The Apple TV channel authorization experience is horrible, and it’s all the content providers’ fault.

Setting up an Apple TV for basic streaming and iTunes access is ridiculously easy: Plug it in, turn it on, then hold your iPhone or iPad to the top of the Apple TV. The Apple TV copies Wi-Fi and iTunes account information from the iOS device and you’re off and running. When it comes time to watch stuff from cable channels, however, the setup process becomes a nightmare.

Apple’s recent price cut on the Apple TV to $69 caused me to go out and get a second one. It replaces a second-generation Apple TV I’ve had for years, which is now relegated to my bedroom. To be fair, the problems I had setting it up really aren’t Apple’s fault. Netflix, Crunchyroll and other premium services were about what I expected: I had to sign in using account credentials before I could access content.

The cable and dish content providers who have created Apple TV channels are a different story. They use a validation system to make sure that you’re actually paying someone — your local cable or dish provider — to watch their stuff. Over and over again I’d access the settings of each channel, get a validation code, then have to go to my Mac or Safari on my iPhone and type often cryptic URLs into the address bar, then verify to unlock.

In fairness to the content providers, Apple and the Apple TV itself, I didn’t run into any show-stoppers doing this: Each time I visited a validation URL, I’d enter a code and then be told the content was then mine to watch. But after a half an hour I realized I’d only unlocked about two or three rows of Apple TV channels, and decided I was done for the moment. It was repetitive, it was boring, and it was so…un-Apple-like.

Clearly that’s not the ideal user experience for Apple. I’m sure they’d like to do something very different.

We’ve heard rumors about a new Apple TV for a while. Maybe we’ll even see such a device make an appearance at WWDC in June. I don’t know. I don’t have the faintest clue.

But one thing’s for sure: Whatever Apple brings to home televisions next has to have a better gatekeeping system than the current version does. Because what’s happening now just sucks. While that may not be Apple’s fault, it’s definitely Apple’s problem to solve.

Wunderlist’s head of design, Ben Lehnert, has gone into detail about how the company designed its app for the Apple Watch.

Not wanting to try and fit everything from the desktop and mobile apps onto the Apple Watch, the Wunderlist team decided to only implement those features that were extremely relevant to users. The goal is to quickly get users to where they need to be, according to Lehnert on the Wunderlist blog:

We designed the Home View in a unique way that gives you access to the most important things first. You can quickly jump to your Inbox, your agenda for Today, and important to-dos that are assigned to you. Those four buttons give you a bird’s eye view of everything you need and want to do. And in case you want to jump to a specific list, simply use the Digital Crown and scroll through all your lists.

Wunderlist is one of many apps that has been updated with support for the Apple Watch, and will be available for watch owners to use when the device hits stores in first-wave launch countries on April 24.

Source: Wunderlist

Microsoft has teamed up with World Wrestling Entertainment to showcase the Microsoft Band, with two of their biggest wrestlers, Ryback and Dolph Ziggler, displaying their workout stats online as collected from the fitness band.

Today, the hotly anticipated Fast and Furious expansion to Forza Horizon 2 has launched for free for Xbox One and Xbox 360. Let’s buckle up and take a ride.

With the Q4 Fiscal 2015 results now available and the earnings call wrapped up (download the audio replay here), BlackBerry CEO John Chen has been hitting media outlets as well to discuss the events. Speaking with BNN’s Amber Kanwar in Waterloo, Chen took the time to discuss the results and answer some questions about how he plans to make software profits grow for BlackBerry, where BlackBerry stands on the device hardware future and what he thinks about those who don’t believe in a BlackBerry turnaround. You can check out the full interview below.

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One of the most popular mobile first person shooter games, Dead Trigger 2, is apparently very close to making its debut on Windows Phone devices. Developer Madfinger Games posted a teaser video today to promote its launch.

Jim Dalrymple has put together a special edition of The Loop Magazine focused completely on the Apple Watch.

Both Peter Cohen and I have pieces in it, as do many others. If you’re interested in the Apple Watch, and if you’re reading this, you likely are, you owe it to yourself to check out the issue. From The Loop

The latest issue of The Loop Magazine is available on the App Store for both iPhone and iPad. I took a different approach with this issue, focusing entirely on Apple’s forthcoming Apple Watch. You can download the app free and preview each of the articles at no cost. You can purchase a monthly subscription, and get access to all issues for just $1.99 a month. You can also purchase a single issue for $1.99.

