Toronto iOS, watchOS and tvOS Development | iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple TV Development company in Toronto, Canada

Posted in Development

ideas UI UX

There are quite a few major differences between iOS and tvOS apps. The most obvious one is the screen size. Having more space available means that the apps can become more complex, thus offering a lot more options for the final user. However, this can also backfire, as the last thing you would want to do is end up with an app that seems confusing, and that no one wants to use. That is why designers stick to certain trends in order to create the best possible UX. Let’s check out the top 10 trends regarding the tvOS apps.

10. Reduction Of Loading Time

This might be the single most annoying thing that users can come across. No matter how good your app might be, if it takes ages to load, chances are the users will become fed up with it quite quickly. Still, certain apps require longer loading times, so how can you mask this problem? The easiest solution would be to display the progress bar with time estimation. Short animations or interesting quotes can also entertain users while they are waiting. It may seem trivial to you, but it can be crucial at times.

9. Secured Authentication

Even though the tvOS has an advantage when it comes to screen size, there are also some drawbacks. For example, it is rather difficult to type with the TV remote, at least compared to the iOS devices. Apple tried to make it as simple as possible with the introduction of virtual keyboard, but it still can be a drag for a lot of people. This is why you need to skip the secured authentication if possible, or at the very least, push it a bit deeper inside the app. Safety is vital, but it should never interfere with user experience.

8. Cursors Are A Thing Of The Past

To understand why, you should ask yourself why people would want to use tvOS in the first place. While it’s not always true, in most cases, the answer would be for entertainment purposes. Don’t get us wrong, it can also be used for business, but it is not the most practical option at the moment. Although a traditional cursor may give users more freedom, a simpler navigation method is faster, and therefore better. Efficiency is everything, and the cursor is obsolete when it comes to tvOS.

7. Cutting Down On Help Screens

Instead of creating a manual for each step along the way, focus on creating an app that is self-explanatory. Users don’t like to read the long and boring information in order to learn how to use an app. Instead of this, try making your app as interactive as possible. In this way, users will actually have fun discovering all the little things by themselves. It is also important to mention that by doing this, you will also reduce traveling inside an app, thus further improving the UI.

6. The Apps Are Getting More Playful

You’ve surely noticed that the apps are getting more colorful and vibrant by the day. This is all done in order to break the monotony, and create something that is fun and innovative. Apps are also getting more immersive, looking to keep the user’s attention as much as possible. Think of it this way. If an app looks awesome on your phone, think of how much better it can be on the bigger screen.

5. Connecting People

If you like to watch TV shows or movies, you know that it’s always more fun to watch them in company. On the other hand, traditional apps are usually directed towards one individual, instead of a group of people. But consider what it would be like if apps had the power to connect people in a way that TV shows and movies do? This would create an emotional bond within the group. The problem with mobile OS was always the screen size, but that is not the case here. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, most great inventions sounded weird in the beginning.

4. Simplicity

Just because you can fit a bunch of information on the bigger screen, it doesn’t mean you should do it. Keeping things simple is always the way to go. People forget one major difference between a mobile app and a TV app. With mobile apps, everything you need is always one click away. Not the case with tvOS. Here you have to use Siri in order to go from one screen to another. This can become exhausting if the interface is crowded with information, so keep it light.

3. Bold Fonts

Everyone assumes that you have to use big font in order to present information in the best possible way. What most people fail to realize is that using a bold font is just as important. You wouldn’t want to end up with poor visibility that makes your app impossible to use. TV screens are very big these days, and achieving the perfect balance of information is not always easy. One thing is for certain. Using bold fonts will make your app look more professional and easier to use every time.

2. Apps Need To Be Universal

The thing that’s complicated about designing a perfect TV app, is that you never know where it’s going to be used. TVs are used everywhere from small rooms to bigger areas. This is actually a major problem that designers have to tackle. Just because an app looks perfectly good from one distance, it does not have to mean that it will look the same from a few steps away. It is a problem that is unique to the tvOS apps, and dealing with it may be the thing that makes or breaks them.

1. Minimalism Is Not The Way To Go

In the past years, minimalism took over. You could see it everywhere, from living room designs to iOS apps. However, this might not be the case with tvOS apps, but why is that? Well, it would be a shame to have that big screen, and not use it to its fullest potential. Furthermore, flat design just won’t work as well on a bigger surface. With tvOS, designers can go wild and create the most interesting design imaginable. That does not bode well for the minimalism.