Roger Fingas
The YouTube app has disappeared from many second-generation Apple TV units, users noted on Monday, with both the home screen icon and references to the app in Settings vanishing overnight.
No warning was given for the removal, and many users have expressed frustration with the change. The app remains fully functional on third-generation Apple TVs.
Late last month, Google updated the YouTube Data API to enable newer features and announced that older devices, including the second-generation Apple TV, would no longer be supported. This had the consequence of breaking the existing YouTube apps on a number of devices, including an assortment of HDTVs, Blu-ray players, and game consoles as well as iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch units running iOS 6 or earlier.
Apple released the third-generation Apple TV in early 2012, but many second-generation models are still in use. While both versions were at feature parity for years, Apple has apparently moved second-generation units toward end-of-life status, as only more recent boxes received popular updates like the new iOS 8-style user interface and the Beats Music app.
Apple is believed to be working on a fourth-generation set-top that could be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. The new model is expected to support Siri and an App Store, and accordingly feature more internal storage. A rumored A8 processor could enable 4K video, although there has been no indication that 4K videos will be sold or rented through the iTunes Store.
Charles Martin
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88 Comments
Dear third gen Apple TV users, Enjoy the ads. Love, Google
How does google remove software from your own device without your permission. Is sounds like Google decided on their own to go into people ATV 2 and just delete and app. First what is the problem with leaving an oder version of the app out there and like work on old content so what new feature are not available to older version. Second, time for a class action lawsuit, Google should not be removing software from a device they do not own in the first place. Talk about invasion of privacy. Did Google engineers actually think it was okay to reach out and remove software from people's hardware. This is the kind of people working at Google they have no ethics.
How does google remove software from your own device without your permission. Is sounds like Google decided on their own to go into people ATV 2 and just delete and app.
First what is the problem with leaving an oder version of the app out there and like work on old content so what new feature are not available to older version.
Second, time for a class action lawsuit, Google should not be removing software from a device they do not own in the first place. Talk about invasion of privacy. Did Google engineers actually think it was okay to reach out and remove software from people's hardware. This is the kind of people working at Google they have no ethics.
Slow down. Apple removed the app not Google.
[quote name="Maestro64" url="/t/186106/youtube-app-vanishes-from-older-apple-tv-models-latest-version-unaffected#post_2719391"]How does google remove software from your own device without your permission. Is sounds like Google decided on their own to go into people ATV 2 and just delete and app.[/quote] Ah, you think Apple has given Google access to your AppleTV to make changes?? Since that would out of the question IMHO perhaps you can come up with a more likely and logical explanation.
Slow down. Apple removed the app not Google.
No, not entirely accurate either.
"YouTube today announced changes to its YouTube Data API, causing many older apps on various devices to stop functioning. On the second-generation Apple TV or older, the YouTube channel will no longer be accessible, and on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, iOS 7 or later is required for the YouTube app to function. "