Roger Fingas
AT&T on Thursday released an important update to DirecTV Now for the Apple TV, adding features such as single sign-on.
Single sign-on means subscribers only have to enter their credentials once to unlock similarly compatible third-party apps. Previously those channel apps had to be unlocked one-by-one, particularly cumbersome when using the Siri Remote.
DirecTV Now has also been integrated with Apple's native "TV" app. That interface makes it easier to keep up with movies and TV shows from different services, mixing everything into one flow and syncing progress between iOS and tvOS devices. So far the most conspicuous absence has been Netflix.
Siri voice commands can meanwhile be used to find titles in DirecTV's on-demand library. Alternately they can be used to tune into live channels, for instance by saying "Siri, tune in to Univision."
The update should arrive automatically, after which subscribers will be prompted to sync with Apple's TV app.
DirecTV Now costs a minimum of $40 per month after a free week-long trial.
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Wesley Hilliard
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16 Comments
I’m curious if the DirecTV native integration is decent. The DirecTV App itself is the worst I’ve seen. It’s borderline unusable...
Yes! I will try it tonight and report back.
DTV Now needs some interface tweaks - can't stand when it plays current channel in the background while searching through the guide (should be able to turn this off)
... Also when you surf the guide when it gets to Channel 'Z' it does not circle back to 'A', yet it does this in the Amazon app version (huh?).
They also need to fix their 'beta' DVR feature
Otherwise I feel it is one of the better 'live TV' streaming options out there -- starting to catch up to the cable box interface/features that have been around for a decade :-)
This is great. The more services/apps that intergrate with the TV app the better. Def agree the DirecTV Now app needs some work, but after sampling all of them (Hulu, Sling, YouTube, & PS Vue) I think it’s the best. Vue id put in second. My issue with DirecTV Now is the diff chsrges. $5 extra for 3 streams. Eventually it will be extra for more DVR space. I had the Go Big package for $35 since I signed up at launch and it’s now $40. Only thing I have to say is awesome is HBO for $5. That I give them all the praise for.
The app is still horrible and these minor improvements are like ice cubes chipped off of a giant iceberg. There's still no way to see what you have created a series recording for. It still records shows that aren't set to be recorded. Looking at the info for a show takes several clicks. Fast forwarding is still a guessing game.
The list goes on and they're barely doing anything to improve it and the improvements have been in all the wrong places.
I can see why it might be illegal to access DirecTV outside the 50 US states when the signal is broadcast through the airwaves to earth from space, but why should DirecTVNow be impossible to get it when the signal is transmitted exclusively over the internet tubes? There are no geographical/political restrictions on selling music using the internet, whynotso with video? They both be bits.