YouTube has quietly switched off a terrible Apple TV screensaver feature that would stop Apple’s own screensavers from playing.

At the beginning of May, YouTube updated its Apple TV app with a new feature that replaced the pause screen with terrible, pixelated photos. This change required users to press extra buttons on Apple’s Siri Remote to return to their videos. Now though, blogger Joe Steel has discovered that YouTube has disabled this feature, restoring the previous pause behavior. This change isn’t the type of update that was released through the App Store — instead, it looks to be a server-side update. This means that YouTube essentially sent an updated command to its Apple TV app so it could stop playing its screensavers automatically.

This change also seems to have been applied to versions of the app available on Smart TVs. iMore’s How To Editor, John-Anthony Disotto, noticed this change had been made to the YouTube app on his TV as well.

It’s a welcome fix to a feature no one asked for. Once again, you can now resume where you left off on all the best Apple TVs. In addition, you can make sure that Apple’s screensavers will now display when you want them to, thanks to the server-side change that removes the four-minute time limit before the YouTube screensaver would play.

•  TV deals: Walmart | Samsung | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg  

The three best Apple TV screensavers you can choose right now

To celebrate YouTube’s reversal of its terrible screensaver feature, we wanted to showcase a couple of Apple’s own excellent screensavers that you can use on your Apple TV.

The flyover of Yosemite’s National Park in California is an amazing screensaver that you’ll find yourself captivated by — especially if you’re watching it on something like this Samsung 83-inch OLED TV. Another mesmerizing screensaver shows the light of Alaskan Jellyfish. The pulsating movement of the creatures is almost hypnotic, especially if you have a backlight accessory on your TV that reacts to the jellyfish moving across the screen.

Finally, a screensaver called ‘Hawaiian Valley Serenity’ is exactly as described. The blooming greenery, coupled with the flyover slowly bringing the ocean into view almost makes you feel like you’re slowly gliding between the hills.

It was baffling when YouTube introduced a feature that blocked Apple’s screensavers at the start of the month. Now though, you can enjoy them without worrying about YouTube’s pixelated alternative appearing on your Apple TV.

More from iMore

• Prolific emulators RetroArch and PPSSPP now available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV
• We might get an Android Apple TV app before we get Severance Season 2
• The best shows on Apple TV Plus

If you’re a fan of firing up 4K YouTube videos on your iPhone or big 4K TV screen, you may need to start dipping into your piggy-bank. A new feature-testing phase is locking the ability to stream 4K videos behind a subscription paywall.

Numerous viewers are reporting that the ability to choose the higher-quality 2160p / 4K streaming options for video content supporting the ultra-HD resolution is being prevented by a prompt to “Tap to upgrade” to YouTube’s premium offering.

Following confusion and complaints, YouTube has responded on Twitter, confirming that the restrictions are part of a test to explore the feature preferences of its potential Premium subscriber base. Viewers were urged to leave feedback on the test.

Premium vs free YouTube

By far the most popular video platform in the western world, YouTube has 2.1 billion active monthly users as of August 2022 — but only an estimated 50 million of those pay for the Premium and Music subscription options, which currently offers ad-free viewing, in-app content downloads, and background music play when the app is not active. In the US, YouTube Premium subscriptions cost $11.99 a month.

But despite the vast numbers — and an overt advertising push that has seen as many as ten unskippable ads play before videos during some testing phases — parent company Google’s profits are feeling the pinch of the current economic climate as much as everyone else.

Whether or not a 4K paywall will prove itself a permanent change in YouTube’s viewing behavior remains to be seen. Will content creators, for instance, bother to work in the higher resolution format, knowing that only a fraction of potential users will see it, or prefer to work in the lower resolution realms with wider viewership and faster processing times? It’ll be a tough sell for YouTube either way — give something to someone consistently for free, and it’s much more difficult to get them to pay later. 

The HBO Max app has had its issues, but I don't know if it deserves to be killed off entirely. Unfortunately, that's exactly what is going to happen.

As reported by The Verge, Warner Bros Discovery is planning to kill off the HBO Max app in the summer of 2023. On an earnings call earlier today, CEO David Zaslav announced the move, saying that the company is planning to combine the HBO Max and Discovery+ apps into one new mega-app that will be named something completely new. 

Zaslav says that the new app will combine the content power of HBO Max with the "better tech stack" of Discovery Plus.

“HBO Max has a competitive feature set, but it has had performance and customer issues.” He went on to claim Discovery Plus has a better tech stack and would become the core of the new service which will combine the content of HBO Max with the content and tech of Discovery Plus.

What will the new service be called?

While Zaslav was willing to announce the killing off of HBO Max, he didn't go as far as naming what the new service will be called. Some expected that HBO would get rolled directly into the Discovery+ app as a so-called "channel" within the app, but it appears that Discovery+ is also getting the ax — at least as its own standalone app.

“We think that product is going to be superb,” said Zaslav, referring to the newly combined service that it plans to launch in the summer of 2023. The CEO did note that HBO Max, despite its technical issues, has quickly grown in brand recognition when compared to other streaming services.

That makes a lot of sense since HBO Max is a much better know streaming service than Discovery+ is currently. We'll have to wait and see how Warner Bros Discovery launches its new service while maintaining the steam that HBO Max has garnered over the last year or so.

If you want to enjoy HBO Max, Discovery+, and whatever the hell else Warner Bros Discovery puts together, the best place to watch is on the Apple TV 4K. Even better, the 32GB model is on a great sale right now on Amazon.

