Apple TV 4th Generation with Siri Remote User's Guide: Your Media Tips & Tricks Manual (3 page)

The first option available on your home screen, this is where you can rent or purchase a wide variety of newer and older movie titles from the iTunes Store. You’ll need to be logged in with your active iTunes account and have a valid payment method linked to the account. Once you’re set up with that and logged in, you can purchase or rent whichever titles you wish to view on demand, or at later times.

Just like the movies channel, the TV Shows channel is also a direct portal to iTunes where you can browse the latest available TV seasons and episodes. Once again, you’ll need to be logged in with your iTunes account and have a valid payment source in order to purchase or rent television shows. In some instances, you may also be able to watch free preview episodes for some shows.

This is where you’ll want to head in order to download more apps or channels to use, as well as games, for your Apple TV. You’ll simply open this particular app and then you can browse or search for apps, channels and games you’d like to download and install for your Apple TV. Many of these offerings are free, but some will require that you have an iTunes account with valid payment source in order to buy them or subscribe to them. You will almost always receive an on-screen prompt telling you when something is for purchase so you don’t accidentally buy apps!

Taking photos on your iPhone or iPad is a great alternative to having a camera at the ready at all times. What's more is that with Apple TV, you can access those images from your television set using the iCloud Photos and share them with whomever is in the room! Even if you take a picture a week ago (or longer!), it will store into the iCloud, and allow you to access it from each of your iOS devices, including the Apple TV. The other great feature is the ability to have these photos show up as screensavers on your TV screen when you’re away from the Apple TV for an extended time.

If you’re an avid music listener and have purchased a good variety of songs, albums or artists from iTunes, this is the app you’ll want to open. Within this app, you can playback any of those purchased selections, as long as you are using the account with your Apple TV that you bought them on. This makes for a great multimedia experience where you can listen to your favorite music straight from the TV set. Make sure you’re logged into your appropriate iTunes or iCloud account on Apple TV and listen to all your top selections as well as all sorts of Podcasts or Radio stations. You can also opt to check out the monthly subscription service Apple Music which has been offered to customers on a 3-month trial basis.

The search option will allow you to do just that – select it and you can search for available content including TV, movies, games or app channels. Press the first letter of your search and you’ll automatically see suggested movies, TV shows or other items such as apps come up. Enter the full text of what you’re looking for to see if the item you’re looking for is available, and then select it using your remote.

This is where you can set up home sharing between your Apple TV and computers within the home. You can select “Use This Apple ID” or “Use a Different Apple ID” on the screen to begin the setup process. Home sharing will allow for sharing of various iTunes, Apple TV or compatible media across your devices.

This is an essential icon to remember, as the gears icon refers to your Apple TV’s settings hub. Select this option to set up various features or aspects such as your connected accounts, AirPlay, remotes, Siri integration, audio/video, network and system settings. You can even choose to set up a screensaver or put the Apple TV to sleep here if you so desire!

Now that you have an overview of what comes standard on the Apple TV home screen, let’s take a look at some of the more popular app channels you may want to add from the App Store. For the most part, these apps are free to download and install, but some may indicate a cable/satellite service login or monthly subscription is necessary to use them. Here’s a look at some of the “heavy hitters” in TV, sports or media first.

Much like the WatchESPN channel – as the networks are owned by the same company – individuals must have a cable network subscription to tap into everything ABC has to offer on demand. Should you, you can watch all of your favorite ABC programming at a moment's notice, including sports, soap operas, sitcoms, comedies and dramas that make the network so popular. View more info at
WatchABC website
.

The CBS network offers a nice variety of programs ranging from “Big Bang Theory” to “NCIS,” “Big Brother,” “Survivor” and “The Good Wife.” With a CBS All Access monthly subscription (approximately $6/month), you can watch full TV show episodes and live streaming shows (in select regions of the U.S.), making this a good channel to add if you’re without a cable or satellite subscription but want to enjoy CBS still. See more info at
CBS All Access
website including details on any free trial subscriptions.

With FoxNow available on Apple TV, it provides cable and satellite customers the ability to watch many of the hit shows from the Fox network, with the newest episodes available a day after they show on TV. You’ll need a participating TV provider subscription in order to log in and see on-demand episodes for most shows on the network. Watch popular show seasons or episodes for “Empire,” “Scream Queens,” “Gotham,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Family Guy” and more. See more info at
FoxNow website
.

NBC is among the featured channels you’ll want to install on your Apple TV as it allows for watching many of the latest episodes of hit programs including weekly series, daytime soaps, award shows, sitcoms and more. In many cases you may be able to watch the programs without signing in, but there may be some instances you’ll want to provide your cable and satellite account credentials to view shows. See more information at
NBC’s apps section
.

