Future tvOS feature Wishlist

[2010mini]

1- service like Fan TV that has a watchlist across services. Suggest s content based on watchlist
2- updated Siri for text input
3- better parental controls (use Siri voice recognition instead of passwords)


As for Siri searching your computer's local iTunes..... Are you all ready to give Apple open access to your home network??? Siri is not exactly ON the Apple TV.... It's a cloud based service.

 

[chiwaw]

As for Siri searching your computer's local iTunes..... Are you all ready to give Apple open access to your home network??? Siri is not exactly ON the Apple TV.... It's a cloud based service.

The voice recognition mechanism is what's leveraged online, but the search execution could be done locally. The online Siri service would simply return a search command for the OS to execute. At least that's how I understand it.

 

[2010mini]

The voice recognition mechanism is what's leveraged online, but the search execution could be done locally. The online Siri service would simply return a search command for the OS to execute. At least that's how I understand it.

That's my point... The files you want to search are not ON the Apple TV. They are on another machine on your network. So Siri will have to access your local network. ¡No bueno!

 

[JRobinsonJr]

1- service like Fan TV that has a watchlist across services. Suggest s content based on watchlist
2- updated Siri for text input
3- better parental controls (use Siri voice recognition instead of passwords)


As for Siri searching your computer's local iTunes..... Are you all ready to give Apple open access to your home network??? Siri is not exactly ON the Apple TV.... It's a cloud based service.

Once you enable Apple's 'Match' service all of your music is already connected. Would it really be that much more difficult to let them take a snapshot of your video-based media every once in a while? It would not - and SHOULD not - be a live thing, but if iTunes could periodically send Apple a list of all your imported media the problem would go away. Then, when Siri searches your media, it would know both what's in the cloud AND what's on a local machine.

However, perhaps an alternate approach might work better. If Apple could work out some kind of deal similar to the UltraViolet Disk-to-Digital, I would cheerfully pay them $1 for the privilege. Again, problem solved. I would no longer have to spend the time and effort to rip and convert my disks, and in return I would have easy access to my media. Happy campers all around!

 

[chiwaw]

That's my point... The files you want to search are not ON the Apple TV. They are on another machine on your network. So Siri will have to access your local network. ¡No bueno!

Do you mean, for instance, searching on my Mac Mini on the same network that my Apple TV is? If that's what you mean then that's what I'm saying: Apple doesn't have to know what's on my Mac Mini. My Apple TV could search what is publicly available on my network on my Mac Mini, and not having to tell Apple about it.

For instance I tell Siri "Give me Rocky movies!", the audio is sent to Apple/Siri service for analysis, it's returned as a search command "Find Rocky MP4 On Local Network", and the Apple TV itself query the Mac Mini for results.
So Apple never know anything about the content of my Mac Mini, other than knowing I tried to search for a Rocky movie.

Or have I misunderstood your post?

 

[2010mini]

Once you enable Apple's 'Match' service all of your music is already connected. Would it really be that much more difficult to let them take a snapshot of your video-based media every once in a while? It would not - and SHOULD not - be a live thing, but if iTunes could periodically send Apple a list of all your imported media the problem would go away. Then, when Siri searches your media, it would know both what's in the cloud AND what's on a local machine.

However, perhaps an alternate approach might work better. If Apple could work out some kind of deal similar to the UltraViolet Disk-to-Digital, I would cheerfully pay them $1 for the privilege. Again, problem solved. I would no longer have to spend the time and effort to rip and convert my disks, and in return I would have easy access to my media. Happy campers all around!

Music is one thing, movies/ tv shows are quite another. Music is DRM free that is why iTunes Match works. You think any of the content owners are going to allow Apple, Google, Amazon to match non DRM content?!??

Let's be honest here.... Most of the users here who ask for local library Siri search get their content from "other" means. Which includes defeating DRM on DVDs they own (illegal btw) and match artwork from services that turn a blind eye.

 

[2010mini]

Do you mean, for instance, searching on my Mac Mini on the same network that my Apple TV is? If that's what you mean then that's what I'm saying: Apple doesn't have to know what's on my Mac Mini. My Apple TV could search what is publicly available on my network on my Mac Mini, and not having to tell Apple about it.

