Roger Fingas
Streaming music service Pandora launched an official tvOS app on Wednesday, while separately, users have noticed that the fourth-generation Apple TV continues to lack Bluetooth keyboard support, even after Tuesday's tvOS 9.1 update.
The new Pandora app eschews the service's normal interface for a grid-based layout consistent with tvOS design. A menu bar up top lets users quickly switch between Now Playing, My Stations, Create Station, and Account tabs.
Exploiting the greater screen space, album art is also featured more prominently. The Now Playing tab offers standard options for voting on a song or skipping it, as well as track information and a progress bar.
Pandora is already one of the most popular streaming music services in the world, and first place in the U.S., but could cement its hold through its recent takeover of Rdio, which will allow it to launch on-demand streaming on top of radio stations.
Bluetooth keyboards in absentia
AppleInsider can confirm that the fourth-generation Apple TV still doesn't support pairing a Bluetooth keyboard, even though the option was present on the third-generation set-top.
Typing has been one of the more frequent complaints about the new hardware, since tvOS' onscreen keyboard is separated into two rows at best and forces users to scroll back and forth repeatedly if they're using the Siri Remote. Voice commands don't work in all circumstances on the device, such as entering a password.
The tvOS 9.1 update did however restore compatibility with the iOS Remote app, allowing much faster text input via an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
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15 Comments
With tvOs 9.1 they did implement the use of the Remote app for use on an iOS device. Tested it out last night and navigation and keyboard worked great!
Part of article about the keyboard support is just whiny.
Yeah Roger, just like apple is phasing out there headphone jack on phones, they will phase out keyboards with siri implimentation. You failed to mention the addition of the siri to remote app allowing people to search via voice. It will only get better, Ive always have believed in apple, tired of whining.....There the best company in the world......, Apple wants us to have the technology they just choose to release these updates when the timing/technology is right..... If you don't like cutting edge, theres always Windows OS
Welcome Pandora!
Who needs a keyboard on an Apple TV? Yack! What is it a PC?
What tvOS really needs is a universal in-box / notification centre. I'm still constantly going in and out of app to find newly added content... new episodes of iTunes season passes, new episodes in my Hulu queue, new episodes from cable TV apps, etc. Back and forth constantly. Plus, now that we're forced to use official apps with AppleTV4 none of the shows even have indicators anymore. At least with AppleTV3 most of the apps would add a red number indicator to your various show lists.