Here's absolutely everything you need to know from Apple's WWDC 2018 keynote in regards to new features and updates to tvOS.

What's new with tvOS 12?

There are a couple of new updates when it comes to tvOS, but the biggest thing people are most excited for is the Dolby Atmos support.

With Atmos, you get room-filling sound that's unlike a traditional surround sound setup. Atmos completely immerses you in 3D sound, creating an experience with audio that flows all around you and makes you feel like you're right in the centre of whatever you're watching or listening to.

All of your movies will automatically get the Atmos upgrade for free. Oh! And iTunes offers the largest collection of 4K HDR movies, so all of your movies are also getting a 4k HDR upgrade for free.

Apple TV finally supports Dolby Atmos

Though the Apple TV already supports Dolby Vision, Apple promised Atmos support in the future. Well, the future is finally here, coming to tvOS 12. The world of surround sound is getting a major update.

What Dolby Atmos is and what it means for your Apple TV

Things get more lively in the TV app

You can watch Live news with the TV app which is similar to watching live sports. In fact, there's a huge range of live sports and new coverage with over 100+ video channels that will be available to watch in real-time.

Apple is also working with different companies in a number of countries to bring users easy access to Apple TV, with Charter Spectrum coming later this year to Apple TV for all Live channels and programs.

• France = Canal+
• Switzerland = Salt.
• USA = Charter Spectrum

Users will also be able to have more remote control support thanks to different brands that have designed remotes that are compatible with Apple TV.

TV app: Everything you need to know!

Securely and automatically unlock all supported apps for your TV service with Zero Sign-On! Charter spectrum will be the first to support Zero Sign-On.

Thanks to some photography-loving astronauts on the International Space Station, Apple has put together stunning backgrounds for your Apple TV screensaver. Fun fact: The Space Station Orbits every 90 minutes so you can see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day!

One other feature that's been added is the ability to see the location each and every photograph has come from that appears on your Apple TV screensaver with just the tap of your Siri Remote. You can also swipe to see more screensaver options.

When will the updates will be available?

The new updates will be available in the fall

What do you think?

Are you excited for tvOS 12? What is your favorite feature coming to a TV near you?

Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments down below!

I don't see a lot of movies in theaters these days — I'm not made of money — but when I do I always have to spring for the biggest bag of popcorn and the large drink that's about the size of a bucket. I usually don't start regretting my decision until I'm part way through the movie and I suddenly have to pee. We've probably all been there at some point, and you know running out of the theater right in the middle of an important scene always sucks.

RunPee is an app that aims to help moviegoers like me avoid missing any of the good parts of the film we are watching when nature calls.

• Free - Download Now

How it works

Members of the RunPee team see movies on opening day and watch for times in the movie where no important plot points, dialogue, or action is happening. They then mark that spot in the movie as a "Peetime," typically movies will have two or three Peetimes; however, it really depends on the movie, I have seen movies that only have one.

How to make sense of a Peetime

Let's taken this example (pictured above) from Blade Runner 2049. In the top right corner, you'll see one of two things, either recommend Peetime or emergency Peetime. A recommended Peetime means it's the best spot to run to the bathroom without missing much, and emergency Peetime means you won't miss anything crucial, but you may miss a particularly good scene in the film.

The giant number you see on the left is the number of minutes into the film's runtime that the Peetime occurs — in this case 58 minutes — and the small number in parenthesis is the amount of time the Peetime lasts.

The prompt gives you a better idea of when the Peetime officially starts, in this example the prompt reads:

That gives you the all clear that the next four minutes (in this case) isn't super important to the story, and you can run to the bathroom if need be.

Pee Timer

The Pee Timer helps you sync up your phone to the runtime of the movie allowing you to keep your phone in your pocket but still know when the Peetimes come up.

As pictured above, in Blade Runner 2049, you would start the time after the WB logo fades out, you can then put your phone in your pocket, and when it's Peetime, your phone will vibrate.

This means you don't have to have your phone out during the movie which can be a big distraction to some people.

On the bright side, the app has a dark theme by default, making the light coming from your screen less bright. It's about as movie theater friendly as you can get.

Peetime Synopsis

Now, even though the Peetimes are specifically designed that you don't miss anything important, you will obviously still miss a small portion of what's happening on the screen as you're taking care of business. Don't worry; the RunPee team has you covered.

Each Peetime comes with a detailed synopsis of what happens on screen for the duration of the Peetime. What I love about this feature is it stops you from having that awkward whispered conversation with your friend beside you about what happened while you were gone.

Other useful features

Although RunPee's main functionality is to keep you from missing anything important when you need to relieve yourself, it has a few other features worth mentioning.

The app will tell you if there are any scenes after the credits that you should stick around for and if there are, it will also give you a detailed synopsis of what those scenes are, so if you want to leave you can.

It also has links to go to Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB pages for the movies, meaning you can check reviews and the cast list all from one place.

Why I love RunPee

The greatest thing about RunPee is while it's a silly idea at its core, it solves a legitimate problem that exists.

I have been using RunPee for years, and I use it with every movie I see in a theater. I set the Pee Timer at the beginning, and when I feel the vibration, I can go to the bathroom if I need to or ignore it when I don't. I enjoy the comfort of knowing I won't miss anything important and a quick read of the Peetime synopsis before you go back into the theater is easy enough to accomplish and keep your phone in your pocket.

