New Apple TV Tidbits: Limited App Discovery, User Guide, Amazon Pulls Apple TVs, and More

[navaira]

"Amazon removed the Apple and Google streaming media players because they are incompatible with its Prime Video streaming service, which it believes may cause confusion for customers."

Yes Amazon, this is TOTALLY the reason, we believe every word.

I still have that Mac remote, the metal one, loved using it with Front Row until one day Front Row was no more. So now I have a... it's not even good for paperweight.

 

[justinmartin]

The Canadian App store is crap - not nearly a fifth of what is shown in the video

 

[photogpab]

Just got my ATV4 and set it up, but I had to run to a meeting before I got much time to play with it. I noticed under "computer" where I home share all my movies, tv shows, home videos and music that it looks the same as the old interface except white - all my movies are listed in alphabetical order with a photo of the movie on the left. I've always hated that and had hoped the new UI would be different. I would love for all the movies to be displayed by their cover (similar to how Plex does it) - has this ever been an option?

 

[nebo1ss]

Come on Amazon. Suck it up and submit an app like everybody else.

Amazon will built an App when Apple allows the Amazon fire to access the iTunes store and download content.

 

[danzini]

Argh. Maybe I should have checked but is there no AMC, USA or ABC app for the Apple TV? These are the two I use the most on my iPad.

 

[epirali]

I have written Amazon twice explaining that I will most likely not renew Prime. Not because I don't like the fast delivery, or that Amazon isn't an amazing place to buy many many things (which I do, believe me, you don't want to see the amount I spend per month at Amazon). But once they decide they are going to selectively remove items from their marketplace in order to "push" me into something I wouldn't have done then they are no longer a neutral marketplace. And without that I will not support them by spending money, nor will I trust their wares in the store. So in a futile attempt to get someone to adopt something they wouldn't they will end up losing a lot of customers.

On the other hand if they had not done that I would have probably bought a Fire TV stick and put in on another HDMI port and not cared.

This is just stupid.

 

[hollersoft]

The Canadian App store is crap - not nearly a fifth of what is shown in the video

Are you searching by the first letter, as shown in the video? By default, most of the apps (including mine ) are not visible on the main screen because they're not hand picked by Apple. You have to search by name. (Or by category name, e.g. "navigation")

I'm in BC, with the device's region set to Canada, and I do see the same list as in the video when searching.

 

[epirali]

Walked in, bought it, walked out, brought it home, set it up.

While the one pre-ordered through apple.com is still preparing for shipment.

Epic fail.

Same here. Fortunately I do need as second one when it comes next week!

 

[justinmartin]

Are you searching by the first letter, as shown in the video? By default, most of the apps (including mine ) are not visible on the main screen because they're not hand picked by Apple. You have to search by name. (Or by category name, e.g. "navigation")

I'm in BC, with the device's region set to Canada, and I do see the same list as in the video when searching.

i will have to double check - thanks for the tip.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Amazon will built an App when Apple allows the Amazon fire to access the iTunes store and download content.

Not a good comparison. Apple makes money on hardware; Amazon makes their money on services. Amazon's strategy is to run everywhere. There's a kindle app for everything with internet access... Amazon puts their video service on the Roku, Xbox, and surely many others. I bet they even allow airplay from iOS to Apple TV.

 

[therelgdog]

Could someone who has the new Apple TV please tell me if ur still able to set ur Flickr account/images to be ur screensaver - just like the old Apple TV - thank you in advance

 

[nottooshabby]

Didn't somebody write an amazon prime app you could use with jailbroken apple tvs? Maybe they will do the same for the latest apple tv that you could compile and install with a developer account.

 

[IscariotJ]

Not a good comparison. Apple makes money on hardware; Amazon makes their money on services. Amazon's strategy is to run everywhere. There's a kindle app for everything with internet access... Amazon puts their video service on the Roku, Xbox, and surely many others. I bet they even allow airplay from iOS to Apple TV.

The UK app allows Airplay ( I'm not sure if that's the same as the US app ).

 

[drcharlie]

Yes, Amazon should submit an app for Prime viewing on the new AppleTV.

Conversely, is Apple content (TV shows, Movies, music) available by app for Fire, Roku, Chromecast, etc? If not, whose fault is the hold-up?

I am quite displeased with these separate ecosystems. It is not good for the consumer.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Hey - If Amazon doesn't want a cut of the sales for the ATV, that's their problem. lmao

Sure as hell isn't going to get me to buy a Fire TV

 

[harley3k]

I was amazed that the Volume Control somehow automatically worked with my TV.....old Pioneer Plasma at that... How'd they do that?

Also the SWIPE is so much better than using the remote app on an iPhone and way better than the old remote. The Verge review that dismissed this feature was way off. I love it.

 

[ChrisCW11]

Lol, when Amazon pulls an Apple product, OMG! Amazon is evil and Apple is benevolent, but when Apple pulls an app or retail product from the Apple Store...my god what a double standard.

All are NOT welcome on Apple, Apple has shown this time and time again. We will see if Apple will truly support Amazon Prime content on the Apple TV considering that Apple won't allow 3rd party content sales without Apple taking a cut of every transaction, as we have seen with the Kindle app on iOS. Why should Amazon pay Apple anything to distribute their content when Amazon has produced an exceptional TV product and service themselves, and had the same "new" Apple TV features over a year ago.

 

[danzini]

Hey - If Amazon doesn't want a cut of the sales for the ATV, that's their problem. lmao

Sure as hell isn't going to get me to buy a Fire TV

 

[Jamie0003]

Loving the new Apple TV so far, apps and interface are slick and responsive but some bits still need work.

No categories in AppStore, why not?
No ICloud photos support only photo stream, this really sucks
Siri needs a lot of work
Now TV app seems to be missing at the moment, though this is obviously not apples fault

Using it as a universal remote works great, and although my TV doesn't support switching inputs when I press the tv button 3 times on the Siri remote the Apple TV sends a command to the TV, but it does nothing. Any ideas? If I could switch inputs with this remote I can finally retire my Logitech harmony, since I can get many of the freeview channels through the tvplayer app.

 

[BeefCake 15]

Make sure they hear the complaints.

 

[thasan]

My prime subscription is set to renew on November 18th. I will be cancelling it before it renews. $100/yr isn't worth it unless Amazon is willing to make a dedicated app for the ATV.

The shipping benefit isn't as much of a good deal as it used to be. It's not like I ever order under $35 worth of stuff on Amazon anyway, so shipping will still be free, just a tad slower. Lately the free 2-day shipping has actually been more like 3 days or longer anyway.

I have already cancelled mine

 

[Alith]

I was amazed that the Volume Control somehow automatically worked with my TV.....old Pioneer Plasma at that... How'd they do that?

Through the HDMI cable. I was also pleasantly surprised that Apple TV also switched both my TV and AV Receiver on and off! Only one remote needed when I'm going to watch AppleTV.

 

[hollersoft]

I can already see a whole bunch of crap apps in the aTV app store.

For example?

There are at least two dozen "flappy" themed games.

 

[kdarling]

Seems like this would all be easier if ATV could run iPad apps.

 

[Rogifan]

Yes, Amazon should submit an app for Prime viewing on the new AppleTV.

Conversely, is Apple content (TV shows, Movies, music) available by app for Fire, Roku, Chromecast, etc? If not, whose fault is the hold-up?

I am quite displeased with these separate ecosystems. It is not good for the consumer.

I think by now consumers know if you want to consume iTunes content buy an Apple device. And if you need your content available on any device don't buy from iTunes.