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LaWally

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 24, 2012
530
1
With respect to the many comments about people being disappointed that the new ATV does not do apps, what kind of apps would you like to see on ATV?
 
Necessary:
Plex
HDHomerun, EyeTV, SlingBox (Anything that will let me watch live tv)
Hulu

For Fun:
Games that use iOS devices as the controller.
 
So basically people just want apps on the ATV that will allow them to watch more TV from different sources?
 
So basically people just want apps on the ATV that will allow them to watch more TV from different sources?

I think that these are the most logically requested apps for the aTV2. It just makes sense, since the output device is a TV. Why not have apps that allow for more TV viewing?

As for me, in addition to the TV/video type apps, I'd like Safari, weather-app, a few games, and Zork.

EDIT - I was just kidding about Zork. ;)

Also, regarding TV apps, I'd like to see Verizon FiOS have an app that would allow me to watch shows that I've already recorded on my DVR. I know that they probably wouldn't do this as they would rather I lease another STB to do so.
 
So basically people just want apps on the ATV that will allow them to watch more TV from different sources?

and those are the app that are the most unlikely to ever appear.
bear in mind, that (assuming we are talking about official apps), there needs to be will on both sides (ie apple and the content owner).
 
I think that these are the most logically requested apps for the aTV2. It just makes sense, since the output device is a TV. Why not have apps that allow for more TV viewing?

With the objective being to get out from under cable providers or just to have more and/or possibly cheaper alternatives?
 
and those are the app that are the most unlikely to ever appear.

True, but then again, they gave us Netflix streaming, and I never thought I'd see that on the Apple TV when you could rent/buy most of those programs and movies on the box already.

I'd like to see HBO GO, Max GO, and ESPN3.
 
A Barclays Premier League app, similar to the MLB and NBA apps/service...my soccer games are the main reason I won't pull the trigger on cutting the "cable" cord...
 
Similar to the MLB app, I'd like to see an app for "NFL Game Pass" - so you can use your subscription to watch via the ATV. Maybe also incorporate iOS devices to show stats on those whilst leaving the game full-screen on the TV?

Plex - which I know is available via jailbreak for the ATV2 anyway.

Sky Go for people in the UK - it's on XBox Live, so why not, right?

Basically, there's some great video-viewing apps available for iOS devices already and I'd like to see some of them ported to the ATV - and I'm hoping that's the case, seeing as I've just bought one for the first time.

If not, then I'll jailbreak as soon as one's available to get my hands on Plex, 'cause that's my main TV source right now on my iMac.
 
With the objective being to get out from under cable providers or just to have more and/or possibly cheaper alternatives?

I personally think that Apple is indifferent to cord-cutters. They couldn't care less, either way. My opinion is that Apple will deal with the cable providers only because they control the necessary broadband. Without the cable companies on board, then they could easily cripple any IPTV plans that Apple (or anyone else) has. (aside - this is what makes net neutrality so crucial)

To me, the purpose of having video apps is to get more content onto the aTV. I'm thinking Hulu Plus, Amazon Unlimited, etc. for the established content purveyors. But how about the content owners that aren't already represented? HBO-Go, Big10 Network, CBS, AMC (and other cable networks).
 
Necessary:
Plex
HDHomerun, EyeTV, SlingBox (Anything that will let me watch live tv)
Hulu

For Fun:
Games that use iOS devices as the controller.

Plex and Hulu are already available on the ATV2 via a jailbreak, which is free. I've been using them on ATV2 since last September.

I also use EyeTV on my Mac to record shows from my HD Homerun, and export those show recordings to iTunes so my ATV2 can see them. I could also just access the direct recordings in EyeTV on my mac using XBMC on my ATV2, but those recordings are huge and uncompressed, so that's a lot of data to stream to the ATV2 and it can be choppy.

As for live TV, you could use EyeTV on your mac and then airplay mirror that to your ATV2/3 using AirParrot ($10) or OS 10.8 Mountain Lion.

Anyway, my point is if you want the functionality you listed, you can have it now at very low (or even zero) cost.
 
I'd like most of what my xBox 360 has. Hulu+, HBOGO(coming to xb 4/1), ESPN3...Just those and I'd be happy
 
I would like to see TV catch up services. In the UK that would include BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and Demand 5, all of which are already iOS apps.
 
Anyway, my point is if you want the functionality you listed, you can have it now at very low (or even zero) cost.

Oh yea, I know. My ATV2 is jailbroken with these features. I just wish I didn't have to go through the hassle of jailbreaking and these companies could release these apps.
 
I would like to see TV catch up services. In the UK that would include BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and Demand 5, all of which are already iOS apps.

Totally agree that the UK :apple:tv needs these as native apps. I don't see why they require the need of another portable iDevice to Airplay the content; it just seems a very convoluted solution. Surely it would be in the interest of both Apple and the TV companies to provide this considering the catch-up services are available on PS3 and 360.

I beleive that aTV Flash adds a weather app. This seems like a no-brainer and should have been included anyway. It'd also be nice to have a native news ticker RSS feed thingy.

:apple:
 
That's not the point. We shouldn't have to hack our devices to get some of this functionality.

"Should" has nothing to do with it.

You will never get free Hulu on the Apple TV baked in. Hulu's FAQ clearly states that free Hulu will only ever be available for the Computer. Only Hulu+ will be available for set-top boxes. http://www.hulu.com/plus-?src=topnav
Perhaps one day you will get an official Hulu+ app for the ATV, which will allow you to pay $8/month for TV shows. Perhaps not.

My point:
All that stands between you and getting these features (free Hulu AND Hulu+) today is a set of step-by-step instructions which will cost you no money and probably an hour or so of your time.

Or, you know, you could wait another year or so for Apple to make it easier for you. (People have been wanting Hulu+ on the ATV2 since it came out. That was 1.5 years ago and they are still waiting.)

You'd be spending quite a long time not getting what you want just to save yourself that 1 hour of hassle.

To each their own.
 
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