Apple TV preinstalled TV App - same functionality?

[LarryJoe33]

I am pretty sure the answer to this question must be No, but I have a new TV coming Tuesday and it has the Apple TV on it. Is the functionality the same as my AppleTV 4k box? Meaning will it be the same environment with all the apps, downloads, games etc.? Or is is just Apple movies, shows, etc.?

 

[Apple_Robert]

I don’t believe it will have the exact same look and functionality as the app on the Apple TV unit. More than likely, it will be a scaled down version.

 

[waw74]

it's just the appleTV+ streaming service, not the appleTV "box" so no apps or games.

it does work almost the same as the one on the appleTV. The one exception is on the appleTV, it will also pull information from several of the other streaming apps on your aTV. Like Amazon Prime or Disney+, if you're working your way though a show, the next episode will appear in the up next section in the appleTV app on your appleTV , but not the app on your TV. When you select something to watch on the appleTV, it will open the appropriate app and start playing the show in that app.

Also because the app on the aTV ties into all the other apps, it can search them as well,
One notable exception to this is Netflix, it only shows in the Netflix app.


With the app on your Television, and with a subscription you'll be able to watch apple's exclusive shows and movies, like ted lasso or greyhound,
There are also premium add on channels like HBO and CBS, if you subscribe through appleTV app those will also be available. if you've subscribed directly to those services, or have access through your cable company, you won't be able to access them inside the aTV app on your TV.
Direct or through cable company subscriptions will apple in the aTV app on the appleTV, so there's a very good chance the up next section in the aTV app will look very different between the TV and appleTV.

 

[LarryJoe33]

it's just the appleTV+ streaming service, not the appleTV "box" so no apps or games.

it does work almost the same as the one on the appleTV. The one exception is on the appleTV, it will also pull information from several of the other streaming apps on your aTV. Like Amazon Prime or Disney+, if you're working your way though a show, the next episode will appear in the up next section in the appleTV app on your appleTV , but not the app on your TV. When you select something to watch on the appleTV, it will open the appropriate app and start playing the show in that app.

Also because the app on the aTV ties into all the other apps, it can search them as well,
One notable exception to this is Netflix, it only shows in the Netflix app.


With the app on your Television, and with a subscription you'll be able to watch apple's exclusive shows and movies, like ted lasso or greyhound,
There are also premium add on channels like HBO and CBS, if you subscribe through appleTV app those will also be available. if you've subscribed directly to those services, or have access through your cable company, you won't be able to access them inside the aTV app on your TV.
Direct or through cable company subscriptions will apple in the aTV app on the appleTV, so there's a very good chance the up next section in the aTV app will look very different between the TV and appleTV.

Thank you. This is just what I was looking for. I was wondering if I needed to hook up my 4K Apple TV box to my new Samsung “75 I love my Apple TV. Sounds like the built in Apple TV is not the full functionality which makes sense.

 

[fiatlux]

Do you know whether the Apple TV app also brings Airplay compatibility?

I am asking because, for instance, Philips Android smart TVs do not have Airplay compatibility out of the box but, according to the manual, can be made compatible with the right app from the Play Store. I've had mixed success with such third-party apps on an Amazon Fire TV Stick...

 

[LarryJoe33]

Do you know whether the Apple TV app also brings Airplay compatibility?

I am asking because, for instance, Philips Android smart TVs do not have Airplay compatibility out of the box but, according to the manual, can be made compatible with the right app from the Play Store. I've had mixed success with such third-party apps on an Amazon Fire TV Stick...

I am not sure if the TV supports Airplay natively and I doubt the AppleTV app on the TV would provide this, but another good reason to keep my 4k ATV hooked up.

 

[Devin Breeding]

Do you know whether the Apple TV app also brings Airplay compatibility?

I am asking because, for instance, Philips Android smart TVs do not have Airplay compatibility out of the box but, according to the manual, can be made compatible with the right app from the Play Store. I've had mixed success with such third-party apps on an Amazon Fire TV Stick...

