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M. Night Shyamalan is the latest to join Apple's original TV ranks
Apple's $1 billion budget for original programming is definitely getting put to good use. Variety has just reported that M. Night Shyamalan, the auteur behind plot-twist classics like The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, will be producing an original series just for Apple's TV platform. In line with his previous films, the series is set to be a psychological thriller. It'll be written by Tony Basgallop, whose credits include Berlin Station, 24: Legacy and 24: Live Another Day.
Plex adds DVR scheduling to its Apple TV app
Halfway through 2017, Plex started offering live TV and DVR features for users willing to cough up $5 a month. They still needed a tuner of their own, to avoid any Aereo-like shenanigans, but it was still great for cord-cutters. Now, Plex is adding more features to the Apple TV app for its DVR system, enabling users to schedule recordings and view closed captions.
iTunes Store drops support for Windows Vista on May 25th
Ah, 2007: the days when Windows Vista was all the rage (or inducing rage), the Apple TV was brand new and music download stores were the hottest way to get the latest albums. Apple certainly remembers that year... and would like you to move on. The company has posted a support page warning that the iTunes Store will no longer work on Windows XP, Windows Vista and first-generation Apple TVs as of May 25th. iTunes itself will function, but new purchases and re-downloads are off limits. "Security changes" necessitate dropping these older platforms, Apple said.
'Alto's Odyssey' reaches your phone on February 22nd
Built by Snowman's Alto's Odyssey has been public knowledge for more than a year (and was subject to a last-minute delay in late summer), but it's finally here... almost. The Alto's Adventure sequel is now slated to launch on iOS and Apple TV devices February 22nd with a not-too-unreasonable $5 price tag. As before, Odyssey takes the endless boarding concept to a desert landscape that throws fresh challenges into the mix. You'll have to contend with natural hazards (including lemurs) and take advantage of hot air balloons, shifting grind rails and wall rides in order to keep moving.
YouTube's live TV service is now available on Apple TV
Looks like Google is making good on its promise to bring its cord-cutting alternative to more popular platforms. YouTube TV is now available for Apple TVs, after having hit Roku devices earlier today. The service is available in almost 100 different metro areas, and can also be downloaded for Chromecast, Android TV, Xbox One and newer Samsung and LG TVs. It's taken almost a full year since Google announced the service for this to happen.
Apple's iOS update brings AirPlay 2 with multi-room playback
This week Apple revealed exactly what we can expect from iOS 11.3 -- which will roll out for iPhones and iPads this spring -- and hidden among the new Animoji, improved resolution and Business Chat features is support for AirPlay 2, a long-awaited feature that Apple appeared to go quiet on following its announcement at WWDC 2017. And it officially supports multi-room playback, which means you can stream to multiple Apple TVs and speakers around the house direct from your iPhone.
Apple's latest iOS update brings Siri news briefs and HomePod support
Siri's news reading feature is no longer limited to the beta testing crowd. Apple has officially released iOS 11.2.5, and the centerpiece is the ability to ask Siri for the latest happenings. If you're in the US, UK or Australia, you can get a briefing from a slew of local sources, such as NPR and the Washington Post in the states or the BBC and Sky News in the UK. And it doesn't have to be general news, either -- you can ask for business, music or sports news as well.
Tidal launches app for Apple and Android TVs
Today, Tidal launches its Tidal TV app, allowing subscribers to use the streaming service on their Apple TVs and Android TVs. The app's "Home" section displays recommendations and popular concerts, livestreams, music videos, albums and podcasts. And users can curate their own "My Collection" section, which can house all of their favorite content.
The Apple TV 4K has already sold out on Amazon
Well, that happened faster than expected: Amazon has begun selling the Apple TV 4K. And just as quick, both the 32GB and 64GB versions are already out of stock. Hopefully you got one overnight if you had some extra Prime reward points to burn. Two years ago, Amazon stopped selling Apple TVs in addition to Google Chromecasts. Its reasoning? Neither device offered easy access to Amazon Prime Video. For now, that's only reversed for Apple hardware; early this month the Prime Video Apple TV app finally launched. Chromecasts are expected to reappear in short order, especially since Mountain View has started blocking YouTube on Amazon's Echo Show and Fire TV.
