Update Now TV app for apple TV

[MrZippy]

Issue is don’t they already have an updated app in Ireland and Italy?  So they have the app done already. 

Plus Apple has universal apps, so the iOS and TvOS app should be one and the same. The TV interface can be standard. 

[ukbobboy]

@nst 

Hey NST

I'm a Now TV customer, nothing more, but after reading your post I can see that it really cannot hold up because it only takes a singular point of view.

As Now TV is a business entity it would have a business plan, fairly obvious, a firm understanding of the resources it has, the market sector it's aiming at and, I suspect, the economic viability of that market sector.

So whereas you are looking at how you will benefit from your suggested changes, Now TV has to consider how best to grow it's customer base in order to benefit itself, as a company, and it's employees. Such information, which I would believe it has at it's finger tips, it will put into action when it considers the time is appropriate.

However, if you believe your suggestions have merit then you should re-present them in this forum's forth coming ideas section.

UK Bob

[nst]

well this has to be one of the strangest replies ive ever head on a forum 🙂

[ukbobboy]

@nst 

Well NST

I guess so but I'm not that strange (I think), just having a Smirnoff and cola while listening to some music and seeing where my thoughts/mood takes me. 

Still, if you think I'm wrong then please explain why.

UK Bob

[Techuser_73]

BBC itv all the terrestrial broadcasters have upto date apps on an Apple device be it mobile or box. The fact the nowtv can not apply an update to these remaining devices is nothing a joke. Nothing more nothing less. I’d love someone from nowtv to come on here and explain the thinking behind that or even an update.  As was just said they have an upto date app in the Ireland and italy app. 

[ukbobboy]

@Techuser_73 

Hey TU

Now TV has never explained anything about their updates, for example it would help immensely if they explained the fixes they roll out but that's never happened nor, I guess, it ever will.

As for the Irish and Italian parts of Now TV, I guess they are probably run semi-autonomously and so have a certain amount of operational freedom from HQ.

UK Bob

[nst]

As I said... functional parity across all supported devices. - thats all we are asking / expecting.

The iOS app is clearly given a lot of TLC... but the AppleTV app is TVOS based and exceptionally easy to port (if indeed there is ANY development required to make it work on the TV).

Our expectations here are not unreasonable.

Either that, or officially drop a platform as being supported if there are to be no more updates to it.  The consumers can then make an informed choice as to which streaming services they will support, and on which devices they choose to buy.

To anyone buying an AppleTV now with a specific requirement to watch NowTV on it, they will be totally shocked at the quality of the app they find on the platform.  There is no indication on NowTV's website that the AppleTV is seen by them as the poor relation!

But, communication is key - its a shame that NowTV are not more transparent about what they are doing here.  

One thing for sure is that us AppleTV owners are totally in the dark here.  Its not as if we are using some ropey old hardware (such as an older TV), or a last generation games console... we are using the current AppleTV 4K - not exactly a niche product.

[ukbobboy]

@nst 

You know, NST

I agree with you that Now TV should be more transparent on somethings which it is somewhat "dark" on at the moment. And I also agree that anything that helps the customer/end user to make an informed decision on is definitely a good thing. 

But a couple of things jump out at me (which may or may not be wrong), first, any new developments or improvements that appear on Now TV's boxes or sticks are purely down to Roku's R & D dept. So there will always be Roku imposed constrains and timings.

Second, Apple historically has always been cagey about sharing it's technology, so could this poor quality you write about be because Apple will not share something needed by Roku to solve this particular problem? 

I suggest this because way back in the day when Microsoft was first introducing windows, they deliberately held back some code that would have helped prevent their competitors applications from crashing. The result of that decision caused the rise of windows and it's applications as the premier PC productivity tools while their competitors and all their applications faded into disuse and obscurity.

So I was wondering, could Apple be pulling a similar stunt to push their own Apple streaming devices and other related high-priced products?

Getting a bit drunk so I'm off.

UK Bob

Lighthouse Family Rules.

[nst]

well its a bit of a 180 to try to turn this into an apple bashing thread... I suspect as we are all AppleTV owners lamenting the fact that the AppleTV app is neglected you wont find much agreement on your point there.

However, you do raise other reasonable points.

Clearly, Roku is the centre of NowTV's world, and the Roku stick/ NowTV stick will always come first.  I think we all accept that is the reality.

However, I doubt its a technology thing.  iOS and TVOS share the same core, and apps can be easily ported from iOS, to iPadOS, to TVOS.  Thats the idea of the platform.

So, given that the iOS/iPadOS app is nicely up to date, and also that the TVOS version actually does exist already (ireland)... you can understand our frustration here.

[Techuser_73]

Some good suggestions there I certainly won’t be buying a nowtv stick not when I purchased the 4k Apple box some 18 months ago, if it means me having to watch my football in 720p then so be it. Maybe a community manager here can pass on this thread to the relevant person in charge of nowtv.