AT&T TV for Apple TV

[Phuz01]

I've reached out to AT&T via various channels (customer support, social media), and of course nobody seems to know that an issue exists with 4.0.3, much less if a fix is in the works. I've threatened to cancel all my AT&T services if this doesn't improve by the end of the month, and that seems to have lit a bit of a fire under them (though I doubt my $220/month really affects their bottom line), but I'm not holding my breath for a satisfactory resolution.

 

[Stucknoz]

I've noticed the AT&T TV app for Apple TV seems a lot more glitchy since recent updates were released. Navigation through the Guide, Watch Now, and My Library is really jittery, a strange combination of both under- and over-sensitive movement when being navigated with the touchscreen on both the Siri remote and the Remote app on my iPhone. Channel navigation seems a bit quicker to respond, but sometimes it'll scroll past multiple channels with a single gesture. And sometimes I'll be navigating through My Library, and all of a sudden I'll be in the Guide without any idea how I got there.

Am I the only person experiencing these issues? Or was this just a really under-QA'd release?

I've been having the same issues and have been so frustrated, I was ready to cancel my subscpition to AT&T. I changed my Apple TV remote to directional buttons under Accesibility on my iPhone and iPad. I have found that using the directional remote on each of my devices works much better than my actual Apple TV remote to navigate through the AT&T app, for now. I hope this helps!

 

[TheIntruder]

The 4.0.4 update provides some partial relief. My ATV is set to auto update apps, but didn't, so I had to do it manually.

The newer version does make the channel grid usable again, and initially, it was even as fast as before, but for whatever reason, has slowed down a bit since first updated, though it's still faster than 4.0.3. I've seen the suggestion that toggling between the All and Favorite channel lineups may play a role, but can't confirm that.

But if nothing else, it restores the right-edge quick scroll that was completely broken recently.

Unfortunately, the main menu screen is still slow as molasses.

The developer has obviously been playing with a lot of the code, and jacked a lot of it up. In addition to the poor responses, the Menu button was acting inconsistently, and there are still odd blank screen interludes that weren't present before.

Fundamentally, I think they may have intentionally tried to alter the touch UI responses with the grid, and change the scrolling action from having inertia, and being flickable, to scrolling based on a constant touch motion, where it stops quickly if contact is lost. The former seems more responsive, but isn't as precise as the latter.

Keeping a finger on the touch pad while motioning does make the recent versions more usable, but isn't as fast as the old method for jumping quickly to a different part of the grid.

Of course, AT&T being AT&T, all of this could be unintentional and just their standard MO of incompetence.

 

[Phuz01]

Thanks for the heads up on the update, @TheIntruder! It had not installed automatically onto my ATV, so I went ahead and updated. A big, huge +1 on the Menu button being a random experience... Press Menu and see where it takes you!

The guide is still a hot mess: scrolling horizontally, the same gesture can advance through 1-3 programs, it'll jump to a different network, or the guide just closes by itself. Same with vertical scrolling; it'll go to 1-3 different networks, jump to a random time, or just close by itself. The app still takes a long time to awaken, and sometimes it'll cut from the current channel back out to the AT&T TV splash page.

That said, for me the Watch Now and My Library screens did seem more responsive. Still not what I would classify as great, but not the show-stopping latency crapfest that navigation had become with 4.0.3.

I didn't have a chance to check DVR functionality, but if there are any major deltas, I'll update here.

 

[2010mini]

Oh, by the way, they just increased the monthly fee by $10.

That sounds like something AT&T would do.... less functionality, higher price

 

[Phuz01]

I used the Cloud DVR last night, and it seemed a bit more responsive with the update, particularly when fast forwarding. Nothing to cheer about, but I didn't find myself yelling at the TV in frustration in the way I have so many times since 4.0.3.

 

[BadgerPharm37]

My major issue is that on my AppleTV 4 (not the 4k one), the app is behind live TV by a FULL 3 minutes. It makes watching live sports unbearable, especially getting alerts and text messages and seeing tweets talking about a crazy play or end of a game that I haven't seen yet. I can deal with 15-20 seconds delay, I get it, streaming is gonna have a delay vs cable, but this is no joke, 3 full minutes. My appletv 4k that I have in the basement, or my phone don't have this ridiculous delay. I don't even know what to do about it. I have the grandfathered plan, so I really hate to ditch it, but this is getting ridiculous. Then of course the menu navigations are mostly awful like everyone else said, even with being on 4.0.4.

I did contact ATT today, and they gave me a $20 refund, if anybody wants to try to go that route.

 

[toneloc99]

I just manually installed 4.0.5 today and its WAY better. Thanks for the tip on manually updating, I wouldn't have thought to check that since my ATV is also set to auto update apps. 4.0.5 isn't back to being as "good" as updates in the past, but it makes the app at least usable again. I was getting ready to cancel because it was all bu unusable.

 

[Phuz01]

I spent the weekend banging around on 4.0.5, and while the navigation in Watch Now and My Library seems better, DVR functionality was slightly worse (lots of lagging when trying to FF), and the Guide is once again garbage with the Siri remote. A right swipe could go 1-3 time slots later, and up/down swiping sometimes exited the guide and changed the network. Really getting sick of this user "experience."

 

[Blarnld]

I have auto update for Apps selected on my ATV. How do I find what version of AT&T I have?

