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iTunes movie rentals finally work across multiple devices
Somehow, Apple went until 2017 before adding one of the most basic features to iTunes. You see, for the past nine years, when you'd rent a movie via the app, you'd have to watch it on the device the rental originated from. So, if you rented Manchester by the Sea on your commute, watched a few minutes and then wanted to finish bumming yourself out on your big screen at home, you were out of luck. With the latest version of iTunes (12.6) and "rent once, watch anywhere," that's changed.
ABC News lets you watch multiple streams on your Apple TV
We live in an era where there's so much breaking news, most of it terrible, that there's simply not enough time for our brains to cope. ABC News agrees, which is why it's updated its Apple TV app to let you stream multiple channels at once. As TechCrunch reports, the app lets you pick from a dozen different feeds, letting you watch two side-by-side or, if you're really hardcore, four at once.
Facebook's video app lands on Apple TV
You no longer need to own a brand new Samsung TV to use Facebook's video streaming app. Facebook Video has launched on the 4th-generation Apple TV, giving many more people an opportunity to watch social clips on the big screen. The interface clearly encourages you to sit back and relax -- it's divided into sections that automatically play videos back to back, such as those shared by your friends, recommended videos and live streams.
Bloomberg: The next Apple TV will be 4K
The next Apple TV will support 4K video and possibly HDR, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Other than that, though, it won't be massively different from the current product, and the company's engineers aren't necessarily thrilled about it. "That's not what I signed up for," an anonymous source told the site. "I signed up for revolutionary. We got evolutionary."
Facebook's next conquest: Your TV
Facebook's recent push into video is coming for your big screen TV. The social network enabled streaming video to Apple TV and Chromecast last October, but it's about to go native with an app specifically made for set-top boxes from Apple, Amazon and Samsung.
Apple hires a new boss to revamp Apple TV's image
For further evidence that Apple is looking to revamp its TV strategy, I present exhibit A: the hiring of Timothy D. Twerdahl, previously head of Amazon's Fire TV division. A report from Bloomberg says that Twerdahl will be the new vice president running Apple TV's marketing wing. Whether that means there will be a different approach to how Apple tries selling the gizmo, or something else entirely remains to be seen. Something tells me Apple isn't going to hire Gary Busey for its ads anytime soon, though.
Facebook is reportedly building a streaming TV app
Facebook hasn't been shy about its recent push into video. The social network has been rolling out new video ad products and going so far as to reward longer and more engaging videos with better distribution on its platform. Now, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, Facebook is going all-in on TV and developing its own app for streaming TV boxes.
Apple's 'single sign-on' feature now works with HBO Go
Apple's "single sign-on" feature has only been live since mid-December but it's already attracted some impressive services. In addition to A&E, Bravo, NBC, Syfy and USA, which launched with the feature, WatchESPN added the functionality in January and, on Thursday, HBO announced that its HBOGo app will now support it as well.
Super Bowl 51 will stream for free on Fox Sports Go
The Super Bowl has been streaming for awhile now, but watching the commercials (arguably the best part) has been hit or miss in the past. Remember when all that streamed was the game? Yep, that was pretty terrible. This year, however, Fox Sports has a new plan in place: showing local commercials from some 170 affiliate stations, in addition to the national commercials.
Apple TV app changes pave the way for better gaming
Apple has drastically increased the size of apps that developers can submit to its Apple TV App Store, paving the way for more media-heavy apps, especially games. Up until now the limit was 200 MB, but apps can now be as large 4GB, the same as for iOS devices. The change should provide a "complete, rich user experience upon installation," Apple says, noting that as before, apps can host up to 20GB of additional content from the App Store.
Apple TV universal search now supports Apple Music, TBS and more
As Apple continues to improve the one-stop streaming experience of Apple TV and its standalone TV app, the much-hyped universal search has finally added enough partners to make it a robust and useful feature. With a few updates this week, universal search on the fourth generation Apple TV now supports over 50 different streaming apps and services in the US -- meaning you can search for shows and content across Netflix, Apple Music, Animal Planet, TNT, TBS and dozens more right from Siri or the Search app.
