My Hopes for Apple TV App Store

[applegeek01]

I am seriously hoping that when Apple announces their new Apple TV this summer, along with Siri and an App Store, I hope that one of the apps available is not a game or anything like that. For a very long time I have dreamed of a Flixster app or "channel" on the Apple TV. Sure I could just use Airplay to stream the movies on Flixster's website to my Apple TV, but it would be so much better if they had an app for the Apple TV like they do for iPhones and iPads. I have SO many movies on digital download that are redeemable on iTunes, but a have a hefty amount that are only good through Flixster as well.

Anyone else thinking that this might be a good idea? Or am I just blowing smoke?

 

[Lord Hamsa]

If they redesign the software to allow for 3rd-party apps via an "app store", I don't see why this couldn't or wouldn't happen. I would imagine pretty much any major iOS app that streams content would eventually want an ATV version. Flixster, Disney Movies Anywhere, Amazon Instant Video, etc.

It might also open up opportunities for things like Plex, XMBC, and MythTV. Maybe some device manufacturers like SiliconDust and Elgato could make apps for controlling and streaming from their devices.

There are probably dozens of apps that will come in short order just to provide content to the ATV in addition to any programming packages (i.e., "channels") if Apple were to open up to 3rd-party apps. (And that's not even getting into other types of apps, like games.)

 

[SWD]

Competing apps should be allowed in. I think it's anticompetitve and darn near anti trust to have Netflix and beats but not spotify or Amazon (I know it's a little different, they own beats but not a video streaming service).

Universal search with Siri integration

Recently watched/listen list
I want to easily access my next episode of house of Cards, a Spotify playlist, Pandora station, recent hulu episode of SNL, last Sling Tv station, etc from the home screen.

Fantasy world, I know. Deliver the content I want, learn my habits and even adjust to the time of day/week.

I bought a fire tv recently, and I'm pretty happy with it, at least the expandability.

 

[JuryDuty]

If the app store allowed Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, etc, in, I'd use it a WHOLE lot more--a lot of people would. That would breathe new life into Apple TV for me.

 

[ozaz]

I think it's anticompetitve and darn near anti trust to have Netflix and beats but not spotify or Amazon

Not whilst Apple TV is still a niche product.

Microsoft were considered anti-competitive because of their practices whilst in a position of dominance in the PC market. It might be reasonable to start accusing Google of it in mobile (due to their insistence on pre-installing all the Google apps whenever Google Play services is installed on Android). But the market penetration of Apple TV and streaming boxes in general is tiny. There are several other devices that provide streaming of Amazon & Spotify.

Also, it might well be that Amazon & Spotify don't want to be on the Apple TV rather than Apple preventing them. Spotify might have agreements with other streaming devices that preclude them from building an Apple TV app.

 

[SWD]

Not whilst Apple TV is still a niche product.

Microsoft were considered anti-competitive because of their practices whilst in a position of dominance in the PC market. It might be reasonable to start accusing Google of it in mobile (due to their insistence on pre-installing all the Google apps whenever Google Play services is installed on Android). But the market penetration of Apple TV and streaming boxes in general is tiny. There are several other devices that provide streaming of Amazon & Spotify.

Also, it might well be that Amazon & Spotify don't want to be on the Apple TV rather than Apple preventing them. Spotify might have agreements with other streaming devices that preclude them from building an Apple TV app.

Good points. I didn't think the other companies may have deals or just don't want to be on there.

It's too bad Airplay doesn't work like I think chromecast works, where it will take over the stream. My iPhone 6 was having bad wifi issues for a while, and I could not airplay spotify.

 

[betabeta]

If the app store allowed Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, etc, in, I'd use it a WHOLE lot more--a lot of people would. That would breathe new life into Apple TV for me.

Absolutely, it wouldn't hurt Apple one bit, could only help them.

I can't stand having to airplay Amazon Instant, it's so dumb, if I can do this, just allow it on the box.

 

[quamdar]

If the app store allowed Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, etc, in, I'd use it a WHOLE lot more--a lot of people would. That would breathe new life into Apple TV for me.

Me as well. I pretty much don't care what they do to TV if I can't stream my Amazon Prime to it then I will most likely be going Roku 4K.