Once again, Apple ticks me off.

September 10, 2020, 07:47 AM

I want to watch the Tom Hanks Movie "Greyhound".

It's only available on AppleTV.

Last night, my smart TV had a pop up for a free three month trial of the AppleTV app which I had previously been unable to get, not being an Apple fanboy nor owning any Apple gear.

Clicked on it, and I'll be a sonofagun, you can redeem the offer via a PC. Woohoo!

Except that it kept popping up an error message, "Not currently available." Shit.

Tried it again this morning, and it went through and gave me a big long code to enter.

Via iTunes only. Don't have iTunes, don't want iTunes and I'm damned if I'll download it!

Assholes.

September 10, 2020, 08:52 AM

Jimbo54

I had the same result when I tried to watch it. I also have no Apple products but they lead you to believe you can watch on a windows PC for a trial period. Pissed me off.

Jim

September 10, 2020, 09:42 AM

mcrimm

We watch all of our TV via and Apple TV 4K set top box. We have YouTube TV, NetFlix and Amazon Prime. YouTube TV also gives us access to lots of other stand alone channels like Paramount, HGTV, Discovery and more. This little box is expensive (~$200) but is very cool. We travel with it and an HDMI cable for hotels and winter stays. We upload the digital codes on movies we buy to watch anywhere.

Plus Apple TV+ is free for a year when you buy certain Apple products.

Mike

September 10, 2020, 09:59 AM

ensigmatic

quote:
Originally posted by mcrimm:
We watch all of our TV via and Apple TV 4K set top box. We have YouTube TV, NetFlix and Amazon Prime.

That's all well and good. We have Apple TV 4k streamers, and like them, too. But that doesn't address the previous posters' complaints: They feel they've been led to believe they can subscribe without acquiring an Apple STB, and seem to be finding they cannot, after all. I'd be annoyed, too.

That being said...

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Via iTunes only. Don't have iTunes, don't want iTunes and I'm damned if I'll download it!

Isn't that a bit like complaining you can't watch Netflix w/o installing the Netflix app, Amazon Prime Video w/o installing the Amazon app, etc.?

September 10, 2020, 10:28 AM

911Boss

Former Apple hater converted to Apple Fanboi here, ditto what mcrimm said.

We have a couple 4K Apple TV boxes and never a problem. The Apple TV HD box is still available and a little cheaper at $149 and also includes first year Apple TV+ ($60 value)

As for watching on a PC, what browser are you using? I just tried via my work PC and tv.apple.com website in a browser. Signed in with many Apple ID and it worked just fine. Had to scroll all the way to the bottom of the window, to find “Greyhound” but it is there and started playing. This was using Google Chrome browser. Then I tried the same with MS Edge and it wouldn’t work (failed to respond to clicking on “sign in” icon)

Interesting thing about watching this way, surprised they don’t have a search box at the top of the screen to enter what you are looking for. Instead limited to scrolling through whatever they put up. Guess they don’t want to make it too easy to be happy without some level of commitment to Apple

Not sure why they would require iTunes unless you were purchasing a movie as that is how your owned library is accessed.

September 10, 2020, 10:36 AM

911Boss

quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic:

...

Isn't that a bit like complaining you can't watch Netflix w/o installing the Netflix app, Amazon Prime Video w/o installing the Amazon app, etc.?

To be fair, yo can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime video through web browser without using the apps. Even as an Apple fanboi, I’m surprised Apple doesn’t do better in this regard.

September 10, 2020, 10:53 AM

Jimbo54

I just refuse to be forced to buy a product from a multi-billion mega corp. to watch a movie or TV show.

Jim

September 10, 2020, 11:17 AM

ensigmatic

quote:
Originally posted by 911Boss:
Former Apple hater converted to Apple Fanboi here, ditto what mcrimm said.

I was never an "Apple hater," so much as I was disinclined to invest in the Apple ecosystem. But, like many people, I always viewed Apple fans as being somewhat cult-like.

Then we got our first Apple devices: A pair of iPads on sale at Costco. They worked so well, so smoothly, that when Google/Android annoyed me yet again, we transitioned from Android to iPhones. Again: Terrific experience.

