Specs and Design

Apple TV:

1. A8 CPU (dual core)
2. HDMI output.
3. 2GB of RAM.
4. 1080 output resolution.
5. 32GB or 64GB storage.
6. 425 grams.
7. Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi‑Fi, 10/100BASE‑T Ethernet.

Roku Ultra:

1. 900 MHz Broadcom BCM2836 CPU (quad-core).
2. Optical audio, HDMI output.
3. RAM: Unknown
4. 256MB of built in storage (unconfirmed).
5. USB port and MicroSD card slot for extra storage.
6. 4K UHD resolution with High Dynamic Range support (60hz).
7. Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, 10/100BASE‑T Ethernet.

Specs breakdown

One thing you need to keep in mind is that specs don’t really matter that much. After all, the devices need to stream content and they have to do it well. They may have a powerful CPU and a lot of memory, but if the stream quality is not there, that beefed up CPU and memory don’t really matter that much.

Now, the Roku Ultra does have a more powerful CPU compared to the Apple TV. That’s because it needs extra juice for the 4K content. In terms of memory, 1GB should be enough. The Apple TV has 2GB, while the Roku may have about 1.5GB.

The difference in storage between the 2 is massive. The Apple TV can have up to 64GB of memory, while the Roku only has 256MB. This is because the Roku focuses on streaming everything.

The Roku supports 4K HDR, while the Apple TV can only handle Full HD. There isn’t too much 4K HDR content out there yet, but it’s good to know that the Roku is future proof in this regard.

Remote control comparison

First of all, the Roku Ultra features a physical remote that you can also use as a game controller. Even better, it features a built-in headphone jack, too. This means you can plug in your headphones in the remote (the Roku comes with a free pair) and the sound will be directed directly to your ears (through the remote).

The Roku remote comes with a speaker as well. If you can’t find it, then you need to press a button on the Roku Ultra and the remote will play a sound that allows you to find it easier. Quite useful, don’t you think? Lastly, the Roku offers voice search as well, making it easier to search for your favorite movies, shows, etc.

When it comes to the Apple Remote, you can use Siri, speak into the remote and look for content. As expected, the Siri remote can also be used to command your Apple TV. The Apple TV remote also has a touchpad which is quite useful if you don’t like to press buttons all the time. Better yet, you can easily use it to adjust the volume as well. As such, no longer will you need to worry about having a separate remote for adjusting the volume.

OS and content

The OS on the Apple TV (tvOS) has been updated and revamped. It’s fluid, smooth and it’s very pleasing to the eye. Not only does it have HD screensavers, but it also has a very useful Search feature. You can now use it in order to search through channels, even if you don’t yet have them. This can be pretty useful. This means that if you search for movies with Leonardo DiCaprio, you’ll get results not only from the iTunes store, but also from HBO Go, Netflix, and any other app you may have installed.

The Roku Ultra’s operating system is called Roku OS7. You get about twenty five hundred channels, but that’s not the best part. The best part is the Roku Feed which makes it a breeze to bookmark your favorite movies and TV shows. What happens next is that when one of the channels Roku offers has that movie in it, you’ll be notified. How great is that? This sounds very much like the Apple TV’s universal search, but it’s certainly a lot more useful since it tracks your favorite content and then notifies you when you can watch it.

Apple TV vs Roku: Price and verdict

Trying to come to a conclusion on which of these players is the best is very difficult. In terms of price, the 4th gen Apple TV with 32GB of memory is $149, with the 64GB version costing $199. In comparison, the Roku Ultra costs only $129 which is much cheaper.

For the asking price, you get the amazing Siri remote that has a lot of functionality and can help you enjoy your Apple TV a lot more than the traditional remote. If you love games, then you can safely go with the Apple TV. You can download thousands of games from the App Store and many of them are quite affordable as well. Then again, with the Apple TV you don’t get 4K HDR support, while the Roku Ultra offers it. This year, the popular streaming services, including Amazon Instant Video and Netflix are focusing on 4K content, including HDR, so if you’re into it, then the Roku may be a great choice to consider. If you opt for the Apple TV, then you’ll need to settle with Full HD resolution.

Calling a winner in this battle is definitely very difficult. Our take is that if you want the highest quality content, then go for the Roku. On the other hand, if you’re into games and apps, then go for the Apple TV!

