Perfect timing. I was just thinking the other day that what my AppleTV needs, more than anything else, is more icons on the home screen that I don't use. Awesome!
It's not Apple's fault that people live in foreign countries. And it's not Apple's fault that international licensing and distribution deals are the way that they are.
Miss the point much? While it would be especially nice if Apple could get more local content for the non-US audience, it's a double slap in the face when they force US-centric apps onto the dashboard of the Apple TV. Some of which are practically non-functional outside of the US, so should not be auto-deployed.
And while you can hide them, it's an irritating manual process buried in a non-obvious place, that (in my experience) also generates some major annoyances with repeatedly asking for the parental control passcode.
But still no way to re-order the channels that you do see. And no easy way to control all of your logins.
For AppleTV to win, a universal subscription method would be key. At least let me configure it from my computer and push the config to each device. I have multiple AppleTV's in the house, and they each need to be set up on their own, from the device.
As this thing does more and more, proper organization is key.
Miss the point much? While it would be especially nice if Apple could get more local content for the non-US audience, it's a double slap in the face when they force US-centric apps onto the dashboard of the Apple TV. Some of which are practically non-functional outside of the US, so should not be auto-deployed.
And while you can hide them, it's an irritating manual process buried in a non-obvious place, that (in my experience) also generates some major annoyances with repeatedly asking for the parental control passcode.
So what about those people who live in those countries and are able to access US content? Should Apple not have updated their Apple TV's at all?
I don't see what the big deal is, especially since it appears that channels can be hidden. You do it once and it's hidden, is that not how it works?
More US only centric icons on my Apple TV, come on Apple. Either release local content or don't bother clogging up my screen with shit I can't even use!
They need to release an App Store so that the A TV can be truly useful to non Americans!
REALLY? Do you know what PBS is? You might want to open your mind instead of clogging our screen with
I don't yet own an Apple TV box, but plan on buying the next version when it's released. But, as a newbie, I have a question: Which of the channels are free, and which are subscription-only?
While this is true, it is decidedly un-Apple. For years they have resisted to clutter computers with trial- and junk ware, but everybody connecting a brand new Apple TV outside the US faces a screen flooded with inaccessible content. Clunky MS-like workarounds are not a good solution.
This is not a disaster, but inconvenient. For people having only the Apple Remote (no iOS device) managing anything on the Apple TV is troublesome enough.
I'd say just toss all the 3rd party apps into an "Add Channels" button. This way, when you unpack and setup a brand new Apple TV, you only see media related "channels" across the top row or two followed by a channel with a big "+" symbol on it. Click that and you pull up a list of all available channels and just turn on the ones you want.
This accomplishes two things:
1. Removes clutter - A user is now able to slowly add content as they please. You can get a new channel, check it out, and then go look for something new when you're ready.
2. Turns channels into apps - If you can add and remove channels as you please, they're not really channels anymore. The average consumer can start thinking of channels the same way they think of Angry Birds or Reuters on their iDevice.
These items together provide an elegant stepping stone towards an App Store for the Apple TV, and all it takes is a Plus button.
What happens when I hold down the menu and bottom button is the blinking stops and gives me a light that isn't blinking but as soon as I let go it starts to blink again
I don't yet own an Apple TV box, but plan on buying the next version when it's released. But, as a newbie, I have a question: Which of the channels are free, and which are subscription-only?
The channels with free content are Smithsonian, Wall Street Journal, Weather Channel, Vevo, Vimeo, PBS, and Sky News. With Disney, HBO Go, Watch ESPN, you have to be a cable subscriber to those channels to watch the content. On Watch ESPN, you can watch live games that aren't being shown on TV for free, but you have to have an ISP that supports it such as Comcast. If you are a fan of soccer, there are a lot of games you can watch for free. The sports channels, Hulu Plus, and Netflix are all subscription.
Let me guess. These two are BOTH dependent on you already owning cable or satellite service. Absolutely inexcusable.
Originally Posted by ceek74
Slowly building on that media library for that big day when Apple releases a beautiful 4k 3D TV.
Nope. Not in the slightest. Ever. Particularly the 3D bit.
Originally Posted by kpluck
Perfect timing. I was just thinking the other day that what my AppleTV needs, more than anything else, is more icons on the home screen that I don't use. Awesome!
So, what, you’ve never used your Apple TV? Hide them.
But still no way to re-order the channels that you do see.
If you hold down the center button on the remote, the icon will jiggle and you can reorder them as you please. Additionally, as mentioned, you can hide what channels you don't want shown via Restrictions.
If you hold down the center button on the remote, the icon will jiggle and you can reorder them as you please. Additionally, as mentioned, you can hide what channels you don't want shown via Restrictions.
Awesome - I should have tried that before - thank you!
Comments
Perfect timing. I was just thinking the other day that what my AppleTV needs, more than anything else, is more icons on the home screen that I don't use. Awesome!
