Amazon Prime Video for Apple TV is now available with a redesigned interface that makes the software look and perform better than other streaming services.
- What is happening? Amazon has released a new version of its Prime Video streaming app for Apple TV. The software not only looks much better, but is also more functional and much easier to navigate.
- Why care? Prime Video is one of the worst streaming apps on the planet, especially on Apple TV. The whole thing is basically one giant web page filled with video thumbnails that you are forced to navigate through. The new interface puts navigation and other controls in a sidebar, just like HBO MAX.
- What to do? If you don’t already have the new experience, open the App Store on your Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K and use the search function to navigate to the Prime Video app page, then click the Update button.
Amazon Prime Video app for tvOS is being updated
The navigation bar is on the left side, providing quick access to the search function, the Home section, the built-in store (for Prime channels, rentals, purchases, deals, etc.), live TV, as well as free and My sections. Your favorite movies and series can be found in the Home section.
Here you will also find the channels you subscribe to, such as Paramount+ and AMC+. The list of the top 10 movies and shows gives you a good idea of what’s trending on the service. The Continue Watching bar appears prominently in the Home section, so you can quickly resume watching Apple TV from where you left off in the Prime Video app on your iPhone or iPad.
Introducing Portrait Carousels
This updated interface, with larger visuals, took eighteen months to create to keep it from feeling cluttered. Now there are two types of carousels. An old one with the same landscape image as before, and a new portrait carousel with posters that open in video preview mode when hovering over a selection.
Is there a live stream in Prime Video???
The Live TV section combines linear programming from subscribed channels like AMC+, live sports, and ad-supported free content (I didn’t even know Prime Video had live streams). The updated app brings nothing new in terms of content, and popular features like multiple user profiles, Alexa and X-Ray integration are still there. Read: How to View All YouTube Comments You’ve Ever Left
The Verge highlighted some of the annoyances from the past:
Prime Video still presents TV seasons in a weird way (episode 0: trailer, anyone?) and can sometimes split 4K and HD versions of the same movie. Some of these dizzying organizational decisions stem from the fact that Amazon still sells a lot of this content when competitors only have to worry about letting you stream it.
The redesign is rolling out on the tvOS platform first, with other devices coming later. The redesign is coming to Prime Video for iOS and the web “in the coming months.”
You can download the Prime Video app for free from the Apple TV App Store [ App Store link ]. The upgraded software supports Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, but will not be available on third-generation Apple TVs from 2012.