 12.3 (https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app/), but I have yet to be able to figure out how to watch any live tv "right in the Apple TV app," like it says. For now, it just pops out to the Spectrum app like it always has. I'm logged into Spectrum as my TV provider and I've got Spectrum connected to the TV app in settings, but ... no change.

Did I misread this marketing copy? Are we supposed to be able to watch live TV "right in the app" or not?

You misread the marketing copy. Third party apps still requires third party apps to view content on.
 
"It will make it easier for people to subscribe with a single click to channels such as Starz, Showtime and HBO, with which Apple has been negotiating to offer their shows to users for $9.99 a month each, people familiar with the talks said."
https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-t...le-bets-its-future-on-tv-and-news-11553437018

"..Apple TV Channels suggested that Apple could sell HBO, Showtime, and Starz for $9.99 per month each."
https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/03/30/apple-tv-channels-big-change-subscription-model.aspx

"..the company has been negotiating with premium channels HBO, Showtime, and Starz to offer a standardized $9.99 monthly subscription each.."
https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/24/...-for-hbo-showtime-starz-original-content-news


As I said: Apple never said this would happen. You're quoting pundits speculations about what anonymous sources allegedly said who then quote each other as though it were fact. "The Verge??"
 
Apple always adds bug fixes etc... the problem is they SUCK at release notes. The should have detailed release notes with bug ID and fixed etc... no different that other companies like Cisco, etc

Never gonna happen. Apple is first and foremost a marketing company now, not a technology company. Bug fixes look bad, and bug fix lists look even worse.

Besides most Apple users don't care one bit about bug fixes, they just want the Apple logo visible and to be liked by their friends and co-workers because they use the most remarkable and innovative products on the planet. Therefore, they must be remarkable and innovative. Apple products are the easy way to buy an image.
 
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I still don’t get the point of the TV app. If I want to watch something from HBO I’ll just launch the HBO app. Does Apple really think that many people will sign up for HBO, Showtime etc. via their TV app? Im skeptical. Now if they packaged all the “channels” together and gave you a deal for that maybe it would be more interesting. But then we’re back to bundles that everybody supposedly hates.

I subscribed to hbo and showtime through the tv app, wouldn’t have otherwise.
 
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