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Apple TV Users Complain About tvOS 16.2 'Watch Now' Redesign

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Apple TV users are not happy with design changes that Apple added to the Apple TV app with the launch of tvOS 16.2, iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1, according to a number of complaints shared on Reddit.

apple-tv-tvos-16-2-change.jpg

Apple with tvOS 16.2 and its sister updates demoted the "Up Next" section in the "Watch Now" tab of the Apple TV app, instead adding a large featured content section with no option to disable it. The previews also autoplay content with audio, much to the annoyance of Apple TV users. From Reddit user Sean310:
I absolutely HATE the new format.
And they roll right into previews with audio. WTF Apple?
Up Next is tiny now & easily skipped over (on purpose).
And when you are on the Up Next row, the same Apple TV+ shows take up 85% of the screen below.
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When tvOS 16.2 was being beta tested, there was a full "Featured" section that was shown above Up Next, but after a number of complaints, Apple changed the design. "Up Next" continues to be visible at the bottom of the Watch Now tab, but the majority of the interface is taken up by a rotating carousel featured shows and TV moves.

There is no way to toggle off the featured section or to revert to the interface that put more focus on Up Next, and as it transitions through content, Apple offers options to "Go to Show" or "Go to Movie" quick links. Though the interface change has been available since tvOS 16.2 was released on December 13, it appears the tvOS auto update function recently sent out the update on a more widespread basis. From Reddit user WikiWikiWhat:
Same, mine updated last night and it's feels like a massive downstep. No longer feels like a premium product and more like a cheaper ad driven platform, would at least like the option to revert back to the old "up next" view at the very least
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Apple TV users have been complaining about these design tweaks since tvOS 16.2 was in testing, and Apple has not made an effort to offer options to swap back to the old interface. It is not clear if the uptick in complaints will sway the company, and for now, the interface is here to stay. It's also worth noting that these same design changes have also been implemented in the TV app for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Article Link: Apple TV Users Complain About tvOS 16.2 'Watch Now' Redesign
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/09/tvos-16-2-watch-now-design-complaints/
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I completely agree with the complaints. I use the tv app as a hub, adding content to Up Next from the various apps. Now it is tiny and takes more fiddly steps to get there. All for the sake of pushing other content that takes up the vast majority of space on screen. It is particularly annoying when it is something I have already watched. The whole page is now an ad, with the actual useful feature being pushed aside
 
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MacRumors said:
Apple with tvOS 16.2 and its sister updates demoted the "Up Next" section in the "Watch Now" tab of the Apple TV app, instead adding a large featured content section with no option to disable it. The previews also autoplay content with audio, much to the annoyance of Apple TV users.
Click to expand...
I agree also, the Apple TV+ app you should not have to roll up the interface to do things. They also need to fix the Apple TV + app library tab not showing large collections issues.
 
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I think everyone is overreacting. The up next queue sits at the exact same spot it always has on the screen. Instead of seeing a giant picture of the show/movie you are watching it’s just a picture of another show/movie you might like. It’s the exact same layout if you move over into the originals tab. These two tabs now share feature parity. This has not fundamentally changed how the up next queue works. Go buy a chrome cast, fire tv cube, or Roku if you are unhappy.
 
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Apple with tvOS 16.2 and its sister updates demoted the "Up Next" section in the "Watch Now" tab of the Apple TV app, instead adding a large featured content section with no option to disable it. The previews also autoplay content with audio, much to the annoyance of Apple TV users.
Click to expand...

I don't recall what the interface was like before since I just recently restarted my Apple TV+ sub, but on my Roku it's exactly as pictured above and I have zero problems with it.

If I want to watch something in the "Up Next" section, it's only one press of ⬇️ on the remote. And if it's something further down the "Up Next" list, it requires a press of the ➡️ . So what's the big deal? What am I missing?
 
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Thunderstrike76 said:
I think everyone is overreacting. The up next queue sits at the exact same spot it always has on the screen. Instead of seeing a giant picture of the show/movie you are watching it’s just a picture of another show/movie you might like. It’s the exact same layout if you move over into the originals tab. These two tabs now share feature parity. This has not fundamentally changed how the up next queue works. Go buy a chrome cast, fire tv cube, or Roku if you are unhappy.
Click to expand...
What I don’t like is not the video preview, but the audio of the preview. It’s not the end of the world, but I find it annoying every time it starts playing.
 
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macos9rules said:
What I don’t like is not the video preview, but the audio of the preview. It’s not the end of the world, but I find it annoying every time it starts playing.
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No auto playing preview video or audio on my Roku's Apple TV+ app.

Just checked the TV app (version 1.2.5.7) on my Mac and it's got the same layout where the "Up Next" is at the top of the Watch Now tab. There's also no auto playing preview video or audio.
 
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The new design is just bad.

95% of the screen on my iPhone is an ad for a show I’ve already watched, whereas the most useful feature of the whole experience is only just visible.

Apple TV experience is just as bad.

Up Next on ATV is so great, and also means I could cancel
Netflix since it doesn’t appear in there at all.
 

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I didn’t think that any smart TV interface could be worse than Amazon’s, but this one takes the cake with autoplaying previews with audio.

edit - Just saw @landonjh’s post. Thankfully these settings are changeable. Really egregious that the default settings are to have these previews turned on.
 
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