YouTube TV appears to be experiencing an outage, one that is impacting Apple TV, TVision Hub, and other streaming devices.
Users began reporting errors on Monday afternoon. According to 9to5Mac, Apple TV users seem to be heavily impacted, although it’s not the only device experiencing trouble.
WPN confirmed that the Android-based TVision Hub was also impacted, although the problem appears to be fixed.
Apple has issued a support document clarifying that users can now accept iCloud terms via the web if they don’t have an iOS device.
Christopher Koch, a senior engineer at Google, tweeted last month about new iCloud licensing terms that were showing up on his Apple TV. Unfortunately, without an iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 16, there was no way to accept the terms. As a result, a message would repeatedly display on the Apple TV prompting the user to accept the terms via an iOS device.
It appears Apple has heard the complaints and has issued a support document to clarify:
If you don’t have an iPhone with iOS 16.0 or later or an iPad with iPadOS 16.0 or later, you can sign in to iCloud.com to accept the new iCloud Terms and Conditions.
- Go to iCloud.com, then sign in with your Apple ID.
- If necessary, follow the prompts to review and update your account settings.
- Review and agree to iCloud Terms and Conditions.
It’s nice to see Apple making sure non-iOS users can still use some of its products and services. As we wrote in our initial coverage of Koch’s tweet, Steve Jobs understood the importance of making Apple’s less expensive devices as accessible as possible in the hopes of winning over customers. It’s good to see Apple is sticking with that approach, despite how this situation initially appeared.
LG has expanded the availability of Apple’s entertainment apps, bringing them to some 200 TV brands.
LG already supports Apple TV and Apple Music on its own smart TVs, but the company is now bringing the apps to its webOS Hub, which is used by 200 other TV brands. This will make Apple’s services available to countless other customers.
The outlined the expansion in a news release:
With the Apple TV app, Apple Music, AirPlay and HomeKit all coming to the webOS Hub ecosystem, LG is constantly refining and expanding its webOS smart TV platform while enhancing its accessibility so that more consumers can benefit from the most convenient user experience.
By offering a greater range of customization options to smart TV manufacturers and giving more convenience and choice of content to customers, 10 times as many brands are now available on webOS Hub than in early 2021, with LG now working with 200 partners in total including Seiki, Eko, Stream System, Konka, Aiwa and Hyundai. Through these efforts, LG is now primely positioned to deliver on its promise of pioneering streamlined content viewing experiences for millions of people around the globe.
LG says webOS Hub will support the full range of options, including the ability to AirPlay content.
webOS Hub will also be compatible with AirPlay, so users can stream movies, music, games and photos to their smart TV right from their iPhone, iPad or Mac. What’s more, webOS Hub-powered TVs are also Apple Home-enabled, giving users control of their TV in the Apple Home app and Siri using Apple HomeKit technology.
The expansion of webOS Hub is good news for LG and Apple both, with the latter likely to benefit from more customers having easy access to its growing catalog of content.
In the latest evidence of how far Apple has fallen since the days of Steve Jobs, the Apple TV cannot be used without another Apple device.
The Apple TV is one of — if not THE — best streaming boxes on the market. It has an intuitive interface and fast, smooth performance. In fact, it’s such an outstanding device that many Android and Windows users still rely on the Apple TV for their streaming needs.
Unfortunately, it appears that Apple is trying to block people from using the Apple TV unless they have another Apple device. Christopher Koch, a senior engineer at Google, noticed the terms that come with the latest Apple TV update.
As Koch and other users note, without another Apple device, it is almost impossible to accept the terms and move on.
This is just the latest example of a major shift in Apple’s attitude. Under Steve Jobs’ leadership, the company counted on the “halo effect.” The “halo effect” involved Apple made it as easy as possible to buy an iPod, iPhone, or other device, knowing that once people had a taste of the Apple ecosystem, they would be more inclined to buy additional devices. In other words, Apple had enough confidence in its own products and software that it wasn’t afraid to make its products interoperable with other platforms and ecosystems.
