Hands-On With Apple's New TV App in iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3

[MacRumors]

The iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 betas released to developers this morning bring the new TV app that Apple first debuted at its March event on Monday.

Apple's revamped TV app, which is available on iOS devices and the Apple TV at the current time, features a new look and updated functionality.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

"Watch Now" with its "Up Next" function is still front and center in the TV app, but there's a new machine learning-based recommendation engine that will surface personalized content suggestions for you based on what you like to watch.

Up Next will continue to keep track of what you're watching so you'll never forget what episode of a TV show you're on or where you left off watching a movie, while the new "For You" recommendation feature will draw in content from more than 150 streaming apps, including Hulu, Amazon Prime, DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, and more. In addition to the "For You" section, the TV app will also offer "Because you watched..." recommendations much like Netflix.

The overall app interface has been streamlined with sections for Movies, TV Shows, Sports, and Kids content at the top on both Apple TV and iPhone, while Library houses a list of content that you've purchased from iTunes.

There is a new "Channels" feature in the TV app, which is one of the main new components that Apple added. Channels are subscription services that you can sign up for and watch within the TV app without having to open up another app.

So, for example, if you come across a show you want to watch on your iPhone or Apple TV that's on Showtime, you can tap to subscribe to Showtime right in the TV app, and then you can watch that show without leaving the app.

Some of the new Channels that will be supported include CBS All Access, Starz, Showtime, HBO, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault, and Comedy Central Now. During the beta, though, users can subscribe to Showtime, Starz, Smithsonian, and Tastemade.

You'll still get recommendations for content from services that aren't a part of Channels, so while Hulu isn't something you can subscribe to and watch in the TV app itself (you need to watch Hulu content in the Hulu app), you can still see Hulu content suggestions just like the original TV app.

Basically, while you'll get recommendations from a huge list of sources (minus Netflix), there are a small handful of content sources where subscribing and watching has been streamlined. For most content, you'll still need to watch in a third-party app at this time.

In the future, Apple's TV app will house Apple TV+, Apple's newly announced streaming service that will feature all of its original shows and movies.

Apple plans to introduce the new TV app in May, so we can expect the iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 updates to be released sometime that month. Apple also plans to bring the TV app to the Mac, but that won't happen until the fall.

Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's New TV App in iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3

 

[lifjoy]

Can the Sports and Kids tabs at the top of the UI be disabled by us viewers?

 

[Wolffie]

I am getting Netflix suggestions. Specifically, while looking at One Nation Under Stress I get Netflix owned documentaries suggestions. I thought Netflix was being left out. I read the article carefully to see if this was noticed. Anyone else?

Basically, while you'll get recommendations from a huge list of sources (minus Netflix), there are a small handful of content sources where subscribing and watching has been streamlined. For most content, you'll still need to watch in a third-party app at this time.

 

[HiRez]

We don't know yet, but I'm going to guess there will be no discounts at all for these channels. I think Apple's idea is to just consolidate everything into one app (which they tried to do with the original Apple TV app) and add more options for getting content (ie. channel sign ups). I bet you HBO, Stars, etc. are the same price they are everywhere else although I hope I'm wrong. If that's the case, is this really a big deal?

Still disappointed Netflix won't be integrated, but I do like that Sony is on board for the Vue service because the Vue ATV app is really garbage, hopefully the TV app will be better with UI.

I'm also wondering how integrated these channels are, for example can I set and see grouped "season passes" or "DVRed" (in Sony's parlance) shows, or does it not go that deep and it's just integrating search results?

 

[nutmac]

Is the video playback UI on iOS improved in anyway? Such as 15 second rewind and forward buttons? It baffles me that iOS TV app's playback UI is stuck in iOS 11 era (with almost impossible to use scrubber at the top) when web player is updated with 15 second rewind/forward and scrubber on the bottom.

 

[HiRez]

Is the video playback UI on iOS improved in anyway? Such as 15 second rewind and forward buttons? It baffles me that iOS TV app's playback UI is stuck in iOS 11 era (with almost impossible to use scrubber at the top) when web player is updated with 15 second rewind/forward and scrubber on the bottom.