If you have ever struggled with having to go to the bathroom during a movie, I highly recommend using RunPee; it will make your experience a lot more comfortable.

• Free - Download Now

What do you think?

Let me know what you think of RunPee by leaving a comment down below.

DirecTV Now is the TV streaming service from AT&T and DirecTV. Available throughout the United States, the service offers both live and on-demand video from dozens of popular cable channels, while also offering the same for broadcast channels in select cities.

Just like similar services from Hulu and Sling TV, DirecTV Now lets you watch its live content on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Here's everything you need to know about this streaming service.

See more on DirecTV Now and streaming TV at CordCutters.com!

What is DirecTV Now?

It's a TV streaming service from AT&T, which owns DirecTV. With DirecTV Now, you can watch live programming from cable channels like ESPN, USA, and FX. There are also premium channels that you can add on to your subscription.

Do I need to be a DirecTV customer to use DirecTV Now?

No, DirecTV Now is a separate service with a separate price. All you need for DirecTV Now is an internet connection.

How much is this going to cost me?

You can choose one of four plans at $35, $50, $60, and $70 per month. You can also add the premium channels HBO and Cinemax for an extra $5 per month each while adding Starz is an additional $8.

Before committing your money to at least a month of what DirecTV Now has to offer, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial to see if the service is right for you.

Are there any sort of free options?

Sort of. You can also check out FreeVIEW, DirecTV Now's ad-supported free service that offers content from DirecTV-owned channels like Audience and Otter Media. However, for the standard DirecTV Now channel lineup, you'll need to pay.

So exactly what am I getting for my money?

Here's how all of DirecTV Now's plans break down:

• Live A Little - $35 per month, more than 60 channels
• Just Right - $50 per month, more than 80 channels
• Go Big - $60 per month, more than 100 channels
• Gotta Have It - $70 per month, more than 120 channels

While each plan includes live and on-demand content for most of the available cable channels, content from broadcast channels like ABC and NBC are also available live in select cities.

You can get a full breakdown of which channels are available with each plan right here.

Exactly where are local channels available?

Even in cities where local channels are available, the channels are not available on a consistent basis. Just because, for instance, NBC is available to stream in Dallas doesn't mean that it's available in Cleveland. The channel distribution breaks down like this?

• Atlanta: FOX
• Austin: FOX
• Boston: Telemundo
• Charlotte: FOX
• Chicago: ABC, NBC, FOX, Telemundo
• Cleveland: FOX
• Dallas: NBC, FOX, Telemundo
• Denver: FOX, Telemundo
• Detroit: FOX
• Fresno: ABC, Telemundo
• Gainesville: FOX
• Grand Rapids: FOX
• Greensboro: FOX
• Harrisburg: FOX
• Hartford: NBC,
• Houston: ABC, FOX, Telemundo
• Indianapolis: FOX
• Kansas City: FOX
• Los Angeles: ABC, NBC, FOX, Telemundo
• Los Vegas: Telemundo
• Miami: NBC, Telemundo
• Milwaukee: FOX
• Minneapolis: FOX
• New York: ABC, NBC, FOX, Telemundo
• Oakland: ABC, NBC, FOX
• Orlando: FOX
• Philadelphia: ABC, NBC, FOX, Telemundo
• Phoenix: FOX, Telemundo
• Raleigh: ABC,
• Sacramento: FOX
• Salt Lake City: FOX
• San Diego: NBC, FOX
• San Francisco: ABC, NBC, FOX
• San Jose: ABC, NBC, FOX
• Seattle: FOX
• St. Louis: FOX
• Tampa: FOX
• Washington D.C.: NBC, FOX

Why is the live local channel selection so limited?

The availability of live local channels is dependent on deals that AT&T can make with local affiliate stations in each city. In most cases, the company needs to negotiate with the affiliates directly, rather than the major networks (NBC, ABC, FOX, etc.), in order to show their content on DirecTV Now.

What about DVR?

As of now, DirecTV Now lacks any sort of DVR feature. However, the service points customers toward its on-demand offerings. A beta version is currently in testing which does indeed include cloud DVR services.

Tell me about on-demand

With some exceptions, most of the DirecTV Now channel lineup offers its programming on-demand, letting you catch up on your favorite shows when you're not able to catch them live.

Additionally, you can sign in with your DirecTV Now account in on-demand apps from content providers, including HBO Go, ABC, and the Disney Channel apps.

How many people can watch simultaneously?

Currently, DirecTV Now allows each account to stream to two devices at the same time. Anything beyond that requires an additional account.

What devices can I use to watch DirecTV Now?

DirecTV Now can be viewed through apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, along with Android phones and tablets, the Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast (with an Android device), and modern web browsers.

Sounds good. Where do I sign up?

You can sign up on the DirecTV Now website. Unfortunately, you cannot sign up in the app at this time.

Any other questions?

If you have any other questions about DirecTV Now, let us know in the comments.

Sling TV is a TV streaming service that you can access on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Android tablets, and plenty of other devices. If you're looking to join the growing number of people cutting the cord to the big mean cable companies, Sling TV is a pretty reasonably priced option{.nofollow} to help reduce your entertainment bill.

You probably have some questions about how Sling TV works, and we've got the answers!

What's new with Sling TV?

If you use Sling TV on your Apple TV, we have good news for you! Sling TV will be introducing its cloud DVR feature to the tvOS app.