The post Apple TV 4 vs. Roku Ultra: Which is better? appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

One thing you need to know about the Apple TV is that it comes preinstalled with a lot of useful apps. Some of them include MLB.TV, YouTube, WatchESPN, HBO GO, but also PBS, Hulu, Netflix, and more. However, maybe these apps are not enough for you and you’d like to add more apps to it. If that’s the case though, then how to add apps to apple tv? Well, about that and more we’re going to tell you more below. One more thing to keep in mind: adding apps to apple tv also depends on the Apple TV model you have.

4th Gen Apple TV: Yes

Okay, so you have a 4th Gen Apple TV and you would like to add apps to apple tv. Can you do that? Fortunately, the answer is yes! The 4th Gen Apple TV was introduced in late 2015 and as Tim Cook said at the time, the TV was built around the idea that applications are the future of TV.

When it comes to installing the apps on your device, it’s as simple as installing them on your iPad or iPhone. It’s true that the operating system is a bit different and this means the installation process also differs. However, it’s not a big difference. Here’s a short guide on how you can download apps on apple tv and install them.

1. Search for the app you want to install, highlight it and then view the detail screen for it by clicking the touchpad.
2. At this screen, you’ll need to click the Install button. If the app is paid, you’ll see a price instead of the Install button. Begin the installation by highlighting the button and clicking the touchpad.
3. To proceed with the installation, you may need to enter your Apple ID password. Do this by using the onscreen keyboard and the remote control.
4. Once the installation is launched, you’ll notice an icon appearing in the button that shows how long until the installer completes.
5. When the app is finally downloaded and installed, the button’s label will change to Open. You can open the application by selecting it or returning to your Apple TV’s home screen.

3rd Gen Apple TV and Earlier: Channels are added regularly by Apple

Can you download apps on apple tv 3rd gen? Unfortunately, the answer is no, but luckily Apple does add them on a regular basis. For instance, when the Apple TV was launched, it featured less than 10 channels of online content. Currently, there are dozens of them and what’s surprising is that Apple continues to add a lot of them as new ones appear.

It’s important to note that there isn’t a fixed schedule for new channels to be added to the Apple TV and users also have no control over whether they’re installed or not. So if you just turned on your Apple TV and noticed a new icon on the home screen, then this means that you can access new content. There are also cases when new applications are bundled together with certain updates to the Apple TV’s software. These days though, channels are added to your Apple TV as they’re ready.

3rd Gen Apple TV and earlier: No

If you want to know how to get apps on apple tv 3rd generation, well, you cannot actually do that. While it’s true that the operating system for the Apple TV 3rd Gen and earlier is similar to the one the iPad and the iPhone use, it has limited features. Most importantly, you won’t be able to download apps and install them. Fortunately, new apps do get added to it.

Adding apps via Jailbreak

Without a doubt, there are many people who aren’t happy with the idea that Apple is the only one that decides what apps make the cut and which apps do not. Therefore, if you’d like to install apps that Apple currently doesn’t allow, then you may want to jailbreak your device. Jailbreaking is a process that makes certain changes to the device’s core software in order to remove certain restrictions imposed by Apple (usually on installing software).

If you would like to actually jailbreak your device, then you can do so by using special software. Some examples include Pangu, iJailbreakPro (this is a paid tool), and Seas0nPass (free tool). Jailbreaking may not be possible on all Apple TVs (firmware version is very important as well), so be sure to keep that in mind before deciding to jailbreak your device.

Once the jailbreaking process is over, you can proceed to install tools such as XMBC or Plex so you can access content that Apple currently restricts. At this point you may be wondering “can you add apps to apple tv?”. Sure, you can install a lot more apps than before, but the apps need to be compatible with your Apple TV.

Now that you know how to get new apps on apple tv, you can start checking the most popular ones and see how you like using them with your Apple TV. Have fun!

The post How to Add or Install Apps on your Apple TV appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

We also want to mention that some of the applications in our list focus on music, books, and media in general, while others focus on task management and collaboration. While some of them are great for accessing personal documents, others are great for the entire family.

In verifying and testing the applications below, we’ve used the amazon fire HD 8. Depending on your device, your experience using these applications may very well vary. Before we begin taking a look at each one, we also encourage you to let us know in the comments box of any app that you think should be included on our list. Here we go!

Duolingo

Let’s be honest about one thing: if you want to learn a new language, then this is probably going to take you quite a long time. If you’re an adult, then the learning process can be even more time consuming and difficult. Luckily, with Duolingo, you can easily get started with learning a new language. Even more, the app is free and it offers you the chance to learn more than 10 languages. Learning your preferred language can be done at your own pace and the tests and lessons all scale nicely in terms of difficulty. As a result, the app will certainly keep you engaged during your learning process.