Netflix is available to subscribers for a monthly price and offers a wide variety of TV shows and movies to watch. Members can enjoy the seemingly endless supply of content that is available on demand, whenever you are ready to watch! With your Netflix subscription you will receive complete access to all of your favorite on demand selections, and literally thousands of movies and television shows for your enjoyment. The service has some great exclusive series such as “House of Cards” and “Daredevil” for viewers as well. See more info at
Netflix.com website
.

Just like Netflix, Hulu Plus has a monthly subscription service where users can enjoy their favorite movies on demand, and even new network offerings as early as the day after they aired originally. The Hulu database includes over 2000 movies, trailers for new and upcoming movies in the theater, and promos for your favorite shows so you know what to watch for! Check out
the Hulu website
for more information.

HBO Go is available to HBO subscribers, and in order to access the content on this channel through Apple TV, you must log in with your cable or satellite provider account credentials. You may have to create an
HBO Go account
, where you enter your carrier's account number, as well as a created username and password. Once you have done so, you can watch all of your favorite HBO programming on demand, so you never miss an integral episode of your favorite drama again. Watch hit movies and exclusive shows, as well as sports performances, comedy events and much more!

The USA Network features a great variety of programs on their cable or satellite channel and now by adding the USA Now app onto your Apple TV, you’ll be able to enjoy them on demand! Once the app is installed, you’ll need to log in using your appropriate cable or satellite account information. Once you’re set up, you can begin enjoying everything from “Burn Notice” to “Mr. Robot,” “WWE Raw” and more!

With
MLB.TV
, subscribers can watch each and every game throughout the Major League Baseball season, without fail – including a live in-game DVR component, so you can stop, review or pause the game whenever you would like. With multi-game viewing available, you can not only watch baseball through your Apple TV, but can take it with you on the go with your smartphone or tablet. Pricing ranges $19.99 to $24.99 per month, or $109.99 to $129.99 per year.

Major League Soccer comes to life on Apple TV, but only with a subscription to the service. Subscribers can watch live, out of market games or enjoy interviews with players, and analysis from professional athletes who have seen it all.

Much like the MLB.TV, enjoying the NBA all season long comes with a price. The NBA has two options in this arena, with the first being NBA TV that provides game coverage, news and analysis.

Secondarily, they have the NBA League Pass that is available with a subscription and includes regular season, out of market games for a price of $109 per year. You will have access to each of the games that are on that day or night and can switch back and forth as you see fit. See more info at
NBA League Pass
.

As the sporting trend continues, NHL is available through your Apple TV device as well in differing capacities. For $49.95 per season, viewers can watch in game highlights, analysis, live broadcasts, post-game replays and classic games whenever they would like. This gives you access to 40 out of market games per week, so you can follow your favorite team no matter where you live. More info at
NHL.com website
.

NBC Sports Network includes a variety of channels that present live sporting events around the world. These include everything from English Premier League soccer to men’s and women’s tennis to golf, NASCAR and NFL football games. With the NBC Sports Live Extra app installed onto your Apple TV, you can now enjoy any of the live sports events they may be streaming. You’ll need to have a valid cable or satellite account to log into the service with, but once you do, you can watch all of the sporting events they have to offer!

WatchESPN is a great outlet for sports – but only for cable subscribers who already receive ESPN as part of their programming package. If you do, you are in luck and are able to watch all ESPN3 content from your Apple TV, as well as enjoy simulcasts that are currently playing on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Goal line and ESPN Buzzer Beater, so you will never miss out on your favorite sporting event again.  See more details at the
WatchESPN FAQ
.

Vimeo is a video sharing site that allows users to upload, watch and share videos – much like YouTube, but with a focus on longer content. This can include webisodes, shorts and movies that are produced by individuals and shared with the masses. The name is derived from the combination of words "video" and "me."

There is nothing better than navigating the hilarity – and the actual informative content – that is available on YouTube. Instead of playing the website's content on your device, you can literally stream it through Apple TV, giving you all of your favorite videos directly on the big screen. Also, if you have a
YouTube.com
account, you can access all of your favorites right away simply by logging in.

There’s much more available for your Apple TV than just the standard major network channels you’d see on TV or sports packages. Here’s a look at a variety of other channels to consider including business, children’s, movie, weather and other content channels. 

Bloomberg television is a 24 hour per day financial news outlet that provides up to date information that affects that financial world, including trading, tickers and informative broadcast analysis. The channel is available by cable or satellite subscription only, and can be viewed from your Apple TV once your account information is entered accordingly.

Crackle is a Sony owned company that provides original web content, feature films and television programming that is produced by Sony Pictures. Much like Hulu Plus or Netflix, users are able to enjoy popular films that exist within the Crackle catalog. The catalog updates monthly, with new content being added and old material being removed to keep the site running tightly.