According to the Sling TV announcement you can purchase 50 hours of DVR storage for just an extra $5 per month on top your monthly subscription rate.

Sling TV outlined and described the new features in its announcement this morning.

What is Sling TV?

Sling TV is what we call an "over-the-top" — OTT for short — service. In layman's terms that means it's an internet-based service, so you won't have a dedicated cable box or a line coming in from a cable company.

Sling TV, much like its name implies, is a way to stream live TV content, meaning it shows TV programs as they are broadcast and typically not on demand like other popular services such as Netflix or Hulu; however, there are some channels that do offer content on demand — like Syfy — and certain content providers offer Sling TV as a sign-on option.

How does it work?

When you download the Sling TV app on your Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad, you'll need to sign up for a subscription. The subscriptions are month-to-month and vary in cost depending on which channel package you choose.

How much does it cost?

They are three base subscription packages. Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue, the base prices for each package are $20, $25, and $40 respectively.

Which channels are included?

The Sling Orange subscription comes with the 30 channels listed in the screenshot below.

The Sling Blue subscription comes with the 40 channels listed in the screenshot below.

The Sling Orange + Blue subscription comes with 50 channels listed in the screenshot below.

Are those the only channels available?

No. There are plenty of small channel bundles you can add-on to any subscription for an extra fee — typically $5 or $10 a month — and you can also pay extra for premium channels like HBO and Showtime. A few examples of the add-on packages you can purchase are in the screenshots down below. A full list can be found on the Sling TV website.

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Will there be commercials

Yes. Just like regular cable, there will be commercials, and you'll only be able to skip them if you have recorded the program on the cloud DVR.

Can I get Sling TV in my country?

Unfortunately, right now Sling TV is only available to residents of the United States.

How fast should my internet be to use Sling TV?

Sling recommends download speeds of 25/mbps to achieve the highest video quality using Sling TV.

Can I cancel my subscription at any time?

Yes. There is no contract to use Sling TV, as it's a month-to-month service. If you choose to cancel your account, the billing will cease immediately.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. Sling TV offers a 7-day free trial, meaning you can cancel your subscription anytime during those seven days and not be charged with anything.

Are there any deals?

Sling TV does offer a few fantastic deals to help get you started! Right now, there are two:

• Get a free Roku Express when you prepay two months of Sling TV.
• Get 50% off the Roku Premiere+ when you prepay three months of Sling TV.

How to I sign up?

Head over to the Sling TV website and follow its easy sign-up process!

Update March 2017: Added instructions for deleting downloads in the TV app, customizing playback options for videos purchased or rented from iTunes, and managing options for apps connected to TV.

Apple's TV app is designed to be the one-stop shop for all of your TV and movie watching needs. It gathers your entertainment activities all in one place so you don't have to open 10 different apps when you are looking for something to watch.

Note: Don't have TV.app on your iPhone or iPad? Sadly, it only available in the U.S. right now. Everywhere else, it's still the Videos app.

If you have Apple TV, it will make your TV and movie watching experience a lot more convenient, but even if you don't have an Apple TV, you can still take advantage of the TV apps cool features on your iPhone or iPad. Here's how.

• How to use the Library in the TV app for iPhone and iPad
• How to use Watch Now in the TV app for iPhone and iPad
• How to use the Store in the TV app for iPhone and iPad
• How to use Search in the TV app for iPhone and iPad
• How to delete downloaded videos in the TV app
• How to customize the TV app iTunes Video settings
• How to manage TV app options

How to use the Library in the TV app for iPhone and iPad

The TV app on the iPhone and iPad has a section dedicated to all of the movies and TV shows you've purchased on iTunes. You can browse content by movies or TV shows, recently purchased, and genres. When you are ready to watch something, select it and tap the Play button to start watching.

If you want to download it onto your device so you can watch it offline, tap the download button. You can then access it from the Downloaded section in the Library tab of the TV app. When you tap a downloaded movie or TV show, it will automatically open the Videos app and begin playing.

How to use Watch Now in the TV app for iPhone and iPad

The Watch Now feature of the TV app is where all of the shows you currently watch are stored. If you start watching any show or movie from a service (like iTunes, Hulu, or CBS) that supports the TV app, it will appear in the Watch Now tab at the very top of the page. When you are watching a TV show and you've finished an episode, the next available one will appear in your list. Just tap the title you want to watch and it will open into the appropriate app.

For example, if you want to watch the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, tap an episode and it will automatically open in the CBS app and begin playing.

If you find content that you want to watch in a different format that what the TV app suggests, tap the More button next to the play button. It looks like an ellipsis (...). This feature will also allow you to navigate to apps that don't support the TV app, like Netflix.

How to use the Store in the TV app for iPhone and iPad

If you find a TV show or movie that you want to see, but you don't have the app from the streaming service that supports it, you can get it from the App Store. The TV app has a Store section that spotlights all apps that currently support it.

There is a section for services that you can watch content from without needing a cable subscription and a section for services that give you direct access to your cable shows. When you find an app you want to add to your iPhone or iPad, tap Get to download and install it.

I am a "Cable cutter" (though technically, that term isn't correct for me because I've never had cable). So, the Store is very useful to me. I can find apps that will allow me to watch TV shows and movies without the need for a cable subscription.

When you launch an app that is supported in the TV app, you will be asked if you want to connect it to the TV app. Tap Continue to add it to the TV app. When you add a new app, additional content is added to the TV app, providing you with more suggestions for what to watch.

