Single Sign-On Now Available in tvOS 10.1 and iOS 10.2

[jdag]

Only if you have no clue what version of tvOS you are currently running. Yes the title stipulated two beta versions of tvOS and not the current consumer version... I fail to see how that is click bait.
[doublepost=1478289283][/doublepost]

Why? If it means i can NOW access individual tv networks from my apple TV / Phone this means everything to me.

Sorry, but you are not the person that posted the question, so not the person I was addressing. In fact, you and I are agreeing!

The person that I was responding to did not understand what SSO would do since he ONLY uses SlingTV. And my response is 100% accurate in that if you ONLY care to use Sling, then you won't get much if any benefit from SSO. To give you context, the original question I responded to was "I really don't understand the point of this. I have SlingTV so I go into the app and sign in. Done. Why do I need to sign in at the System preferences level?"

For those of us that use multiple apps, like you and I for sure, SSO will be super-impactful to our experience.

 

[Gasu E.]

Hard to believe no Comcast, DirecTV or Cox. They've only had since June to work on this list.

In case it isn't obvious to you by now, the bottleneck is clearly the providers themselves.
[doublepost=1478298806][/doublepost]

They were busy with touch bars and watch bands.

See my previous response.
[doublepost=1478298927][/doublepost]

I'm not a naysayer or doomsdayer, but at this point it really feels like Apple is really starting on a downward trend. It's not because it took so long to release single sign on - we're used to waiting until they get things just right before letting them into the wild.

It's that they waited so long and THEN released it in a way that a grand total or 37 1/2 people can use it while everybody else just wonders why it doesn't 'just work' for them. The problem isn't the delay or the result, but the fact that in a Jobs Apple world you wait until something is absolutely ready to go before it sees the light of day. You don't release a single sign on (man, how convenient) without having Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, and all the other major cable providers on board so that 99% of your users can use the feature and be happy....as opposed to 3% of your users.

It's just sloppy work and poorly thought out planning and it seems to be a trend as of late (a computer company that doesn't update its computers, setting a release date on airbuds and then missing that deadline potentially by months....we don't know because they won't say anything, releasing a phone that you have to send with a warning that it's gonna look beat to hell just from using it the way it should be used). It's like they just stopped thinking about how to be amazing.

So basically nobody should get it until everyone gets it. Sorry, I disagree, even though I don't have one of the providers on the list. I'm not so self-absorbed that everyone else has to wait for my needs to be met.

 

[Scubadiver]

Sure I understand this is in beta, but what is the point of Apple turning on that feature today, when right now it doesn't do anything. It doesn't work with newly downloaded apps for networks that my provider (DISH) offers.

 

[Tech198]

Single sign on and no hassle's.....

 

[CausticPuppy]

Hard to believe no Comcast, DirecTV or Cox. They've only had since June to work on this list.

Apple kind of surprised everybody with their June announcement, including the providers and app developers. And oh by the way the providers and TV app owners have a bunch of work to do.... to get it working in proprietary way on a single platform. So yeah, it might be more of a gradual rollout.
[doublepost=1478306968][/doublepost]

Sure I understand this is in beta, but what is the point of Apple turning on that feature today, when right now it doesn't do anything. It doesn't work with newly downloaded apps for networks that my provider (DISH) offers.

Unless you are developing a TV app using this feature, there's not much point in using SSO on beta software. It's mainly so you can use the new frameworks for your app. Because none of the apps that are currently available will support SSO until after 10.2 launches.

 

[bozzykid]

Apple kind of surprised everybody with their June announcement, including the providers and app developers. And oh by the way the providers and TV app owners have a bunch of work to do.... to get it working in proprietary way on a single platform. So yeah, it might be more of a gradual rollout.

You are assuming providers want to support single sign-on. It was clear from the beginning that most do not want to support it. I'm sure this has been the only holdup with this feature not appearing. Apple was probably tired of waiting and just enabled it with what providers they currently have. Unfortunately, TV providers are extremely afraid of giving their customers easier access to content outside of their control.

 

[2010mini]

You are assuming providers want to support single sign-on. It was clear from the beginning that most do not want to support it. I'm sure this has been the only holdup with this feature not appearing. Apple was probably tired of waiting and just enabled it with what providers they currently have. Unfortunately, TV providers are extremely afraid of giving their customers easier access to content outside of their control.