VLC for Fire

Do you have one or more movies or videos that you’d like to view on your tablet? Well then, you certainly need to download VLC. This is an open source and free application that supports a wide range of video formats. While it doesn’t look great, it does its job well and you can easily watch your favorite videos using it.

Comics by Comixology

Are you a fan of reading comics? If the answer is yes, then Comics is one of the best platforms you can use in order to read tens of thousands of comics. With a library of more than 75 thousand comics, you’re never going to run out of comics you can read while commuting to work or taking a lunch break. You can take advantage of multiple sales in order to stock up on some pretty amazing books, too!

ES Mobile File Explorer

If you’re the kind of user that wants to use his amazon fire for a lot more than streaming media, games, and applications, then you should get your hands on ES Mobile Fire Explorer. Using it, you can access your amazon fire‘s file system in order to remove unwanted files and easily manage content. If you bring a lot of documents or local media onto your tablet, then you’ll find this application very useful.

SoundCloud

While many of us use Spotify in order to listen to our favorite artists, if you want something different, then you definitely need to check out SoundCloud. This is a community of collaborators and creators that share their remixes, demos, and many other aural masterpieces. Using the SoundCloud app, you can tap into a large database of free music offerings and listen to artists that you’d otherwise not know of.

Photo Editor by Aviary

The amazon fire is quite affordable if you are to compare it with some of the top tablets on the market. Because of its low cost, it’s understandable that its cameras aren’t that great. However, if you still want to edit your photos and make them look better, now you can do that thanks to the Aviary Photo Editor.

This is a free tool that allows you to make all sorts of tucks and nips to your photographs. You can add frames, filters, but also make a wide range of fine edits so that your photos look perfect. Using this app is very simple and you could realistically edit photos sometimes in less than 10 seconds.

Pocket

No one denies that tablets aren’t great reading devices, but there are times when you just don’t have the time to read a lengthy, but interesting article. In this case, all you need to do is download Pocket and save that article for offline reading. So the next time you have some free time on your hands, you can pull up the article from Pocket and read it. How great is that?

These are some of the amazon fire tv apps you can install on your tablet. There are definitely a lot more though, so let us know in the comments section about your favorite ones!

The post 7 Excellent Apps you need to install on your Amazon Fire Tablet right now! appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

However, if you jailbreak apple tv, then that’s a different story. After you’ve jailbroken your Apple TV, you can proceed to install a wide range of systems, services, and applications on it that make it a lot more appealing even than the latest Apple TV.

Should you jailbreak your Apple TV?

While generally people are interested to know whether they should jailbreak their iPhone (there are many pros and cons to doing that), there are significantly less cons to jailbreaking your Apple TV. As for the pros, there are more than you can imagine.

Here are some of the most popular apps you can install once you’ve jailbroken your Apple TV:

aTV Flash (black): What makes this app great is the fact by that using it you can actually play a wide range of video format on your Apple TV. One example is the popular .mkv format. You can also use unofficial applications and also browse the internet.

Kodi: Kodi is an entertainment hub that allows you to mostly play podcasts, videos, and music. It also enables PVR functionality, meaning that on top of watching TV, you can also record your favorite shows, etc.

Jailbreaking your Apple TV

One of first things you need to know if you want to jailbreak apple tv is that you need to have the right model. If you do, then jailbreaking it is very simple. For instance, if you have the first generation Apple TV, you can jailbreak it by using Rowmote. The second generation is also easy to jailbreak, but we’ll cover more about that below.

Now, if you have an Apple TV 2nd generation and want to jailbreak it, here is how you can do it:

Those lucky owners if a 2nd Generation Apple TV should be happy, since they can actually jailbreak it. To do this, you first of all need to go online and look for Seas0nPass. We recommend you get the tools from the FireCore website. Once you get the tools, you have to follow the steps below:

1. Unrar the software and copy it to your Applications folder.
2. Get a micro USB cable and connect your Mac to your Apple TV.
3. Launch the jailbreaking software and then click on Create IPSW.
4. When prompted, you need to press the Menu and Play buttons on the Apple TV’s remote control. You should press the buttons simultaneously.
5. Once the software does its thing, you need to click on Done.
6. Lastly, all you have to do is unplug the USB cable and get an HDMI which you’ll use in order to connect the Apple TV to your TV. Turn on your TV and enjoy!