In contrast, under Cook & Crew, Apple has become increasingly protective of its own turf and less open to working with other technologies. In many ways, Apple has taken a page out of Microsoft’s 1990s playbook, doing everything it can to make it as painful as possible for its customers to use competing products. The company has refused to adopt RCS for iPhone-to-Android communication, fought tooth-and-nail to keep the App Store locked down, made it impossible to manage subscriptions without an Apple device, and now is making it nearly impossible to use the Apple TV without another device.
When taken together, it paints a picture of a company that realizes it’s lost its luster and is desperate to keep its customers from coming to the same realization.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said Apple will not release the iPhone SE 4 in 2024, greatly benefiting Qualcomm in the process.
The iPhone SE is Apple’s budget iPhone. Apple was expected to release the next version in 2024, with its connectivity powered by Apple’s in-house baseband chip. Apple has been working to build its own cellular chips and end its dependence on Qualcomm, but Kuo says it had concerns that its in-house chips might not be ready to go toe-to-toe with Qualcomm’s offerings. As a result, Apple was expected to use its in-house chips in the budget-level iPhone SE where lower performance would not be as big of an issue.
According to Kuo, however, Apple cancelling the iPhone SE 4 means that Qualcomm will remain the exclusive provider of baseband chips for the iPhone.
However, the cancelation of the iPhone SE 4 has significantly increased the chances of Qualcomm remaining the exclusive supplier of baseband chips for the 2H24 new iPhone 16 series, which is better than the market consensus that Qualcomm will start losing iPhone orders in 2024.
Despite Apple’s desire to rid itself of its dependence on Qualcomm, the company is clearly having trouble achieving its goals.
Apple TV users are experiencing problems with YouTube, with the app causing some Apple TVs to lock up.
Apple TV is a popular streaming device that offers a variety of apps and services, including YouTube. Unfortunately, users are reporting an issue when trying to exit the app.
First noticed by MacRumors, users have been taking to Twitter and Reddit to discuss the issue. It appears to happen when users try to press the Back button on their remote to exit the app, prompting a confirmation dialogue. Once confirmed, the Apple TV appears to lock up, with the TV screen going black. The only way to recover is to force-quit the app, or unplug the replug the Apple TV.
YouTube’s response on Twitter has not been especially helpful, or shed much light on the matter:
sorry for the trouble! if you haven’t yet try restarting your device. deleting the app + reinstalling its latest version can also help
TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube), December 11, 2022
Hopefully YouTube will roll out an update soon that will fix the issue permanently.
HBO has shut down its Apple TV Channel, forcing users to embrace HBO Max instead.
Apple TV Channels is the company’s premium channel service, allowing users to subscribe to premium channels and watch them via the Apple TV app. The billing is also handled via Apple’s ecosystem, rather than paying the content channel directly.
As 9to5Mac reports, HBO had already stopped accepting new subscribers via Apple TV Channels once HBO Max launched. Now the company has even blocked existing subscribers from accessing content, forcing Apple TV users to use HBO Max instead.
Warner Media clearly sees HBO Max as the future of its streaming efforts. Unfortunately, that seems to mean promoting HBO Max exclusively, even at the expense of partnerships that benefit the end user.
Apple is shortening the length of the Apple TV+ free trial, from a full year to three months, effective July 1.
Apple TV+ is the company’s premium TV streaming service, with a focus on original programming. It recently passed 40 million users, and boasts a number of hit shows and movies, including Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Mythic Quest and Tom Hanks’ Greyhound.
Until now, Apple has included a free year subscription with the purchase of a new Mac or iOS device, as well as a new Apple TV. The year-long, complimentary subscription was a way for Apple to boost and retain subscribers as it worked to rolled out its original programming.
First spotted by MacWorld, it appears Apple is reducing the free trial period to three months. On the Apple TV+ marketing page, it says subscribers will received a free year subscription “when you purchase and activate an Apple device before June 30th, 2021.”
