What a stupid affirmation.
Scrubbing with this remote is a joy, I don’t even remember how did we do it before. The track pad is top notch and acts as a Dpad if you tap it where the arrows would be.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Following Launch of New App, Spectrum Users Can Get Apple TV for $7.50 per Month
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Scrubbing with this remote is a joy, I don’t even remember how did we do it before. The track pad is top notch and acts as a Dpad if you tap it where the arrows would be.
I think if you have Spectrum internet service you should switch to their SpectrumTV service as well.
It should be more cost effective and work better. Note that you can also buy your own AppleTV and not pay $7.50 for ever. At that rate, it would pay for itself in about 2 years.
I cut the cord, except for internet service of course, a couple of years ago. My bill was fairly far north of $100 and it just wasn't worth it for me, a dog, and a cat. I'm still paying too much for just internet at $69 a month. Charter claims my area has 200 meg service in my area but I only get a little over 100. Anyway, I checked their offering. I can get the basic internet plus tv for $89 but in looking at the channels, I don't want almost all of them and certainly don't consider a music channel a channel or the many shopping channels as channels. The basic tv plus internet is $89 a month for a year then it will go up. The one channel I wanted, TCM, was in the next package up with was $109 a month... no thank you. I'm not going to pay $40 a month to get one extra useful station. I'll stick with over the air, iTunes, Netflix, and books. I may even drop Netflix.
I agree. Apple needs to provide support for SIRI shortcuts, a universal Guide browser and also define a common protocol that TV Providers can use for better tvOS integration.
This sounds like a step in the right direction, possibly even the future. I'd like this option to come to Verizon Fios. DVR functionality isn't such a big deal of everything is streamable on demand.
As much as I wouldn't mind giving up my bulky TiVo with its cable card subscription, an all-streaming future probably means we would lose the ability to skip over commercials. That would be bad.
As much as I wouldn't mind giving up my bulky TiVo with its cable card subscription, an all-streaming future probably means we would lose the ability to skip over commercials. That would be bad.
Yep.... it's not the service. That would be amazing but no. It's another box rental gimmick thing. Hey Spectrum... the 90's called; They want their marketing strategy back.
Agreed... Siri could make this a lot better. "Hey Siri, switch to channel xx".
I don't think channel numbers are in the app, you select by network.
Not certain, but I don't think that delay will be fixed any time soon. It's probably there because there's a bit of a buffer built into the stream. If they'd did it in real-time the result would probably be poor.
It's not a rental. It's an installment payment plan.
So true. I love Apple stuff and all my devices are Apple. iMac, iPad, Watch, iPhone XS Max and Apple TV. I hate the remote so much I run the Spectrum app on ROKU. The ROKU remote is simple and easy to use. The Apple TV remote just sucks.
Also, you MUST have a Spectrum TV subscription, (eg. Sliver, Gold, Basic) and at least one box to use this app. Same on ROKU. I got rid of most of my boxes but wanted a DVR so kept that. But you must have at least a cable card or basic box to get a subscription. You can use the streaming app to replace any other boxes you have.
It is good to have that one box. The streaming app goes down often. So you can still watch TV on the cable box when the app is down.
If you are not doing cord cutting, but just cord shaving, you can save a bit on money each month from getting rid of cable box rental fees. You are still paying for the one box and more if you want the DVR box. The app has no DVR capability.
Last edited:
Use Siri while in the app? Say “Channel 404”
EDIT: Or try naming the network. “USA” something like that.
This would violate most cable companies’ MONOPOLIES in a lot of areas. There, fixed it.
Last edited:
To avoid having to scrolli through the guide list, you have about 2 options with the Spectrum App and a 3rd option without the Spectrum App.
1. Use the Guide List once to select and watch the network and it will be added to your library so that you can get to it more quickly next time.
2. Use the browse or search option to select and watch the network once and it will be added it to your library. This can be a bit more cumbersome because some networks offer free on demand shows or have different streams for different regions so you'll want to select the one you want.
3. The third option is to use launch specific tv station app and use zero sign-on with SIRI instead of the Spectrum App. Just tell SIRI the network name like "ABC" or "Open ABC" or "Launch ABC" etc...
This 3rd method may sometimes be faster but if you need to see the TV Guide schedule to know what's on now then you have to go through the Guide on the Spectrum App.
I wish Apple could provide a Universal Guide to browse guide data from any cable provider but that may be challenging since they may use different formats. When you look at each tv network's free On demand shows and each tv network's different streams for different regions, you realize that it may not be so simple yo manage using a standardized Guide/Browser.
Then consider adding international TV offerings from different countries with different rules and regulations and it can become very complex. ...but if any company is up this task, it's Apple.
I’ve been using the app on Roku for some time... and the answer is, you don’t - at least not traditionally. The best case that I can figure out is that I set some favorites strategically, and you can easily switch between All Channels and Favorites. I do that, get to a higher number, switch back and then pick. It isn’t the most fun way, but it’s miles better than scrolling through all the channels and saves me $10 a month per box.
[doublepost=1546690796][/doublepost]
I just want to tail off this — I don’t know if this is common knowledge. But you can use the touch pad like a normal cross controller (d-pad, whatever you want to call it). Just tap on the cardinal directions of it and you can go up, down, left, right rather than dragging your finger across. I’d still prefer the traditional cross... but maybe for those that don’t know, it will stave off the madness a while longer.
Last edited:
True, but the whole point for a DVR, at least for me is too not watch commercials and most ondemand content still has commercials. So, until Spectrum has a DVR, other streaming services that do have one or OTA with a Tivo are still the way to go, at least for me.
Still nice that Spectrum is offering this and I would guess at some point they will have a cloud based dvr.