Once the Apple TV reboots, you will see the FireCore logo. Once you see that, your device has been successfully jailbroken. Now you can proceed to installing any apps and services you want on it. Enjoy your freshly jailbroken Apple TV!

Jailbreaking Apple TV 4th generation

1. If you want to jailbreak apple tv 4th generation, you’ll first of all need to connect it to your Mac by using a USB-C cable.
2. Automatic updates should be disabled so that your Apple TV cannot be updated anymore. To do this, go to Settings, System, Software Updates.
3. Go online and look for the iOS App Signer and Pangu jailbreak tool. Download and unrar them in the same folder.
4. Open Xcode and then go to File, New, Project, tvOS, Application, Single View, and finally Next.

The following fields should be filled in exactly as you see below:

1. Product Name: Jailbreak
2. Organization: *Input your name*
3. Organization Identifier: com.jailbreak.appletv

Note:

• Do not change anything else. After you’re done, click Next and then Create.
• Click Product, Destination, and then Apple TV.

At this point you’ll need to select your Apple ID and then link it to Xcode. You can do that by going to Xcode, then Preferences and then Accounts. Click Fix issue.

Remember the Pangu files you’ve extracted in the same folder as App Signer? Well, now you have to launch the App Signer and then select the atvipa.app file by using the Browse button. You can find this file in the Payload folder. While you’re still in the App Signer, click on the Certificate and Provisioning Profile for the application that was created in Xcode. Next, do this:

• Save the atvipa.ipa file on your desktop.
• Launch Xcode and then navigate to Window, Devices and then click on your Apple TV.
• Under installed apps, be sure to click on the “+” and then select the atvipa.ipa.

At this point the jailbreak tool is being deployed and once your home screen changes to that of Pangu, you’re good to go. One last step though is to launch the app to complete the jailbreaking process.

Congratulations! You’ve just jailbroken your Apple TV!

The post Should I jailbreak my Apple TV and How? appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Install The Latest Software

Generally speaking, updated software fixes a lot of bugs and new and useful features, but there are cases when updates can actually cause a lot of problems, including compatibility issues. If you can’t get Remote to work, then you may want to first of all update your software and see whether the problem is fixed.

What you need to do is ensure your Remote app’s version and your iPhone’s OS are the same. Moreover, you also need to have the latest version of iTunes and the Apple TV operating system installed, depending on the one you want to use.

Connect Them To The Same Wi-Fi Network

If your software is updated, but you still can’t establish a connection, then you need to ensure your iTunes library or Apple TV, and iPhone share the same Wi-Fi network. This is crucial if you want them to properly communicate with each other. Here’s how to check if your devices are all on the same Wi-Fi network:

1. iPhone: Go to settings, then Wi-Fi and see what Wi-Fi network the device is connected to.
2. Mac: Just click the Wi-Fi icon and check the network you’re connected to.
3. Apple TV: Go to Settings, then General, Network and then go to Wi-Fi and check the network you’re connected to.

Restart Router

Now, if your devices are indeed connected to the same network and you also have the latest software installed, then your issue may be simple to fix. If you use a router, then there might be a problem with the software. To make sure that’s not the case, try to update the router’s software. If this doesn’t work, then simply unplug the router. Give it a minute before plugging in the power cord and see whether your problem is solved or not.

Turn on Home Sharing

To effectively communicate with the devices it controls, Remote needs to use the Home Sharing Technology developed by Apple. What this means is that if you want Remote to work, then you need to ensure Home Sharing is enabled on all devices. To check whether Home Sharing is turned on or not, you can do this:

iPhone: If you’re yet to enable Home Sharing on the iPhone, just open the Remote application and you’ll be promoted to install it. To log in though, you’ll need to register for an Apple account (if you don’t have one yet).

Mac: Before enabling Home Sharing, all your iOS devices need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. To enable Home sharing, you need to have iTunes 9 or higher installed. Now, click on the File menu, click on Home Sharing and then click Turn On Home Sharing. To enable, you need to use your Apple ID to log in.

Apple TV: Go to Settings, then General, and finally to Computers. To enable Home Sharing, just follow the onscreen instructions.

Set Up Remote Again

If you got this far, but are yet to make Remote work, then you should try setting it up again. To do so, you need to:

1. Remove the Remote app from your mobile device.
2. Download Remote.
3. Launch it.
4. Enable Home Sharing and log in to the same account as on your Apple TV or Mac.
5. Pair Remote with your devices (for this you may also need to enter a four digit PIN).

At this point you should be able to use Remote again.