Tinder's Apple TV app gives you another way to swipe right
If you've ever thought that you'd rather browse Tinder profiles on your TV screen rather than swiping on your phone, you're in luck. The company now has an Apple TV app that will allow you to just that. Thanks to the set-top box and its touch-friendly remote, you can swipe right, left and up while browsing for perspective matches on the biggest screen in your house in HD.
Apple releases iOS 10.2 and its companion TV app
Apple is making good on its promise of giving you a unified video streaming experience. The company has released iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1, both of which include the company's centerpiece TV app. So long as a given service supports the feature, you no longer have to jump into and out of apps to catch up on your viewing -- you can resume your favorite show or check out recommendations from a single place. Netflix isn't included in TV at the moment, alas, but this and the recently launched single sign-on should save you a lot of hassle.
Apple's TV single sign-on feature goes live in the US
Apple just made your TV watching much easier... if you subscribe to the right services, that is. After dropping some hints in November, Apple has activated its promised single sign-on feature for Apple TV and iOS users in the US, but only for a handful of offerings. DirecTV, Dish and cord-cutter service Sling TV are the highlights among providers. Only some channel-specific apps can use SSO as well: A&E, Bravo, NBC, Syfy and USA are among the choices, and the option isn't always available on both Apple TV and iOS gear.
iPhone classic 'Tiny Wings' gets new levels and Apple TV app
Tiny Wings is one of the best iPhone games ever. It's a great example of a developer making something that wouldn't make sense on any other platform, and it's a game equally suited to playing quick bursts or for extended sessions as you try to beat your high score. And after more than two years without an update, developer Andreas Illiger has finally released a pretty major update. Tiny Wings is now available for the Apple TV, and the iPhone / iPad version has five new levels.
'Distant' is the next game from the 'Alto's Adventure' team
Built By Snowman, creator of Alto's Adventure, has revealed the first trailer for Distant, a game it's creating in partnership with Australian indie firm Slingshot & Satchel. The video (below) shows a caped, glowing hero leaping from column-like structures through a massive cave, with a waterfall, glowing pyramid and blue fauna in the background. The company didn't give a launch date or price, but said it's coming to Mac, PC, consoles and Apple TV.
Apple could lower its cut of subscription fees on video apps
Earlier this year Apple sweetened the split with iOS developers on subscriptions, by promising to halve its usual 30 percent cut -- once a user has been signed up for a year. Now, Bloomberg reports rumors that the company will move to an 85/15 split for all subscription video apps, with no time restriction. That could make partners and customers alike happy, since some services like Spotify, Netflix and YouTube have tacked on an extra buck or two whenever customers sign up via iTunes, just to cover the extra costs.
Twitter's live video app comes to Android TV
Twitter TV events have included Thursday NFL games and the presidential election, but until now they've only been available on TV through Apple TV, Fire TV and Xbox One. Now, Android TV is joining that list, and from the appearance, the app is the same as on every other platform. There's a listing for whatever featured broadcast is going on at the top, plus popular tweets and videos from the service, and some live Periscope streams. Twitter is pushing this ahead of tomorrow's Saints/Panthers game, but it should probably add some updated screenshots to the Google Play Store first -- currently they only show the phone version of the app.
Ender Dragon is coming for your Windows 10 'Minecraft' realms
Microsoft is all about unified apps these days and that applies to its $2.5 billion baby Minecraft, too. The Pocket and Windows 10 versions of the blocky creation-and-survival game are almost at parity with the original Java version, developer Mojang announced today. The 1.0 update, dubbed "The End," brings end-game boss The Ender Dragon and the The End dimension to desktop and mobile players. But, despite its name, Mojang says that continual updates are planned after this is released. Oh, and the 1.0 version is what will arrive by year's end on Apple TV as well.
iBooks StoryTime app narrates children's stories on your Apple TV
To encourage parents and kids to read together, Apple has debuted a new app for tvOS. The iBooks StoryTime app features "Read-Aloud" tool that narrates books and flips pages automatically. For the times when you'd rather read to your child yourself, you can turn the feature off and turn to the next page by swiping with the Apple TV remote.
