With customers around the world beginning to receive their new Apple TVs over the coming days, developers have been busy readying the first apps and games for the set-top box. Below, we have rounded up some of the more interesting tvOS apps that are or will be available through the App Store on the new Apple TV. Some apps are still under review and may not be available immediately at launch.
Airbnb
Airbnb, a website for people to list, find and rent lodging in 190 countries, ranging from a New York City studio apartment to a Tokyo penthouse, has developed an app for the new Apple TV that lets travelers swipe through destinations and lodging choices using the Siri Remote. Airbnb for Apple TV focuses on immersive pictures with limited text. Listings can be synced with iPhone and iPad.
Alto's Adventure
Snowman has announced that Alto's Adventure, a beautiful endless runner snowboarding game featuring physics-based gameplay, procedurally generated terrain, fully dynamic lighting and weather effects, six unique snowboarders and more, will be available on the new Apple TV shortly following its launch. The game can be played with a Siri Remote or a third-party controller, and universally supports the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV for $2.99 on the App Store with iCloud syncing.
Crossy Road
Hipster Whale has brought its endless arcade hopper Crossy Road, an Apple Design Award Winner at WWDC 2015, to the new Apple TV. Choose from characters such as Chicken, Mallard, Emo Goose and Giddy Goat, and use the Siri Remote touchpad to dodge cars, leap across logs and jump past fast-moving trains. The popular game is also available on iTunes for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone.
Mr Jump
Mr Jump is a popular platformer runner game where you guide a hero named Mr. Jump as he jumps his way through several increasingly challenging levels in multiple worlds. The new Apple TV version of the game requires the Siri Remote to control your character. Mr Jump is free on the App Store with in-app purchases available.
Ookla
Here's a video preview of our tvOS Speedtest app that should be available shortly on the Apple TV App Store pic.twitter.com/qqrI7TOIX3 — Ookla (@Ookla) October 27, 2015
Plex
Plex has confirmed that it will be releasing its media player software for the new Apple TV so that users can access all of their video, music, TV and photo collections on the big screen. The app will be free, but with a Plex Pass subscription customers will have access to all premium features, including premium music, parental controls and more. Plex is also free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
SketchParty TV
SketchParty TV is a multiplayer party game that involves one team attempting to guess what another team is sketching. The game pairs directly with SketchParty TV for iPhone or iPad via Wi-Fi. SketchParty TV should be available for the new Apple TV shortly following its launch. The iPhone and iPad version is $6.99 on the App Store.
Sing! Karaoke
Smule has introduced a new game for Apple TV called Sing! Karaoke that transforms your TV screen into a karaoke machine. The social singing app is designed specifically for the new Apple TV and features over 100,000 songs to choose from, several partner artists like Jessie J and Jason Derulo, the ability to use an iPhone as a microphone and more. Sing! Karaoke is free on the App Store, with in-app purchases available, and universally supports the new Apple TV, iPhone and iPad.
Ticker
German indie app developer Arno Appenzeller has created Ticker, a personal news channel app for the new Apple TV that lets you search for and subscribe to several news feeds and have headlines displayed in a scrollable ticker. The view is highly customizable, with the choice of three backgrounds that feature cities, sights and patterns. Appenzeller plans to release Ticker on the tvOS App Store a few weeks after the new Apple TV launches.
Withings Home
Withings has announced a companion Apple TV app for its Home video monitor and air quality sensor. The app features an HD video stream with a 130° wide angle view, 12x zoom and high-quality infrared night vision, access to real-time video feeds and air quality feedback on the TV, a multi-cam view of up to 4 cameras at a single time and more. The app is free on the App Store and will universally support Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Zillow
Zillow for Apple TV features listings of homes for sale nearby with hi-def images, video content and other detailed information, including the home's number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, address, sale price and estimated mortgage cost. Swipe right on the Siri Remote to save a home listing for later viewing on Apple TV, Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch.
Top Rated Comments
EDIT: C'mooooooon, Tiny Wings!
ITV have, apparently said "no plans" (but that's what BBC said a month ago) and no news on C4/C5.
Live Freeview via. DVB seems unlikely - it would need hardware and drivers (and I doubt Apps can include drivers), plus even 'Pause live TV' would probably need more storage than the AppleTV has, so there's not much point.
When Plex for AppleTV comes out, it may be possible to stream Freeview or recorded programs from a server*
The integrated "Freeview Play" and "YouView" services (which show that its perfectly possible to integrate all the catch-up services) seem to be tied to hardware makers at the moment. Maybe the prospect of being able to sell a Freeview Play or YouView app on a secure platform like the ATV will tempt them into releasing an App but I wouldn't hold your breath.
(* My PVR is a linux box with a quad tuner card running MythTV - I've just installed Plex media server on that, and there's a Plex plug-in that allows you to play MythTV recorded programs. I've had that working so I can watch Myth recordings on Chromecast or Airplayed from Plex on an iPad... currently the entertainment has been seeing what will work rather than watching stuff, though!)