I recently turned on my old Fire TV and was surprised at the available apps though it was unbearable to navigate cause of its age I guess. They have every network from A&E to Showtime in their ecosystem and they work great unlike sideloaded apps on ATV. I feel that Google needs to step it up if they want to make ATV a real thing. I love my Shield TV, just wish ATV had the same amount of support that the Fire TV has.
/end rant
Jesus people on this sub are super fanboys, there is no harm in admitting the defects, it's the first step to ask to improvements.
There are a lack of apps, that is self evident, worse there are lots of apps that work, but don't appear on the play store on the tv, you have to install them using the browser, and that is googles fault, they need to improve discoverability. More examples google apps are sub par, like youtube, there still is no photos app or even a photos daydream (like in chromecast), etc.
Also as a user of android since 2.1, this platform is giving me google tablet platform vibes of
abandonment
(wrong word more like low effort), or better yet, it feels like google is doing this just to have something on tv and not fall behind and not because is betting on it.
The only app that I am missing is the NBC sports app which sideloads ok. Had no problem with the Showtime app.
The first generation Fire Stick TV was an abomination hardware wise. Trying to navigate through the various categories of the home screen is a nightmare.
I feel that app developers need to add leanback launcher code.
I feel that Google needs to step it up if they want to make ATV a real thing.
What is a "real thing"?
I agree. I took an MI Box back and decided to go with a Fire TV. Fire TV is even going to get the Mohu Airwave antenna app when it first comes out to watch OTA channels through. Personally the only apps I missed were Amazon Video, NBC, NBC Sports and being able to sign in to Fox Sports Go. But if Android TV is going to stay alive and compete with Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV then they need to get all the TV Everywhere apps that those platforms have.
Same goes for games for my Mi Box, I'd say. Lots of Android games do not support gamepad controls, even though the gameplay allows it easily. Or it does support gamepads but the game isn't installable on Android TV.
Google doesn't make the apps. The code is available. Contact the company if you want them to make an app.