Apple Renames 'apple Tv+' to 'apple Tv'
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Apple is rebranding 'Apple TV+' to 'Apple TV', potentially causing confusion among users, and the community is discussing the implications of this change on their streaming service and branding strategy.
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Oct 13, 2025 at 12:03 PM EDT
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It's not the main point of the article, but it is there.
Satya Nadella pats Tim Cook on the head and says “that’s adorable”
No version numbers either, so you need to reference the style of remote you have to know the approximate age.
https://www.reddit.com/r/google/comments/s2s2ld/all_of_googl...
There's already an Apple TV device and an Apple TV app. Neither of which are required for using Apple TV+ and both of which have functionality other than using Apple TV+.
Some people think that Apple TV+ requires an Apple device to use it and just dismiss it as an option. Apple should have come up with a new brand without Apple in the name. That would broaden their potential market and get their foot in the door with people who don't own any Apple products.
> Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro ...
How did anyone think "this is fine" in a proofread here when coming up with this rebranding?
What's confusing about this?
Netflix is available on Netflix App. HBO is available on HBO app. Normal people don't care.
It's perfectly normal for Netflix the company to run Netflix the service on Netflix the app on Netflix device if they release one. It's not confusing at all. What would be confusing is if they all had different names.
> Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app … on … Apple TV …
Watch Apple TV in Apple TV on Apple TV.
Why choose Netflix as your example as well when both Google and Amazon already have streaming services that don’t have an identically named hardware device. Do you honestly think if Netflix put out a device they would name it Netflix.
Because the app is the service. Which isn't the case with Apple TV hence the potential confusion.
But then in some specific cases, that app can't be used, and you end up with gibberish like this documentation https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/overview#what-...
[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYJ2w82WifU
This telegraphs that (1) Apple's priority is the service above all else, and (2) that they're about to rebrand their flagship device which supports the service. We'll know very soon, since the updated device is imminent.
i don't know if i like the rebranding or not – it's such a minor thing that idk if it even warrants an opinion. But they should now be obliged to next rebrand Apple Carplay to Apple Car.
That's an interesting point. One potential reason to simplify the service's base name is to allow for segmentation, e.g. Apple TV Ultra.
I think there's a reasonable possibility that they'll introduce a <$100 device in an effort to 10X their living room user base, in which case we might see something like an Apple Theater Pro and an Apple Theater mini.
Netflix (the service) has an app named Netflix. You access Netflix via Netflix on... XYZ. Same goes for basically every other streaming service.
So Apple TV the service on Apple TV the app makes perfect sense if you are thinking about accessing their streaming service via other set tops where Apple TV the app is available.
My guess is that the Apple TV set top will be renamed to something else, perhaps "Apple Home".
Then it would be "Access Apple TV via the app on your Apple Home device" and the merging/conflation of "Apple TV subscription via the Apple TV app" will make perfect sense the same way you would say "Access Netflix via the app on your Apple Home device".
My guess is that "tvOS" will be renamed "homeOS" to go with it.
The Netflix comparison doesn’t quite work with Apple TV. I have an Apple TV (the device) and I don’t just use Apple TV (the app) to access Apple TV (the service). Apple TV (the app) is also where I need to go to buy/rent movies from the iTunes Store, watch Apple keynotes, and it can also be a place to aggregate content in a single UI from a bunch of different streaming services (notably not Netflix, they opted out). Apple TV (the service) is just one feature of Apple TV (the app), at least when it’s running on Apple TV (the device).
These distinctions do matter, due to Apple trying to consolidate everything into that single app. They sunset multiple other apps with its release. I actually find the app pretty hard to use as a result.
Of course finding these in the Apple TV app is not obvious, at least for me. It’s under Store and Library. It took me long than I’d care to admit to figure that out.
Then there is the Apple Events app, which can be deleted, but it seems unwise to do so. Using the Apple TV app gives a button which deep links to the Apple Events in the Apple TV app. I can’t for the life of me find this page organically using the TV app. I probably spent 45 minutes one day looking.
> Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV, with a vibrant new identity. Ahead of its global streaming debut on Apple TV, the film continues to be available for purchase on participating digital platforms, including the Apple TV app, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home and more.
?? It's super popular and it's been around for almost two decades.
Like it becomes rebranded as a type of HomePod. Or something like Apple TV Hub.
To me, this is a signal they are moving away from the app's attempt at trying to be where folks go for ALL the streaming apps. It's more a recognition that MOST (not all) people prefer to go to Netflix for Netflix content, for Disney+ for Disney content, etc. They weren't able to pull off being a competitor and also the neutral place for everything, which is maybe good. I'm expecting a redesign.
Imagine being able to speak this truth to power at Apple. I imagine its just easier to let everyone do the weird minimalist thing, make confusing names like this, and let support handle the angry and confused phone calls. The C-suite keeps the "Of course we kept true to Steven's vision," PR thing, but imho, the product suffers.
I really would love it if Apple went more towards the middle, at least on naming products. What Macbook do you have? Who knows! Even putting the model number on it seems like an affront to this aesthetic and people have to literally either squint or zoom in using their phone's camera to be able to read the tiny text printed on these devices.
It sometimes feels like Apple went from minimalism inspired industry leader to a weird cargo cult-esque over-correction.
On the other hand, it's generally crystal-clear from context whether you're talking about the susbscription service, hardware device, or app.
It honestly seems less confusing than trying to remember which one has the '+' and which one doesn't. I don't mind it.
The real question now is, will Disney+, Paramount+, ESPN+, etc. follow suit? It always was a weird way to identify streaming.
Smells like Nespresso selling machines that only accept Nespresso cups.
My personal advice: stay the hell away from this because it can and will only get worse.
>Apple TV+. Watch series, feature films, kids’ entertainment, and more from the most creative minds in TV and movies — with new Apple Originals added every month.
Apple TV
Makes sense to me. The plus just gave it a vibe of being "bonus content" or something extra, which is a weird thing to emphasize.
I was like "What Windows app? How can I use it if I'm on a Mac?" But it turns out, Remote Desktop has been renamed to Windows App...
Geez, Apple. Just call it Gala or something. Steve would have given it some punch. But we live in the worst timeline when Apple is run by a guy who gets excited over, like, supply chains. It's gonna devolve into a slightly more stylish Microsoft soon.
Apple TV+ was already confusing enought ... "No you don't need an Apple TV, it is just a name" ...
The jury is still out if Apple TV will ever make a significant profit. Tim had a dream.. an expensive one but Apple was and is swimming in cash and running out of people to sell an iPhone. I get the "being a media & services company" hustle, selling overpriced hardware can only get you that far, but burning so much money on actors and production to get some -> limited <- catalog of good movies and shows, I don't get it. "Media" is actually a very though business.
Living+ from Succession was a funny take on the branding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6GdR9y2nlo