Upgrade Time Capsule or AirPort

If that failed to fix your problem, then this means you may have a problem with your AirPort or Time Capsule or simply said, your wireless networking hardware. To check whether this is the problem, you should update your AirPort and Time Capsule software. Old software may interfere with the Remote app, your Mac or your Apple TV communicating with one another.

Installing the latest firmware for your AirPort base station:

1. Double check to see whether you’re connected to the internet.
2. If you’re sharing a HDD on your network by using the base station, be sure there’s no device on the network using that drive.
3. Open the AirPort utility.
4. If you’re on a Mac, you can find the AirPort utility by accessing the Applications folder and then the Utilities folder. If you want, then you can also use Spotlight to find it.
5. If you use an iPod touch, iPad or iPhone, you can just go to the App Store in order to get the AirPort utility.
6. If you see a red badge next to the base station’s name, click it for more details. You may not see a badge if the base station’s protected by a device password. If so, then click it and enter the password. In case you already have the latest firmware installed for your base station, then you won’t see any firmware updates in the AirPort Utility.

Reconfigure Your Firewall

If everything we recommended so far yielded no results and your apple tv remote app not working, then you may want to check your firewall. As the name implies, it can prevent programs and devices from connecting to your machine without permission. This means that the firewall can also be responsible for your iPhone failing to connect to your Mac.

If you get the error where Remote says it cannot find your library, then open your firewall (for Mac you have to go to System Preferences, then Security and there you’ll find Firewall).

Here you just have to create a new rule that allows incoming connections to iTunes. At this point you should be able to use the Apple TV remote app. If you’re still having issues, then you may have a hardware failure or complex problem. Call Apple for support.

The post Apple tv remote app not working? Here’s how you can fix it! appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

You can download the app from the tvOS App Store for free right now. The app was designed specifically for the 4th gen Apple TV, and it looks great. The app has large visuals for events, detailed information, easy navigation, and a very clean interface.

This is the very first of its kind on the Apple TV, the first ticket purchasing app for the big screen. It has slightly different interface and visuals compared to the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and the Android app.

Because the StubHub Apple TV app believes in showcasing the event first, the experience is much different than on a mobile device. You can browse through and learn about all the sport events, concerts, and other events in a certain city or nearby you. As of now, the App only shows events in the United States.

The designers of the app had to envision a new interface that will indulge the users more. If an user is confused about an event, this app should help clear it out. Also, you can do all this while sitting with your family or friends on the couch, bed, etc. It’s easier to get everyone involved.

The app includes high-res maps for the seating arrangement in an event, making it easier for the user to check the view. StubHub did a thorough feedback before releasing the Apple TV app. Marcus Shelksohn, director of mobile product, stated;

We know that most people will be interacting with our app from their couch, as they’re looking for something to do, so we kept the StubHub app for Apple TV focused on browsability and discovery, to better motivate people to get up and get out.

The StubHub design team wanted to create a more custom interface to reflect the emotional nature of event discovery – and the result is an engaging look and feel that maximizes event imagery and seat maps, and is highly intuitive to navigate.

The app lets you look for and purchase tickets for sport events like MLB, NFL, NHL, WWE, UFC, NBA, and more. You can also find tickets for concerts, comedy shows and several other events.

The StubHub Apple TV app is currently available for download from the tvOS App Store. Simply search for ‘StubHub’ on the store, or ask Siri to download it for you.

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A brand new Apple TV Remote app is now available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. It can be used to control the latest Apple TV 4th gen, as well as the previous models.

The Remote app was originally demoed at WWDC in June this year, but is now available for the regular user. Prior to this, Apple had released a beta version of the app for developers only.

What does the new Apple TV Remote app do exactly? Well, if you’re using the 4th gen Apple TV, then it does everything that the physical Siri Remote does, and some more. The only thing you cannot control with the Remote app, is the volume on the Apple TV. On older Apple TV’s, everything except the Siri functionality works.

You connect the Remote app to the Apple TV using Bluetooth. Once connected, you’ll see the exact same Siri Remote on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch display. Use the touchscreen to simulate the touch pad on the Siri remote. There’s a Play/Pause button, and another button to activate Siri. Apart from that, the app can also be as a game pad for the Apple TV, a keyboard, and you can also scrub media files.

The app can double as a gamepad and you can play multiplayer games with ease, instead of using the Siri remote. Ask your friends to download the app on their iPhone or iPad, and connect to your Apple TV. Start a multiplayer game, and get playing.

