Apple Releases iOS 12.3 With New TV App and Channels Feature

[Bayshun]

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??"

And as I said in my original post: "some places were saying." I never said nor meant Apple specifically. If we could have gotten the information from Apple, there'd be nothing to talk about.

 

[Alan Gordon]

For me this app is useless and will be until

-everything you subscribe to can be perfectly integrated into it

Most everything but Netflix is already integrated into it, but I'm assuming you mean like the way Apple Channels are?

-I can select my favorite shows so I can stay up to date on the shows I want, not the shows they are pushing for me

You've been able to do this for years now, minus Netflix programming.

-it works seamless on my phone to my Apple TV,

This is already like that.

and where we can have multiple users with their own Apple TV screen, with their channels and their favorite shows also mirroring their own phones to the Apple TV experience.

I agree with this. This is sadly needed.

That seems very far off...

Most of your wishes exist now. I think Netflix has dug in, and depending upon what you mean about integration, you may be right.

Also, when Apple releases their Apple TV + they better have hours upon hours of things for people to binge, or they are going to fail. Netflix had years of other peoples content before making their own, so did Hulu and Amazon. If there isn't a selection, all this will fail.

I think Apple TV+ will be bundled with other stuff at the start.
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And as I said in my original post: "some places were saying." I never said nor meant Apple specifically. If we could have gotten the information from Apple, there'd be nothing to talk about.

Roku and Amazon already offers their own versions of Channels, so the only people who would assume they'd work differently regarding pricing are people who read some news stories speculating on possible pricing.

 

[Rogifan]

Those work the same they always did.

I just tested it out and yes it kicked me out to the HBO Go app. The UI is still a bit confusing.

For instance this Sex and the City card has an HBO Go logo in the corner.
GOT and Veep do not though if I launch either one of them it takes me to the HBO Go app.

I also noticed sometimes the Food Network app has a logo in the corner and thus kicks me out to its app and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m assuming the times it doesn’t is the free content that doesn’t require a cable/satellite subscription. Still quite confusing. How does it work if you cut the cord but have an HBO Now subscription that you didn’t subscribe to via the TV app? Does that kick you out to the HBO Now app? If so Apple needs to do a better job explaining that the only content viewable in the TV app is free content or content subscribed to via the app. For me as a non-cord cutter there is zero reason to use the app.

 

[bluecoast]

I really don’t like Apple’s design aesthetic for their content service apps ie Apple Music, Tv, News (and to a lesser extent, Books).

The vast expanse of white space and garish dayglo hero banner is blinding.

I hope we see a different aesthetic in iOS 13. But given the Apple TV is being prepped for its launch in the fall, I’m not hopeful...

 

[Alan Gordon]

For instance this Sex and the City card has an HBO Go logo in the corner.
GOT and Veep do not though if I launch either one of them it takes me to the HBO Go app.

That's because you're resuming "Sex And The City", so it knows you use the HBO Go app to watch that series, and not the HBO Now or Apple Channels version.

How does it work if you cut the cord but have an HBO Now subscription that you didn’t subscribe to via the TV app? Does that kick you out to the HBO Now app? If so Apple needs to do a better job explaining that the only content viewable in the TV app is free content or content subscribed to via the app. For me as a non-cord cutter there is zero reason to use the app.

If you "cut the cord", you can't use the HBO Now app. That's only for people with satellite/cable subscriptions. You may mean HBO Now, which can be subscribed to without satellite/cable, and yes, if you have it installed and set up with your Apple TV, yes, it should.

 

[truthertech]

Makes sense. It all feels a bit messy to me right now, so I hope that they can offer quality in a simple package for $9.99 per month. I was really hoping for all iTunes movies and shows, plus original content for an all in fee. I doubt I'll ever see it though.

You're right, you'd never see it. That would mean that most every other streaming service, cable networks and movie studios would go out of business as Apple offered all the movies and most of the TV shows for $9.99 per month.

 

[ovo6]

So I don’t need to have installed hbo apps and showtime for example for no reason or I still need to have them installed ?

