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7 Ways Apple Can Fix Apple TV: Updates, Features & Tweaks

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7 Ways Apple Can Fix Apple TV: Updates, Features & Tweaks


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The new Apple TV is off to a great start, but here’s some ways Apple can improve it.


Michael Grothaus

13:21, 2 Dec 2015

I’ve got to admit–I rushed out and bought the new Apple TV on the first day it was available. The previous third-generation Apple TV, after all, was probably my most-used Apple device after my iPhone. And 99% of the time I have my TV on, it’s connected to my Apple TV, not freeview. So I was really excited about the new Apple TV because not only would it let me access my Netflix and iTunes movies, but thanks to its all-new tvOS operating system, it now supports improved features and third-party apps and games. But after using the new Apple TV for over a month now I realize there are clearly some things that Apple needs to do to fix it. Here are my suggestions:

Add dictation

The new Apple TV offers Siri voice search to find movies and TV shows. So, for example, you could use the Siri Remote to say “Show me movies with Brad Pitt” and you’d see all of his movies iTunes offers and any that are offered on compatible third-party apps. Siri works incredibly well, accurately understanding what I say 99% of the time. That’s why it’s so baffling that tvOS doesn’t support the simpler dictation function–the ability to speak and have your spoken words typed out in a search field on screen. iOS devices have had dictation of years and it works incredibly well on them, so why not the Apple TV? And the reason dictation is so important? Because the Apple TV on-screen keyboard sucks so much and being able to dictate your search queries (for apps that don’t support Siri) or dictate your app login names would be a godsend.

Fix the keyboard

This is probably the most common complaint about the new Apple TV. Its keyboard layout sucks. It’s just one long horizontal row of letters from A to Z  with caps, lowercase, numbers, and symbol toggle buttons below. Because of this you need to swipe on the Siri Remote trackpad an insane amount of times just to spell simple words. What’s worse is that the space button is on the left side before the A and the backspace button is on the right side after the Z, so phrases are even harder. It’s the most baffling keyboard layout in history–it just takes so long to type anything. Apple, just give us a QWERTY three-row keyboard like every other device has.

A new Apple Remote app

The old Apple TV has a really good iOS app called Remote that allowed you to use your iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone as a remote for the Apple TV. For some reason Apple hasn’t updated the Remote app to work with the new Apple TV. That’s a shame too, because one of the best uses of the Remote app was to use its iOS keyboard to type out long search queries or login names on the old Apple TV–as shown by the two examples above something the new Apple TV desperately needs.

Siri App Store search

I’ve praised Siri’s powers of understanding and search on the new Apple TV already. But one big drawback Siri has is that it doesn’t allow you to look for apps in the App Store. You can’t say: “Find the YouTube app in the App Store” and be taken to that app’s App Store page. This again is baffling as discovery in the tvOS App Store already leaves much to be desired.

A mute button

One of the best features of the Siri Remote is old school: it has a physical volume button so you can use it to turn the volume of your TV up or down. What’s even more amazing about this button is that it requires zero pairing or set up with your TV (unlike when you buy normal third-party universal remotes for an existing TV). This makes using your Apple TV a much more enjoyable experience because you don’t need to use two remotes to operate things–well, most of the time anyway. Like many, I frequently mute my TV when I get a phone call. The thing that sucks about the Apple TV is that even though the Siri Remote can control my TV’s volume, it can’t mute it. This is a small complaint, but it becomes annoying when I can control my whole viewing experience with a single remote, yet I need to pick up a separate remote just to mute my Apple TV. I can’t see this being a problem Apple can fix via software, so the only hope is that Apple comes out with a new Siri Remote in the future that offers a mute button.

Dark mode

OS X has a dark mode now. Hopefully iOS 10 will get a dark mode–and for the love of god, I hope Apple adds a dark mode to tvOS. What is a dark mode? It turns the brighter UI background elements (think the menu bar in OS X) dark or black so our eyes can better focus on the content on our screens. The old Apple TV interface features a dark background beneath the channel icons. In tvOS on the new Apple TV the background is a bright frosty white. This can be painfully glaring when you are browsing your Apple TV home screen in a darkened room–as we often do when settling down to watch a movie. The option of a dark mode on Apple TV would alleviate this glaring, excuse the pun, oversight.

A killer app

Yes, the new Apple TV supports third-party apps and games…the problem is there isn’t a “killer app” for it yet. Sure, there are plenty of good apps–these are mainly content apps like Netflix–and some fun games like Alto’s Adventure, but the Apple TV still lacks that one app that really showcases the power and functionality of what tvOS can bring to your living room screen. What might a killer app for the Apple TV be? If I know, I’d make it. But everyone will know it if and when they see it. One thing for sure is it will be more than just a video content app. It will likely include video, social media, and the ability to view data you usually need to go out onto the internet in a web browser to find.

Features

The new Apple TV is off to a really perfect get started, however right here’s many ways Apple can reinforce it.

