Update Now TV app for apple TV

[Anonymous User]

Will the Now TV app for Apple TV ever get an update?

The current version is complete rubbish and makes me regret ever getting a Now TV pass.

Unless there is an update my Now TV experience will be very short indeed.

[Enapace]

But it is quite clear that there has been investment made into the NowTV platform over the last year. Late last year Boost started rolling out. Then earlier this year more 50FPS channels were added and then red button was added and they launched Sports on Demand recently and added extra channels to the entertainment pass. They have since done a overhaul of the UI for there branded devices. Even Hayu has recently transitioned to being part of the Boost Pass so now all the passes are to one degree or another this is a lot of progress.

Yes I agree that it hasn't been the easiest and most best laid out process. While the decisions to cut support for the older LG TVs and White NowTV box is over i believe this is a good thing as it means they are not limiting themselves. The addition of Sony TV to supported devices is also a good sign of things to come. 

Like many here I can't wait to see the new AppleTV app out to all but it is coming yes longer then I hoped but it is on it's way our platform is not being abandoned. 

[nst]

I think its certainly fair to say.. at this point.. that the new App *will* be released and it is coming.  Theres no reason for it not to.

Why its taken so long is a mystery.  When it will finally get released is also a mystery... hopefully before the beta expires but thats looming very close now.  You'd hope that they would get this sorted in plenty of time for the Christmas push - but I seem to remember I was thinking that this time last year.  The current AppleTV app is beyond desperate to be replaced - its an embarrassment as is and not fit for purpose - moreover it will put off any existing or prospective new customers who only have the AppleTV as their sole set top box.  I guess that a new customer would work through the trial or initial month etc and given that old app would be forgiven for cancelling the service based on that experience.

However when it does get released.. the AppleTV should be bought in line with other platforms at the very least... and if it also supports the TV app integration then it will surpass the others.

Also, if this has now become a universal app, then going forward we should hopefully see it continuing to be updated rather than left to rot as it has been so far.

[Anonymous User]

Just playing devils advocate here but could it be delayed because they have more things to surprise us with as in new features etc?

I like you think it will be released this time and hopefully like you say all sorted for Christmas

[nst]

Sorry, @Anonymous User but I think the answer there is a definite no.

As beta testers.. we know that its stable enough for release as it has been for a while.  We also know that they are indeed going to be including functionality that wasnt present in the beta for us to test i.e. Boost (we live in hope) and TV app integration.

Just to be even more pessimistic on your theory... in my opinion theres no way really that they would introduce some other super new function and make it only available on the AppleTV... a device they have been happy up until now to completely abandon development-wise.  Im sure that new features or functions would appear on their own stick or hardware first.. and then make it to other platforms.

So.. lets just hope it makes it soon and intact!

[MrZippy]

I wouldn’t say it was certain by any means it will be released, because if there was no reason not to release it, why hasn’t it been?

I’d actually say add a continue watching to the old app, and fix the long standing bugs such as finishing an episode on a blank screen, opposed to returning to the menu. This would actually be better than the new as it would be using native UI components and not have the awful NowTV interface.

[Anonymous User]

But those native UI components are from 5+ years ago, no Apple TV components really look like that anymore unless you have the old boxes which don’t have the latest OS on them. It absolutely needs updating to today’s standards. As for the Now TV interface, it is far from perfect but they certainly could tweak it to use native search and playback functionality, that would be a drastic improvement to the beta version.

[MrZippy]

I agree the current app does use the atv3 UI but at least it uses native controls, albeit dated with regard to layout.

The worst thing about the new app is it doesn’t use a native picker, so icons aren’t faux 3D which sticks out like a sore thumb and you can’t scroll through them fluidly.

[AlexB83]

I think this is close on the horizon I just saw on twitter now tv help said iOS update is coming VERY soon and they actually typed very in capitals so I presume this is all going to coincide 

[nst]

if only we were waiting for the iOS update!

The TVOS one is the one for Apple TV

[nst]

me again.... just found that tweet from NowTV Help...

and the "VERY soon" they were being asked about was indeed the iOS app - and its use of spatial audio with AirPods pro.

So.. there is an update coming VERY soon to the iPhone app.

Unfortunately... until we get the universal app released.... this is irrelevant when talking about the AppleTV TVOS app.  A different thing.

[AlexB83]

Yes I know that I meant it would make more sense to release them at the same time if they have got updates planned for both and about 3 weeks ago they did respond to a direct question about Apple TV specifically saying they hope to release it in a few weeks 

[nst]

sometime late august/very early September the same NowTV Help twitter account promised it 'in a couple of weeks'...

That twitter account does not know what its talking about!  (with respect).

[Enapace]

@nst 

in fairness Red button has been on other devices for months and still hasn't arrived for the NowTV Boxes

[Anonymous User]

Like I said earlier maybe there doing stuff in the background to release all this stuff on the app when they release it, if they ever do.

And yes I know I’m just hoping here

[Anonymous User]

Agree. Add in a watch list too and that'd do for me.

Even though I've got the beta app I find it awful to use. It's just so
arkward to rewind in the beta app that I use the four year old app that has
native support for the Apple remote.

[Anonymous User]

Tomorrow marks the 5th anniversary of the current app release! Maybe they’ll mark it with the app update, or it’ll be yet another day going by. Probably the second one.

[MrZippy]

I agree, the new app looks pretty but the functionally isn’t good. But at least if pushed out as universal, as it is in Ireland already, hopefully it will be regularly updated and maybe they will get lots of feedback that it needs native controls and interface on tvOS.

[nst]

@Anonymous User 

Great memory! 🙂 

However ... its way worse than that.   The "TVOS" version that we have been saddled with, at the time, was not new.  

We were expecting a re-write in line with the (then) new AppleTV as a launch app for the new box with its new OS.. NowTV missed the launch deadline and the app wasnt available at all for a few weeks.

We then ended up with a lazy port of the OLD app which had been running on the previous generation AppleTV boxes for the last few years before that.

At the time, as disappointing as it was to not get something new.. it felt like the lazy port was there short term as a placeholder as NowTV were one of the flagship apps that were advertised by apple as being supported on the new platform.

Little did we realise that the lazy port would still be here 5 years later.

So... not so much happy 5th birthday....its actually more like 10+.

[AlexB83]

Now tv is only 8 years old. But I am going to be optimistic and do think it's coming soon and once they do hopefully it will be easier to add new features 

[dr_necessitor]

“Just for a larf”, I searched my email archive this morning to see how long this Apple tv beta trial has been running.

Found that I enrolled on 9 August 2018 and that the trial eventually began (with a beta version 4.2 of the app) on 11 December 2018. Current version expires in 14 days.

Fingers crossed for public release before it stops working (AGAIN) - but to be honest I’m not holding my breath or betting the house that it will happen!

Surprise and delight me NOW TV Trials Team...

[benryanmills]

New build now out to replace the expiring one.