The Store tab also connects you to new and trending titles that you can purchase or rent from iTunes.

How to use Search in the TV app for iPhone and iPad

Searching for content is the easiest way to find exactly what you want in the TV app. Tap the Search tab and then tap the text field. Enter the movie or TV show you are looking for and suggestions will populate. You can also use the Search tab to browse trending movies and TV shows if you want to jump right to the most popular stuff.

How to delete downloaded videos in the TV app

With the Videos app gone, you might think that deleting videos downloaded from iTunes now requires a trip to settings, but you can do that right in the TV app. Here's how.

1. Open TV on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Find the movie or show whose download you want to remove.

3. On an iPhone 6s or newer, press firmly on the episode or movie that you want to remove. On iPads and older iPhones, tap and hold on that item.
4. Tap Remove Download.

How to customize the TV app iTunes Video settings

The TV app is now your home on iOS for the movies and TV shows that you've purchased on iTunes. You can change how iTunes videos work in the TV by heading over to Settings.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap TV.
3. Tap iTunes Videos.

4. Flip the Use Cellular Data for Playback switch on or off to toggle cellular data.
5. Tap Wi-Fi to select the video quality for iTunes video playback over Wi-Fi.

6. Tap Cellular to select video quality for iTunes video playback over a cellular connection
7. Tap Purchases and Rentals to choose to watch purchased and rented iTunes from iTunes in either High or Standard Definition.

How to manage TV app options

If you decide you don't like a connected app's content, or accidentally denied a connection previously, you can manage the apps that are connected to TV in Settings.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap TV.
3. Flip the Up Next switch to turn Up Next on or off.

4. Flip the switch next to an app's name to turn its connection to the TV app on or off.
5. Tap Clear Play History to delete information about what you've watched on all of your devices.

Any Questions?

Do you have any questions about using the TV app on the iPhone and iPad? Let me know in the comments and I'll help you out.

If you're anything like me, you've been waiting awhile for this one. HBO Go, the streaming app for HBO customers who subscribe to the premium channel through their cable provider, has been updated, adding support for the TV app on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. This allows you to pick up where you left off with your favorite HBO show, as well as have HBO content added to your TV and movie recommendations.

• How to use the TV app on iPhone and iPad
• How to use the TV app for Apple TV

The app has also gained support for Single Sign-On for customers of certain cable providers. If you're a customer of one of the 11 TV providers that support Single Sign-On, you can sign in to HBO Go with your cable account credentials with a tap of a button, rather than having to enter them all over again.

• How to enable Single Sign-On for your iPhone or iPad
• How to enable Single Sign-On for the Apple TV

HBO's standalone streaming app, HBO Now, already works with the TV app, feeding recommendations and tracking your HBO viewing since the launch of the app with tvOS 10.1 back in December.

Google has rolled out an official listing for Android TV on the App Store. This app enables those with an iPhone to remote control their Android TV, utilizing the smartphone to effortlessly navigate content on the big screen. As an added bonus, you'll be able to tap the microphone to unlock access to voice search, just in case you'd rather save some precious minutes hunting down that one film.

Multiple iPhones can be connected to a single Android TV for local multiplayer gaming. All that's required to do is to have everything set up on the Android TV side of things, then simply make sure your iPhone is on the same home network as your TV. Give the app a download and let us know how you get on in the comments.

• Free - Download Now

Fandango, a highly popular purveyor of movie tickets, has finally updated its app with support for Apple Pay. While Apple Pay integration is the only thing to grace this update, it's not an insignificant addition to an incredibly popular service that you're no doubt familiar with from all of the pre-roll ads and kiosks in movie theaters.

With Apple Pay in the Fandango app, you'll be able to more easily purchase tickets for your latest movie fix on your way to the theater. And the integration works much as it does in other third-party apps. You simply select Apple Pay as your payment method at checkout, and the app will do the rest with your stored card information. All that's required of you is the usual Touch ID fingerprint verification, and you're off to the races (or movies, as it were).

If you want to give the app and new Apple Pay integration a shot, you can hit up the App Store link below to grab Fandango 7.1 now.

• Free - Download Now

It's no secret Rene and I are huge Star Wars nerds, and we were thrilled to see Lucasfilm's brand-new trailer for Episode VII alongside the start of ticket pre-sales. Thrilled! As if we weren't pumped up enough yet to buy tickets for the December opening of The Force Awakens...

Go on. You can watch it again. No one's judging you.

Okay, so now you're excited enough and you want to get some tickets, right? Right.

Sales are primarily happening through Fandango, and (surprise) the website isn't exactly handling the load at the rate people would prefer. So, as with the Apple pre-order experience, we suggest a different tack: Using the free Fandango app. Here's how.

1. Download the Fandango app; open it when you're finished with the download.
2. Allow the app to use your current location.
3. Tap on the Movies tab, then select Coming Soon. Scroll down to December 18 and tap Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
4. Scroll to December 17 in the date-picker. If this date is unavailable, pre-sales for your area may not be available yet.
   
   
   (Awww, don't cry: You can sign up for a Fandango FanAlert to let you know when presales arrive in your area.)
   

5. Tap the showtime under the theater you want to visit.
6. Choose the number of tickets you want, and your seats.
7. If you get a "502" error, the Fandango server is being slammed. Return to step 3 and try again, and try to avoid shooting a blaster into your phone.
   
