Apple adds shuffle option for custom Apple Music playlists on Apple TV
Apple recently rectified a niggling oversight in its somewhat slipshod Apple Music app for tvOS, adding a shuffle option for created playlists that saves users the hassle of executing a cumbersome workaround involving playlist sharing.
As noted by AppleInsider reader Greg, the new shuffle option was activated in a quiet update sometime over the past two days and appears at the top of all user-created playlists. Previously, owners of the fourth-generation Apple TV were able to access, browse through and play back tunes from playlists created in Music on iOS and Mac, but shuffle was for some reason unavailable.
The issue did not go unnoticed, however. Shortly after Apple's latest set-top streamer shipped out to customers in October, longtime iTunes users expecting to see the random playback feature took to Apple's Support Communities forum to discuss the problem.
Forum members quickly discovered the quirk was specific to custom playlists, as they were able to shuffle track groupings in the My Music, New, and For You sections. Some user found success with a workaround that involved sharing a target playlist from iOS or Mac, either with others or themselves. Shared playlists are tagged as such across a user's iTunes account, meaning metadata is attached to a target playlist, pushed to the cloud and synced back down to other devices, including Apple TV. Unlike custom playlists, those marked as shared had the shuffle option hidden in the "More" contextual pop-up menu.
Shared playlist in Music for tvOS on Apple TV.
Apple's tvOS is still very much a work in progress and the company is constantly refining its first-party app bundle with compatibility and usability enhancements. Aside from minor issues like lack of playlist shuffling, Apple has promised to tackle bigger problems like bringing Siri voice control to the Music tvOS app.
As noted by AppleInsider reader Greg, the new shuffle option was activated in a quiet update sometime over the past two days and appears at the top of all user-created playlists. Previously, owners of the fourth-generation Apple TV were able to access, browse through and play back tunes from playlists created in Music on iOS and Mac, but shuffle was for some reason unavailable.
The issue did not go unnoticed, however. Shortly after Apple's latest set-top streamer shipped out to customers in October, longtime iTunes users expecting to see the random playback feature took to Apple's Support Communities forum to discuss the problem.
Forum members quickly discovered the quirk was specific to custom playlists, as they were able to shuffle track groupings in the My Music, New, and For You sections. Some user found success with a workaround that involved sharing a target playlist from iOS or Mac, either with others or themselves. Shared playlists are tagged as such across a user's iTunes account, meaning metadata is attached to a target playlist, pushed to the cloud and synced back down to other devices, including Apple TV. Unlike custom playlists, those marked as shared had the shuffle option hidden in the "More" contextual pop-up menu.
Shared playlist in Music for tvOS on Apple TV.
Apple's tvOS is still very much a work in progress and the company is constantly refining its first-party app bundle with compatibility and usability enhancements. Aside from minor issues like lack of playlist shuffling, Apple has promised to tackle bigger problems like bringing Siri voice control to the Music tvOS app.
Comments
Interesting that Apple hasn't made a peep about fixing the ATV4 app login issues, in spite of the fact that both Facebook and Twitter have offered solutions (with their respective platform lock in).
Funny, I use Apple Music to play MY music every day. I don’t know what your problem is. And I can explore new music at my convenience whenever I want. Apple Music is an amazing service.
MInor updates - refinements to store, categories, new apps, interface, are all pushed as ready, think of each page as a streamed web app, updating whenever Apple send through changes.
I also really appreciate the Apple TV4 remote controls my TV's on /off and my 5 channel Sound Bar volume and on/off as well as the Apple TV itself. One remote for everything! At last!
I would add, many folks overlook the ability in iOS to increase the overall font size in the settings (same as brightness I seem to recall). I'm not sure it works in every app but it does in most.
*runs away*
When I was advised it was moved I actually asked them to just delete my comments completely. If no one but me feels this is an issue then I should take my own advise and just get news elsewhere. The owners have obviously put a lot of time, effort and consideration into these changes and they don't need my comments or opinions murking up the water, so to speak.
Im only writing you here because I'm not getting respondses forwarding to my email where I could have written you privately. But I did want to be polite and respond to you. Thank you for taking the time to write/comment to me. GRIN
joseph
That said, I'd like to reiterate the suggestion that ATV4 be updated to allow storage of more than apps and games directly on the device...anyone else?
There’s just not enough space, nor is there sense in offering it just to make us pay for it.
Since Apple already lets us put our iTunes Libraries on external hard drives and point iTunes to them, they need to let us put our iTunes Libraries on external hard drives, plug them directly into our AirPort devices, and point our Apple TVs to them.
That’s what I’d love. No need for a computer to be on and iTunes open.
Oh, okay; sure. I was thinking more about video content. If a 1080p film is ~4GB, (assume ~2GB for H.265), that’s just not very many of them.
And yeah, AI's revamp is also apparently very much of a work in progress. Meh.
If you were having intermittent streaming issues, either cloud or isp, and knew you were going to watch a particular movie that night, perhaps with friends, an earlier d/l might obviate any concerns...and avoid embarrassing make-up games of Twister, etc.