Upon its launch the 4th Gen Apple TV received mixed reviews from tech experts who praised the Siri remote and tvOS software but felt the gadget was underdeveloped. When it comes to hardware, Apple rivals (including Roku and Android-powered Nvidia Shield) might be winning the game. It is the TV apps that make Apple stand out from the competition. We have to agree with Tim Cook: the future of TV is apps. And here’s why.
There’s more to tvOS apps than simply watching TV. Basically, there’s nothing you cannot get on the tvOS app store. Looking for a new apartment to rent? Download Zillow and view photos of the available accommodations on a big screen while having breakfast! Want to play your favorite Crossy Roads game with friends? Simply connect several iPhones to your media streamer and get the famous “multi-user experience” Tim Cook is boasting about. Apple lovers can even shop for clothes: every item on the Gilt catalogue has a “buy now” button. With high-profile companies turning to Apple TV business app development, the platform may soon become the next mobile. Your company surely doesn’t want to miss the opportunity, right?
Apple TV is getting better. When the 4th Gen TV was launched, Apple faced heavy criticism for leaving out the 4K resolution support, complicated data input process and lackluster gaming experience. The company has gone a long way to improve the gadget performance and rolled out several software updates. You can now search for apps by developer, title and category with the help of a Siri remote, watch iCloud Photo content on a big screen, record live shows using the Tablo DVR app, create folders to arrange your tvOS apps, enter text via an iOS device and do a lot of other cool things. That’s right, there’s still no 4K resolution on Apple TV, but do we really need it? 95% of video content is produced in HD anyway. And yes, Apple TV is not really suitable for console-quality games – but it wasn’t designed to compete with Xbox in the first place! By the end of 2016, the device is expected to ship 24 million units worldwide (and there will be at least 10 thousand applications on the TV app store). Both consumers and businesses see the gadget’s potential – and Apple won’t let them down.
Back in 2008 no one could imagine iTunes singles would soon kill the traditional music industry. The App Store was once stuffed with low-quality Days to Christmas & fart apps. Broadcast TV is (and has always been!) a powerful channel for customer acquisition. However, it no longer meets the high standards of the digital age. Apple has money and expertise to re-invent television – and it certainly will. Today an enterprise may develop app for Apple TV to expand market presence and increase customer loyalty. Tomorrow the clever businessman will start getting revenues from in-app purchases and subscription fees. Apple TV app development is all about UX. Provided you address an experienced vendor who previously delivered successful tvOS projects and focus on software quality, your app will be a hit.