A Now Playing mode is automatically enabled when watching a movie or playing a song. Scrub forward or back using touch gestures, and play, pause or go the previous menu using the dedicated Menu button. You can even activate Siri and ask it to play a song, movie, game or just talk to it.

In the Keyboard mode, you can use the iPhone or iPad to enter text with ease. Siri dictation is also supported in the app.

To download and install the new Apple TV remote app, you’ll have to be running iOS 9.3.2 or later on your iOS device. Your Apple TV will have to be running iOS 9.2.2. It’s available as a free download from the App Store. Direct download link is available below.

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Adobe has released a photo viewing only Photoshop Lightroom app for the Apple TV that allows you to view all your synced Lightroom collections on the big screen. And that’s about all you get with the new Lightroom app.

Prior to this, if you wanted to view your Lightroom edited photos on the Apple TV, you’d have to use Airplay or the stock Photos app. That was good, but it didn’t allow you to view slideshows, zoom into certain images, and navigate through the different collections.

The new Adobe Photoshop Lightroom app for the Apple TV lets you easily view your entire collection on the large screen. You can view them as a slideshow, pause and zoom into photos, and more. Once you download the app, all you need to do is login using your Adobe Creative Cloud credentials. After that, just sit back, relax, and look at your gorgeous photos.

The app doesn’t let you edit any of the photos, but, it will show all the edited content on the TV, including edits in slideshows. You can also share the photos using the Apple TV app. The app will show photos that are uploaded on Lightroom CC for Desktop, the Lightroom iOS and Android app, and the web version of Lightroom.

All your photos, from all your Lightroom synced devices, in one place. That can come in handy at times, when you’re in a hurry to show some pictures to a client. No need to search your phone, laptop, or other devices. Simply launch the Apple TV app and boom, everything is there, neatly arranged according to your collections.

The Adobe Lightroom App is only compatible with the latest Apple TV 4th gen and requires a Creative Cloud subscription from Adobe. You can download the app for free from the App Store on your Apple TV.

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CBS has released an official CBS News app for the Apple TV which has been designed from ground up for tvOS. The app also features Siri support on Apple TV 4th generation.

Unlike the standard CBS app, the new app is designed with livestreams and breaking news in mind. The app doesn’t require any subscription as it is ad supported. It will stream all its content from the CBSN feed so you remain up to date with the latest news.

The app supports Siri on the 4th generation Apple TV, and allows you to launch the app using a voice command. Tell Siri ‘Watch CBS News’ and the app will be launched in full screen mode. The app will not ask for any authentication to view the livestream and other stories.

When streaming live news, users can also browse for related videos and other playlists curated by CBSN. They can also bookmark their favorite videos and subscribe to various topics.

Christy Tanner, senior vice president and general manager of CBS News Digital stated;

Our Apple TV app represents the future of how viewers will consume and interact with video. We are taking advantage of the platform’s cutting-edge, interactive technology to offer a customizable experience.

According to CBSN, Apple TV users on average use the CBS app for about 96 minutes each session. Apple TV is the most used connected device to view their app.

Using the new CBS News app, you can also follow the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. Apple TV users will get wall-to-wall coverage of the entire event, both from inside and outside the halls. Other livestreams and breaking news videos are available from 9 AM to 12 AM.

The new CBS News app is available for free from the tvOS App Store and is only compatible with the latest 4th generation Apple TV.

The post CBS News Apple TV App Now Available with Siri Support appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Apple has quietly implemented a change to the way Top Charts work on the Apple TV App Store. The charts are now hiding any apps a user has installed on their device, instead of simply showing a list of the Top Paid, Top Free and Top Grossing tvOS apps.

The change was initially noticed by German app developer @equinux:

In turns out, Apple now hides an app in the charts once you’ve installed it. Give it a try: Go install TV Pro Mediathek (VOD for German TV content) from the App Store (currently #3 Top Grossing in Germany) and then go back in to the App Store: boom — it’s gone from the charts and the next-placed app has moved up.

This tvOS top charts algorithm change even affects featured apps on the start page: TV Pro Mediathek no longer shows up in its featured slot on the start page of the German App Store once you’ve installed it.

Apple’s intention with the change is presumably to make the charts appear ‘fresher’ and users see more apps that they haven’t installed yet.

As noted by @equinux, “the downside is that the charts don’t really show an accurate picture of what the ‘Top’ apps are, instead they show ‘Top apps that you haven’t installed yet’.”

Earlier in the year, tvOS App Store also received a new ‘Not on This Apple TV’ section within the Purchased section.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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