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iOS-style video previews come to the Apple TV App Store

By Kris Wouk Published February 18, 2016

With previous generations of the Apple TV, the available apps were relatively limited, but with the introduction of tvOS and the App Store in the fourth-generation Apple TV, users have far more available to them. This variety can be somewhat overwhelming, since screenshots can only show so much about how an app actually works.

Yesterday Apple announced a small update to the App Store that allows developers to add video previews for their apps. This gives users a much better idea of how the app functions before downloading.

Related: Apple TV – It’s all about apps

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If this sounds familiar, it’s because these types of previews are available in the iOS App Store, and have been since 2014. Why Apple didn’t offer this to developers from the start is puzzling, but to date the company still doesn’t offer similar app previews on the Mac App Store.

Don’t expect to find many of these preview videos available for the time being. While Apple has opened up the ability for developers to add these previews, developers still need to actually create the videos and add them to their App Store listings.

This is the second small update to come to the fourth-generation Apple TV this month. In early February, Apple updated tvOS’s universal search, adding support for three new channels: Fox Now, FX Now, and National geographic.

Far more changes are coming to the streaming box later this year with the release of tvOS 9.2, which is currently in beta. Features currently available to beta users include dictation, an updated app switcher, and Siri voice support for more languages.

Apple is also working on an updated Remote app for the iPhone, according to company executives Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi. The new remote app will act as a “full replacement” for the Apple TV’s hardware remote, including Siri and Trackpad functionality, and even the ability to act as a second controller for two-player games.

Former Contributor

Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

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