Thus it was that, after less-than-sterling experiences with Android TV and Amazon Fire TV devices, we gave Apple TV a try. And again: Thoroughly satisfactory experience.

We've now replaced two of our streamers with Apple TV 4K devices. Almost enough points on our Visa rewards program for the third. Eventually all our streamers will be ATVs.

Next up: Macs on the desktops

quote:
Originally posted by 911Boss:
To be fair, yo can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime video through web browser without using the apps. Even as an Apple fanboi, I’m surprised Apple doesn’t do better in this regard.

Didn't you just write that you could with Apple TV+, if you had an Apple account?

quote:
Originally posted by Jimbo54:
I just refuse to be forced to buy a product from a multi-billion mega corp. to watch a movie or TV show.

As noted by 911Boss: You don't have to. I believe Apple TV+ is also available for a number of other streaming devices, incl. Roku, Fire TV, and some smart TVs.

September 10, 2020, 11:51 AM

PHPaul

Clarification(s)

1. I don't stream to my computer (any more...) I stream to my Vizio Smart TV.

2. Downloading the AppleTV app direct to the TV doesn't appear to be an option.

3. I was led to believe that I could "redeem" the offer via my PC and the app would be automatically enabled on my TV. The offer screen with the code displayed had to be up on the TV while I went through the PC authorization process.

4. I have no issue with Apple's hardware, millions of people use and love them. They seem to be especially popular with graphic designers.

5. I object vehemently to their strong-arm marketing tactics and I'll wait for the movie to come out on DVD before I'll give one bent nickel to those pirates.

September 10, 2020, 12:05 PM

ensigmatic

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Clarification(s)

1. I don't stream to my computer (any more...) I stream to my Vizio Smart TV.

Vizio TVs apparently use "Smart Cast" for an OS. This is apparently Google's Google Cast renamed?

I wish Google would pick a frackin' streaming platform and stick with it. Lessee, now we have Chrome Cast, Smart Cast/Google Cast, and Android TV (which I believe they'll be re-branding Google TV).

No wonder people are confused.

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
2. Downloading the AppleTV app direct to the TV doesn't appear to be an option.

That would suggest Apple TV+ isn't available for Smart Cast.

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
3. I was led to believe that I could "redeem" the offer via my PC and the app would be automatically enabled on my TV.

Not certain how an app that's not available could be enabled.

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
5. I object vehemently to their strong-arm marketing tactics ...

Given that ATV+ is available on multiple streaming devices, including many hardware devices that compete directly with Apple's hardware devices, I'm not certain where are the strong-arm marketing tactics.

It's kind of sounding to me like them offering you the option on a TV with an unsupported OS is the problem? Kind of like how I keep getting told Amazon Prime Video is allegedly available for our Android TV devices, but it's not?

Hmmm...

Apple TV Arrives on Vizio SmartCast TVs

Is your Vizio TV's firmware up-to-date?

September 10, 2020, 12:21 PM

HRK

quote:
5. I object vehemently to their strong-arm marketing tactics and I'll wait for the movie to come out on DVD before I'll give one bent nickel to those pirates.

How is offering a free peak at their services and including a prime movie they made strong arm....

September 10, 2020, 12:26 PM

just1tym

Paul, Greyhound will be worth the wait. I've already watched it twice, it's a good flick and caught a lot of detail I missed the first time around.

September 10, 2020, 12:48 PM

911Boss

quote:
Originally posted by Jimbo54:
I just refuse to be forced to buy a product from a multi-billion mega corp. to watch a movie or TV show.

Jim

But you still have to buy a product from a multi-billion mega corp, whether it be a computer, TV, or streaming device.

quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:
Originally posted by 911Boss:
To be fair, yo can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime video through web browser without using the apps. Even as an Apple fanboi, I’m surprised Apple doesn’t do better in this regard.

Didn't you just write that you could with Apple TV+, if you had an Apple account?