Yeah, I need those FFS/REV buttons for watching anything with commercials in it, and I would really like a way to set them to custom times, although I know my chances of Apple providing those options are almost zero. I miss my TiVo where you could set each to whatever you want, for example 30 seconds forward and 8 seconds back. This makes it really easy to jump over commercial blocks and get back into the content.

 

[GadgetDon]

Apple's revamped TV app, which is available on iOS devices and the Apple TV at the current time, features a new look and updated functionality.
...
Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's New TV App in iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3

Does it still support Home Sharing to stream from a local Mac instead of the Apple servers?

 

[NinjaHERO]

I remember when all of my media was in the Itunes app. Loved it. Super convenient. then Apple decided to break that app apart into lots of little apps. Pain in the butt, but I got used to it. I wonder if the Apple TV will slowly start to bring some things back together.

 

[nutmac]

We don't know yet, but I'm going to guess there will be no discounts at all for these channels. I think Apple's idea is to just consolidate everything into one app (which they tried to do with the original Apple TV app) and add more options for getting content (ie. channel sign ups). I bet you HBO, Stars, etc. are the same price they are everywhere else although I hope I'm wrong. If that's the case, is this really a big deal?

Actually, some of the rumors claim Apple is in active negotiation to offer Apple-managed streaming services (e.g., CBS, HBO, Showtime, Starz) at a reduced price -- $9.99/month or less (HBO Now costs $14.99).

 

[Geronimo]

Is the Live News row still there in the main Watch Now tab in the new TV app? Hope so. Also hope they've added MSNBC (which now has a live stream in the NBC News app), and that we can choose which news sources we want to display and which we want to hide.

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

Is the Live News row still there in the main Watch Now tab in the new TV app? Hope so. Also hope they've added MSNBC (which now has a live stream in the NBC News app), and that we can choose which news sources we want to display and which we want to hide.

Do you know if this will authenticate with your satellite Directv subscription? When it first came out. It would not.

 

[alllexx]

Has the season/episode picker for tv shows been improved any?

 

[Chopper9]

Worthless without Netflix and Hulu integration.

 

[ErikGrim]

Is the video playback UI on iOS improved in anyway? Such as 15 second rewind and forward buttons? It baffles me that iOS TV app's playback UI is stuck in iOS 11 era (with almost impossible to use scrubber at the top) when web player is updated with 15 second rewind/forward and scrubber on the bottom.

What do you mean? Apple TV has always had 15s rewind / forward. Just click the left and right edge of the tap surface.

 

[DNichter]

I think it looks better than the current version. If it pulls everything from PlayStation Vue, Hulu, Prime, Shudder, and Tubi into one app with a good UI, I’ll be thrilled.

 

[Moonlight]

What I am looking for in this is something way different than they are giving me. I would love to be able to make my own "channels" with programing from many different sources, so I can just turn on the apple tv and play, lets say "Channel 1" and it will play an hour block of Seinfeld, a half hour of Family guy and American Dad, then an hour of Daredevil. Almost like replicating a TV station of old, but of exactly what I want and then I can turn it on and not hunt for hours to find something. It would let you become your own programing director. They could also offer curated channels if you don't want to make your own. Almost like playlists in Apple Music.

 

[scottct1]

Been playing with it on my iPhone for a few hours and I am not really impressed.

Easier to go into the channel apps directly and watch from there. And I am not seeing any live channels.
Hope it gets better.

 

[abrantes09]

I set up this app today, more like the app set up itself, but the App is a hidden gem in the ecosystem. Although I am still waiting for the public beta, the old UI is great now considering it pulls hulu, prime, netflix and itunes all together and I always underestimated that ability. Only complaint, I really need a MacOS app for this. I know it requires native apps to work, but Im sure apple could figure out some cloud thing.

 

[Icaras]

I set up this app today, more like the app set up itself, but the App is a hidden gem in the ecosystem. Although I am still waiting for the public beta, the old UI is great now considering it pulls hulu, prime, netflix and itunes all together and I always underestimated that ability. Only complaint, I really need a MacOS app for this. I know it requires native apps to work, but Im sure apple could figure out some cloud thing.

