New Apple TV App vs. WatchAid App

[d21mike]

I was very excited about the New Apple TV App but hated to wait until the end of the year. While reading about it I found out about WatchAid which claimed to have what Apple TV App has but available now. Last night I installed it and it is pretty amazing. I have no idea how they do it but they support everything that I watch including Netflix (which has not yet committed to the TV App).

I was able to add all my shows from CBS All Access (no commercial tier), Hulu (no commercial tier), Netflix, HBO Now (mainly WestWorld) and my recent iTunes "The Walking Dead" and more. And it appears to keep the shows tied to my iCloud ID since it sync's to all my devices including multiple ATV's that are logged into iCloud.

When a show is ready to watch it first comes up in the Newly Available Section then drops down to the In Watch Queue Section. It also has Upcoming for Today, Tomorrow, in 2 days, In 3 days etc. Very easy to add show to the Queue.

Once you select a show to watch it gives you the option of where to watch it from. Like iTunes, CBS etc. And like the TV App you are taken into the App to watch the show. When it ends you are still in the App which you then Menu back to the start. I did not try the Home TV Button to see if it does what the TV App does and takes you back to the WatchAid App (my guess is no).

I was so impressed with this App I gave it 5 Stars and decided to mention it here. I recommend you check it out if you watch a lot of TV Shows from multiple Apps.

The cost is based on donation. $1.99, 4.99 or 9.99.

 

[benjitek]

I prefer NextEpisode or JustWatch -- both have website equivalents with user logins as well as iOS apps. WatchAid syncs with Trakt, with Trakt being my absolute least favorite TV/Film tracking service, especially when it comes to other apps using their API. WatchAid doesn't have a Today Screen plugin -- very odd for a TV tracking app. NextEpisode has a great Today Screen plugin.

But that's great you found an app you like.

 

[d21mike]

I prefer NextEpisode or JustWatch -- both have website equivalents with user logins as well as iOS apps. WatchAid syncs with Trakt, with Trakt being my absolute least favorite TV/Film tracking service, especially when it comes to other apps using their API. WatchAid doesn't have a Today Screen plugin -- very odd for a TV tracking app. NextEpisode has a great Today Screen plugin.

But that's great you found an app you like.

I saw an option to login with Trakt in the iOS Version but they did not have the option in the AppleTV Version. I do not have a Trakt Account. Are you saying they use Trakt for my show selection anyway? I did assume they were using my iCloud but I can't prove it. Just that one I logged into my iCloud ID on a second ATV my selections showed up.

Anyway, great they are more options. The two you mentioned do they do everything WatchAid does? And if so, do they do anything more that you could highlight? And where do they store you show selections?
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I saw an option to login with Trakt in the iOS Version but they did not have the option in the AppleTV Version. I do not have a Trakt Account. Are you saying they use Trakt for my show selection anyway? I did assume they were using my iCloud but I can't prove it. Just that one I logged into my iCloud ID on a second ATV my selections showed up.

Anyway, great they are more options. The two you mentioned do they do everything WatchAid does? And if so, do they do anything more that you could highlight? And where do they store you show selections?

UPDATE: I just did a search for both of those and neither of them have an Apple TV App that I could find. If true, why would you even compare them to the New Apple TV App or WatchAid which are both very similar and run on the Apple TV? The idea is to have a universal app on the Apple TV so that when a New Episode becomes available from any source you can just watch it and it goes away. Kind of like a DVR. i.E. Universal Watch List.

 

[benjitek]

I do not have a Trakt Account. Are you saying they use Trakt for my show selection anyway?

No, WatchAid only uses Trakt if you provide a login. It may also save your settings to iCloud, but if you want a website option to manage your watchlist -- you're stuck with the Trakt/WatchAid sync option. If you only want a solution that will be exclusively used on your ATV4 -- WatchAid might be for you, but if you want access to your data on another platform, or from a website -- you'll have to be OK with Trakt & WatchAid.

 

[d21mike]

No, WatchAid only uses Trakt if you provide a login. It may also save your setting to iCloud, but if you want a website option to manage your watchlist -- you're stuck with the Trakt/WatchAid sync option. If you only want a solution that will be exclusively used on your ATV4 -- WatchAid might be for you, but if you want access to your data on another platform, or from a website -- you'll have to be OK with Trakt & WatchAid.

I do everything from the Apple TV which is where I watch 99% of my TV Shows. But nice to see WatchAid on my iPad just in case. Regarding the support for Trakit. I was thinking if other Apps supported it then I would consider it. Example: If a DVR could put my Recordings List there and I could see those in the same Watch List as say my Hulu, Netflix, CBS, HBO etc. I would certainly take a look at it. My idea is a Universal Watch List for everything and so for WatchAid seems to be pretty close. To help clarify, I have 8 TV's in my house all with only the Apple TV 4 connected to them. All of my content comes from Apps including Live TV.

 

[benjitek]

Doesn't cost anything to take a look, or just use Google to search reviews. Trakt is free with subscription option. Good luck!

 

[2010mini]

downloaded it. I works great!