Apple TV’s new replace is lengthy overdue, a...

I’ve an Apple TV 4K in my front room, so I do know fairly a bit about how the Apple TV app works. Whereas it is good to have all the pieces in a one-stop-shop of types, the app left lots to be desired by way of discovery. It did not assist that I used to be principally proven issues from Apple TV+, however with the app having much more than that, it felt like I used to be being let down.

The Apple TV app integrates with most main streamers (with the obvious exception of Netflix), so in the event you subscribe to a service like Max, you’ll find that film on Apple TV and begin streaming it with out having to navigate by the Max app itself. It is a good function, however the one time I actually used it was by looking for one thing by identify as a substitute of stumbling on it naturally. This can be a drawback that plagues many streaming companies, and it is a part of why I’ve began utilizing a

third-party app for my watch lists
. Because of some well timed updates, Apple is successful me again, and it is a long-overdue change in the event you ask me.

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Apple is making large steps in the appropriate path

What took so lengthy?

I have been very outspoken about how the Apple TV 4K is my favourite streaming system, and you’ll take it from anyone who has a Roku Extremely and Fireplace TV Stick plugged into different units too. Regardless of having nearly all the pieces in the marketplace, the Apple TV 4K has reigned supreme, however that does not imply it wasn’t with out its points.

Discovery was simply one of many many issues, however Apple is taking many steps to be sure that’s a factor of the previous. In case you replace your app, you may discover a way more streamlined expertise. The whole lot’s separated properly into rows that embrace sports activities, Apple TV+ content material, and, most significantly, personalised suggestions. I have been ready so lengthy to get my arms on one thing like this, so it is good to lastly see Apple ship. With streamers getting increasingly into sports activities, it is good to have a separate class in order that those that have an interest can simply discover it, and alternatively, anyone uninterested can keep away from it.

To their credit score, Netflix has achieved a great job of recommending issues to me based mostly on my preferences, and I’ve at all times wished different streamers might sustain in that space. Apple has actually taken the appropriate steps right here, however there’s nonetheless work that needs to be achieved. An issue I run into throughout all platforms is how the stay content material is dealt with. For instance, if I wish to tune right into a stay episode of AEW Dynamite on Max, extra instances than not I’ve to manually kind AEW within the search bar to get to it. Having it accessible in its personal row would save quite a lot of time for me. Typically it is entrance and middle for me and generally it is not. Whether or not it is right down to consumer error or one thing else, Apple’s new method is a a lot better match for me and others must take notes. One other underrated change is the carousel of recent reveals on the prime of the app. These are all Apple TV+ originals, but it surely’s good to rotate by the hit reveals as a substitute of getting to trace them down myself.

As of tvOS 18.4, there’s lots to love right here. It is easy to search out out what a present is all about by clicking the large “i” icon, and it’s also possible to be taught its launch schedule simply by trying on the present’s icon. That is much like how Netflix and Max already deal with their reveals, so it is matching them greater than blazing a brand new path, however these are nonetheless large adjustments.

I do not suppose Apple goes to do something about it at this level, but it surely’d be good to see the Apple TV+ content material get spun off into its personal app in some unspecified time in the future as a result of the Apple TV app nonetheless feels prefer it’s principally an commercial for Apple TV+ regardless of it accessing loads of different content material. It is a nitpick and one thing that is to be anticipated, I suppose, however I believe it’d go a great distance towards cleansing up a few of the bloat I really feel when opening up the app. It type of works that approach on Android units, surprisingly, as a result of that version of the app solely provides me the Apple TV+ content material and nothing else.

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I wish the Apple TV 4K would take notes from the Roku Ultra

I hope Apple borrows from the Roku playbook.

Streaming retains altering, however the companies aren’t maintaining

An ever-changing world

As of 2025, your favourite streaming service seemingly airs live TV of some type. Whether or not it is sports activities, wrestling, actuality TV, and even airing native channels, streaming has a wide array of viewing content material on show. For each one in all these companies, I believe there must be quite a lot of work achieved for a way simply the stay reveals are discovered. Some apps do it higher than others, and with Apple’s newest replace, I believe that is the chief of the pack.

Both I have not been paying an excessive amount of consideration, or streaming companies have not drastically modified their consumer interfaces shortly. Max adjustments its colours and identify once in a while, however the app obtained its greatest change when it retired the previous cut up menus in favor of the clean design. Now, all the pieces will be discovered on the left aspect of the display, so there is not any want for me to scroll throughout the aspect or prime anymore.

That is a pleasant change from Max, and now Apple has made it simpler to search out content material. For me, the most important factor lacking from streaming is accessibility. For instance, Netflix has a variety of issues to observe, but it surely’s not at all times simple to search out all the pieces. There are such a lot of sections to rotate by, and I do know lots of people simply go and do one thing else earlier than discovering one thing.

The largest game-changer that is nonetheless to come back for Apple TV is full Netflix integration. Apple TV is an app that lets me join most streaming companies, so all the pieces’s in a single place barring the most important streamer on the market. If Netflix built-in, because it did unintentionally earlier this yr, then I would not should open the Netflix app ever once more. I might solely should depend on the clear and improved Apple TV app, and that is a giant win for me. Because it stands, Netflix is by itself island, however I might love for it to lastly give in and be part of Apple TV. I am going to hold my fingers crossed and hope that mistake from this yr turns into a actuality.

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