Samsung is now the first TV manufacturer to receive Apple's major first-party TV apps and services, namely Apple TV app and AirPlay 2.
Apple has begun rolling out its redesigned Apple TV app, first announced in March, on iOS, Apple TV, and select Samsung smart TVs. The new app comes bundled with new version of iOS and tvOS also being rolled out, and features a revamped look plus support for a slate of paid Apple TV channels such as HBO, Showtime, Epix, and many others.
Apple TV Comes To Samsung TVs
Owners of Samsung smart TVs — all 2019 models and some 2018 models — will be able to access Apple TV and AirPlay 2 after updating to the latest firmware. This marks the first time Apple's TV service will be made available on rivaling companies. Users will be able to subscribe to channels directly from the Apple TV app, and watch all content from there as well.
Apple prides its app on promising top-tier video and audio presentation. When a person watches, say, HBO via Apple TV, Apple is the one handling the encoding and streaming, which means it's in full control of the bitrate and audio fidelity. The company has yet to share the more fine-grained details of this aspect, however.
Apple TV will also be the home of paid subscription service Apple TV+ when it launches sometime later this year. A lineup of original programs are expected to debut, with Apple hoping to take on Netflix's sizable library of shows. All Apple TV channels will be offered with a free week-long trial, and anyone in a person's Family Sharing group can access them.
"As the first TV manufacturer to integrate the Apple TV app on a Smart TV platform, Samsung continues to offer our customers incredible value and access to the Apple TV app experience on the largest screens available today," said Won-Jin Lee, Samsung's EVP for its visual display business.
Full Integration
It's worth noting that this is full integration, too, meaning users can just select the Apple TV app icon to access all the above-mentioned features and services. Aside from subscribing to channels, customers can also browse, buy, or rent more than 100,000 iTunes movies and TV shows, some of which are available in 4K HDR quality.
Samsung says the Apple TV app will work seamlessly with the company's other smart TV services, including Universal Guide, Bixby, and Search.
