Andrew O'Hara
Wednesday's beta release of iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 Apple includes the first preview of the new TV app for developers.
The overhauled TV app is designed to be a central hub for all of your video needs. Integrating third-party services within one app. With the new beta, it becomes available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Apple promised that the TV app would be coming to Mac, but not until fall.
Inside the TV app are several categories for exploring content including the previous Watch Now tab. On iPhone, the bottom has been streamlined to only Watch Now, Library, and Search. Sports has now become a subcategory of Watch Now and Store has been removed. Similar menu changes occurred on the Apple TV as well.
Apple is relying once more on machine learning with the new TV app. A new For You section will highlight various movies and TV shows you may be interested in based on what you've watched in the past. Those recommendations come from over 150 different apps that integrate with the TV app including Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
Apple TV appAs this is early and will likely need third-party support, not all features of the new app are functional. For example, Apple TV Channels will allow you to watch content from third-party apps like Showtime directly from the TV app. Currently, these still kick you over to those third-party apps to watch.
This fall, the revamped TV app will also house the new TV+ streaming service featuring Apple's own original content.
We are still digging through the latest beta and will have a roundup of other new features and changes soon. Find anything? Let me know on Twitter @Andrew_OSU.
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1 Comment
Is a TV “channel” being added to ATV3? What’s the ATV3 beta about?...it’s been a long time for ATV3 software update, but, surely millions are still in use.