 

[Phuz01]

I have auto update for Apps selected on my ATV. How do I find what version of AT&T I have?

I'm not sure that you can check your current version, but if you go into the App Store and the Purchased/Installed Apps section (not on the TV now), you can open AT&T TV. If the Update button is active, then you have something prior to 4.0.5 installed.

 

[Phuz01]

I force closed the AT&T TV app and restarted the TV, and the performance seems to be a bit better on the DVR functionality, particularly FF. There's less jumping and lag with high-speed scrubbing, and there seems to be more granularity with fine scrubbing. The guide is still a wonky mess, though.

 

[PPopMatt]

I gave UP on the ATT-TV after they raised it $10 a few years ago. I then tried using Hulu at my "Network Provider" which I also hated. It seems like they feed you commercials as their highest priority...

Hulu then raised it $10/month and then another $10... so I cancelled.

Without a TV Provider, I have been almost happy, as I despise most Tee Vee, and can watch almost everything (I watch) thru the CBS, NBC, and CNN apps, along with Hulu, Netflix, and probably the only worthwhile thing, the Disney App.

My favorite channel is still turning it OFF!

So much for TeeVee.. What a horrible experience!

 

[PS-3]

So I just got the new Siri remote in the mail and download the app for AT&T TV. Does anyone have instructions on the gestures or buttons to press for simple procedure? I’m having a hard time rewinding live TV. Thanks!

 

[southerndoc]

I'm considering switching to AT&T when they deploy fiber in my neighborhood. Does the AT&T TV app for AppleTV provide the same quality and functionality as one of their boxes?

 

[PS-3]

I'm considering switching to AT&T when they deploy fiber in my neighborhood. Does the AT&T TV app for AppleTV provide the same quality and functionality as one of their boxes?

Asides from the issue with figuring out how to fast forward, the App and the Box are both AT&T glitchy quality. That being said, when using the Apps (Netflix/Hulu/etc) on the ATT Box it’s equally as glitchy, which is why we switched to the Apple TV. Also a one remote solution for the TV. (Att tv box doesn’t offer Hulu)

 

[CoMoMacUser]

The guide is really laggy, but everything else works fine. No lagginess with the Roku app.

 

[PS-3]

Has a anyone figured how to fast forward? So far I think the app for roku is built better, and forward live TV But it gives a preview of where you’re at on recording. When forwarding on Apple TV, the time just moves but I have no idea if the commercial I’m skipping is over or not

 

[TheIntruder]

I'm considering switching to AT&T when they deploy fiber in my neighborhood. Does the AT&T TV app for AppleTV provide the same quality and functionality as one of their boxes?

For AT&T's service, the Osprey box and remote are unequivocally better than the ATV app is, or has ever been.

As a bespoke, dedicated solution, and on the objective level, it has functions (such as previous channel, mini guide, numeric guide) and buttons (which are backlit) the ATV version and its remote will never have.

The app has no odd transitory blank, or error, screens that the current version of the ATV app has, or the Russian roulette potential that each new update of the ATV app brings.

I can't speak of the ATV app's performance on a new ATV4k, but compared to the 4/HD, the box is faster and more consistent.

OTOH, is the box worth the $120 upfront, or 24-mo installment change, especially if you already own an ATV? That's certainly debatable. Likely not.

But if the service ends up being a long(er) term subscription, it would be worthwhile to consider a used one off eBay.

 

[bjjp2]

Just setup new AppleTV today with new remote and can’t seem to be able to fast forward at all on ATT Now. Anyone having any success?

 

[techno-Zen]

I've noticed the AT&T TV app for Apple TV seems a lot more glitchy since recent updates were released. Navigation through the Guide, Watch Now, and My Library is really jittery, a strange combination of both under- and over-sensitive movement when being navigated with the touchscreen on both the Siri remote and the Remote app on my iPhone. Channel navigation seems a bit quicker to respond, but sometimes it'll scroll past multiple channels with a single gesture. And sometimes I'll be navigating through My Library, and all of a sudden I'll be in the Guide without any idea how I got there.

Am I the only person experiencing these issues? Or was this just a really under-QA'd release?

I literally bought the new Apple TV to hope it fixed it. Still terrible

 

[PS-3]

I’m forcing myself to get use to the ATT App on the ATV, since it seems to be the best hardware for a one remote solution, but the jitteriness and functionality are driving me crazy, especially on FF/RW… is there or was there every a preview for where you are? I forward blindly hoping I get past all the commercials.

 

[mallbritton]

Has a anyone figured how to fast forward? So far I think the app for roku is built better, and forward live TV But it gives a preview of where you’re at on recording. When forwarding on Apple TV, the time just moves but I have no idea if the commercial I’m skipping is over or not

Can you use Siri to skip forward? Just something like "skip forward 4 minutes." I do this in YouTube TV all the time.

 

[PS-3]

Can you use Siri to skip forward? Just something like "skip forward 4 minutes." I do this in YouTube TV all the time.

I didn’t even think of that, but I’ll try it. But still have the issue of fast forwarding blind. I have a Roku on the TV In our guest bedroom cause I didn’t want to shell out on a ATV that was barely going to be used, but the functionality on the ATT app there is much better.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

the functionality on the ATT app there is much better.

Agreed. The Roku app blows it away.