Yes, but qualified with ” I’m surprised Apple doesn’t do better in this regard”

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Clarification(s)

1. I don't stream to my computer (any more...) I stream to my Vizio Smart TV.

2. Downloading the AppleTV app direct to the TV doesn't appear to be an option.

3. I was led to believe that I could "redeem" the offer via my PC and the app would be automatically enabled on my TV. The offer screen with the code displayed had to be up on the TV while I went through the PC authorization process.

4. I have no issue with Apple's hardware, millions of people use and love them. They seem to be especially popular with graphic designers.

5. I object vehemently to their strong-arm marketing tactics and I'll wait for the movie to come out on DVD before I'll give one bent nickel to those pirates.

RE #1/2 - Sounds like the issue is more waitress Vizio than with Apple. Hard to blame Apple for Vizio hardware capabilities/limitations.

RE #3 - Did the offer say it worked with all Smart or Web enabled TVs? How were you led to believe that or was it, more accurately, an assumption?

RE #5 - Agree with HRK - hardly “Strong arm” tactic. I’ll even go one further, part of why things become more cumbersome/complicated is because of actual “pirates” who steal and distribute content. Have to lock things down tighter and tighter to keep that in check.

September 10, 2020, 12:54 PM

Georgeair

quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
quote:
5. I object vehemently to their strong-arm marketing tactics and I'll wait for the movie to come out on DVD before I'll give one bent nickel to those pirates.

How is offering a free peak at their services and including a prime movie they made strong arm....

Because it's so difficult to install iTunes for the 30 days you want to take advantage of the free offer I guess....

September 10, 2020, 01:33 PM

PHPaul

quote:
911Boss said:RE #3 - Did the offer say it worked with all Smart or Web enabled TVs? How were you led to believe that or was it, more accurately, an assumption?

RE #5 - Agree with HRK - hardly “Strong arm” tactic. I’ll even go one further, part of why things become more cumbersome/complicated is because of actual “pirates” who steal and distribute content. Have to lock things down tighter and tighter to keep that in check.

The pop-up was ON the TV. Otherwise I wouldn't have known about it. Why I had to go to my computer to enable an app on my TV is a complete mystery to me.

"Strong Arm" was perhaps a bit of an overstatement. "Bait and Switch" would be a better description. Yup, I could download iTunes just to accommodate this one situation then delete everything once I've seen the movie.

Some years back the State of Maine in it's wisdom decided to buy every 8th grader in the state a laptop for school use. At that time, I was the IT Guy for the local school system - High school and 4 grade schools. The decision was made to go with Apple for this project. Virtually over night, I was responsible for the upkeep of a couple of hundred Apple laptops. Apple insisted that any and all problems be resolved by sending the laptop back to them. It was a logistic nightmare and their absolute refusal to provide any technical training, diagnostic software or spare parts to the local techs put them at the very top of my shit list.

Illogical perhaps, but once an outfit pisses me off, I rarely ever voluntarily do business with them again.

For those of you that use and enjoy Apple products - Great, I'm glad you're happy.

I don't, I won't and we'll just have to agree to disagree.

September 10, 2020, 03:45 PM

ensigmatic

quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
Because it's so difficult to install iTunes for the 30 days you want to take advantage of the free offer I guess....

I wonder why Apple is requiring that, though? Just to get an Apple TV+ account?

September 10, 2020, 07:07 PM

911Boss

quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic:
quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
Because it's so difficult to install iTunes for the 30 days you want to take advantage of the free offer I guess....

I wonder why Apple is requiring that, though? Just to get an Apple TV+ account?

They aren’t...

September 10, 2020, 09:29 PM

cparktd

Sorry for your frustration...
The movie would not be available to anyone to watch yet if Apple hadn't bought it from Sony after they canceled its release. Apple paid 70 MILLION for it. They do need to recoup their money.

It is a great movie, worth the wait... I did the free sign up just to watch it but I'm all Apple here.

Do you know any Apple fans that might host a watch party?

I would for you if you were near by!

Bet it's on a bit torrent

Only two brands of TVs natively support Apple TV, LG and Samsung IIRC, all others require third party hardware.