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

[CarAnalogy]

I agree we need updates, but when a lot of people find them irritating, Apple needs to listen. It's much like the slideshow that appears in Photos, where photos are mixed with random music from Apple Music (which often makes no sense at all). There's no way to disable it and stop it happening. Despite many complaints, Apple is not listening. I'd like to have more control over what happens with the software on MY computer (or device) which I purchased with MY money.

There should be a Legacy option, where we can turn features off and on if we want to. I don't care if it takes up more drive space, I want to be able to have, or not have, features which Apple gives to me, after all we are all customers who make the company what it is, and without us, there is no Apple.

Great example. One time it made one that I really liked and I wanted to share it, but it told me it can’t be shared with this music, pick different music with a shareable license. WTF? How am I supposed to know? Why would there be unsharable music in the first place? I looked for an option to remove the music entirely, found there was none, and immediately wrote the feature off as broken and never tried again.

So great job, Apple. I don’t know why they even have the feedback page anymore, Tim Cook is “not hearing from customers.”

 

[michaelscarn]

You can turn off the auto play for previews in Netflix. You might have to do it through your account via the website.

Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!

 

[MNLondon]

Great example. One time it made one that I really liked and I wanted to share it, but it told me it can’t be shared with this music, pick different music with a shareable license. WTF? How am I supposed to know? Why would there be unsharable music in the first place? I looked for an option to remove the music entirely, found there was none, and immediately wrote the feature off as broken and never tried again.

So great job, Apple. I don’t know why they even have the feedback page anymore, Tim Cook is “not hearing from customers.”

Yes, it's ridiculous. There is a thread for this on the Apple support website, and no one from Apple has listened or acknowledged. I hope the next CEO encourages a less anal approach to what we can and can't do with our devices, again, which we PAID for. They are not gifts from Apple, we bought them. We are tied to the software, so we should have some choice.

 

[AlexisV]

Anyone else having problems going back to the homescreen?

Pressing home on the remote now takes me to Watch Now. I have to keep pressing the back button to get there, and even then it randomly shows me an advert for Apple Arcade I then can't escape from.

This feels like it's still in beta

 

[v0lume4]

It’s all changeable.

Settings -> Apps -> TV

Change “Up Next Display” to Poster Art to see covers again.

Change Top Shelf to “Up Next” to put it back at the top.

Change “Autoplay Video Sound” to Off to disable autoplay.

I couldn't find the post you mentioned. Can you tell us how to change the default settings?

Yeah, for some reason it wouldn’t let me link his name. I’ve quoted his post above.

 

[garylapointe]

In the Up Next, it should still have previews for the Up Next items when I place the cursor on them.

Advertising content that I already subscribe to, above AND below my Up Next, while not giving the previews that apple has led us to expect is just a poor human interface implementation.

 

[alexhardaker]

I don’t like the new interface. The ‘Up next’ feature is why I started using the Apple TV for shows from different services. It is now too small and they’re clearly trying to hide it, so that people browse.

I hardly use it to just randomly browse what’s on the other services, to be honest. I very rarely pressed down on my remote when on the ’Up next’ queue to see what else to watch & this new interface doesn’t encourage me to do that either. It’s just annoying.

It’s also weird to see shows or films in this new featured section that I’ve already seen. I’d rather the app know what I’ve seen and show me stuff I’ve not seen.

 

[Surf Monkey]

In the Up Next, it should still have previews for the Up Next items when I place the cursor on them.

Advertising content that I already subscribe to, above AND below my Up Next, while not giving the previews that apple has led us to expect is just a poor human interface implementation.

I suppose we have to hope that Apple gets enough complaints to bring it back. As I said above, I don’t use the TV app anymore because of this idiotic change.

 

[jdsingle]

Bringing out my reverse Uno card, Apple. Take me back.

 

[Eyes Only]

I hope this gets fixed in the next update or does somebody know how to fix this overlapping issue?

 

[Surf Monkey]

View attachment 2147314

I hope this gets fixed in the next update or does somebody know how to fix this overlapping issue?

The TV app is profoundly broken. That’s just one of the issues.

 

[Chadwick1e46]

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 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:
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: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

I was one of the first to cut the cord with a Mac Mini before Apple TV was even a thought…as it turns out I’ve fully enjoyed every Apple TV experience over the years until now. I’m sure I’m not alone here looking around this discussion, so I’ll just say it. It appears that Apple is pandering or begging for people to use their Apple TV plus streaming service. I guess it’s gotten to the point where they’ve decided to shove Their paid content application right in all of us loyal consumers faces and taken away our ability of personalization of what’s displayed when opening or turning on our coveted Apple TV device. Since when does Apple need to beg? TVOS 16 needs to Be Gone please. WTF Apple?
For those that are new and don’t know what we are talking about I’ll explain. BEFORE Apples “Begger’s TVOS 16” drop it was like this…
We had an “UP NEXT” that beautifully displayed a thumbnail or Screenshot as a wallpaper that one could CHOOSE at their discretion and the delight of the user that “personalized” the overall look of your User interface. For years we have loved this about the Apple TV. For instance one of my favorite movie screenshots that I used was a Zack Snyder “SuckerPunch” of Baby Doll rocking a 45 pistol. This of course would Fill nearly the entire Screen acting as a “Wallpaper” while using the Menu. This “UP Next” feature was Awesome as it highlighted all content this way…until now. Now we get whatever Apple wants us to look at forced down our throats with this TVOS 16 Woke-A-Thon. Not cool
I’d move to another streaming service if I could at this point but like I said, I’ve been in this from the beginning, had no complaints, so I am heavily invested in this with over 500 films immediately my library, countless Series, and lord knows how many music files.
Sorry about this rant, but I simply needed to vent here. Back in the old days you could shoot a phone call at Cupertino and they would take constructive criticism seriously, but nowadays, I’m not so sure they even care to listen.