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Apple TV expands App Store categories beyond games and entertainment

Apple TV users should notice several new App Store categories when browsing for new content on tvOS. After initially launching without a dedicated categories section live in late October, Apple pushed the new section to new Apple TVs without a software update earlier this month. The latest expansion brings the total number of tvOS app categories to seven, up from five initially, which should further improve new app discovery.Apple first added two categories in early November: Games and Entertainment. The additional categories (via iDownloadBlog) gained since include Education, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, News, and Sports.

Apple highlights a collection of quality tvOS apps under each category. The education section, for instance, features the educational Noggin channel as well as the Star Walk Kids astronomy app and TED Talks. Health and fitness apps include Yoga Studio, 7 Minute TV Workout, and similar apps for exercising and getting fit. Other sections include a fair mix of apps previously available on Apple TVs and new apps totally new to the platform.

Viewing new App Store categories shouldn’t require a software update but may require a reboot.

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Comments

  1. Andrew Williams - 8 years ago

    Why am I not seeing this on mine? I still don’t even have categories. Is this just for US users?

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      double tap the home button, relaunch and you will see it.

      It has has the new categories since at least last Friday

    • bdkennedy11 - 8 years ago

      Reboot

      • Andrew Williams - 8 years ago

        Rebooting does nothing. It appears these new categories are not yet available in Europe.

  2. Inaba-kun (@Inaba_kun) - 8 years ago

    Still no categories at all in the UK.

    A very timid and half hearted release here.

  3. Dustin Burleson - 8 years ago

    Does anybody know if somebody’s keeping a list of major networks that have made a move from just iOS app to support tvOS native app?

  4. Steve Lawrence - 8 years ago

    Is there any word from Apple on if and when the Remote App is going to be updated to support the new model?

  5. Nothing in Australia

  6. I don’t seem to have these on mine in the UK, I have rebooted it a couple of times and still do not have this.. is this just a US thing? All I have are the menu titles at the top, I don’t have categories either..

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.