Functionality from my experience the box is not the same as the Apple TV app and is more for Apple TV+ content and doesn't control other apps built into your TV the same way an Apple TV box does. In addition the Apple TV box is generally higher quality than built in apps.

I am pretty sure the answer to this question must be No, but I have a new TV coming Tuesday and it has the Apple TV on it. Is the functionality the same as my AppleTV 4k box? Meaning will it be the same environment with all the apps, downloads, games etc.? Or is is just Apple movies, shows, etc.?

I know Samsung force added the Apple TV app during an update well after I purchased the TV. At the same time Airplay functionality was available. As far as quality, all of the smart apps built in are garbage compared to a dedicated unit.

 

[bluespark]

Thank you. This is just what I was looking for. I was wondering if I needed to hook up my 4K Apple TV box to my new Samsung “75 I love my Apple TV. Sounds like the built in Apple TV is not the full functionality which makes sense.

It's not even close. The Apple TV itself has an Apple TV app, which is the source of the confusion. The Apple TV app, or a version of it, is available on other platforms. The entire rest of the Apple TV, including its app environment is not (absent AirPlay, which Apple separately makes available to third-parties). You'll definitely want to hook up your Apple TV box to your new TV (and, if you're like me, you'll never use your TV's built-in apps again).

 

[LarryJoe33]

It's not even close. The Apple TV itself has an Apple TV app, which is the source of the confusion. The Apple TV app, or a version of it, is available on other platforms. The entire rest of the Apple TV, including its app environment is not (absent AirPlay, which Apple separately makes available to third-parties). You'll definitely want to hook up your Apple TV box to your new TV (and, if you're like me, you'll never use your TV's built-in apps again).

Thanks and yeah, I currently have a smart TV with apps like Netflix and Hulu built in. My cable box also has Netflix, Amazon, etc built in, but my go to is the Apple TV box to stream anything. My new TV is even “smarter” but I don’t see myself using any of it.

 

[fiatlux]

Thanks and yeah, I currently have a smart TV with apps like Netflix and Hulu built in. My cable box also has Netflix, Amazon, etc built in, but my go to is the Apple TV box to stream anything. My new TV is even “smarter” but I don’t see myself using any of it.

A few days later an I now have this brand new Sony OLED Android TV installed. Even if I’m not found of the Android TV home screen, the Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon apps are quite nice and I think I will do without a good old Apple TV box. I might even do without my cable TV receiver since I also have a smart card in the CI+ slot of the TV set. If only Sony had proper time shifting support...

The only thing for which I’ve not found a proper alternative yet is the Apple TV very polished slideshow feature. I am a keen photographer an like the option of browsing albums of photos on the big screen and I haven’t found an Android app that would do this as well. Still, it seems a bit dumb to get an Apple TV 4K just for this.

 

[LarryJoe33]

A few days later an I now have this brand new Sony OLED Android TV installed. Even if I’m not found of the Android TV home screen, the Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon apps are quite nice and I think I will do without a good old Apple TV box. I might even do without my cable TV receiver since I also have a smart card in the CI+ slot of the TV set. If only Sony had proper time shifting support...

The only thing for which I’ve not found a proper alternative yet is the Apple TV very polished slideshow feature. I am a keen photographer an like the option of browsing albums of photos on the big screen and I haven’t found an Android app that would do this as well. Still, it seems a bit dumb to get an Apple TV 4K just for this.

My tune has changed also since I got the TV. It really has everything right there, I haven't used my Apple TV in a week.

 

[Topfry]

My tune has changed also since I got the TV. It really has everything right there, I haven't used my Apple TV in a week.

These latest tvs are pretty amazing - the only thing I miss is the integration of the homepods in home cinema, which I would love to see added to the app. If Apple won’t make a TV set, then this app is the way forward.