In the footnote clarifying the terms, it says: “Eligible devices activated July 1, 2021, or later will qualify for offers of 3 months free Apple TV+. Eligible devices activated on June 30, 2021, or earlier will qualify for offers of 12 months free Apple TV+.”
It remains to be seen how well Apple TV+ will do without a year-long, free subscription artificially propping it up. If the company can continue releasing critically acclaimed programming, however, it just may continuing gaining ground.
Apple unveiled its “Spring Loaded” event, unveiling the much-anticipated AirTags, as well as changes to Apple Card, Podcasts and the Apple TV.
Tim Cook kicked off the latest event touting the company’s environmental progress, with the goal of being carbon neutral from end-to-end, including its supply chain, by 2030. Cook also highlighted its recent Restore Fund launch, in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Conservation International.
Apple Card will target financial equity, by allowing couples to merge their account and credit lines so both benefit from improvements to their credit score.
Biggest change to Podcasts since its debut, including a complete redesign of the app, making it easier to discover new content. Apple Podcast Subscriptions will unlock early access, ad-free listening and more, all while supporting content creators.
Not much changed for the iPhone, other than a new color: purple.
Carolyn Wolfman-Estrada took over to discuss Apple’s changes to Find My. The service is used on nearly a billion Apple devices. The company recently opened Find My to third-party companies.
The real news, however, was the introduction of AirTag. With a clever commercial highlighting the great mysterious chasm that is the living room couch, a man uses AirTag to find his keys.
A small, round device that can be encased in a keychain accessory, AirTag uses Precision Finding, in combination with Find My, to give very precise distance and directional information.
Wolfman-Estrada also emphasized Apple’s focus on privacy, reiterating the company’s AirTags are designed to track devices, not people.
The devices are available for $29 for a single one, or $99 for a four-pack.
Cook handed the reins to Cindy Lin to show off the company’s plans for Apple TV. New version is built with the A12 Bionic, giving it the ability to play HDR in high frame rate. This will be a big boost to sports and fast-action programming. AirPlay is also being updated to support high frame rate HDR.
Apple TV will also work with the iPhone to adjust the color and picture settings to compensate for any inaccuracy issues with the TV.
Apple also redesigned the Siri Remote, with an all-aluminum design, improved click buttons, circular control for fast-forward and rewind, and a power button that can turn the TV on and off.
Code in the iOS 14.5 beta has provided a clue about a possible Apple TV refresh, one with 120Hz support.
The Apple TV has been in limbo for some time, with the current model already several years old. With Apple’s focus on its Apple TV+ service, some analysts have suggested the company should abandon its set-top box in favor of creating its Apple TV app for existing smart TV platforms and competing set-top boxes.
It does appear the company is gearing up for a new Apple TV model, however. 9to5Mac has spotted code in the latest iOS 14.5 beta that references 120Hz video, in relation to the Apple TV. The current model is limited to 60Hz, and lacks the hardware to handle 120Hz. As a result, it appears new hardware is on the horizon.
9to5Mac’s sources reported that a new model was in development back in 2019. In recent months, additional evidence has been mounting that a new model will be released soon.
The 120Hz reference in iOS 14.5 is some of the strongest evidence yet that a refresh is likely coming sooner rather than later.
The latest rumors point at March 23 being the date of Apple’s anticipated event to release an updated iPad Pro, as well as AirTags, AirPods and Apple TV.
The event was originally rumored to be held March 16, but March 23 now seems to be the most likely date. Jon Prossner, an Apple leaker with a solid tracker record, provided the details.
Updated info from a reliable source 👇
Products that are ready: AirTags, iPad Pro, AirPods, Apple TV
Take that however you’d like…
— jon prosser (@jon_prosser) March 8, 2021
Experts have been expecting a March refresh of Apple’s flagship iPad line. Although the device was updated in 2020, that update was relatively minor and offered minimal improvements over 2018. Many believed the 2020 refresh was simply a placeholder update until a more substantial one could be readied. The 2021 iPad Pro is rumored to have a mini-LED screen, 5G and a processor to rival the M1 Macs.