   
   

8. Succeed, and pay for your seats.

Congratulations! You've reserved tickets for the Force Awakens. Now sit back, relax, and try to avoid potential spoilers for the next two months.

Or, you know, spend it practicing this friendship-pat between Poe Dameron and Finn. I'm not judging. (I just spent fifteen minutes making gifs, after all.)

iFixit, the site best known for their gadget hardware teardowns, had their developer account canceled after publishing a teardown of the new Apple TV developer unit in violation of Apple's terms and conditions. As a consequence, iFixit's app, which was tied to the account, is no longer available in the App Store.

In a blog post, iFixit stated:

The company also reminded iOS users that they can still enjoy iFixit's mobile web site.

The SNL app, which originally launched in February, is now fully optimized for iPads. The app has also added support for new emoji characters, as well as full AirPlay support.

Check out all of the improvements in the list below:

• More emojis! You asked for more current and classic characters and icons - and we've got 'em, including Church Lady, Mr. Bill and Van Down by the River.
• We noticed that several older clips were squeezed during playback and other clips were stretched. We've fixed all of them.
• The app is now optimized for most iPads (iOS 8 and above; not recommended for iPad 2).
• Full AirPlay support

You can download SNL from the App Store right now.

• Free - Download Now

As part of its ongoing 40th anniversary celebration, Saturday Night Live has released an official app for iOS. With the SNL app, you'll be able to stream an extensive backlog of clips, never-aired videos, and even express yourself with SNL-themed emoji.

Here's a rundown of what you'll get with the SNL app:

• Search thousands of clips or browse by season, episode or cast member to find favorite monologues, commercial parodies, Weekend Update segments and more.
• Swipe from clip to clip for a seamless, continual viewing experience.
• Features a new video player that allows you to mark favorite sketches and share them via Facebook. An App that Gets Smarter
• Explore and discover new clips with an intuitive recommendation engine. The more sketches you watch and like, the smarter the SNL App becomes in recommending videos for you.
• Includes a free, exclusive emoji keyboard featuring favorites like Drunk Uncle, Matt Foley, Mary Katherine Gallagher, the Coneheads and dozens more!
• Watch never-aired videos from the vault, including Cut for Time sketches, before they're available on the Saturday Night Live website.

If you want to start streaming your favorite sketches, or simply send a conehead emoji to your friends, you can pick up the app for free at the link below.

• Free - Download

Media Browser is a handy service, which turns your home PC into a multimedia server. With apps available for Windows 8, iOS, Android and Windows Phone, the team have been working on an iPad-optimized version. Today, an update has been published on the official blog detailing some features being worked on for iPad owners.

If you're not familiar with the name, it enables consumers easily transform their home PC into a media server. To help users make the most of Media Browser on an iPad, the team have implemented media caching, enhanced scrolling, searching with locally stored metadata for instantaneous functionality, and more. Not everything the team has planned for the iPad will be included in the initial app release, but updates will be published post-release after the feature list has been re-evaluated.

Expect to see the app arrive on the App Store for iPads soon enough (they're aiming for May 10). For now, if you own an iPhone, check out the iOS app already available on the store. Note that you need to have the server configured before using the apps (it's available for free and runs on OS X).

• Free - Download Now

For some time now the NBC app for iOS has allowed you to watch the latest shows from the peacock network, but now it's been updated to support AirPlay. Now you can watch your TV on your TV as TV is meant to be watched — except by using your iPhone or iPad via an Apple TV as a source.

Apart from that, version 2.5.1 of NBC for iOS also adds a trending clips section so users can see what's hot from The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and more.

• Free — Download Now

Disney has released Movies Anywhere, an app for iPad and iPhone that lets you watch your Disney and Marvel movies wherever you are. While you can enter a code found with the DVD or Blu-ray of a Disney movie to get the digital version, Movies Anywhere also encourages you to link your iTunes account to the app. Doing so will add any Disney or Marvel films that you've purchased in the past to your collection within the app. For a limited time, adding your iTunes account will net you a free copy of The Incredibles within the app.

You can browse all of Disney's movies within the app, and they're sorted into several categories, like Pixar, Marvel's Cinematic Universe, Princesses, and more. From a movie's page, you can watch a preview, see more movies like the one you're viewing, and hit a button to bring up the movie's iTunes page so you can purchase it. A badge on the left side of the screen will tell you if the movie has any bonus features. Bonus content in Movies Anywhere often mirrors what you'll find in iTunes Extras, with short films, behind-the-scenes documentaries and more. Below the Preview and Buy buttons, you'll also see how many Disney Reward points the movie is worth, which is generally 150 points for HD movies, and 100 for SD.

Disney Movies Anywhere supports a number of smaller features. Parental controls allow allow parents to restrict movies by rating. There is support for both chapters and subtitles. You can also use AirPlay to view movies on your Apple TV, though you'll need to turn on display mirroring in order to use it. You can limit video streaming to Wi-Fi only if you wish, or allow over both Wi-Fi and cellular. You can also use Movies Anywhere to browse enter Disney Movie Rewards codes.

Disney Movies Anywhere is a free, universal app, available now on the App Store.

• Free - Download Now

This week’s App World event in San Francisco was been dedicated to mobile games and apps. One section of the show – TV Hackfest - specifically showcased apps relating to television and video viewing.