For instance I tell Siri "Give me Rocky movies!", the audio is sent to Apple/Siri service for analysis, it's returned as a search command "Find Rocky MP4 On Local Network", and the Apple TV itself query the Mac Mini for results.
So Apple never know anything about the content of my Mac Mini, other than knowing I tried to search for a Rocky movie.

Or have I misunderstood your post?

Siri only searches the device it is on. It does not search another device even when on the same network.

 

[chiwaw]

Siri only searches the device it is on. It does not search another device even when on the same network.

Oh maybe in its actual state, but there's no reasons why it couldn't search the public network folders of other machines on the same network.

But that's completely different from "give Apple open access to your home network"

 

[MrTemple]

There IS trailer app. You just have to download it from the Store.

Not in the UK and I really can't be bothered creating a US account

FYI, it's *really* quick and easy to set up a US Store account without adding a payment method:

1. Log out of your iTunes Store account on your Mac, or the App Store account on your iOS device.

2. Switch iTunes/AppStore to the region you want (say US).

3. Download a free app and select "Create Account" when it asks for your login.

And Robert's your mother's brother.

After you download the Trailers app, also grab the PBS app.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

1. Bring back alternative input (keyboard and apps)

2. Eliminate multiple views of media

a. Merge all family purchases into a single view
b. Permit multiple associated Apple ID's on a device... and just show me what's available​

3. Bring all Apple app functionality back in line with the ATV3 and/or iOS9.

4. Find a way to let me merge my DVD/BR disks into digital licenses, either by providing a disk-to-digital upgrade process *OR* by partnering with UltraViolet. Either way works.

5. Let me use the TV as a family hub... like the TV is supposed to work! FaceTime, iMessage, Facebook, etc. could all be amazing on a TV. This would require some way to quickly switch between ID's (or have a new UI that would aggregate but mark the source of each entry) but could be killer functionality. Yes, it would mean that everyone could see what's on the screen. We can either deal with it or disable that functionality for an individual ID.

6. Centralized "Watch List" for movies and TV across all integrated sources (Apple, Netflix, Hulu, UV, etc.)

7. Leverage a local computer running iTunes as a media cache, automatically downloading frequently played music/video, pre-downloading rented media, caching game files, etc. Even with good download speeds and high caps it seems silly to repeatedly download the same media when it could be stored locally for instant access!

8. Better support for media quality. Yes, this should include 4K, DTS and other high-end sound codec's, etc. Even if the TV can't decode it we should be able to send it to a receiver that can.

9. Allow the TV to serve notifications. Incoming phone calls would be great. Emails, Messages and other updates would also be good. For example, I might be watching a movie with the family when a phone rings. Having an overlay at the top of the screen telling me who's calling would be nice. Even better would be the ability to answer the phone and auto-pause the movie/music/game/etc. right from the sofa!

10. Picture-in-Picture with both media and some apps.

11. Web-Based functionality. This means FULL support for Safari, not just some stripped down version. Support should include access to my favorites/history, key-chain for passwords, plus support for playing HTML5 video. In other words... it should work just like it does on my Mac, iPad and iPhone.

12. Aggregate entry and storage of ID's and Passwords. This should be via KeyChain, but regardless of *how* it's done the currently approach makes zero sense. I already have to enter my Apple ID multiple times. WHY? Then I have separate ID's for Netflix, Hulu, HBONow, various logins for cable-based subscriptions, etc. Those might be the same ID/PW. Or Not. Either way there should be a "Passwords" section under Settings where all of this can be entered and managed. Plus, for those accounts using the same ID/PW we should have some way of cloning the entry such that it would automatically share the information plus support updating in a single location.

13. The option to use SMALLER main screen icon's for those of us with bigger TV's. Having 4 ginormous icon's that then require many rows is less usable than smaller icons in fewer rows. Even 5 across would be an improvement.

14. The option to have media displayed in either a horizontally scrollable or screen-wrapped list. The current UI - particularly for large media lists - requires far too much horizontal scrolling... which doesn't eliminate the vertical scrolling. VERY annoying.