Agreed. The guide scrolling is mind bending. I actually find it easier to select channels with the Spectrum Remote than my ATV remote.
[doublepost=1546698538][/doublepost]
Agreed. Was super disappointed this function was not available. A real turn off IMO.
So because you like the touchpad, my experiences and opinions are stupid? Got it. You could have left out the first sentence and posted an adult comment.
If you bothered to read any of the other posts here, you will find others that agree with me. I guess they are stupid too?
[doublepost=1546700878][/doublepost]
Thanks for the info. I will play with it and see how that works for me.
The app is OK. It looks good but the Live TV browser is clumsy. One of things I like about the Apple TV remote is the ability to "throw" using the trackpad, so if you fling your finger across it you can speed through a long list of items. The Live TV browser doesn't support this though, so browsing through the list is tedious. It's similar to the Guide on the cable box but I think they need to come up with a different interface that is better suited for faster browsing with the Apple TV remote. Other than that the other features of the app are pretty easy to use.
[doublepost=1546701096][/doublepost]
Agreed. The guide scrolling is mind bending. I actually find it easier to select channels with the Spectrum Remote than my ATV remote.
[doublepost=1546698538][/doublepost]
Agreed. Was super disappointed this function was not available. A real turn off IMO.
I agree with the above complaints. This is the first version of the Apple TV app, however. Hopefully they'll consider feedback and fix future releases.
Agreed. The guide scrolling is mind bending. I actually find it easier to select channels with the Spectrum Remote than my ATV remote.
[doublepost=1546698538][/doublepost]
Agreed. Was super disappointed this function was not available. A real turn off IMO.
This actually worked for me earlier. I asked Siri to change channel to ESPN, HGTV, and such and it worked like a charm.
This has probably been answered by now as I haven't read all the posts in this thread, but here is my answer just in case it hasn't. One can use a Spectrum TV app on the Apple TV to view their current Spectrum cable TV service, which means one already has to have a Spectrum TV cable service agreement which equals lots of money! The Spectrum TV app is free and it streams the live programming channels and On Demand programs one already pays for via their expensive Spectrum cable TV service to your TV via the Apple TV (latest edition only). One CANNOT record any programming using the Apple TV or Roku device--they are view ONLY devices. So basically, one can use an Apple TV or Roku device to watch their expensive Spectrum cable TV service on their TV without having to pay a monthly rental fee for a Spectrum cable TV box, so one can save about $10/mo off their still expensive Spectrum cable TV service, but they cannot record anything unless they also have a Spectrum cable TV box.
I've been using a less than $30 Roku Express to watch my expensive Spectrum cable TV service on a second TV in my study/office so I don't have to rent another $10/mo Spectrum cable TV box. Again, no recording capability, but the Roku Express cost me less than what 3 months of rent on a second Spectrum cable TV box, so it has more than paid for itself. Since I already have a Spectrum cable TV box on my primary TV in the living room, I can record shows via it.
To reiterate, yes you can stream your expensive Spectrum cable TV service via an Apple TV or Roku device, but you have to already have that expensive Spectrum cable TV service. The $7.50 per month you pay through the Spectrum TV offer is merely to buy the Apple TV device over a specified number of payments, it is not how much their service costs. This is NOT a streaming service like DirecTV Now or Sling, it is merely another way to view your expensive Spectrum cable TV service. You can also view your expensive Spectrum cable TV service on apps for Android devices and iPhones/iPads. If you are looking for a cheap alternative to cable/satellite TV, this is not for you. on the other hand, your Apple TV or Roku device can also be used to get other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, DirecTV Now, Sling, et cetera, but of course you have to pay those companies for their streaming services.
My advice to those who already have Spectrum cable TV service and they won't to watch same on a TV without having to rent another Spectrum cable TV box for $10/mo is to get an inexpensive, compatible Roku device. If you really want the Apple TV and are willing to pay it out in 24 months then by all means the Spectrum buying option can be used, but if you cancel your Spectrum cable TV service before paying off the Apple TV they will likely require the rest of the amount owed immediately.
Last edited:
hoisyourdaddy said: ↑
I would assume but really want to ask before delving into this offer; Will switching out with all ATV 4 that you own alleviate you from having to pay that ridiculous DTV box fee?
In the past you needed to have a Spectrum cable box to keep your Silver or Gold level subscription.
A Spectrum rep confirmed today you can keep your existing Spectrum package without any of their boxes or cable cards IF you purchase a new Apple TV 4K from them directly either for $180 or the monthly deal. You also must have Spectrum Internet service.
Now it is up to you at that point to compare it to DirectTV Now, Playstation Vue, YouTubeTV etc to see who has a better deal. If you have a triple play with Spectrum for Phone and Internet then it may be worth it.
I would assume but really want to ask before delving into this offer; Will switching out with all ATV 4 that you own alleviate you from having to pay that ridiculous DTV box fee?
In the past you needed to have a Spectrum cable box to keep your Silver or Gold level subscription.
A Spectrum rep confirmed today you can keep your existing Spectrum package without any of their boxes or cable cards IF you purchase a new Apple TV 4K from them directly either for $180 or the monthly deal. You also must have Spectrum Internet service.
Now it is up to you at that point to compare it to DirectTV Now, Playstation Vue, YouTubeTV etc to see who has a better deal. If you have a triple play with Spectrum for Phone and Internet then it may be worth it.
Right, direcTV has a DVR, but I can’t use Siri to skip ahead or back, so I can’t skip commercials without a tedious scrub-and-guess using the trackpad.
You did this on the Spectrum app on the Apple TV? DirecTV Now definitely doesn’t work this way.