 

[Alan Gordon]

So I don’t need to have installed hbo apps and showtime for example for no reason or I still need to have them installed ?

If you subscribe to HBO or Showtime via Apple Channels, you won't need an HBO or Showtime app, but you won't have access to HBO or Showtime via any of their apps on any non iOS devices.

If you subscribe to HBO or Showtime via anywhere else, you will need the HBO or Showtime apps.

 

[Napalm Doctor]

I dont like to new app. It removed Live News for me and then it keeps suggesting way to much paid iTunes content. I dont want to pay for more stuff when I already have Subs. There needs to be a way to stop showing iTunes content.

 

[Rogifan]

That's because you're resuming "Sex And The City", so it knows you use the HBO Go app to watch that series, and not the HBO Now or Apple Channels version.



If you "cut the cord", you can't use the HBO Now app. That's only for people with satellite/cable subscriptions. You may mean HBO Now, which can be subscribed to without satellite/cable, and yes, if you have it installed and set up with your Apple TV, yes, it should.

So if you’re a cord cutter but didn’t subscribe to HBO Now via the TV app it will still play HBO Now content inside the TV app?

 

[Dominicanyor]

So no dark mode!!

 

[jdslater]

Which is of no value whatsoever to non subscribers or users outside of the US of A.

Is there anything else that's worthwhile in this update?

I’m from the UK and done the update. They have added the Starzplayer so it’s a start.
The one thing I don’t understand is this. I bought Infinity War through iTunes. When I see it on this app it takes me through to the store to buy it. Not my copy to watch?
Same with Skull Island. Takes me through to Prime to watch but not my own copy to stream.

 

[Napalm Doctor]

I really don’t like Apple’s design aesthetic for their content service apps ie Apple Music, Tv, News (and to a lesser extent, Books).

The vast expanse of white space and garish dayglo hero banner is blinding.

I hope we see a different aesthetic in iOS 13. But given the Apple TV is being prepped for its launch in the fall, I’m not hopeful...

See I dont mind the diagnosis to much, but rather the content of the design. It seems that the Services Apps are missing important optimisations per users. Like for exemple the new TV App display a bunch of stuff, but most of the stuff it shows to me is paid iTunes movies which I dont want. I pay for Amazon Prime, CBC Gems and ICI (Canadian TV), but app is useless because it keeps showing me all paid stuff.
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So no dark mode!!

Yet, but wait for the fall because it is coming, apparently anyway...

 

[IIGS User]

Yeah, don't see the point. I'm down to Amazon Prime for TV now and OTA network TV.

I'm old, so I can get by with one streaming platform, music, and books.

I may just move to a tar paper shack in the mountains and grow a ZZ Top beard. If I can get decent internet there and all...

 

[Napalm Doctor]

Well at least Apple allows us to delete apps we'll never use like the TV app.

Exactly, I like the idea of the App, but the way it functions keep me from using it. I keep downloading it when it gets updated and then deleting it because it doesn’t fit my use (same with that News app thing).
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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 think concept is to make it more useful as we were supposed to get all of your subs in one app so you can easily switch services without back and forth while recommending stuff from across your subs, but for something to replace the other usually decent app it definitely needs to be either way more convenient or cheaper overall which this dumb App fails at miserably.
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Why do we still need full OS updates for standalone stock app updates? Wasn't that the whole point of adding all the stock apps to the app store (other than being able to delete them)? Doesn't seem very logical to me.

Yes exactly that (scratching my head).

And where the heck is the Live News now in my App?

 

[Alan Gordon]

So if you’re a cord cutter but didn’t subscribe to HBO Now via the TV app it will still play HBO Now content inside the TV app?

I don't subscribe to HBO, so I cannot say for sure, but my understanding is no.

 

[Rogifan]

I don't subscribe to HBO, so I cannot say for sure, but my understanding is no.

