YouTube Releases All-New, Completely Revamped App for Apple TV

8 years ago

YouTube has released an all-new, fully redesigned version of its Apple TV app, which now looks pretty much like a port of the app experience on other platforms, including YouTube clients built in to smart TVs. As pointed by the folks over at 9to5Mac however, the update doesn’t exactly improve the viewing experience on Apple TV.

“Developers have been able to make custom apps for Apple TV since the introduction of tvOS a few years ago, but Google did not initially take advantage of this until now.

Like a lot of other video apps from major services, YouTube hasn’t exactly made an app tailored to Apple TV. However, it does feel more app-like with the new version and less like the old version ported from the more restricted client made for older Apple TVs.”

The updated YouTube app still doesn’t take advantage of Top Shelf which serves up video recommendations when the app is on the top row. Also, there’s still the whole 4K content fight happening between Google and Apple over video formats. YouTube will badge UHD videos with a 4K tag on Apple TV 4K, but video playback is still restricted to 1080p according to the video inspector.

Video playback on the new version of YouTube however does support frame rate switching between 24, 30, and 60 fps. You can grab the free update by simply clicking the update button on YouTube for tvOS on your Apple TV.

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10 Comments

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electric_erik

8 years ago

Finally!

Sterling Archer

Reply to electric_erik

8 years ago

Yeah I thought the same thing.

Now I want the old POS design back.

Can’t use the remote app to skip forward/back, if you try connecting via the app it doesn’t wake from the screensaver, navigation is TERRIBLE and subscriptions are in a long list, god forbid you have more than a few.

You’re now forced to deal with it autoplaying the next video even if that’s off.

It’s a pile of stanky garbage and I hate it with all of my soul. Only option is potentially using the app on my phone, but I want to have a complete experience on my damn Apple TV, ugh. Youtube is never going to not suck.

Olley

Reply to Sterling Archer

8 years ago

hurts my eyes to see this disgraceful interphase on Apple TV. this design is the very reason I stay away from android at all costs – clunky, blocky, oversized icons that don’t even work well with other functions within a single app.

bye bye youtube on Apple TV. way to shove your incompetent android garbage at us…

Aleks Oniszczak

8 years ago

YouTube ruined the app on their own Android TV boxes as well. I downgraded and turned updating off. Hopefully this can be done on the Apple TV as well.

Steve

8 years ago

And video’s still don’t play in 4K. They might want to fix that anytime now.

MeowMito

8 years ago

I saw it yesterday, I really dislike those 8min long commercials… worse than TV commercial only last 1-2min.

johnnygoodface

8 years ago

I’m not saying it’s very good, but to my point of view, it’s a better experience than the old app… without the ads of course.

Spiridus

8 years ago

I was excited when I read the header but now that I read the comments, I am so glad I have auto-update turned off. Think I’ll pass on this update until I hear better reviews.

Jezzah

8 years ago

New app is catastrophically bad. I have over a hundred subscriptions, navigating to what I want to view is an exercise in madness. Only solution is to airplay to AppleTV from my other devices, which completely defeats the purpose of having the YouTube app!