YouTube TV apps for Apple TV and Roku are coming in early 2018
If you were hoping for the dedicated YouTube TV app to show up on your Roku or Apple TV this year, you will need to wait just a little longer. When announced back in October, we were told that apps were headed to the Xbox One, Apple TV and Roku "in the coming weeks." When reached for comment, a Google spokesperson claimed that there is no delay, and that the roll out is happening as planned.
Amazon will start selling Apple TV and Chromecast again
Amazon pulled Apple TV and Chromecast from its retail lineup back in 2015, ostensibly because neither device offered easy access to Prime Video. Now that Amazon Prime Video is finally an app on Apple TV, it appears as if Amazon is bringing Apple TV and Chromecast devices back to its web site again (after a false start a couple of months ago).
Apple releases iOS 11.2.1 to restore limited HomeKit functionality
Apple has released iOS 11.2.1 for iPhone and iPad following last week's discovery that HomeKit had a major security vulnerability. The bug, first reported by 9to5Mac, allowed unauthorized users to access connected smart devices like lights, thermostats, locks and garage door openers. Apple's server-side fix of the issue corrected the problem but also disabled remote access to shared users. That functionality is now restored with the update.
SiriusXM now streams radio stations to your Apple TV
SiriusXM is now available on 4th generation Apple TVs and Apple TV 4K. Subscribers with streaming access can use the SiriusXM app to access its over 200 channels, which can be customized with MySXM. Users will also be able to access archived programming on demand and the app's user interface has been optimized for Apple TV.
Amazon Prime Video finally arrives on Apple TV
Amazon might be fighting with Google over YouTube, but its own streaming service just got a big win. Amazon Prime Video has finally landed on Apple TV, around six months after Tim Cook first said it was coming. After downloading the app, you'll be able to watch Man in the High Castle and other shows provided you have a 3rd-generation or later Apple TV, according to iTunes.
YouTube TV app arrives for newer Samsung smart TVs
YouTube TV arrived in April of this year, making it Google's de facto live television service. It's available in over half of the homes in the US, and we've been waiting patiently for the rumored big screen TV app so we could stop sending live TV from our phones to our Chromecasts and Apple TVs. The Xbox and Android TV versions of the app have been out for a few weeks, now, while Google tweeted out the availability of the YouTube TV app specifically for owners of newer model Samsung sets.
Comcast's Xfinity app will be available on Sony smart TVs in 2018
It's a strange time in the world of cable television, with more people cutting the cord these days and an ever-increasing amount of internet-enabled devices (like Apple TV and Roku) and smart TVs. Venerable cable companies like Viacom have to to find ways to get their content out to where the viewers actually are. Comcast is in the same boat, which is why it makes sense that the cable business is partnering with Sony to get its Xfinity app on the television-maker's Android-based sets.
Apple TV 4K update will fix its video output problem
Apple TV 4K saw the set-top box leap into the same league as its rivals. But, despite getting so much right, the device still had a handful of flaws -- among them its one video output fits all functionality. AV enthusiasts cried foul, and it seems Apple heard their wails. According to the latest tvOS developer beta, Apple TV 4K will soon automatically switch its display settings to match the native frame rate and dynamic range of a video.
Amazon Prime Video is available on Xbox consoles worldwide
There's more to the Xbox One X than just 4K gaming. Beyond playing UHD Blu-rays, the console will stream media from your provider of choice in 4K, too. That includes Amazon Prime Video, which is now available worldwide on Xbox consoles following its launch last year.
Tweet back to live video through your Apple TV
The Twitter app came to Apple TV a year ago, bringing the social network's various video streams to your big screen television set. It added support for Twitter's live 360-degree video this past May, too. Now a new update will give you the power to tweet replies to live Twitter videos on your Apple TV via a connected iPhone or iPad.
Apple TV 4K review: Almost perfect
The Apple TV 4K is the streaming box we've been waiting for. It brings together the excellent interface from the 2015 model and the long-awaited ability to watch movies and TV shows in 4K and HDR. And perhaps most important, it seriously drives down the cost of digital 4K releases. Sure, competitors like Roku and Amazon's Fire TV have had 4K/HDR capabilities for years, but Apple's pricing model makes the format more accessible to consumers. While it's not quite perfect, the Apple TV 4K is a solid step beyond HD video.