15. Fix the App Store:

a. Enable all categories
b. Allow searching the tvOS App Store from OSX and iOS with the option to add to the TV
c. Add a "what's new" section. With the currently growth it is difficult if not impossible to see what's been added since yesterday... last week... etc.​

16. The TV should support a second audio stream. Reintroducing the optical out would likely only cost a couple of dollars. If, however, Apple deems this to be a less-used feature not work putting back, how about a lightning connector that converts to audio out? Lightning-to-Digital would be fine. So would Lightning-to-Stero (analog). Just provide **something**.

17. The ability to control multiple TV's with audio/video synchronization. Imagine the ability to put on a movie and it have play in the living room, kitchen and playroom... with the ability to walk between rooms without missing a beat! This could also be good for parties.

18. FACETIME from the sofa! An obvious choice, but one strangely left out of the discussion.

19. Support for an antenna-in / DVR process. Yes, there *might* be an Apple TV service, but why would I want to pay them for something I can already get for free?

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Music is one thing, movies/ tv shows are quite another. Music is DRM free that is why iTunes Match works. You think any of the content owners are going to allow Apple, Google, Amazon to match non DRM content?!??

Let's be honest here.... Most of the users here who ask for local library Siri search get their content from "other" means. Which includes defeating DRM on DVDs they own (illegal btw) and match artwork from services that turn a blind eye.

Perhaps, but UltraViolet providers currently have a disk-to-digital program, including upgrading SD to HD, so the precedent is set. Like many people I rip my DVD/BR collection - currently around 850 disks - but would cheerfully pay for the D2D process. YES... I believe content owners would rather be paid something than nothing at all.

 

[Crazy Badger]

FYI, it's *really* quick and easy to set up a US Store account without adding a payment method:

1. Log out of your iTunes Store account on your Mac, or the App Store account on your iOS device.

2. Switch iTunes/AppStore to the region you want (say US).

3. Download a free app and select "Create Account" when it asks for your login.

And Robert's your mother's brother.

After you download the Trailers app, also grab the PBS app.

This doesn't work for me without a credit card registered to a US address. I tried with a UK card and the Empire State Building address, but it didn't like it

 

[MrTemple]

This doesn't work for me without a credit card registered to a US address. I tried with a UK card and the Empire State Building address, but it didn't like it

If you try to just create an account in the US app store, it will require a payment info.

However if you try to buy a free app in the US store (while logged out of any account), it will allow you to create one with no payment method.

 

[Crazy Badger]

Ah, wrong steps! This worked a treat - thanks

 

[shamo48]

1- Univeral watchlist across media apps. This could easily be built into the new Search app.

2- Grid view for home sharing. Vertical scroll list for movies and tv shows just sucks.

3- Grid view for Music app when using iTunes Match albums.

4- Podcast app

5- Remote app for iOS

6- Folders for apps

7- Univeral cable service authentication for media apps.

8- Siri for home sharing content

9- Picture in Picture support for video

 

[Gasu E.]

Honestly, the thing I would prefer above all is better network diagnostics. I get massive hangs with streaming Netflix, in spite of high bandwidth on the wireless network. I'd love it if the ATV provided some clue as to what the problem was.

 

[bn-7bc]

Missing from the aTV3 experience - iOS Remote App, Trailers App and Podcast App

Improvements to the aTV4 experience - better Siri integration across Apps, Multi-user controls, improved text entry, more game controller support

Like to see in aTV5 - UHD, Optical Output, GB Ethernet, more TV controls on remote (e.g. AV switching)

Well theremote app arived in december, and the latest tvos beta apparentky adds podcats app
As for optical out on atv4 I'm afraid you cann forget that as optical does not ( as far asI know, please correct me if I'm wrong) hae anu drm, so italows a clean digital copy of the sound something content providers don't perticularly like. Just one question can the new lossless codecs even be transported over optical, or do the require HDCP? I fully opport the request for Gb eth, IMHO it vas rather silly of apple notto include it in the atv 4 esp since a Gb eth chipset probably only adds a few swnts to the cost in the volume apple buys.