Inside of the TV Hackfest area, we met with Anthony Rose, Co-founder and CTO of Zeebox. Zeebox is a second-screen TV app with features like a customizable TV guide, news feeds for users’ favorite shows, and discussion rooms for those shows. Anthony was kind enough to show us some of the things Zeebox can do and provide iMore with an exclusive look at the iOS update that's due out in a few days.

More about Zeebox

Zeebox is a free service that users can experience through the Zeebox website or by using the mobile app. Whichever platform you access it from, your profile, shows you follow, and other settings follow you on the cloud. The mobile apps are of course most ideal for the second-screen experience (using while watching), and provide some enhanced interactivity beyond what the website offers.

When you think second-screen TV app, you probably imagine using the app to chat or read about television programming while watching the show. Zeebox of course includes those features. Many program offer interactive content, such as polls to gauge how viewers feel about the latest reality show or news event. Or you can read more information about a topic that comes up – without having to search for it. And social users can chat in rooms dedicated to each program or comment via Twitter and Facebook.

Some shows like American Idol are tailored to that social experience, and their viewers like to discuss the show as it happens. Others require more viewer concentration; you don’t want to miss what’s going on in an action-adventure or drama by constantly looking away from the show itself. Zeebox still has something for people who just want to focus on the shows themselves. Whatever shows you follow, the app provides content and news to read about as well as opportunities for discussion after airing. The goal is to keep users engaged even while they wait for the next episode to air.

Not sure what’s coming on? The Zeebox TV Guide has a full channel listing. Once you find the show you like, follow it or interact with Zeebox’s content for it.

New Features in the update

The new Zeebox update will take the TV listings concept a step further by giving users a “My TV Week” feature. The feature basically constructs a customized listing with only the shows that you follow. At the top you’ll see the show you follow that will come on next. Below it are listings of all of the programs you follow that will be airing that week. Select a show and you’ll get a notification when it’s about to start. Planning your TV viewing (or digital video recording) schedule couldn’t be simpler.

The TV Guide itself will also be getting a significant upgrade (current version pictured above). Depending on the television provider you subscribe to, the app will act as a remote control for your service. Select a show from the guide and you’ll switch directly to the proper channel. This feature is supported by Comcast Infinity in the US and in the UK by Sky set-top boxes and Samsung and LG smart TVs. Zeeboz is always working to expand compatibility, so expect more supported devices in the future.

A two-screen future

Nobody needs a smartphone or tablet just to watch TV. But in this day and age, many of us love to look up information on actors and plot points or just tweet about the show as we’re watching it. Zeebox caters to those people and even people who love TV but don’t hold onto a device while watching. Check out the Zeebox website or grab the app for extra features – both are completely free to users.

• Free – Download Now

TVCatchup has been a favorite among UK iPhone owners for many a year, offering a free way to watch domestic television on the go. Sadly, the TV providers haven't all been fans of the service, and following legal proceedings some changes are now to be made to the TVCatchup offering.

As a result, some channels have now been removed completely from the mobile apps, while offering a redirect to the broadcasters own services via the web client. Other channels such as ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are no longer available to watch via the mobile apps using a cellular connection. It wouldn't be so much of a pain if the providers own apps were better than they are right now.

TVCatchup does say that additional content, including HQ channels will be added going forward, but it's a sad piece of news for those of us – myself included – that make regular use of the service. How does this affect your own usage?

Source: TVCatchup

AT&T has updated both the iPhone and iPad versions of its U-Verse application, allowing customers to watch live TV from iOS devices. Users can stream live TV both in and away from the home, with fewer channels available while on the go. The iPad version also features a new Home tab for featured content, as well as bug fixes and UI improvements.

The iPhone application has received many more enhancements. The live channel guide lets users view which channels are available both on their home network as well as away from it. New parental controls include PIN override and channel locking for a greater degree of control. The app also features improved Retina graphics, as well as performance and bug fixes.

Both the iPhone and iPad applications can be downloaded as separate apps for free from the App Store.

• Free (iPhone) - Download Now
• Free (iPad) - Download Now

Hulu Plus for iPhone and iPad has been updated with a new Kids Lock features that limits the app to be safe and fun for kids. When enabled, only programming for children will be accessible and it'll all be ad-free. To exit out of this mode, you will be required to enter your Hulu password, so you can rest assured that your child will not be able to exit and watch shows and movies that are inappropriate for their age.

To enable Kids Lock, select the Kids tab and tap the Kids Lock button. To disable, simply tap Unlock Kids and enter your Hulu Plus password.

This is a great feature that is similar to Netflix's "Just for Kids" feature. I prefer Hulu's approach, however, because it doesn't require use of Guided Access to keep your kids locked in kids mode. Automatically requiring a password to switch back to normal mode is much better.

What do you think of the new Kids Lock? Do you plan to take advantage of this new feature?

• Free - Download now

HBO Go has been updated to version 2.0, bringing support for Apple's AirPlay feature to the app. HBO Go users can now stream video from any device running iOS 6 to any Apple TV that’s been updated to software version 5.1.1 or later.

HBO Go has been a feature on Apple TV competitors, such as the Roku, for some time now. Though there have been reports that it is coming to the Apple TV, it has yet to materialize. Until that day comes, allowing customers to use AirPlay to watch HBO content is decent stopgap. Use of HBO Go requires an HBO cable subscription.

I've tried it out and it works fine. You can even use some of the interactive features for shows that support them, like Game of Thrones. Go grab the update, and tell us what you think.

• Free - Download Now

Sid the Science Kid Read & Play is a new app by PBS Kids that is designed to develop early science exploration. It features two story books, jokes, games, sing along music videos, coloring pages and more!

