Apple TV’s new replace is lengthy overdue, a...

I’ve an Apple TV 4K in my front room, so I do know fairly a bit about how the Apple TV app works. Whereas it is good to have every part in a one-stop-shop of kinds, the app left so much to be desired by way of discovery. It did not assist that I used to be principally proven issues from Apple TV+, however with the app having much more than that, it felt like I used to be being let down.

The Apple TV app integrates with most main streamers (with the obvious exception of Netflix), so when you subscribe to a service like Max, yow will discover that film on Apple TV and begin streaming it with out having to navigate by means of the Max app itself. It is a good function, however the one time I actually used it was by looking for one thing by title as an alternative of stumbling on it naturally. It is a downside that plagues many streaming companies, and it is a part of why I’ve began utilizing a

third-party app for my watch lists
. Due to some well timed updates, Apple is profitable me again, and it is a long-overdue change when you ask me.

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Apple is making huge steps in the best course

What took so lengthy?

I have been very outspoken about how the Apple TV 4K is my favourite streaming gadget, and you’ll take it from any person who has a Roku Extremely and Fireplace TV Stick plugged into different gadgets too. Regardless of having nearly every part in the marketplace, the Apple TV 4K has reigned supreme, however that does not imply it wasn’t with out its points.

Discovery was simply one of many many issues, however Apple is taking many steps to guarantee that’s a factor of the previous. If you happen to replace your app, you will discover a way more streamlined expertise. Every thing’s separated properly into rows that embrace sports activities, Apple TV+ content material, and, most significantly, personalised suggestions. I have been ready so lengthy to get my fingers on one thing like this, so it is good to lastly see Apple ship. With streamers getting increasingly more into sports activities, it is good to have a separate class in order that those that have an interest can simply discover it, and alternatively, anyone uninterested can keep away from it.

To their credit score, Netflix has finished a great job of recommending issues to me based mostly on my preferences, and I’ve at all times wished different streamers might sustain in that space. Apple has definitely taken the best steps right here, however there’s nonetheless work that needs to be finished. An issue I run into throughout all platforms is how the stay content material is dealt with. For instance, if I need to tune right into a stay episode of AEW Dynamite on Max, extra instances than not I’ve to manually kind AEW within the search bar to get to it. Having it accessible in its personal row would save loads of time for me. Typically it is entrance and heart for me and typically it is not. Whether or not it is all the way down to consumer error or one thing else, Apple’s new method is a a lot better match for me and others have to take notes. One other underrated change is the carousel of recent reveals on the high of the app. These are all Apple TV+ originals, however it’s good to rotate by means of the hit reveals as an alternative of getting to trace them down myself.

As of tvOS 18.4, there’s so much to love right here. It is simple to seek out out what a present is all about by clicking the massive “i” icon, and you may as well study its launch schedule simply by trying on the present’s icon. That is much like how Netflix and Max already deal with their reveals, so it is matching them greater than blazing a brand new path, however these are nonetheless huge adjustments.

I do not assume Apple goes to do something about it at this level, however it’d be good to see the Apple TV+ content material get spun off into its personal app sooner or later as a result of the Apple TV app nonetheless feels prefer it’s principally an commercial for Apple TV+ regardless of it gaining access to loads of different content material. It is a nitpick and one thing that is to be anticipated, I suppose, however I feel it’d go a great distance towards cleansing up a few of the bloat I really feel when opening up the app. It kind of works that method on Android gadgets, surprisingly, as a result of that version of the app solely provides me the Apple TV+ content material and nothing else.

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I wish the Apple TV 4K would take notes from the Roku Ultra

I hope Apple borrows from the Roku playbook.

Streaming retains altering, however the companies aren’t maintaining

An ever-changing world

As of 2025, your favourite streaming service probably airs live TV of some kind. Whether or not it is sports activities, wrestling, actuality TV, and even airing native channels, streaming has a big selection of viewing content material on show. For each one among these companies, I feel there must be loads of work finished for the way simply the stay reveals are discovered. Some apps do it higher than others, and with Apple’s newest replace, I feel that is the chief of the pack.

Both I have never been paying an excessive amount of consideration, or streaming companies have not significantly modified their consumer interfaces shortly. Max adjustments its colours and title every so often, however the app obtained its greatest change when it retired the previous cut up menus in favor of the clean design. Now, every part might be discovered on the left aspect of the display, so there is no want for me to scroll throughout the aspect or high anymore.

That is a pleasant change from Max, and now Apple has made it simpler to seek out content material. For me, the most important factor lacking from streaming is accessibility. For instance, Netflix has a variety of issues to look at, however it’s not at all times straightforward to seek out every part. There are such a lot of sections to rotate by means of, and I do know lots of people simply go and do one thing else earlier than discovering one thing.

The most important game-changer that is nonetheless to come back for Apple TV is full Netflix integration. Apple TV is an app that lets me join most streaming companies, so every part’s in a single place barring the most important streamer on the market. If Netflix built-in, because it did by accident earlier this yr, then I would not should open the Netflix app ever once more. I might solely should depend on the clear and improved Apple TV app, and that is a giant win for me. Because it stands, Netflix is by itself island, however I might love for it to lastly give in and be a part of Apple TV. I will preserve my fingers crossed and hope that mistake from this yr turns into a actuality.

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