Apple Releases iTunes 12.5.4 With 'TV' App and Touch Bar Support

[MacRumors]

Apple today released a new iTunes 12.5.4 update, introducing support for the new TV app that was introduced in iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 earlier this week.

iTunes 12.5.4 introduces support for the new TV app, plus it adds Touch Bar support for the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. In iTunes, the Touch Bar can be used as a scrubber to quickly fast forward and rewind through songs, movies, TV shows, and more.

The TV app is the new TV and movie hub on both iOS devices and the Apple TV, and is designed to serve as an Apple-designed television guide to help users find new content to watch. TV has a built-in store that surfaces iTunes movies and TV, along with highlighting a range of apps that offer television content.

Syncing is also an important element of the TV app, allowing users to better keep track of what they're watching across all of their devices.

iTunes 12.5.4 can be downloaded using the Software Update function in the Mac App Store.

Article Link: Apple Releases iTunes 12.5.4 With 'TV' App and Touch Bar Support

 

[8CoreWhore]

Odd, it installed twice for me. The first time - automatically. The second time I got a notice it needed to DL and install. Haven't tried it yet.

 

[Brookzy]

12.5.3 already had Touch Bar support. It was pretty buggy though. Hopefully this means they've fixed it.

 

[preetb]

This is what happens when marketing takes over what had previously been great software. That TV app is simply another revenue line for Apple, steering users away from other TV venues, as opposed to something really interesting and compelling.

 

[now i see it]

I think the headline most readers are looking forward to reading is "Apple Discontinues iTunes".

 

[Rickjames74]

They Finally added "See more by this artist" to iTunes. That was really my only huge issue with this version.

 

[mikesch]

Anyone else having the issue that iTunes doesn't launch after the update? I installed the new iTunes update along with the final version of macOS 10.12.2 (coming from Beta 6), and now, nothing is happening when I attempt to launch iTunes (the Dock icon doesn't even bounce).

Update: If anyone is also experiencing this issue, just download iTunes 12.5.4 from Apple's website and reinstall it. That did the job for me.

 

[meegwell]

Maybe the issue of not being able to browse all your video media (and launch/watch from) in one location that has a good design may be solved? That is, I want to scroll through all my movies from one location (iTunes purchased, Home Videos or personal DVD/Blu-ray rips) using a good interface...not the long list that is currently offered in "computers">Media>Movies.

 

[nutmac]

Even after updating both Mac and iPhone to the latest, I cannot sync video contents.

I get dreaded "iTunes cannot sync movies or TV shows to the iPhone because the Videos app is not installed." error. It further states "You must download the Videos app from the App Store on your iPhone in order to sync movies or TV shows."

Of course, there's no such app on iOS App Store.

 

[TurboPGT!]

This is what happens when marketing takes over what had previously been great software. That TV app is simply another revenue line for Apple, steering users away from other TV venues, as opposed to something really interesting and compelling.

Nope.

The TV App is good UI experience to tie together both the discovery aspect, as well the sorely needed Resume and Up Next across multiple services.

Anyone with a shred of common sense gets this.

 

[M2M]

Looking forward to see what they broke now.

 

[mariusignorello]

I'm confused. Is the actual TV app supposed to be included or just the Up Next features?

Someone please screenshot what you see.

 

[TurboPGT!]

I'm confused. Is the actual TV app supposed to be included or just the Up Next features?

Someone please screenshot what you see.

It would be helpful if the author wrote ANYTHING other than just "Support for the TV App".

There is no TV App on macOS.
There is no Up Next or any other way to watch 3rd party services for which there are of course no Apps to begin with.

The only way support for this would apply is in Home Sharing, device syncing, and nomenclature references to the TV App (as opposed to the old Videos app).

 

[Rigby]

The only way support for this would apply is in Home Sharing, device syncing, and nomenclature references to the TV App (as opposed to the old Videos app).

