Bea Beltran Tech 01.10.2023 02:Jan AM EST

Users Disappointed with Apple TV's tvOS 16.2 Format

Apple TV has made some changes to the format of the app, and users are not exactly hyped up about it. They took to Reddit to make their concerns known, implying that the update has become more of an annoyance than a convenience.

What's Changed with Apple TV?

It appears that the "Watch Now" tab now dominates the TV screen, while the "Up Next" roster is relocated to the bottom of the screen with a smaller display. There is also no way for users to opt out of the design update.

There were also complaints about how the featured title would also play a preview automatically along with its audio. Even when users navigate to the "Up Next" section, the Apple TV shows that are being promoted still take up most of the screen.

Apple budged before when users complained about the "Featured" section in the beta test of the tvOS 16.2, which features a number of titles in a continuous slideshow. Now, Apple seems to be standing its ground on the new format design.

It comes as a disadvantage that users cannot choose to revert to the old design back, focusing on "Up Next" where there are options for users to immediately watch the film. According to MacRumors, the interface has already been sent out on a wider basis.

The update was not limited to TV. It has also been changed for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, so users can't escape the feature even if they switch Apple devices. The best thing to do is to head to the company's website and submit feedback.

Something You Can Do

You may not be able to get rid of the previews in the app itself, but you can get rid of the trailers when you put your cursor on the app's icon. A user in an Apple discussion mentioned that a horror scene popped up as their kids were waiting to watch cartoons.

The very same user found a solution and shared it on the platform. All you have to do is go to Settings and open Accessibility. There you will find Motion, and then under that, you can see Auto-Play Video Previews and you can toggle them off.

Other tvOS 16 Updates

The update is not just about the irksome preview that autoplay and takes up most of your screen, there are others too, which you could focus on instead. For one, there is an option to use Hover Text so you can see onscreen descriptions better.

It's also easier now to add profiles to the app for every person within the Family Sharing group. Each will have a personalized "Up Next" list as well as personalized recommendations for TV, movies, music, and apps, according to Apple.

There's also Personalized Spatial Audio wherein a profile can be created on your iPhone specifically for Spatial Audio. With this, you can watch on Apple TV 4K using AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max for a more immersive and private listening experience.