The AirTags are Apple’s rumored tracking tags that can be placed on devices, in purses, on keys, etc, to make it easier to find easily lost items.
There are numerous rumors surrounding the new entry-level AirPods, although most of them indicate a smaller size similar to the AirPods Pro. It’s believed the new models could feature the same pressure equalization technology as the Pros, a feature that equalizes ear pressure and makes it more comfortable to wear the devices for long periods. Noise cancellation, however, will likely remain a Pro feature.
An updated Apple TV would be a welcome addition to the March event. The Apple TV has gone years without a refresh, leaving many to believe Apple might be abandoning it in favor of making its Apple TV app available for various smart TV platforms. Given the widespread concerns about the privacy of smart TVs, however, it seems unlikely Apple would steer people toward that option. In addition, Apple has always preferred to offer a more integrated experience. With the increased importance of streaming, not to mention Apple’s own Apple TV+ service, an updated, compelling Apple TV could make some major headway in the market.
We will continue to provide updates, as well as coverage of Apple’s event — whenever it is.
Roku is expanding into original content, moving beyond merely streaming content, according to a recent job listing.
Roku has been manufacturing digital media players for over a decade. The company’s software also serves as the basis for a number of smart TVs, and Roku has its own channel where it plays licensed content.
Many streaming services, however, have been expanding aggressively into original content. Netflix, Hulu and Apple TV+ have all seen significant success producing their own shows and movies, and Roku apparently wants in on the action.
In a job posting on LinkedIn, the company is looking for “a Lead Production Attorney to work on its expanding slate of original content. The position reports directly to Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, Programming & Distribution.”
There is little additional information on Roku’s plans, but the company did purchase Quibi’s content library when that service shuttered. Hiring a Lead Production Attorney is the next logical step, putting the pieces in place to capitalize on its purchase.
Apple has issued an internal memo this week, telling technicians to be ready for AppleCare-related changes next Tuesday.
MacRumors obtained a copy of the memo from a reliable source. The memo is similar in nature to ones that have gone out before other major hardware releases of late. In the memo, “Apple has advised technicians to prepare for new product SKUs, new/updated product descriptions, and new/updated product pricing.”
The fact that the memo includes information related to new product SKUs and descriptions would seem to indicate new hardware, and not just an update to the AppleCare service itself.
There are a number of possibilities, although our money is on additional M1 Macs, or possibly an update to the iPad Pro. Other possibilities include the rumored AirTags, over-ear AirPods or an update to the Apple TV.
Apple has been on a hiring spree, bringing in some of the best cloud engineers money can buy.
While cloud computing may not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of the iPhone maker, the company has a large cloud presence. The App Store, Apple Music, iCloud Drive and file storage, as well as Apple TV+ are all part of the company’s cloud presence.
As Protocol reports, it’s unclear what the new hires are being brought on to tackle, although the sheer number and quality of the hires is impressive. According to Protocol, the list includes:
- Michael Crosby, one of a handful of ex-Docker engineers to join Apple this year. “Michael is who we can thank for containers as they exist today. He was the powerhouse engineer behind all of it,” said a former colleague who asked to remain anonymous.
- Arun Gupta, who joined Apple in February from AWS and is now leading Apple’s open-source efforts.
- Maksym Pavlenko, another former AWS employee who worked on its managed container services such as AWS Fargate.
- Francesc Campoy, an ex-Googler who will be working on Kubernetes for Apple.
It will be interesting to see what Apple has planned, and whether it is simply beefing up its existing services, or more directly going after mainstream cloud providers.
Apple and Netflix are among the latest companies to pull out of the South by Southwest Conference scheduled for March 13 in Austin, Texas.
As fears about the spread of the coronavirus continue to mount, with more infections and deaths being reported in the U.S., companies are increasingly pulling out of or cancelling conferences. SXSW has already had a number of high-profile companies cancel their plans to attend, including Amazon, Facebook and Twitter.