Correct.

you would think they would support any tech that keeps customers subscription going. Since all these apps require a pay tv credential.

 

[Vermifuge]

So basically nobody should get it until everyone gets it. Sorry, I disagree, even though I don't have one of the providers on the list. I'm not so self-absorbed that everyone else has to wait for my needs to be met.

Savage!!! But it's what the rest of us were thinking so thanks!
[doublepost=1478322716][/doublepost]

Sure I understand this is in beta, but what is the point of Apple turning on that feature today, when right now it doesn't do anything. It doesn't work with newly downloaded apps for networks that my provider (DISH) offers.

to.. you know.... beta test it...

 

[2010mini]

In case it isn't obvious to you by now, the bottleneck is clearly the providers themselves.
[doublepost=1478298806][/doublepost]
See my previous response.
[doublepost=1478298927][/doublepost]

So basically nobody should get it until everyone gets it. Sorry, I disagree, even though I don't have one of the providers on the list. I'm not so self-absorbed that everyone else has to wait for my needs to be met.

wow....nice burn!

 

[rmeadejr]

Not sure how it compares to Comcast. I know cox doesn't have hard data caps. Internet is faster than AT&T. I just had to drop cable with them because of price. I like PlayStation Vue because I get about 77 channels for $35 a month. And it also has a DVR feature. Will "record" shows you favorite and keep it for 30 days. And it always records stuff even if it's a rerun. I guess it just saves it all to their server or something so don't have to worry about running out of hard drive space for your shows.

I just switch to PlayStation Vue myself from DIRECTV. I'm really liking it, I went from a 150 cable bill a month to now a 59 dollar one, which includes HBO. Only channel I miss is Hallmark, but oh well, it sucks that SlingTV has the channel.

 

[jdag]

I just switch to PlayStation Vue myself from DIRECTV. I'm really liking it, I went from a 150 cable bill a month to now a 59 dollar one, which includes HBO. Only channel I miss is Hallmark, but oh well, it sucks that SlingTV has the channel.

Very cool...in saving ~$1,000 a year, I am guessing you won't miss Hallmark for long. In fact, spoiler alert, "they fell in love at the end." There, you just watched Hallmark.

If/when Sling, PS Vue, the pending DirecTV Now, or some future service adds locals, the revolution will be on full force. With a couple of hundred dollar investment in streaming boxes, it will be simple for people to move from the traditional providers to streaming 100%, and pay for those boxes in a couple of months. As it is now, I am 100% on ATV, and use an antenna with the outstanding Channels app ($25) and an HDHomeRun tuner ($90) to get locals through the ATV. It works perfectly.

Anyhow, to tie that back to this thread, SSO will make that MUCH easier for people to move to streaming. In fact, if ATV has SSO and Roku, FireTV, and the others do not, it makes the ATV that much more attractive. I am the "tech support" for my family, and simply having SSO would make it by far the #1 recommendation I would make if for no other reason that to protect my sanity. I get calls constantly from my mom/dad and mother-in-law because they were signed out of an app, and SSO should solve that annoyance.

Side Note: I realize that to cut cable and use apps, you still do need to have a subscription to sign in. That's where getting a "cheap" sub to SlingTV, PS Vue, or DirecTV Now comes in. Not to mention "borrowing" credentials from a family member or friend (ethical concern up to you).

 

[Vermifuge]

If/when Sling, PS Vue, the pending DirecTV Now, or some future service adds locals, the revolution will be on full force. With a couple of hundred dollar investment in streaming boxes, it will be simple for people to move from the traditional providers to streaming 100%, and pay for those boxes in a couple of months. As it is now, I am 100% on ATV, and use an antenna with the outstanding Channels app ($25) and an HDHomeRun tuner ($90) to get locals through the ATV. It works perfectly.

Sling has NBC and Fox and they change from region to region so they are local. just not ALL the local channels.

 

[spockwasanaspie]

Frontier will probably be the very last one to sign on to this.
They are just horrible.

And when they DO hook it up, it won't work and nobody from Frontier will know why or when it will be fixed.

 

[jdag]

Sling has NBC and Fox and they change from region to region so they are local. just not ALL the local channels.

Both Fox and NBC are advertised as "select markets", so I am not sure how extensive their coverage is. I checked a while back and at the time my city was not included.

 

[Larry The L]

Couldn't care less about this since I don't have cable. Waiting for the new "TV" app though... - that 'should' ease the pain of switching into a dozen apps to try and remember what streams I was following.

