Sky Q viewers are being treated to a big update this month and it’s not just the popular set-top box that’s getting a bunch of new features. The blockbuster April upgrade, which is rolling out now, has some fun new features for the Sky Q box, while Sky is also improving the experience on its Sky Go companion app for iPhone and iPad owners.
The refreshed mobile app, which is available to download from Apple’s App Store on both devices from today, adds carousels for Sky Channels and Browse by Category on the main page, which should make it easier to find the show you’re looking for – and jump right into the latest episode.
Until now, iPad and iPhone owners would have to dive into the Browse tab, then click on the Catch Up icon to start digging around for Sky Documentaries, Sky Atlantic, Sky Crime, and other dedicated channels from the satellite broadcaster.
But that’s not all as there’s also a simple trick that makes it faster to find and view your favourite shows – without the need to even launch the Sky Go app. That’s because Sky has now introduced its very own widget on iPhone and iPad, which allows users to easily see suggested new shows and movies, or shortcuts to the content they’ve already started watching and want to continue.
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Like most iOS 14 widgets, Sky Go can be resized to suit individual tastes – that means you can view it as a small square or have the service take up almost the entire home screen. On iPhone, you’ll be able to have the Sky Go widget placed in amongst the grid of apps on your homescreen, while on iPad it will be relegated to the dedicated Widgets feed – found with the swipe from left-to-right on your homscreen.
If you fancy giving it a try then it’s simple to add the widget. All you need to do is touch on any app icon or widget on the homescreen until a small menu pops-up. Tap the ‘Edit Homescreen’ and all of your apps will begin to jiggle. Then tap the Add button in the top left-hand corner.
Select the Sky Go widget from the menu and then swipe left or right to choose from the three different widget sizes. Then tap Add Widget.
You should then see Sky Go appear between your apps on the main home screen.
Along with this update on iPhone and iPad, there’s also some changes coming to the Sky Q box itself, including better integration with Disney+. The update means you’ll be able to use the voice search function on your remote to find blockbuster shows on the streaming service. So, a quick tap on the remote and uttering the words “WandaVision” should instantly reveal this show and all of its episodes.
Another bonus is that you will no longer need to dig into the Disney+ app to get the content you want to view with everything appearing on your TV in a more seamless way – it’s now very similar to the experience Sky Q users get when searching for Netflix content and it’s a hugely welcomed update.
Sky has also just announced the introduction of improved voice guidance. With this clever update enabled you will hear spoken descriptions of the menu you’re currently navigating, the option you’ve selected and how you can easily get to your favourite shows and movies.
Sky says that Voice Guidance works in tandem with Voice Search and existing Sky Q accessibility features to make Sky Q even more accessible and enjoyable for all customers. To activate Voice Guidance, simply says “Voice Guidance On” or “Voice Guidance Off” into your Sky Q voice remote.