For more information, check out the table of contents or, better yet, just download the app and start reading.

• Free + subscription – Download now

Tim Cook isn’t just Apple’s CEO, he’s increasingly the company’s and the industry’s voice for inclusivity and equality.

As such, it should come as no surprise that Tim Cook has taken to Twitter to speak out on the potentially discriminatory new legislation being proposed and passed in Arkansa and Indiana.

Apple is open for everyone. We are deeply disappointed in Indiana’s new law and calling on Arkansas Gov. to veto the similar #HB1228.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015

He also spoke about Apple’s commitment to treating customers equally, whoever they are.

Around the world, we strive to treat every customer the same — regardless of where they come from, how they worship or who they love.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015

Apple was one of the many companies that spoke out about similar legislation in Arizona in early 2014. That bill was eventually vetoed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Apple has also supported civil rights legislation on equal opportunity.

In response to repeated questions on how he decides what to do, both for Apple and himself, Cook and those that know him have stated simply that he tries to do what’s right.

Note: In an effort to reduce low-value comments, we’ve moved discussion for this article to the iMore forums.

Snapchat has partnered with Square to make sending secure cash payments to your friends just as easy as sending a photo.

To get started with Snapcash you’ll need to be 18 or older and have a US issued debit card. Once you link your debit card information to your Snapchat account, you’re ready to start sending and receiving Snapcash! Follow along and we’ll walk you through the entire process of how to link your information and how to make sure it stays secure.

How to sign up for Snapcash with Snapchat for iPhone

Before you can send Snapcash, you’ll have to link your debit card to your Snapchat account. You’ll only need to complete this process once:

1. Launch the Snapchat app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the ghost icon at the top of the screen.
3. Tap on the Settings icon.
4. Tap on Snapcash.
5. Tap on I Agree to continue.
6. Tap on Add Card and enter your card details.
7. We recommend turning ON the option for security code so all Snapcash transactions will require the 3-digit code off the back of your debit card before going through.
8. You’re ready to start sending and receiving Snapcash!

How to send Snapcash with Snapchat for iPhone

1. Swipe right from the main Snapchat screen to access your private Snapchat list.
2. Swipe right on the person’s name you want to send Snapcash to. If you don’t have a thread already started with them, just tap on the message icon in the upper left and search for them.
3. Type the amount of Snapcash you’d like to send in the message field. For example, type in “$5″.
4. The send button instantly turns into a Snapcash button. Tap on it and the Snapcash will embed into your message.
5. Type anything additional you’d like to tell the person and then tap Send at the bottom of your keyboard to send the message.
6. A popup window will appear asking you to confirm you really want to send Snapcash to that person.
7. Enter the CVV code from the back of your card. It’s the 3-digit number we talked about in the first section.
8. You’re done! The other person will get a message that Snapcash is waiting for them.

How to receive Snapcash with Snapchat for iPhone

1. Launch the Snapchat app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the messages icon in the lower left of the screen, or just swipe right.
3. Swipe right on the message containing your Snapcash, it’s indicated by a green dollar sign icon.
4. Tap where it tells you to in order to receive your money.
5. If you haven’t already linked a debit card like shown in the above section, you’ll be prompted to do so.
6. Once you’ve linked your debit card, your Snapcash will go into your account within a few days.

Do the same things over and over again on your Mac? Apple’s Automator can help.

If you’ve ever taken stock of the factory-installed apps included on your Mac, you’ve probably seen Automator but you may have never used it. What exactly is Automator and what can it do?

That’s the subject of a new How To at Macworld UK from Kenny Hemphill.

Automator’s name is pretty self-explanatory. It helps Mac users create workflows to automate tasks. If there’s something you do over and over again that you’d like to just have happen, Automator can really help.

Workflows are often described as ‘recipes’ and with good reason. Like recipes for food, they take a defined list of inputs (the ingredients), perform a series of actions on them (the preparation and cooking) and then distribute the results.

The best part of Automator is that you don’t have to be a programmer or even a scripting expert to make it work: It uses a graphical interface and drag-and-drop actions to create workflows.

Automator works with a variety of applications — not just Apple-made stuff but also Adobe Photoshop and other popular third-party apps.

Kenny has much more on Automator workflows, including a guide to creating really useful ones.