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LG Adds Apple TV, Apple Music, and Other Apple Features to webOS TVs

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LG has added a number of Apple apps and features to other-branded televisions running its webOS Hub across more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, the company has announced.

lg-webos-apple-tv-update.jpg

On compatible smart TVs that are based on the webOS Hub ecosystem, users will be able to access the Apple TV app and Apple Music, as well as connect to AirPlay and HomeKit devices, without having to link up an Apple TV set-top box or any other hardware.

From LG's press release announcing the update:
With the Apple TV app, Apple Music, AirPlay and HomeKit all coming to the webOS Hub ecosystem, LG is constantly refining and expanding its webOS smart TV platform while enhancing its accessibility so that more consumers can benefit from the most convenient user experience.

By offering a greater range of customization options to smart TV manufacturers and giving more convenience and choice of content to customers, 10 times as many brands are now available on webOS Hub than in early 2021.
Click to expand...
The deployment is available for more than 200 TV brands worldwide running webOS, such as Seiki, Eko, Stream System, Konka, Aiwa, and Hyundai. LG does not offer a detailed list of eligible TVs but specifies that only 4K UHD and OLED models running webOS Hub 2.0 will receive AirPlay and HomeKit compatibility.

Article Link: LG Adds Apple TV, Apple Music, and Other Apple Features to webOS TVs
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/02/06/lg-adds-apple-apps-features-webos-tvs/
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I know we can upgrade smart TVs by plugging a device like a 2022 Apple TV 4K 5nm into the HDMI port but what I'd love would be able to replace the logic board of all LG 4K TVs with the logic board of the 2022 Apple TV 4K 5nm and enjoy the power of an iPhone chip as the primary SoC of the TV.
 
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KrisLord said:
Yeah I’m confused. LG TVs have had the Apple services available for ages.

My TV is always telling me about a free trial of Apple stuff - it’s rather annoying!
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Better a nag screen than your TV's brand, not the streaming app like Youtube, pushing ads onto you.

I think the lower end Samsung TVs have this BS.
 
sam_dean said:
I know we can upgrade smart TVs by plugging a device like a 2022 Apple TV 4K 5nm into the HDMI port but what I'd love would be able to replace the logic board of all LG 4K TVs with the logic board of the 2022 Apple TV 4K 5nm and enjoy the power of an iPhone chip as the primary SoC of the TV.
Click to expand...

Along those same lines... I wish TV manufacturers would put all the electronics (logic board, HDMI ports, etc) in a box that slides into a slot in the back of the TV.

Then you can buy an upgraded replacement box when new tech is released. You'd get all new guts while keeping the same screen.

Of course they won't do that because they want to sell you an entire new TV... but I can dream.

:)
 
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Michael Scrip said:
Along those same lines... I wish TV manufacturers would put all the electronics (logic board, HDMI ports, etc) in a box that slides into a slot in the back of the TV.

Then you can buy an upgraded replacement box when new tech is released. You'd get all new guts while keeping the same screen.

Of course they won't do that because they want to sell you an entire new TV. But I can dream.

:)
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Samsung somewhat allows that. Back when I was shopping for 4K TVs in 2016 I saw Samsung separating a break out box that connected to the back of a TV with a proprietary connector.

I was thinking that Samsung could allow for future SoC upgrades. Given that they make Android smartphones then they have the skill set.

At minimum I expect to keep my B6 until 2026 then upgrade to a 8K TV when 8K video consoles, 8K streaming and 8K blu-ray are released.

Or I'd keep it for 2 decades then replace by 2036.
 
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Most modern TVs have Airplay, TV and other apps such as TV channel web stream platforms.

Kind of making the AppleTV a bit unnecessary apart from the fact that you use HomeKit a lot and use it as HomeHub
 
sam_dean said:
I know we can upgrade smart TVs by plugging a device like a 2022 Apple TV 4K 5nm into the HDMI port but what I'd love would be able to replace the logic board of all LG 4K TVs with the logic board of the 2022 Apple TV 4K 5nm and enjoy the power of an iPhone chip as the primary SoC of the TV.
Click to expand...
To what end? The TVs are already powerful enough to run the apps quickly and efficiently? Do you really want another platform capable of running low quality games?
 
Duncan-UK said:
To what end? The TVs are already powerful enough to run the apps quickly and efficiently? Do you really want another platform capable of running low quality games?
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TVs tend to be replaced every 1-2 decades. Over time the GUI just not responsive. It lags.

Right now my 2016 LG B6 OLED 4K TV's webOS is so laggy. I want the snappiness of an iPhone chip.

Samsung on Samsung TV would be within the same ecosystem.
 
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sam_dean said:
Right now my 2016 LG B6 OLED 4K TV's webOS is so laggy. I want the snappiness of an iPhone chip.
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I'ts really bad and extremely annoying. Even switching channels takes ages. I have the 2020 BX model and the UI also lags terribly. It's so bad, before I buy my next TV I will test the UI before and make sure it's snappy.
 
KrisLord said:
Yeah I’m confused. LG TVs have had the Apple services available for ages.

My TV is always telling me about a free trial of Apple stuff - it’s rather annoying!
Click to expand...
This pertains to 200 brands using LG’s WebOS platform. Sounds like a major expansion beyond LG directly controlled brands.
 
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Michael Scrip said:
Along those same lines... I wish TV manufacturers would put all the electronics (logic board, HDMI ports, etc) in a box that slides into a slot in the back of the TV.

Then you can buy an upgraded replacement box when new tech is released. You'd get all new guts while keeping the same screen.
Click to expand...
Buy a monitor and some duct tape... 😅 Then tape whatever smart component you want on its back.
 
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Anaxarxes said:
Kind of making the AppleTV a bit unnecessary apart from the fact that you use HomeKit a lot and use it as HomeHub
Click to expand...

This perception keeps flying but AppleTV (the box) and AppleTV (the app) are very different things. The former does so much more than the latter. The latter is but one of MANY apps available on the hardware. In this case, 2 apps & 2 functions are available on select televisions. That leaves thousands of other apps still not represented.

If someone only uses AppleTV (the box) for these 4 things, then yes, the availability of the same apps on their webOS TV does make the box redundant for them. However, if one uses only 1+ other apps on AppleTV not available on the limited mix of apps for TVs, the box starts gaining useful points.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
This perception keeps flying but AppleTV (the box) and AppleTV (the app) are very different things. The former does so much more than the latter. The latter is but one of MANY apps available on the hardware. In this case, 2 apps & 2 functions are available on select televisions. That leaves thousands of other apps still not represented.

If someone only uses AppleTV (the box) for these 4 things, then yes, the availability of the same apps on their webOS TV does make the box redundant for them. However, if one uses only 1+ other apps on AppleTV not available on the limited mix of apps for TVs, the box starts gaining useful points.
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What I meant was that AppleTV's core functions for most are:
  1. Airplay
  2. TV/TV+ app
In the scnario of a smart TV having these apps on it's smart functions, kind of removes the needs for an AppleTV hardware for most people

If you use a AppleTV app that is essential or use AppleTV as Home Base, of course it makes sense.
 
I doubt that "most" (people) assumption is true. I certainly think many people enjoy those apps/functions (too), along with other apps... but not most.

I also don't see either as "core functions"- just some functions. For example, I pretty much NEVER use TV+ app and rarely use Airplay (to AppleTV) myself and I am very frequent AppleTV user. Am I in the "most" people pool or the minority? I don't know. But Airplay and TV+ app are relatively "everywhere" for a few years now and AppleTV seems to still be selling and getting hardware updates accordingly.
 
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