I have several Apple TVs but was looking forward to my new TV having the app pre-installed (to simplify things and save $). But the app won’t connect to my Home Library. Why not? Will it ever?
I must say it is annoying that Apple is selling two products with the same name and icon but with such different capabilities.
They are two distinct products. One is the TV app and the other is the Apple TV, which is a box that connects to your TV. The TV app is available on both Apple TV hardware (3rd gen or newer) and supported 3rd party devices. It works the same on both, in that is is a portal for streaming content. It has never allowed access to one's local 'home library'. In order to do that you need to use home sharing, which requires the Apple TV hardware. It uses a separate Computers app to access that library.
They are two distinct products. One is the TV app and the other is the Apple TV, which is a box that connects to your TV. The TV app is available on both Apple TV hardware (3rd gen or newer) and supported 3rd party devices. It works the same on both, in that is is a portal for streaming content. It has never allowed access to one's local 'home library'. In order to do that you need to use home sharing, which requires the Apple TV hardware. It uses a separate Computers app to access that library.
They may be distinct products but they carry exactly the same name and icon. Confusing for consumers.
Still puzzled why the app can’t access home library. It can access previous purchases, so accessing or not the rest of my library would seem to be a question of will (or lack thereof) rather than some insurmountable technical issue. Similarly, I can access my Bell TV channels via the version that is on the hardware box, but not on the app (though other channels are available). Again, seems a question of will rather than anything else. Just my opinion, but if Apple is going to market two products with same name and icon, they should deliver same services.
I assume the Apple Music app on third party platforms like android and the likes also cant access ones shared itunes / music lib
suppose you can view it as apple makes money one one feature and non on the other
as I suggested you can use their feedback channel other users in this forum becoming convinced will have no bearing on apples policies
No they don’t. One is simply called Apple TV and the other is an app. The Apple TV itself is a hardware box and has no icon. The TV app is preinstalled on Apple TV hardware and the only difference is that it can integrate with other apps. However, home sharing is not part of the Tv app there either, it relies on a separate Computers app.
The Tv app is accessing your previous iTunes purchases and streaming them via the cloud. Accessing your local content is a completely separate feature and has always been contained in that separate Computers app. That app and feature is not part of the support brought forth on other devices. The Apple TV hardware does a lot more than what is contained in the app and hence is not a replacement for the hardware.
The reason you can’t access Bell on the 3rd party TV app is due to the difference I listed above, as that requires communicating with other apps and that can only be done on Apple TV hardware.
you can suggest they add the feature using their feedback channel
Use app to access personal library?
