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Hands-On With the New 'TV' App in the tvOS 10.1 Beta

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As of this morning, fourth-generation Apple TV owners running the tvOS 10.1 beta were given access to the new "TV" app, which is designed to be a one-stop destination for finding and watching television and movies across the Apple TV and iOS devices.

The TV app, which works hand-in-hand with features like Live Tune-In and Single Sign On, aims to make it easier for users to locate content that's spread across dozens of television and movie apps. In the video below, you can see that the TV app is now fully functional, with a dedicated store, recommended content, and an Up Next syncing feature.


The TV app is organized into several sections. Watch Now, the main menu, feature a collection of shows and movies available from iTunes and other apps. Up Next, a subsection of Watch Now, keeps track of the TV shows and movies you've watched, remembering which episode of a TV show you're on or where a movie was paused, even across multiple devices.

A library houses all of the content you've purchased from iTunes, while a store section lists recommendations on what you should buy based on other things you've watched. The store not only features content from iTunes, but also several third-party apps like Hulu, HBO Now, and Starz.

The TV app is also available on iOS devices running the iOS 10.2 beta, and it has an interface that's identical to the TV app interface on the Apple TV.

tvOS 10.1 is limited to developers, but is expected to see a public release this December. Apple has promised that tvOS 10.1 features, including Single Sign On and the TV app, will be available before the end of the year.

Article Link: Hands-On With the New 'TV' App in the tvOS 10.1 Beta
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/11/16/tv-app-hands-on-demonstration/
I've checked it out on my iPad, and it's got a few bugs, but overall not bad. It's nice being able to use it and search faster to see if a show is on netflix or hulu, without having to load up each of the apps. It's just a shame you can't use your Netflix and/or Hulu account, and have it open up in the TV app itself seamlessly, instead of the TV app switching to that specific app (I doubt that feature will ever be available though)
 
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So this will keep track of which person is watching which show based on which user account is logged in, right? ;)

Or has Apple still not remembered that the Apple TV isn't a "personal" device like iPhone and iPads?

I should be able to have my phone let me continue watching the show that I was watching, not the show my wife or daughter was watching.

Same thing with the remote app. When I open a search screen and start using the remote to type on screen, my phone buzzes and reminds me to use the remote app on my iPhone, but my phone also buzzes when my wife does it even though I'm not even in the same room. She should be able to switch to her account, which can be linked to her iPad and her iPhone.
 
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I think it depends on how someone uses streaming apps. I rarely run Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, etc. without purpose, rarely open an app for 'discovery'. I check the JustWatch site or app every couple days for new listings and add stuff to my watchlists as needed, and use the NextEpisode site or app to keep track of it all.

For me, Apple's TV App just adds another step... o_O
 
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its weird how their new apps (on iOS) dont even really follow their own design guidelines. remember when Apple used to refresh all their apps at the same time? their new ones are also quiet boring. white on big ass font, makes it look like a Zune
 
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PaulRustad007 said:
Just get Plex.....solves all your issues.
[doublepost=1479330679][/doublepost]
Plex? Works for me.
Click to expand...
Plex doesn't work with Siri and might never does, still the best option for streaming local content, the interface is like 1000 times better than anything from Apple, Google & M$ (that's if they're even trying).
 
I haven't seen a "Favorites" section in the iOS app yet, but hoping for it. I want to be able to set up a list of my favorite shows, see unwatched episodes, and load the episodes or movies from whatever app I'm using, so I don't have to go searching all over to find what I want to watch next.
 
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So if "the future of TV is apps", why create an app designed to prevent you from having to go to other apps?

I own an Apple TV 4th gen and now with the TV app, I don't really get why this is any better, or much different than Comcast's X1 platform which I also have to pay for to get any content to come through my Apple TV. Confused.
 
"Up Next, a subsection of Watch Now, keeps track of the TV shows and movies you've watched, remembering which episode of a TV show you're on or where a movie was paused, even across multiple devices."

No, actually it keeps track of the tv shows and movies everyone in your house has watched, remembering which episode of a TV show your family's on or where a movie was last paused by someone in your home.

In other words, it's pretty useless.
 
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I like the idea of the TV apps landing page serving as a new Home screen (if the users chooses).

This might take some getting used to though. If I want to get back to the real Home screen I need to train myself to press and hold the Menu button, instead of the "Home" button. NBD. That's how it was on the old ATV. Shouldn't take more than a few days to change that behavior.

The part I find interesting is that "the button formerly knows as Home" has the same graphic as the TV App icon. Which doesn't really make sense if it's a universal Home button. Why not use the the word "Home" just like "Menu" next to it? Or use the square with rounded corners graphic that used to be on the iphone home button?

I think it's safe to say that Apple intended to ship the ATV4 with the TV App but delayed it for whatever reasons. So was the TV Button on the Siri Remote was always intended to do what it does now - take you to the TV App landing page and NOT serve as a universal Home button? I believe the answer is yes. It certainly makes more sense than having 2 buttons serving the same function right next to each other.
 
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benjitek said:
I think it depends on how someone uses streaming apps. I rarely run Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, etc. without purpose, rarely open an app for 'discovery'. I check the JustWatch site or app every couple days for new listings and add stuff to my watchlists as needed, and use the NextEpisode site or app to keep track of it all.

For me, Apple's TV App just adds another step... o_O
Click to expand...
wow thanks for the recommended apps. NextEpisode was exactly what i needed and hoped the TV app would be and now i dont care

I cut the cord on the TV but still interested when these shows are ready on the their respective network apps for me to see. NextEpisode allows me to load all my fav shows and also allows me to offset 1 day so the schedule actually shows me when the networks apps actually load it in their apps. Most load it the next morning so this is perfect. Also allows me to tell it which one i watched already to make the list clean.
 
PatriotInvasion said:
So if "the future of TV is apps", why create an app designed to prevent you from having to go to other apps?

I own an Apple TV 4th gen and now with the TV app, I don't really get why this is any better, or much different than Comcast's X1 platform which I also have to pay for to get any content to come through my Apple TV. Confused.
Click to expand...

How about this: it is becoming increasingly possible with every addition to use streaming set top boxes to replace your cable box. And in doing so lower your bill.
 
camarograna2 said:
wow thanks for the recommended apps. NextEpisode was exactly what i needed and hoped the TV app would be and now i dont care

I cut the cord on the TV but still interested when these shows are ready on the their respective network apps for me to see. NextEpisode allows me to load all my fav shows and also allows me to offset 1 day so the schedule actually shows me when the networks apps actually load it in their apps. Most load it the next morning so this is perfect. Also allows me to tell it which one i watched already to make the list clean.
Click to expand...
Is NextEpisode on the Apple TV?

I use WatchAid which is on tvOS and iOS and is great. I search for each show I watch and tell it to follow it and when a New unwatched Episode is available it shows up under Newly Available. I can also look under Upcoming and see what is coming today, tomorrow and beyond. Even shows like House of Cards which is Upcoming in 99 days. It supports everything that I watch in Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, CW, etc. And, I can look at prior seasons.

I was really hoping the Apple TV App would work as good or better. But I can't even find out how to add a TV Series. Looks like you have to start watching a show and then it shows under Watching Now. I don't see this very helpful. Again, I want to tell it which shows I watch and let it manage them.
 
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