Gadget Guy: Apple is making it easier to binge-watch your favourite TV shows

TORONTO – Apple has put a fresh coat of paint onto its Apple TV app in preparation for the rollout of its premium streaming service Apple TV+. While the new service won’t be available until this fall, the revamped app introduces new features along with a fresh new look, making it easier to find your favourite television shows and discover new content as we approach the summer TV season.

User Interface

The first thing you will notice is the improved look and feel. Apple has put a lot of polish on the revamped app, ensuring browsing and finding content not only looks good but feels good as you browse through titles. Television shows and movies are displayed through beautiful tiles, making it easy to pinpoint what you are looking for. You can scroll through rows of icons, much like you already do on Netflix. Once you click on a title you can dive into individual episodes.

For the most part, selecting a tv show will still take you to either iTunes, or a television provider’s streaming app. Keep in mind, many of these apps require a cable or satellite subscription in order to watch them through the app. Not all content is free.

Curated Content

The Apple TV app was created to act as a hub for your content. The app helps you find your favourites shows and movies, then tells you where to watch them, whether it’s from iTunes, a streaming app or a TV network provider app. The newly redesigned app now takes it further.

For the first time, Apple is now recommending shows you may want to watch based on your viewing habits. The new curated content is based on both an algorithm and editorial insight. Recommendations will come from more than 150 video apps and streaming services, along with more than 100,000 titles from iTunes. Yes, be prepared to fall down the rabbit hole as new suggestions will pop up each time you log in.

TV Channels

Up until now, when you click on a television show you want to watch, the Apple TV app will transport you directly to the television producers app for viewing. Apple is changing this with TV Channels.

Apple will allow you to subscribe to individual channels (for a monthly fee) giving you not only access to more content but an improved experience. Since the channels are created by Apple, it controls the look and feel of the user interface, along with the quality of the stream. So while a premium movie network may offer a similar app, Apple’s TV Channel will offer its own polished look for those same shows.

Apple is clearly trying to disrupt traditional television by offering a la carte channels, but here’s something to keep in mind. Each channel comes with a cost. It doesn’t matter if you already pay a monthly fee within a TV providers app for the content. Apple charges its own fee for the Channel. You may find yourself paying twice for shows you want to watch if you plan on watching them on Apple TV Channels.

The TV Channel offerings in Canada is very limited right now. While the US gets HBO, Starz, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX and Tastemade at launch, Canada only has access to Smithsonian Channel and Acorn at this time. Expect that offering to grow in the coming weeks/months.

Offline Viewing

This may be one of the biggest benefits of subscribing to a TV Channel through the Apple TV app. Let’s use HBO as an example. HBO does not allow you to watch content without an internet connection. All television shows and movies are streamed to your iOS devices. If you don’t have a connection, you can’t watch. Well, that’s not the case with TV Channels.

Apple actually allows you to download content to watch at a later date. Yes, you can download episodes of Game of Thrones to watch on your way to work so your co-workers don’t spoil it for you. Keep in mind HBO is not available in Canada as an Apple TV channel yet.

Kid-friendly Content

Apple is quickly realizing there is a huge market for children’s programming. The latest Apple TV update puts a focus on this, dedicating an entire section strictly to kid-friendly movies and shows.

Kids can easily find their favourite shows by looking for images of their favourite characters or pals. There’s a section dedicated to learning, and another for movies and show that families can watch together. One of the most useful features may be the age-specific sections. Apple breaks content into age groups so you know what’s appropriate for your kids.

It’s clear Apple is getting ready for its upcoming premium streaming service, by polishing up the existing Apple TV app. If you want to check it out for yourself on your iPad, iPhone or Apple TV you just need to update your iOS or tvOS to 12.3. Apple TV will also be available on Mac this fall.

-Follow Gadget Guy Mike Yawney on Twitter

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today