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With the planned release of iOS 18.1, Apple is bringing significant changes to the TV app that are intended to optimize the user experience. The introduction of a separate watch list and the renaming of the "Up Next" function to "Continue Watching" are key innovations.
Apple has been continuously working to improve the usability of its apps over the past few years. The TV app on iOS is no exception. iOS 18.1 brings a new version of the TV app that should allow you to better organize your watchlist and manage content more easily. For anyone looking for a better streaming experience, this update offers exciting new features.
What's new in the Apple TV app with iOS 18.1?
In the latest beta version of iOS 18.1, Apple has renamed the Up Next queue to Continue Watching. Additionally, a separate watchlist is now being introduced, which marks a significant difference from previous functionality. Previously, Up Next was the central place where you could find both the content you were actively watching and your watch queue. However, this system was not ideal as it easily led to confusion when trying to keep track of your content. Now, however, iOS 18.1 offers a clean separation:
- Continue watching: This new term includes all content you have already started watching.
- Watchlist: Only the series and films that you have explicitly marked to watch later are saved here.
Why is the new watchlist useful?
With the separate watchlist, you now finally have the option to create a curated list of content that you want to watch at a later time. The content that you are actively watching, however, remains organized in "Continue watching". This ensures a tidy user interface and allows you to better manage your streaming content. Another advantage of this separation is that in the future you will be less distracted by randomly added content that you may have only watched briefly. This clear separation of content is already standard, especially with popular streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video - now Apple is following suit.
Not perfect yet – what does Apple still need to improve?
Despite the improvements, the watchlist is not yet fully integrated in the current beta version of iOS 18.1. Currently, the new watchlist area is only located on the "Home" page of the app. To access your watchlist, you have to scroll down several times. This is not ideal for quick access. In addition, the "Continue watching" function still seems to display the same content as the previous "Up next" queue. So it remains to be seen how Apple will further implement the separation in future versions. It would be desirable if Apple placed the watchlist more prominently in the app, for example in the library tab. This would make navigation even easier.
What does this mean for the future of the Apple TV app?
If the changes are fully implemented by the final release of iOS 18.1, you could look forward to a much more user-friendly TV app. The clean separation between "Continue watching" and Watchlist brings the app up to the level of other streaming services that have long offered this functionality. This is a clear step towards a tidier and better user experience. For anyone who has been annoyed by the sometimes confusing "Up next" function, this should be a very welcome improvement.
iOS 18.1: Improved content management in the Apple TV app
With the launch of iOS 18.1, Apple is improving the way you can organize your content in the TV app. The separation of Continue Watching and the new Watchlist ensures that you can keep an eye on your favorite series and films better and nothing gets accidentally lost in the crowd. Even though the new functionality is not yet fully developed in the current beta version, it promises a significantly improved streaming experience. So keep an eye on the upcoming updates - it could be worth it! Time for some fresh accessories? Visit our Amazon Storefront and discover a wide range of products from leading manufacturers, including for HomeKit! (Image: Apple)
