Roger Fingas
Apple has updated universal search on the fourth-generation Apple TV with support for Spike, Nickelodeon, and Nick. Jr., while separately expanding the number of services compatible with its "TV" app for both tvOS and iOS devices.
Though universal search results, an Apple TV can identify all of installed apps hosting a particular show or movie, making it easier to pick between them. The newly-added services are only supported in the United States.
The same goes for the latest "TV" additions, which include Sony's ad-supported Crackle, the classic and arthouse-focused FilmStruck, and finally Freeform, a Disney/ABC channel previously known as ABC Family.
When and where compatible, the TV app offers a centralized interface for movies and TV shows, linking together different services. It can also be used to find new material to watch, or new apps to try.
So far 51 different services are compatible, such as Apple Music, Hulu, HBO Now, and the Cartoon Network. Most are U.S.-only.
In the U.S. universal search results now include 56 services. Support in other countries is extremely low, the next biggest region being Australia, with just eight options — among them Apple's iTunes.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
8 Comments
"Wake me up when Netflix is added."
-Humanity
Having recently gone full Groundhog Day at the cable provider login portal 15 times to activate 15 apps, I'm angry that my cable provider still does not support single sign-on.
Hate how the TV app searches for an Internet connection and tries to feed me garbage that isn’t on my device before it will even SHOW me things on my device. Never mind how Music and TV won’t let me just TURN OFF CLOUD PURCHASES ENTIRELY. I never want to see them.