According to Bloomberg, Apple has announced it’s cancelling its plans to attend despite its intentions to debut three new Apple TV+ programs. Similarly, Netflix planned on unveiling a feature film and four documentaries. CNN has also cancelled its plans to attend.
As Bloomberg points out, with Apple’s WWDC scheduled for June, the company will soon have to make a decision about whether to proceed or change to a virtual conference as Google did with its Google Cloud Next conference.
YouTube TV has scored a win against its streaming TV rivals with a deal to bring HBO and Cinemax to its service.
The TV streaming wars are heating up as companies fight to gain and keep subscribers, not just from traditional TV and cable companies, but also from each other. Hulu, Sling TV, fuboTV, CBS All Access, Disney+ and Apple TV+ are all vying for content, networks, channels and programming.
YouTube TV just inked a deal with WarnerMedia to bring HBO, Cinemax and the upcoming HBO Max to YouTube customers. HBO’s content has been available to Hulu, Amazon Prime and AT&T Now subscribers for some time. The deal rounds out YouTube TV’s lineup and helps the service better compete with its rivals. The deal also ensures YouTube TV continued access to WarnerMedia’s other channels, such as TBS, TNT, truTV, CNN, HLN, Turner Classic Movies, Adult Swim and Cartoon Network.
“As consumers’ media consumption habits continually evolve and the landscape becomes more and more dynamic, our goal remains constant, and that is to make the portfolio of WarnerMedia networks available as widely as possible,” said Rich Warren, president of WarnerMedia Distribution. “YouTube has been a valued partner for a number of years, and we’re pleased to not only extend our existing agreement, but also make HBO and Cinemax – and soon HBO Max – available to YouTube TV customers for the first time.”
When HBO Max debuts, it will not be accessible directly in YouTube TV, but customers will be able to use their YouTube TV credentials to log in.
CNBC is reporting that ViacomCBS may be preparing to release a new streaming service.
According to the report, the new streaming service will build on CBS All Access, combining it “with Viacom assets including Pluto TV, Nickelodeon, BET, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Pictures, said the people, who asked not to be named because the product discussions are private.”
Initial discussions seem to indicate three tiers: an ad-supported free service, a base plan that costs less than $10/month and a premium service that would include Showtime.
As CNBC points out, while CBS All Access predates Apple TV+ and Disney+, not to mention the upcoming HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock, after the merger with Viacom, there is far more content that could be made available. The new service will likely be far more well-rounded and able to better compete directly with the other streaming services.
Even so, with a new streaming service seemingly popping up every few weeks, experts are already warning that viewers are experiencing “subscription fatigue.” Hopefully the new service truly builds upon—and replaces—CBS All Access rather than being offered side-by-side.
9to5Mac is reporting that the latest tvOS beta alludes to an as-yet-unreleased version of the Apple TV set-top box.
According to 9to5Mac, “the codes reveal a new Apple TV with the codename ‘T1125,’ while the current Apple TV 4K is named ‘J105a’ and the HD model is ‘J42d.’ The letter ‘T’ at the beginning suggests that it’s an internal model, probably a prototype that hasn’t been completely finished yet.”
One possibility is that the new version will have a faster A-series processor and graphics to help it better take advantage of Apple’s Arcade gaming service. Apple Arcade has met with generally positive reviews, and a more powerful Apple TV that runs games better could help the service directly compete with dedicating gaming devices and platforms.
Even aside from Apple Arcade, the Apple TV has a loyal following and is a very capable set-top box, especially as more households abandon cable TV in favor of streaming services. A refresh from Apple to help keep it current and competitive will be a welcome update for all users.
LG has announced in a press release that the Apple TV app and Apple TV+ are now available on compatible 2019 smart TVs.
At CES, LG announced its 2020 models would include Apple’s TV offerings, and that the company would also bring them to compatible 2019 and 2018 models. With today’s announcement, owners of 2019 models can enjoy Apple’s programming without needing an Apple TV device.
