Apple TV App Features Revamped Navigation in tvOS 17.2 Beta

[MacRumors]

Apple in the tvOS 17.2 beta has updated its Apple TV app, making it easier to navigate and find content to watch. There is a dedicated sidebar that houses content from different apps and streaming services, including Apple TV+.

The sidebar has dedicated sections for Search, Watch Now, Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, Sports, the Store, and the Library.

In a separate "Channels and Apps" area, users can access content from specific streaming services that integrate with the TV app. Options include ABC, CBS, Comedy Central, Hulu, ESPN, Discovery, Peacock, Prime Video, and more.

Tapping into a channel like Hulu shows content and watch suggestions just for that service.

Up Next in Watch Now has not changed, but Apple has added a new "My TV" section below the top charts that houses TV suggestions from multiple networks as a replacement for "My Channels." There isn't any dedicated Channels section in Watch Now, but a Channels and Apps feature has been added to the Store.

Apple has also made tweaks to the Apple TV app on the iPhone and the iPad. In the Store section, there are no longer separate tabs for Movies and TV Shows, with everything integrated together.

The changes to the Apple TV app come after a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that said Apple would introduce a new design in December. Gurman's report said that Apple would remove standalone iTunes Apple TV apps that are available for renting and purchasing TV shows and movies, but that has not yet happened.

Article Link: Apple TV App Features Revamped Navigation in tvOS 17.2 Beta

 

[iksretep]

Now if I could only have the choice what appears in the sidebar, as well as the AppleTV app ... otherwise it's more suggestions/recommendations, and otherwise clutter.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

No mention of the monstrosity that is the Mac app

 

[Juanchi007]

With Sports and MLS now receiving their own dedicated spots in the sidebar, my Watch Now feed will finally be free of Leonel Messi!

 

[nt5672]

I noticed the headline says "Revamped" not "Improved", which is what we come to expect from an Apple that confuses change with innovation and improvement.

 

[ikramerica]

With Sports and MLS now receiving their own dedicated spots in the sidebar, my Watch Now feed will finally be free of Leonel Messi!

Now just a giant messi splash ad will remain…

 

[jedimasterkyle]

As someone who does not care about MLS, I hope they offer the option to hide/move that out of sight. But it is Apple so my hopes aren't high.

 

[ikramerica]

I noticed the headline says "Revamped" not "Improved", which is what we come to expect from an Apple that confuses change with innovation and improvement.

Sometimes anything is an improvement.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

Whoa. Someone finally walked down that one hallway no one has been down in the last 10-years. Discovered an entire programming team.

 

[powaking]

Xfinity stream app is not shown in this side bar. Can only assume Comcast not allowing deep integration?

 

[iwan073]

Sometimes anything is an improvement.

Ha! Compared to the AppleTV app, anything is an improvement

 

[mike090910]

Good news just turned off auto update

 

[jz0309]

does the new TV app, in the library section, list ripped movies that reside on a Mac? or does one still have to go to the "computers" app to play those?

 

[Nautilus007]

I noticed the headline says "Revamped" not "Improved", which is what we come to expect from an Apple that confuses change with innovation and improvement.

I agree.
I remember when Apple was a company that focused on design, simplicity and functionality. Now all of their apps are just BLOAT. Look at the music app, it used to be so nice to use...not there's so much going on its the furthest thing from relaxing.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Xfinity stream app is not shown in this side bar. Can only assume Comcast not allowing deep integration?

A terrific alt for this want will bail you entirely OUT of the AppleTV app: HDHomeRun Prime box with an Xfinity cable card... then Channels app for a cable-like guide.

If you live close enough to a city, you can buy another box from Silicon Dust to tune over-the-air signals too and blend them into the same guide.

A variety of storage options can be an expandable DVR you fully control.

Channels is the most used app on my household's AppleTVs.

And the Computers app (which is much like the first gen's UI) is #2. The latter effectively presents all of the media types owned and stored on the home shared "mother" Mac... which, unlike "Library" in AppleTV app, means no advertising/buy/rent bombardments.

I also have Xfinity app installed too as there are a select few channels NOT cleared to work through the cable card: local regional sports network in HD for example. But I put the SD version of that network in the Channels guide so I can see what's on and then open the Xfinity app if I want to watch whatever it is in HD.

Try 'em. You'll probably like 'em.

 

[nattK]

That sidebar reminds me of visionOS. Guess they'll soon be overhauling the UI to match that of visionOS.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Interesting that this big of a change is on a .2 update.

 

[patlee2000]

Apple in the tvOS 17.2 beta has updated its Apple TV app, making it easier to navigate and find content to watch. There is a dedicated sidebar that houses content from different apps and streaming services, including Apple TV+.

The sidebar has dedicated sections for Search, Watch Now, Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, Sports, the Store, and the Library.

In a separate "Channels and Apps" area, users can access content from specific streaming services that integrate with the TV app. Options include ABC, CBS, Comedy Central, Hulu, ESPN, Discovery, Peacock, Prime Video, and more.

Tapping into a channel like Hulu shows content and watch suggestions just for that service.

Up Next in Watch Now has not changed, but Apple has added a new "My TV" section below the top charts that seems to house TV suggestions from multiple networks as a replacement for "For You." There isn't any dedicated Channels section in Watch Now, but a Channels and Apps feature has been added to the Store.

Apple has also made tweaks to the Apple TV app on the iPhone and the iPad. In the Store section, there are no longer separate tabs for Movies and TV Shows, with everything integrated together.

The changes to the Apple TV app come after a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that said Apple would introduce a new design in December. Gurman's report said that Apple would remove standalone iTunes Apple TV apps that are available for renting and purchasing TV shows and movies, but that has not yet happened.

Article Link: Apple TV App Features Revamped Navigation in tvOS 17.2

Good improvement. As a product designer, I would move AppleTV+ and MLS Pass in the channels section. Also, I would remove the word “apps” since it’s confusing to have apps within the [Apple] TV app.

 

[AndreaCicca]

Xfinity stream app is not shown in this side bar. Can only assume Comcast not allowing deep integration?

If it has the integration any app can be on the sidebar

does the new TV app, in the library section, list ripped movies that reside on a Mac? or does one still have to go to the "computers" app to play those?

TV app is only for digital purchases, this won't change in the future.

 

[alexandr]

Just in time for the price increase!

 

[John.B]

Just in time for the price increase!

I was going to say, “Just in time for me to cancel my AppleOne subscription!” 😂

 

[tYNS]

what a mess. more crappy bland list style UI iPhone nonsense.. it would be more exciting if they just digitized a sheet of paper with handwritten option on it that you could scroll through. apple is so boring now. nothing new.. just more lists of options.

 

[ikramerica]

does the new TV app, in the library section, list ripped movies that reside on a Mac? or does one still have to go to the "computers" app to play those?

And what about Plex. Will that integrate?

 

[alexandr]

I was going to say, “Just in time for me to cancel my AppleOne subscription!” 😂

I was going to say "right before my free trial of  TV that lasted almost two years expires and I have to start paying if I want to keep watching the questionable content that is available on  TV", but thought it was rather lengthy.

 

[verdi1987]

Being able to filter Up Next by app is something I’ve wanted for years!