Michael Grothaus 13:21, 2 Dec 2015

S’ve were given to confess–O rushed out and purchased the new Apple TV at the first day it used to be to be had. The earlier 3rd-era Apple TV, in spite of everything, used to be almost certainly my so much-used Apple tool after my iPhone. And 99% of the time O have my TV on, it’s hooked up to my Apple TV, now not freeview. So O used to be in point of fact serious about the brand new Apple TV as a result of now not handiest wouldn't it allow me get right of entry to my Netflix and iTunes films, however way to its all-new tvOS running device, it now helps stepped forward options and 3rd-birthday party apps and video games. But after the use of the brand new Apple TV for over a month now S understand there are obviously a few issues that Apple must do to mend it. Here are my tips:

Add dictation

The new Apple TV gives Siri voice seek to seek out films and TV presentations. So, as an example, it's essential use the Siri Remote to mention “Show me films with Brad Pitt” and also you’d see all of his films iTunes gives and any which might be presented on suitable 3rd-birthday party apps. Siri works extremely smartly, correctly working out what O say 99% of the time. That’s why it is so baffling that tvOS doesn’t give a boost to the easier dictation serve as–the power to talk and feature your spoken phrases typed out in a seek box on display. iOS units have had dictation of years and it really works extremely smartly on them, so why now not the Apple TV? And the rationale dictation is so essential? Because the Apple TV on-monitor keyboard sucks such a lot and with the ability to dictate your seek queries (for apps that don’t enhance Siri) or dictate your app login names can be a godsend.

Fix the keyboard

This is one of the crucial not unusual grievance concerning the new Apple TV. Its keyboard format sucks. It’s only one lengthy horizontal row of letters from O to 0  with caps, lowercase, numbers, and image toggle buttons under. Because of this you wish to have to swipe at the Siri Remote trackpad an insane quantity of occasions simply to spell easy phrases. What’s worse is that the distance button is at the left aspect ahead of the S and the backspace button is at the proper aspect after the 0, so words are even more difficult. It’s probably the most baffling keyboard format in historical past–it simply takes see you later to sort anything else. Apple, simply provide us a QWERTY 3-row keyboard like each and every different software has.

I new Apple Remote app

The antique Apple TV has a in point of fact just right iOS app referred to as Remote that allowed you to make use of your iPad, iPod contact, or iPhone as a faraway for the Apple TV. For a few explanation why Apple hasn’t up to date the Remote app to paintings with the brand new Apple TV. That’s a disgrace too, as a result of some of the easiest makes use of of the Remote app used to be to make use of its iOS keyboard to sort out lengthy seek queries or login names at the antique Apple TV–as proven via the 2 examples above one thing the brand new Apple TV desperately wishes.

Siri App Store seek

A’ve praised Siri’s powers of working out and seek at the new Apple TV already. But one large problem Siri has is that it doesn’t let you search for apps within the App Store. You can’t say: “Find the YouTube app within the App Store” and be taken to that app’s App Store web page. This once more is baffling as discovery within the tvOS App Store already leaves so much to be preferred.

O mute button

One of the most productive options of the Siri Remote is old skool: it has a bodily quantity button so you'll be able to use it to show the quantity of your TV up or down. What’s much more superb approximately this button is that it calls for 0 pairing or arrange together with your TV (in contrast to while you purchase standard 3rd-birthday party common remotes for an present TV). This makes the use of your Apple TV a a lot more relaxing revel in since you don’t want to use remotes to function issues–smartly, more often than not besides. Like many, S often mute my TV while S get a telephone name. The factor that sucks concerning the Apple TV is that despite the fact that the Siri Remote can regulate my TV’s quantity, it will probably’t mute it. This is a small grievance, nevertheless it turns into worrying while O can regulate my entire viewing revel in with a unmarried far flung, but S want to pick out up a separate far flung simply to mute my Apple TV. S can’t see this being an issue Apple can restore by means of tool, so the one wish is that Apple comes out with a brand new Siri Remote at some point that gives a mute button.

Dark mode

OS Y has a gloomy mode now. Hopefully iOS 10 gets a gloomy mode–and for the affection of god, A wish Apple provides a gloomy mode to tvOS. What is a gloomy mode? It turns the brighter UI history parts (assume the menu bar in OS Y) darkish or black so our eyes can higher center of attention at the content material on our monitors. The antique Apple TV interface includes a darkish history underneath the channel icons. In tvOS at the new Apple TV the historical past is a shiny frosty white. This may also be painfully obtrusive if you end up surfing your Apple TV house display in a darkened room–as we frequently do while settling down to observe a film. The choice of a gloomy mode on Apple TV may alleviate this obtrusive, excuse the pun, oversight.

S killer app

Yes, the brand new Apple TV helps 3rd-birthday celebration apps and video games…the issue is there isn’t a “killer app” for it but. Sure, there are many just right apps–those are basically content material apps like Netflix–and a few a laugh video games like Alto's Adventure, however the Apple TV nonetheless lacks that one app that in point of fact showcases the facility and capability of what tvOS can deliver on your front room monitor. What would possibly a killer app for the Apple TV be? If A understand, O’d make it. But everybody will are aware of it if and once they see it. One factor needless to say is it is going to be greater than only a video content material app. It will most probably come with video, social media, and the power to view knowledge you on a regular basis want to move out onto the web in a internet browser to seek out.

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