Apple should be very clear about that then. Especially if the UI isn’t the same. Users will get confused about where they are and how to get back to where they were previously. Is the content not playing directly in the app because Apple’s not hosting it? But I doubt they’re hosting free content from the Food Network app and that played directly in the TV app. Too confusing. Which is kind of the motto of Tim Cook’s Apple.

 

[Bayshun]

There doesn't seem to be any benefit to subbing to any of these services through Channels except that you can share your account with more people for simultaneous use. It just seems to be about a unified interface, which we mostly had before. Would a subscription work on non-iOS, and eventually macOS, devices? If not, that's actually a reason not to sub through Channels if you have a mixed ecosystem (like me).

 

[Alan Gordon]

There doesn't seem to be any benefit to subbing to any of these services through Channels except that you can share your account with more people for simultaneous use.

For HBO subs that travel, there is an advantage.

Would a subscription work on non-iOS, and eventually macOS, devices? If not, that's actually a reason not to sub through Channels if you have a mixed ecosystem (like me).

Considering that Amazon's had channels for a while, and have never allowed you to sign into a respective channel's app, and neither does Roku, that's a problem. Of course, with the Apple TV app coming to smart TVs, Roku, and Fire TV, it'll be less of an issue than it is currently.
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Apple should be very clear about that then.

Aside from viewers of Apple's keynote and website, it shouldn't be much of an issue regarding confusion.

Is the content not playing directly in the app because Apple’s not hosting it?

The content is not playing in the app because it knows you don't subscribe to HBO via Apple Channels, so it takes you to where you're subscribed to.

But I doubt they’re hosting free content from the Food Network app and that played directly in the TV app. Too confusing. Which is kind of the motto of Tim Cook’s Apple.

What free content is this? I'd like to test it out?

 

[Beyo]

The bummer is Curiosity Stream is not full connected. I got response from rep that if you already have subscription you cannot connect app with TV.app. I hope they will understand this soon because I am on yearly plan and won't subscribe second time via itunes
[doublepost=1557783949][/doublepost]You should use the tools to manage group of devices then

Just bloody updated 70 work iPads ready for student exams. Really don't want them nagging there is an update during the exam. Wifi is rubbish where they are stored, its taken me 2 days to do them all and now I have to do them all again. Just hope jamf can get some of them done overnight for me.

 

[Abazigal]

Which is of no value whatsoever to non subscribers or users outside of the US of A.

Is there anything else that's worthwhile in this update?

Phone seems a little faster and smoother on my 8+, for whatever that’s worth.

 

[leesweet]

Anyone know how the ‘channel subscriptions’ like HBO work with Family Sharing? Classically subs don’t, but if you can pay once for HBO and use it on x (four, for us) ATVs, why not on a couple of other iPhones?

 

[Rogifan]

What free content is this? I'd like to test it out?

OK so my bad, it doesn’t actually play in the TV app (and it might not be free content either). You get a screen with TV app UI that shows episodes and when you tap on one it gives you options to either open in the content provider’s app or buy (I’m assuming via iTunes). I’m not sure why it doesn’t have the app logo in the right hand corner like Sex and the City. Also with SATC it took me directly to the HBO Go app. It didn’t show me a list of episodes with the TV app UI and ask me if I wanted to watch via HBO Go or purchase.

I’m sorry but I think it’s all quite confusing. It feels a bit rushed or like nobody high up in the company spent time actually using it before it was announced.

 

[jayducharme]

I guess I'm in the minority. I like the redo. It seems more intuitive to me than the previous interface (although I still wish they'd go back to actual buttons for links instead of faint text).

The Verge had some interesting comments about the app:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/13/...scription-channels-rotate-playback-ios-iphone

 

[leesweet]

I guess I'm in the minority. I like the redo. It seems more intuitive to me than the previous interface (although I still wish they'd go back to actual buttons for links instead of faint text).

The Verge had some interesting comments about the app:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/13/...scription-channels-rotate-playback-ios-iphone

Don’t know if it’s a bug fix or what but mine used to hang going from TV to Prime Video. Works now. For whatever that’s worth. Now to see if my 4K ever goes to sleep!