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Apple TV Universal Search Gains Support for Bravo, E!, Syfy, and USA

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Apple today added four new channels to its universal search functionality on the fourth-generation Apple TV, including support for Bravo, E!, Syfy, and USA. The feature lets users find specific media content across multiple apps using the Apple TV's text or Siri voice search.

apple_tv_search_syfy-800x447.jpg

Users can keep up-to-date with which apps are carrying support for universal search in the company's dedicated support document. The four new apps today follow a steady stream of additions to universal search over the past few months, including NBC in May and CBS in April.

Apple's rate of adding new apps to universal search also seems to be increasing, considering that the Apple TV apps for Bravo, E!, and Syfy launched on the fourth-generation device just a few weeks ago. The current U.S. lineup for universal search encompasses the four major networks, services like iTunes, HBO, Hulu, and Netflix, and other channels including Disney, National Geographic, and FX.

Netflix and iTunes remain the sole apps supported by universal search in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, while in most other territories only iTunes content is supported.

Article Link: Apple TV Universal Search Gains Support for Bravo, E!, Syfy, and USA
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/10/apple-tvs-universal-search-bravo/
I especially like that you need to install the supported apps for them to be included in your search results. That's how it works right?
 
William Gates said:
Can Plex be next? Or even local iTunes libraries?
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That would be great but I don't think Apple would do it because they wouldn't be able to control the UX because users may have personal videos and/or movies/shows that Siri wouldn't recognize.
 
Now, enable Siri in other languages and make ATV4 useful. Why does it have to go sooooooo sloooooooooooow? :-(
 
Mac Fly (film) said:
I especially like that you need to install the supported apps for them to be included in your search results. That's how it works right?
Click to expand...

Wrong. It will search all supported apps even if you don't have them installed. The only thing that changes is the order in which the streaming services are shown (preference is given to the streaming service apps you have installed). For example, in the picture in the article, the user doesn't have the Syfy or Hulu app installed because iTunes is the first option (then Hulu, then Syfy, etc). If the Syfy or Hulu apps had been installed, they would be shown before iTunes. Just one of the many little usability things that's great about tvOS.
 
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William Gates said:
Can Plex be next? Or even local iTunes libraries?
Click to expand...
All of the libraries that Apple has implemented so far are centralized libraries. What I mean is that the lest of shows that Siri searches through for ABC is the same for every user of the ABC app. With Plex and local iTunes libraries, each and every user has a unique library, so it's a bit different than coming off of a common search list.
As has already been pointed out, Siri is liimited to searching on the AppleTV itself, and the web. the only way I can see making this work under the current constraints is for the Plex server to build the search list to Siri requirements and push it, either to the AppleTV itself (assuming third party databases are supported on the device) or to an iCloud database, that the AppleTV Plex app shares the key to.
 
Peel said:
All of the libraries that Apple has implemented so far are centralized libraries. What I mean is that the lest of shows that Siri searches through for ABC is the same for every user of the ABC app. With Plex and local iTunes libraries, each and every user has a unique library, so it's a bit different than coming off of a common search list.
As has already been pointed out, Siri is liimited to searching on the AppleTV itself, and the web. the only way I can see making this work under the current constraints is for the Plex server to build the search list to Siri requirements and push it, either to the AppleTV itself (assuming third party databases are supported on the device) or to an iCloud database, that the AppleTV Plex app shares the key to.
Click to expand...


But the naming convention for content on Plex is very similar right? (Based on the agents it uses for this metadata)
 
ksnell said:
But the naming convention for content on Plex is very similar right? (Based on the agents it uses for this metadata)
Click to expand...
Yes and no. Plex has the option for several agents for each media type. But you can override anything that it autofills. I often have to make up my own supplementary data for the extras that come on DVD series of television shows, as thetvdb.com (the agent for TV shows) doesn't list anything unless it was actually broadcast. So, it's a bit of a mixed bag.
 
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onemoremile said:
Call me when Apple has added Amazon Instant Video. Then they will have something worth buying.
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tvOS is open to whomever wants to create an app. Apple doesn't create third party apps. There is no tvOS Amazon video app because Amazon hasn't created one.
 
Muzzakus said:
Nah, I'll let Apple strike the big end deals to create better experiences for their users. I recognise I may be dead before then.
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Hell probably will freeze first. But app developers are responsible for their apps. In YouTube's case, it's up to Google. Send them a bug/feature report.
 
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