-kpluck
It's not Apple's fault that people live in foreign countries. And it's not Apple's fault that international licensing and distribution deals are the way that they are.
Miss the point much? While it would be especially nice if Apple could get more local content for the non-US audience, it's a double slap in the face when they force US-centric apps onto the dashboard of the Apple TV. Some of which are practically non-functional outside of the US, so should not be auto-deployed.
And while you can hide them, it's an irritating manual process buried in a non-obvious place, that (in my experience) also generates some major annoyances with repeatedly asking for the parental control passcode.
For AppleTV to win, a universal subscription method would be key. At least let me configure it from my computer and push the config to each device. I have multiple AppleTV's in the house, and they each need to be set up on their own, from the device.
As this thing does more and more, proper organization is key.
Miss the point much? While it would be especially nice if Apple could get more local content for the non-US audience, it's a double slap in the face when they force US-centric apps onto the dashboard of the Apple TV. Some of which are practically non-functional outside of the US, so should not be auto-deployed.
And while you can hide them, it's an irritating manual process buried in a non-obvious place, that (in my experience) also generates some major annoyances with repeatedly asking for the parental control passcode.
So what about those people who live in those countries and are able to access US content? Should Apple not have updated their Apple TV's at all?
I don't see what the big deal is, especially since it appears that channels can be hidden. You do it once and it's hidden, is that not how it works?
Thank you for the suggestion, I tried holding the menu and play button for 30 seconds, I tried all the buttons, the light is still blinking
frustrated
More US only centric icons on my Apple TV, come on Apple. Either release local content or don't bother clogging up my screen with shit I can't even use!
They need to release an App Store so that the A TV can be truly useful to non Americans!
REALLY? Do you know what PBS is? You might want to open your mind instead of clogging our screen with
hate filled Sh*t , we can't use.
Thank you for the suggestion, I tried holding the menu and play button for 30 seconds, I tried all the buttons, the light is still blinking
frustrated
On Apple's site, they mention the menu and down button:
Hold down Menu and Down on the Apple Remote for six seconds, and then release when you see the indicator light on the Apple TV blink rapidly.
While this is true, it is decidedly un-Apple. For years they have resisted to clutter computers with trial- and junk ware, but everybody connecting a brand new Apple TV outside the US faces a screen flooded with inaccessible content. Clunky MS-like workarounds are not a good solution.
This is not a disaster, but inconvenient. For people having only the Apple Remote (no iOS device) managing anything on the Apple TV is troublesome enough.
I'd say just toss all the 3rd party apps into an "Add Channels" button. This way, when you unpack and setup a brand new Apple TV, you only see media related "channels" across the top row or two followed by a channel with a big "+" symbol on it. Click that and you pull up a list of all available channels and just turn on the ones you want.
This accomplishes two things:
1. Removes clutter - A user is now able to slowly add content as they please. You can get a new channel, check it out, and then go look for something new when you're ready.
2. Turns channels into apps - If you can add and remove channels as you please, they're not really channels anymore. The average consumer can start thinking of channels the same way they think of Angry Birds or Reuters on their iDevice.
These items together provide an elegant stepping stone towards an App Store for the Apple TV, and all it takes is a Plus button.
Things are certainly getting interesting on Apple TV. There's clearly a plan in place.
What happens when I hold down the menu and bottom button is the blinking stops and gives me a light that isn't blinking but as soon as I let go it starts to blink again
I don't yet own an Apple TV box, but plan on buying the next version when it's released. But, as a newbie, I have a question: Which of the channels are free, and which are subscription-only?
The channels with free content are Smithsonian, Wall Street Journal, Weather Channel, Vevo, Vimeo, PBS, and Sky News. With Disney, HBO Go, Watch ESPN, you have to be a cable subscriber to those channels to watch the content. On Watch ESPN, you can watch live games that aren't being shown on TV for free, but you have to have an ISP that supports it such as Comcast. If you are a fan of soccer, there are a lot of games you can watch for free. The sports channels, Hulu Plus, and Netflix are all subscription.
It's kind of weird that every iOS device supports Amazon Instant Video except Apple TV...
It's kind of weird that every iOS device supports Amazon Instant Video except Apple TV...
It does now-
Let me guess. These two are BOTH dependent on you already owning cable or satellite service. Absolutely inexcusable.
Nope. Not in the slightest. Ever. Particularly the 3D bit.
So, what, you’ve never used your Apple TV? Hide them.
But still no way to re-order the channels that you do see.
If you hold down the center button on the remote, the icon will jiggle and you can reorder them as you please. Additionally, as mentioned, you can hide what channels you don't want shown via Restrictions.
Looks to me like the PBS offerings are "Previews". What good is that?
If you hold down the center button on the remote, the icon will jiggle and you can reorder them as you please. Additionally, as mentioned, you can hide what channels you don't want shown via Restrictions.
Awesome - I should have tried that before - thank you!