That's exactly how I understand it. I don't understand why anyone would expect the TV app functionality on MacOS, given that there are no Mac versions of the underlying provider apps that "TV" relies on.

 

[rhoydotp]

That's exactly how I understand it. I don't understand why anyone would expect the TV app functionality on MacOS, given that there are no Mac versions of the underlying provider apps that "TV" relies on.

Here in Canada, there are a few providers where you can watch the live stream via Web on the Mac. I'm guessing this will help since each website employs a different way of logging in to the account. This would actually make it better!

 

[Mlrollin91]

Odd, it installed twice for me. The first time - automatically. The second time I got a notice it needed to DL and install. Haven't tried it yet.

Mine shows that too, on both of my computers. But it only downloaded and installed once. Interesting.

 

[Rigby]

Here in Canada, there are a few providers where you can watch the live stream via Web on the Mac. I'm guessing this will help since each website employs a different way of logging in to the account. This would actually make it better!

On iOS/tvOS, the provider apps provide information about the available content to "TV" via a special API. Web pages displayed in a browser provide no such API, so "TV" cannot possibly work on Mac the same way it does on iOS/tvOS.

 

[macduke]

Adobe with Photoshop (barely) beat Apple with iTunes on adding Touch Bar support. Hah. Wow…

 

[TMRJIJ]

This is what happens when marketing takes over what had previously been great software. That TV app is simply another revenue line for Apple, steering users away from other TV venues, as opposed to something really interesting and compelling.

How is it steering users away from other TV venues? You select a video and it redirects you to the app it's hosted from.

I'm confused. Is the actual TV app supposed to be included or just the Up Next features?

Someone please screenshot what you see.

No just everything that linked with the Videos app on iOS (syncing, Home sharing, etc.) is now going to the TV app on iOS.

 

[JonasMoritz]

Adobe with Photoshop (barely) beat Apple with iTunes on adding Touch Bar support. Hah. Wow…

There has been touch bar support from day one in iTunes - have no idea where this comes from, but I've used it all the time on my new mac and I haven't updated to 10.12.2 yet

 

[markfc]

12.5.4 has removed the volume control so you can no longer tell how loud it's playing.

 

[johnfrombeyond]

12.5.4 has removed the volume control so you can no longer tell how loud it's playing.

Except by using your ears : ) Sorry I couldn't resist.

Actually this is how the new Music app works on iOS, there is no volume slider. You only get a visual indicator if you use the volume hardware buttons. Likewise you can use the keyboard buttons on MacOS to get your visual indicator. I guess this is Ives telling us we don't need redundant controls, but I did like knowing how loud music was going to blast BEFORE I hit the play button.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Nope.

The TV App is good UI experience to tie together both the discovery aspect, as well the sorely needed Resume and Up Next across multiple services.

Anyone with a shred of common sense gets this.

In concept yes. However, its only useful if all the services you use are on it. And since Netflix isn't supported yet it's almost useless for the majority of US streaming users.

 

[GIZBUG]

Where is the redesigned / Less Bloated iTunes they mentioned a few years ago?! Damn

 

[manu chao]

On iOS/tvOS, the provider apps provide information about the available content to "TV" via a special API. Web pages displayed in a browser provide no such API, so "TV" cannot possibly work on Mac the same way it does on iOS/tvOS.

Is that TV app on iOS a US-only thing? My iPad is running iOS 10.2 but there is no TV app to be seen and Videos app is still called Videos. And if this is US-only, what determines the US status? AppleID used for iCloud, AppleID used for the iTunes & App Store? Physical location?
[doublepost=1481671889][/doublepost]

Actually this is how the new Music app works on iOS, there is no volume slider. You only get a visual indicator if you use the volume hardware buttons. Likewise you can use the keyboard buttons on MacOS to get your visual indicator. I guess this is Ives telling us we don't need redundant controls, but I did like knowing how loud music was going to blast BEFORE I hit the play button.

Just use the hardware buttons to lower the volume by one notch and you'll see the current level in the overlay.