Sure, Apple hasn’t done anything major with its Apple TV streaming device in a while, but that doesn’t mean content channels are neglecting it entirely. YouTube announced an update to its Apple TV channel on Tuesday, introducing a complete design makeover and some new features.
The design looks similar to YouTube’s channels found on the Roku and other streaming services, with crisp video thumbnails and tools for easy discovery. New features for the Apple TV include personalized recommendations based on other videos you’ve watched, predictive search, and the ability to subscribe to specific YouTube channels. YouTube’s video announcement calls it “the full YouTube experience, right from your TV.” Sounds about right.
Why this matters: Basically, everything we’ve come to expect from YouTube on other outlets, we can now get on the Apple TV. These features have been present on YouTube’s mobile apps, its website, and on other streaming platforms for quite some time, and now the Apple TV is finally up to speed.
Unfortunately, this update brings a more integrated ad experience to the Apple TV along with all of the new perks. You’ll see ads played before videos now, just as you would elsewhere. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it’s a downside nonetheless.
Other Apple TV channel updates
Besides the YouTube change, a few other Apple TV additions dropped on Tuesday. Among them is a channel from magazine powerhouse Conde Nast called “The Scene,” which will show editorial video clips from Conde Nast’s catalog. We’ll also see offerings from France’s Dailymotion and UFC.TV, plus the launch of millennial TV network Fusion.
With cord cutting on the rise, it’s no surprise that brands are ramping up content for these streaming boxes, and it’s nice to see that the Apple TV isn’t totally being left in the dust. We think something major is on the horizon for the Apple TV, but for now, we’ll settle for a better YouTube experience.
What do you think of Apple TV’s latest channel updates? Let us know in the comments below.
Author: Leah Yamshon, Associate Managing Editor
Leah Yamshon is a former Macworld editor.