There are two different stories included with Sid the Science Kid: The Trouble with Germs, and What's That Smell. For each story, you can choose to read it yourself, have it read to you, or set it on Auto Play.

In The Trouble with Germs, Sid's dad has a cold, so when his mom and dad tell Sid that he needs to keep washing his hands to prevent himself from also getting sick, Sid wants to know more about germs since he can't see them. When his mom shows him a picture of germs from a microscope, Sid gets really intrigued and tells his friends at school which then invokes an impromptu lesson about germs from his teacher.

In What's That Smell, Sid is disgusted by his baby brother Zeke's diaper and is intrigued about the fact that he can smell Zeke's diaper even though Zeke is down the hall and in a different room. Sid's mom reminds him that Zeke's diaper is not the only smell that he can smell from far away, but also other things like his dad's famous pancakes. Again, Zeke takes the topic to school and his teacher teaches the class about smell and molecules and how they interact with the wind and our noses.

Other sections of Sid the Science Kid includes Sing Along Music Videos, a Coloring Book, a game called I Sense to practice what you know about senses by identifying traits of different objects based on how they feel, smell, sound, and look, a Sticker Book, and a Spot the Difference game.

I've spent a little time with Sid the Science Kid and am impressed. The stories are fun and interesting. On Auto Play, the pages turn nice and fast. If your child is a fan of the show, I definitely recommend picking this one up. If you do, let us know what you think!

$2.99 for iPhone - Download Now

$3.99 for iPad - Download Now

FireCore has released a version 1.1 update for aTV Flash. If you're a jailbroken Apple TV user, aTV Flash is definitely something you'll want to check out. It adds a great deal of functionality to your AppleTV, and new features include custom view options, web page auto-load, playback improvements, and much more.

aTV Flash for the 2nd generation Apple TV is super easy to install after you've jailbroken and doesn't mess with any of the current features your Apple TV already offers. If you're not already jailbroken, you can jailbreak your AppleTV via Seas0nPass. You'll just need the most recent version of Seas0nPass and a micro-usb cable. For help, you can check out our guide on how to jailbreak the AppleTV second generation. All the steps will remain the same as long as you grab the correct version of Seas0nPass for your AppleTV firmware.

If you've checked out the new version of aTV Flash, let us know what you think of it!

GetGlue for iPhone and iPad [iTunes Link] are social networking sites where you can let your friends know what you're watching, reading, playing, or thinking about.  Similar to FourSquare and Gowalla, you check in to show your friends what you're up to.  You can also leave reviews on pretty much everything and people can then like your comments or let you know if they find them helpful.  As you check into things, you can earn stickers for your favorite items. You can also choose to have those stickers mailed to you once you collect 7. Click through for more screenshots and another video featuring the iPad version!

When signing up for GetGlue, you can choose two ways. You can either create a GetGlue account or just simply connect with FaceBook. After that, you can immediately start checking in and subscribing to other people's feeds. GetGlue recently released an iPad app in addition to their iPhone app. They also have a GetGlue app for Android users as well. The general feel of GetGlue somewhat reminds me of Netflix, which isn't a bad thing. Instead of NetFlix offering you suggestions simply based on your ratings and previous watched, your friends and followers can too. As you rate different movies, games, tv shows, and topics - you'll collect more stickers and see more recommendations tailored to your personal tastes.

I've been using GetGlue for a little over a month now and I really enjoy the service. I've found some interesting movies and shows through the app and through comments other users have left for me. GetGlue has also recently announced their partnerships with such networks like Fox, Showtime, PBS, HBO, and Universal. You can now collect exclusive stickers for shows such as The Big C, Dexter, Glee, and several others. Aside from checking in and viewing your subscriber feed from your iPhone or iPad, you can also log into GetGlue on your computer at GetGlue.com. GetGlue is free in the app store. If you've already checked it out, let us know what you think in the comments!

Pros

• Learn about new movies, music, and shows through your friends and subscriptions

• Easy sign-up with FaceBook connect

• View trailers directly from movies or show pages

• Wealth of info available for several titles

Cons

• No retina display support for iPhone 4 (yet)

• Multi-tasking doesn't appear to be present yet

• Subscriber counts is off at times (probably a bug that can be easily addressed)

YouTube Link

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Apple is keeping up the transition from "app for that" to showing how the iPhone makes its users lives better with three new TV commercials -- Family Man, Dog Lover, and Backpacker

• Family man showcases the built-in Photo app with a video of a child's birthday, the App Store and purchasing Jamie Oliver's 20 minute meals [$7.99 - iTunes link] for cooking, and Elmo's Monster Maker [$3.99 - iTunes link] for the kids on a car trip, and Viper SmartStart [free - iTunes link] for opening the car trunk.
• Dog lover highlight PetFinder.com [free- iTunes link] to help find that perfect dog, Facebook [free - iTunes link] to share the picture with friends, Hey Walkies [free - iTunes link] to find a place to run, and iCam [$4.99 - iTunes link] to stream the whole thing.
• Backpacker kicks off a trip to spain by finding a place to stay HostelWorld.com [free - iTunes link], sending back pictures with the built-in Photo and Email apps, and using the App Store to download Jibbigo speech translator English to Spanish [$24.99 - iTunes link] for automagic communication.

(Unfortunately, we don't think there's an app for the bill that would come from all that roaming data...)