In addition to issuing updates to the iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite betas, Apple has released a new beta version of the Apple TV software. While earlier Apple TV betas did not bring more than new Family Sharing and iCloud Photos support, today’s update brings a refined look to the Apple TV Home screen. Taking cues from iOS and OS X, the new update brings completely redesigned icons to the Apple set-top-box and a new thinner font first introduced last year with iOS 7. A couple more images of the new interface are below:
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Gradients, reflections, drop shadows and a difficult to see border around the current selected item – apple has seriously ignored the interface on the Apple TV for too long, and this minor changes aren’t enough. Something significant needs to happen, and soon.
100% agree. I find it easier to navigate something as simple as netflix on my Xbox rather than the Apple TV. It’s just SUPER clunky.
The second part I have to disagree. Netflix on Xbox One is hell.. super hard to find content and it has that annoying sound while navigating.
There is rumor of Apple releasing an all new AppleTV that would be designed to replace your cable TV subscription. It was originally rumored to be released this year (when has changed a lot, but pretty much any of their press things would be good, since it’ll supposedly fit with all the current stuff, and be a perfect counterpart to that) but the release has been pushed back due to negotiations with the content providers.
My guess is that this is just a little something since they don’t want to pour a lot of time and money into something that is basically finished, but just waiting on contracts to be agreed upon to before they release it.
The real question is what happened to their graphic designers? What did they do? ….Recruit a bunch of kindergarteners with construction paper? The interface is a backward unclassy unsophisticated design. WTF!!! Goes for the new iOS’s too!
How can we get this beta? Is it as simple as downloading the update or is there more to it?
This update is for developers, not AppleSeed users. AppleSeed users are on a different upgrade track so they’ll their second beta later. Apple hasn’t really made it clear when that will be, but it won’t be as often as developers.
It only has a new re-vamped look and most importantly, the “Family” option for iTunes purchases, nothing to write home about yet.
Exactly what we’ve all been waiting for!!!
Is this second and third gen?
Is there any change in the actual UI, or did they just make the fonts thinner and alter the icons?
Baby steps I guess.
I’m still waiting for “new videos” section from subscribed channels in youtube app.
This looks horrible ! sorry but no .. no! no!
I REGRET UPDATING!!!! Its so fugly!! Flat. No depth. No more glossy selection buttons. Say goodbye to your sleak laser blue Netflix progress bar. Its like being in a kindergatren art class. They’ve South Parked the shit out of your ATV Experience! LOOKING for a hack and earlier version now!!!!
I like.
This makes me mad ! Look how google made a gorgeous ui for there set-top-box ! but this ?? It looks ugly!
still looks dated to me. i was hoping for a lot more!
Dated Like 1998!
Powerpoint vs. 4 anyone?
It looks much better than it did, but the entire UI design and layout is completely awful. It goes completely against what Steve talked about when he was quoted about the TV:
“I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use, it would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.”
This UI is far from simple. It is really bad frankly. The thing you don’t want to do is toggle through numerous icons and have to navigate excessively to get to what you want to view. This UI you have to switch through numerous different icons on the screen just to reach the one you want to open, and that is terrible. It’s nearly as stupid as Microsoft’s idea of putting dozens of small metro boxes on the xbox one dashboard, forcing the user to have to tap through all of them to get to the right area. The reason numerous things can be on the screen on a touchscreen is obviously because you aren’t navigating through all of them to get to the one you want…you simply tap the one you want. Apple has incredibly intelligent people, so for the love of god, please tell me this isn’t their answer to TV UI.
that was made in 2011. Apple is probably using that on their rumored set, but supposedly they have to keep pushing it back due to contract negotiations with providers taking forever, that’s why it’s not out yet. I would suspect the hardware and OS are all ready to go, it’s just waiting on contract negotiations to finish. So they released this OS update to hold over until it can be announced (now rumored to be Jan or early Feb 2015, if negotiations go well)
See I can’t decide if Apple would ever release a whole TV set – a much improved Apple TV makes a lot of sense. Most people have a TV and getting them to buy an add on is much easier than getting them to buy a whole new TV. Plus the TV world seems like a whole world of pain with fierce competition and most companies losing money on each set.
On the other hand… besides B&O there isn’t really a high end TV option so maybe it is a good idea.
Either way I reckon the rethought Apple TV will be the main push, maybe a TV set as a high end option but thats all it would be.
I don’t think Apple will release an actual TV, I didn’t mean to imply that they would. I think the will continue on Apple TV as a box, but the new one would be something that is designed to replace your cable box as well as be your netflix/movie/hulu/etc streaming device
What’s most disturbing is this person purchased Air Force One?!?!
Get off my thread!
I wish there was an upvote button or a “like” button for this comment.
The whole interface and layout needs reorganization.. This is the exact same layout!
When did Apple last update the Apple TV hardware?
None of the TV UIs are down-right impressive. Apple TV is really quite similar to Netflix and Hulu once you break into the Movies or TV Shows sections, etc. They are at least better than cable/satellite providers, but I’ve yet to see a truly forward-thinking, intuitive interface.
As a UX/UI designer, it makes for an interesting case study… cause ultimately it starts with evolving the info architecture and designing around that.
So the question is, how do people WANT to navigate TV?
AirPlay is not working with iOS 7 devices.
Is anyone else having trouble getting airplay to work with this new beta?
I just hope they add “Thumbnail” view to my own person movies vs list views and add a “search” option
APP STORE in AppleTV would be the thing Apple should do to really open up the power of it.
You could play games, browse the web and best thing… play any type of movie from any network drive or server!
I’d kill for a font-size adjustment setting
I’d kill to get rid of that fugly white border around every button selection!
I would reorganize the entire interface by genre. The user doesn’t care whether it’s a movie, tv show, netflix, hulu, etc. Same goes for music genre. The user doesn’t care whether it’s iTunes, ITunes Radio, Beats Music, etc.
I REGRET UPDATING!!!! Its so fugly!! Flat. No depth. No more glossy selection buttons. Say goodbye to your sleak laser blue Netflix progress bar. Its like being in a kindergatren art class. They’ve South Parked the shit out of your ATV Experience! LOOKING for a hack and earlier version now!!!!
I sit here…i cant get over the FUGLINESS of it!!!
Themes for ATV anyone….anyone?