Apple tv+ is coming to the Mac.

 

[abrantes09]

Apple tv+ is coming to the Mac.

I know, I am very happy with that. I just hope the standard tv features are ported over with it

 

[Icaras]

I know, I am very happy with that. I just hope the standard tv features are ported over with it

Yea I’m excited. Can’t wait to finally be able to watch my movies and TV content in it’s own separate dedicated app. And I’m hoping Apple finally removes it from iTunes now.

 

[mariusignorello]

What I am looking for in this is something way different than they are giving me. I would love to be able to make my own "channels" with programing from many different sources, so I can just turn on the apple tv and play, lets say "Channel 1" and it will play an hour block of Seinfeld, a half hour of Family guy and American Dad, then an hour of Daredevil. Almost like replicating a TV station of old, but of exactly what I want and then I can turn it on and not hunt for hours to find something. It would let you become your own programing director. They could also offer curated channels if you don't want to make your own. Almost like playlists in Apple Music.

The closest you would get is if Apple added Siri shortcuts to Apple TV. And that would be interesting.

 

[Magalini]

Are they ever going to integrate family purchases into this interface?

 

[EdT]

I hope Apple has more than what I've seen announced so far for options/choices. I don't need Amazon or Netflix part deux, and if that's what I want about 10 or more streaming services already do or soon will exist. What does Apple plan to offer or integrate into their service that I can't get elsewhere? I don't know what magic option is required for me to be interested in a streaming service but I know I haven't seen it yet from anyone.

 

[Ellis.adam]

The iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 betas released to developers this morning bring the new TV app that Apple first debuted at its March event on Monday.

Apple's revamped TV app, which is available on iOS devices and the Apple TV at the current time, features a new look and updated functionality.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

"Watch Now" with its "Up Next" function is still front and center in the TV app, but there's a new machine learning-based recommendation engine that will surface personalized content suggestions for you based on what you like to watch.

Up Next will continue to keep track of what you're watching so you'll never forget what episode of a TV show you're on or where you left off watching a movie, while the new "For You" recommendation feature will draw in content from more than 150 streaming apps, including Hulu, Amazon Prime, DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, and more. In addition to the "For You" section, the TV app will also offer "Because you watched..." recommendations much like Netflix.

The overall app interface has been streamlined with sections for Movies, TV Shows, Sports, and Kids content at the top on both Apple TV and iPhone, while Library houses a list of content that you've purchased from iTunes.

There is a new "Channels" feature in the TV app, which is one of the main new components that Apple added. Channels are subscription services that you can sign up for and watch within the TV app without having to open up another app.

So, for example, if you come across a show you want to watch on your iPhone or Apple TV that's on Showtime, you can tap to subscribe to Showtime right in the TV app, and then you can watch that show without leaving the app.

Some of the new Channels that will be supported include CBS All Access, Starz, Showtime, HBO, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault, and Comedy Central Now. During the beta, though, users can subscribe to Showtime, Starz, Smithsonian, and Tastemade.

You'll still get recommendations for content from services that aren't a part of Channels, so while Hulu isn't something you can subscribe to and watch in the TV app itself (you need to watch Hulu content in the Hulu app), you can still see Hulu content suggestions just like the original TV app.

Basically, while you'll get recommendations from a huge list of sources (minus Netflix), there are a small handful of content sources where subscribing and watching has been streamlined. For most content, you'll still need to watch in a third-party app at this time.

In the future, Apple's TV app will house Apple TV+, Apple's newly announced streaming service that will feature all of its original shows and movies.

Apple plans to introduce the new TV app in May, so we can expect the iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 updates to be released sometime that month. Apple also plans to bring the TV app to the Mac, but that won't happen until the fall.

Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's New TV App in iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3

[doublepost=1553740549][/doublepost]I have a question about channels. Right now I use for instance the Showtime Anytime app and sign in with my Dish network user ID. Will this then allow me to use the Showtime channel in the TV app or will that only be accessible for people who subscribe via the new TV app itself?