According to the press release, the app is “easily accessed from the LG Home Launcher, the Apple TV app gives LG TV owners the ability to subscribe to and watch Apple TV+, Apple’s new video subscription service that features popular Apple Originals such as ‘The Morning Show,’ ‘See,’ ‘Servant’ and ‘Little America.’
“With the Apple TV app, LG TV owners can also subscribe to Apple TV channels — direct subscriptions to premium video services available both online and offline, ad-free and on demand — and access their iTunes video library and buy or rent over 100,000 movies and TV shows. A quick click of the LG Magic Remote is all it takes to get started.”
LG’s announcement is a welcome addition to the Apple TV ecosystem. Until now, Samsung was the only major TV manufacturer to natively support Apple’s apps. LG sees Apple support as a way to add value and provide the best possible experience to their customers.
“LG continues to offer the best home entertainment experience through technological innovations that support the delivery of high quality viewing and user convenience,” said Park Hyoung-sei, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company. “By bringing the Apple TV app and Apple TV+ to even more TV models, we are once again demonstrating our determination to meet consumers’ needs and add value to our products.”
NBCUniversal has unveiled Peacock, a multi-tiered, free premium streaming service, according to parent company Comcast.
NBCUniversal has been working on its streaming service for some time, but this is the first time there has been significant details. The service will be available in three tiers: a free tier and two premium ones.
Peacock Free will offer “next day access to current seasons of freshman broadcast series, complete classic series, popular movies, curated daily news and sports programming,” according to the press release. The free tier will have 7,500 hours of content and be ad-supported.
Peacock Premium will be a free upgrade to existing Comcast and Cox subscribers, or $4.99 for non-subscribers. The press release says that “this ad-supported option will additionally include full season Peacock originals and tent-pole series, next day access to current seasons of returning broadcast series, early access to late night talk shows, and additional sports – such as the Premier League – totaling more than 15,000 hours of content.”
For $5 extra, customers can upgrade their Premium subscription to the ad-free version, for a total of $5 for Comcast and Cox subscribers and $9.99 for non-subscribers.
“Peacock will provide consumers with a destination that goes beyond movies and television, aggregating a variety of content that fans want on one service,” said Matt Strauss, Chairman of Peacock and NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises. “By delivering timely and topical content like breaking news, live sports, and watercooler moments from late night, Peacock is uniquely bringing a pulse to the world of streaming that does not exist in today’s marketplace.”
The streaming market is become increasingly cluttered, with Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV+, Netflix, CBS Prime and more. If NBCUniversal can deliver on the goal of providing a variety of content on a single service, they may be able to poach a significant number of users from existing services.
LG has unveiled 14 new OLED TVs at CES 2020, using artificial intelligence to push the envelope in terms of picture quality and features.
“At the heart of the latest 8K and 4K LG OLED and 8K LG NanoCell TVs are a number of advanced core technologies, most notably the new α (Alpha) 9 Gen 3 AI Processor. This advanced processor leverages upgraded processing power and artificial intelligence deep learning algorithms to improve on LG’s renowned picture quality and enable a host of specialized features for various types of content including movies, games and sports, taking the user experience to new heights.”
As an added bonus, LG will support the native Apple TV app. Despite Apple’s claim “the Apple TV app is everywhere,” Samsung was the only major manufacturer with native, on-TV support. Other devices and TVs required using AirPlay to broadcast content to the TV.
“LG’s award-winning webOS smart TV platform will bring 2020 LG OLED and LG NanoCell TVs a plethora of programming from the constantly-growing number of top global content providers through apps and services such as Disney+, Netflix and CBS All Access. New for 2020, the Apple TV app allows customers to subscribe and watch Apple TV+ and Apple TV channels as well as access their iTunes video library and buy or rent more than 100,000 films and TV shows. Customers with 2018 and 2019 LG TV models will also be able to enjoy the Apple TV app this year.”
LG’s adoption of Apple TV, as well as the other streaming apps, is welcome news as more and more consumers are looking to cut the cord.