BBC

The new Apple TV is a well-designed, inexpensive, friendly device with a great interface. So why did it only score a seven out of ten in the WIRED review? Apps. Namely the few key video services missing from its line-up at launch.

Fortunately for Apple, it now appears to be rounding into form; the BBC has just announced it is launching iPlayer for the new device, via the built-in App Store.


iPlayer was never available for the older Apple TV, but its absence from the new TV's App Store was conspicuous at launch given the service appears on more or less every other similar device. While it has always been possible to watch iPlayer shows through an Apple TV using Airplay, the missing app made it much more difficult to rely on Apple's hardware as an 'input one' option. As of Monday, that situation is to some extent resolved.

The BBC said that more than 10,000 devices (if you include every Android smartphone, tablet and computer) can now run iPlayer. More than 3.5 billion TV and radio programmes were requested on iPlayer in 2014, and it is expected that 2015 will surpass that record.

As for the Apple TV, it now features more than 2,600 apps, including some great games, but is still missing some core content including Sky TV (though the cheaper Now TV service is available) and Amazon's video service. A recent update to the device added a number of new features, however, including voice search for music, which were absent at launch.