which app currently available do you think is the best so far?
My vote is Channels. What say you?
My vote is Channels. What say you?
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Apps Opinions.... Best tvOS app so far?
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Judging by the ammount of my usage , here is the list : Readder, Haystack, Infuse, Dragon Mania Legends, Asphalt 8
+1 Channels
It's brilliant for OTA. Apple should have integrated a OTA digital tuner and done this
Channels will be almost perfect when it includes a DVR function.
Where in the heck is Elgoto's TV app?
Where in the heck is Elgoto's TV app?
Channels. Most elegant and mature app. Dev's are adding new features. Channels makes the ATV4 a standout in a sea of media streaming boxes.
I agree that the Channels app is great. I don't watch much live TV, but it is really nice to just flip to it and preview what is on to see if anything catches my interest. Previously, I'd either have to change inputs, or look at the TV Guide on my phone. Channels is such a huge improvement over that.
If they add DVR support, so I could record a sporting event to rewatch later... especially if it could record directly to the Apple TV HD (unlikely), it would have the potential to be the killer feature that makes the Apple TV stand out from any other set top box.
As far as the apps I get the most use out of... it would be the built in "Computers" app, followed by Netflix and Hulu.
I don't really care for the UI on Netflix or Hulu, but Siri integration makes that pretty forgivable. I don't find myself browsing around in either of those apps much. I search with Siri and click. It's great, and is among my favorite AppleTV features.
I have a love/hate relationship with the "Computers" built-in app. I use it more than any other app because I have young children who watch the same movies over and over. So I own many of those movies and they are stored on my computer's hard drive, accessible through my iTunes Library. I didn't purchase most of them through iTunes, so they don't show up in the "Movies" app... so, I am forced to use the "Computers" app quite a bit... but I don't like it. It isn't aesthetically pleasing and the sensitivity of the remote makes it a pain. If Apple would add Siri support to link to my computer's iTunes library like it does with Hulu and Netflix, I would love that.
I tried porting my library over to Plex... but ultimately just stuck with the "Computers" app, because I'm hoping that Apple adds Siri integration to the "Computers" app soon... and that seems far more likely than the Plex app getting full Siri integration.
Anyway that is my primary annoyance with the Apple TV to this point. First World problems I guess.
If they add DVR support, so I could record a sporting event to rewatch later... especially if it could record directly to the Apple TV HD (unlikely), it would have the potential to be the killer feature that makes the Apple TV stand out from any other set top box.
As far as the apps I get the most use out of... it would be the built in "Computers" app, followed by Netflix and Hulu.
I don't really care for the UI on Netflix or Hulu, but Siri integration makes that pretty forgivable. I don't find myself browsing around in either of those apps much. I search with Siri and click. It's great, and is among my favorite AppleTV features.
I have a love/hate relationship with the "Computers" built-in app. I use it more than any other app because I have young children who watch the same movies over and over. So I own many of those movies and they are stored on my computer's hard drive, accessible through my iTunes Library. I didn't purchase most of them through iTunes, so they don't show up in the "Movies" app... so, I am forced to use the "Computers" app quite a bit... but I don't like it. It isn't aesthetically pleasing and the sensitivity of the remote makes it a pain. If Apple would add Siri support to link to my computer's iTunes library like it does with Hulu and Netflix, I would love that.
I tried porting my library over to Plex... but ultimately just stuck with the "Computers" app, because I'm hoping that Apple adds Siri integration to the "Computers" app soon... and that seems far more likely than the Plex app getting full Siri integration.
Anyway that is my primary annoyance with the Apple TV to this point. First World problems I guess.
They have already released the first beta to integrate with the HDHomeRun DVR (which is also in beta). Still a bit of work left.
Yeah, I saw that, and it seems pretty cool. But I don't really want to buy another HDHomeRun device, when the one I have works perfectly well.
I'd rather Apple open up access to the hard drive on the Apple TV, but that is probably never going to happen... and not being a developer, I don't know how difficult that would be to do, even if Apple did allow it.
Fair warning about the Channels app... if you don't already have an HDHomeRun, you'll have to buy one. So in addition to a $15 app, you're probably spending another $100+ to get the model that meets your needs.
I really like it, so I think it was worth the start-up cost to be able to put away my TV's remote entirely, and use the Apple TV exclusively... but if you use other inputs on your TV for anything, you might not think that is worth it. I got my HDHomeRun from Amazon's Warehouse deals in a damaged box, so it was almost 40% off... but that's still a hefty start-up cost if you're on the fence about it.
For your small children an app of their own might be appropriate, especially if their movies are in Apple player format, i.e., mov, mp4.
We use FileBrowserTV. Set a share for their non itunes videos (ours from NAS, but you can set up share from computer). Each file within has a thumbnail (15 on a page), so file is easily recognizable. Also, you can get them their own remote, the prior model ATV silver remote ($19).
No top shelf thumbnail integration, so we just leave FB on that share. Kids can pick their own files and learn remote (faster than any of us older folk).
There are other apps, but FB is only usd4, has kid friendly images and is easy.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I'll make a note of that... but that's still a ways off yet. My oldest isn't yet 3, so he's not quite ready to try to navigate the TV on his own, but I can definitely see the utility in that. Afterall, that's why Netflix has a "Kids" channel.
Anyway, my kids aren't the only reason I find it annoying. I own plenty of movies that aren't for them. It's just that they are the primary reason I use the "Computers" app as often as I do. At his age, we let him watch TV to help him settle down before bed, and he's got about 3 movies he wants to watch over and over. According to my iTunes play count, I've watched the movie "Cars" more than 60 times.
Anyway, I would think that Apple would add Siri integration to more and more apps as time goes on... so once that happens, I won't have much to complain about.
Just to clarify. Channels is about Live TV and now about DVR integration. Which allows for skipping commercials. Like you I hate commercials. But I need Live TV for News and Sports. And I have a spouse that likes shows that includes commercials as background while mutitasking.
I think this meets the needs of the majority and that explains why it is so popular.
yes, I watched and learned about Channel app on youtube today. it is basically OTA programs but streaming over network instead of OTA. I am impressed with the streaming tech and being on ATV4. but the pollute content is where I have no love.
Only had mine two days and I'm yet to find anything that's remotely impressed me I saw the Channels app, and was surprised to see it in the UK store, as it doesn't appear to do anything over here (and even more surprised bu the price). Sounds like it just streams free to view channels, which I can get for free on the TV Player app anyway
I saw the Channels app, and was surprised to see it in the UK store, as it doesn't appear to do anything over here (and even more surprised bu the price). Sounds like it just streams free to view channels, which I can get for free on the TV Player app anywayYeah, it is what it is. It's not a Hulu competitor, or an "On Demand" app. It's a means of watching Live TV.
The Apple TV doesn't provide a means of watching a live sporting event being broadcast OTA. I don't watch a lot of live TV... but when I want to watch a sporting event, or hell... if I just want to sit and watch an episode of Jeopardy, this app does that without forcing me to switch inputs.
It also looks nice, navigates easily, and tells you what is coming up next... none of which you can get by plugging an antenna directly into your TV... so despite its "old model" it is still a far superior experience to the alternative.