Than why did you post in this thread? How bizarre. And to start talking about something different is more bizarre.

 

[bcgullett]

Question, If the limited cable providers are not one that you use. i.e. Suddenlink, do the Single-Sign On option not appear under the accounts sections in Settings?

 

[TallManNY]

Sling TV just got more valuable IMO. Maybe I just didn't realize it before, but it never occurred to me that they count as a cable provider in this context. I'm guessing its already possible today to authenticate with Sling in various cable apps?

I never realized that as well. I actually have Sling and Cable (Sling to get stuff onto my Apple TV). I might have to cancel my cable subscription. Though perhaps all Sling does in this context is give you access to the same channels through their individual Apps that it already gives you directly.
[doublepost=1478520910][/doublepost]

I mean the list will get bigger....right? Excited for the concept, but wish that it would have rolled out with the major providers. That seems like it would be the point of releasing this...right?

Yeah, hopefully the list grows. But give it time. Single Sign is really going to be great when we replace an Apple TV 4 down the road. Who knows how many Apps I will have in a year or so that require sign in. Single Sign it will be great then if it has the cable subscriber I use. And since it has Sling TV and I might cancel my Time Warner, maybe it already does!

 

[wood1208]

You have to chill. Why ? You know on Apple-TV, if you try to log-into Apps like ABC,CBS,ESPN,etc, first time it ask you to validate(web link) with access code and your TV provider log-in credentials. You know, it gives you big list of TV providers to select and most are listed including yours.
For single sign-on, start with a-LIST and than keep adding more as slow moving dinosaur TV provides get on board. So, blame your TV providers and get on their ass than blaming Apple.
[doublepost=1478526910][/doublepost]

Single Sign On is not that big of a deal to me. Let's say I have around 10 TV apps that I use on my iPad, all of which reference the same cable subscription. Signing in to each one ONCE is not a major headache, especially since the list of apps does not change much over time.

The real inconvenience is when an individual app occasionally deletes/forgets the credentials and asks me to sign in again, as if I've never used the app before (CNBC does this around once/month). If Single Sign On prevents this from happening, then it's a Godsend. Otherwise I don't care.

I believe that is what single sign on suppose to do. Your cable provider's log-in credentials are stored and use when those Apps ask for initially and occasionally. Problem is TV providers are afraid of allowing sign-in once because of wide spread piracy like in old days people were sharing Netflix password.. Only way to make TV providers and users happy is limiting the number of simultaneous streams per your account. For example, Dish SLING allows 3 streams and when 4th device try to access than it prohibits by displaying on-screen message. Win-win situation.

 

[kingpushup]

Apple TV App, here we come. AT&T DirecTV Now, here we come.

Eager to see Comcast's response(s). Grabbing popcorn now.

 

[Richdmoore]

Apple TV App, here we come. AT&T DirecTV Now, here we come.

Eager to see Comcast's response(s). Grabbing popcorn now.

I just saw Comcast's response. They just added data caps (or a $50 unlimited fee) to my internet plan.

 

[BeefCake 15]

I just saw Comcast's response. They just added data caps (or a $50 unlimited fee) to my internet plan.

$50 ontop of what you already pay for internet!! what a rip off!

 

[JawnVawka]

I just switch to PlayStation Vue myself from DIRECTV. I'm really liking it, I went from a 150 cable bill a month to now a 59 dollar one, which includes HBO. Only channel I miss is Hallmark, but oh well, it sucks that SlingTV has the channel.

I looked into sling but didn't like the limited selection and only one person could be watching at a time.

 

[trainwrecka]

So this is how the people feel when Apple announces something for the USA only.

 

[Vermifuge]

I believe that is what single sign on suppose to do. Your cable provider's log-in credentials are stored and use when those Apps ask for initially and occasionally. Problem is TV providers are afraid of allowing sign-in once because of wide spread piracy like in old days people were sharing Netflix password.. Only way to make TV providers and users happy is limiting the number of simultaneous streams per your account. For example, Dish SLING allows 3 streams and when 4th device try to access than it prohibits by displaying on-screen message. Win-win situation.

"Old days" lol. You do enlisted Netflix encouraged/encurages account sharing, right?

 

[danuff]

Hey, stop whining about your cable/satellite provider not being supported. I have RCN, and they are always late to the party.