Today, I had a popup message on my MacBook asking to show me the latest features in MacOS Catalina. Looking for simple things to pump up my What Did I Finish today list, I clicked ok. No this was not on my list of actual things I planned to do today. I did finish a couple of items left over from yesterday, and I did do the planning, so I am goofing off.

One of the things gone in Catalina is the iTunes app. I think iTunes will still be available on Windows. The ONLY feature of iTunes that I use is to pull files on and off my iPad. I think I can directly do that through the Finder now. I think I already tried that once since upgrading the Catalina the other day.

In the survey of new features, it was telling me about the TV.app, and telling me I get a year free trial because of a recent purchase of an iPad. Hmmm. I almost never watch TV, I prefer to watch documentaries on NetFlix, but OK, why not claim this free benefit.

I remember when I very first tried out Netflix, I was so excited to search for some of my favorite movies to see if I could watch them. With great excitement I typed in the first movie name. Nothing found. I tried another. Nothing found. I wracked my brain for more movie titles.

All in all, I tried out 13 movie names, and did not find a single one of them! Can you imagine that? I searched for 13 movies in a row, and didnt find any of them. Yeah, sure, once I fell back to things like Star Trek, sure I found things. But I was amazed the first 13 movies I wanted to watch were no where to be found.

I have had the same experience on other streaming services. One of my phone upgrades came with free Hulu. Same thing. Free Amazon Prime streaming. Same thing. These services sometimes at least had heard of the movies I wanted to see, but wanted to bilk me out of extra payments to see them. Uh no. I am paying you guys a monthly fee to use your service. Hello? Can I at least see something I want to see for the every month fee I am paying you?

Apple TV found me a TV show by the same name, with different actors. No. I dont want to watch a TV series over hours of interminable episodes. I would just like to see the old movie I really liked with Sean Connery. Maybe I searched wrong, and searched in the section for TV shows. 

So I click on movies. Interesting that many of the movies being recommended for me are about black people. "The High Note", "Harriet", Black in America "Eye-opening stories that expose racial injustice - free for everyone". Ok, thanks Apple TV, if I start not getting enough of that from the news, I will be happy to watch them. "Brian Banks", "Ali", "Selma", "Emanuel", "Just Mercy". I will probably watch them anyhow. Just not now. Right now, I would like an escape. Returning to searching for movies I want to see now.

Search movies for "The Name Of The Rose". Nope. It suggests that TV show again.

Lets try Brazil, Terry Gilliam's incredible movie.  Yeah they know about it. Oh no. They want me to buy it for $14.99.  Or rent it for $3.99.  Uh no. I already have the DVD for it somewhere. 

Score so far: 2 searched:  1 not found at all, 1 trying to get me to buy what I have already bought.  So Apple TV is 0.

Their focus on Black in America reminds me of one of my all time favorite movies about motown music: "Cadillac Records". Lets see if they have it.

Oh good! They have it!  Oh no. They are trying to sellit to me for $12.99, or rent it for $3.99. Again no. I already bought that too. It would be nice to find the disk, prove to Apple TV I already have it, and then get to stream it whenever I want. But where would the money be in it for Apple TV to let me use their bandwidth for free?

OK, let's try my favorite Dudley Moore and Darryl Hannah movie: Crazy People. I just love this movie about how Dudley gets inmates in an insane asylum to help him develop advertising campaigns. They come up with some really good ones.

Oh cool, they have this movie!  But again, it is $12.99 or $3.99. But wait, maybe I can get it if I try "CBS ALL ACCESS" for free. Oh wow. I can see it if I signup for a free 1-WEEK trial! And then pay $9.99 a month forever. Um, no, no thanks.  But thanks for the previews of some great scenes from the movie. And I just got to watch the trailer. Dudley telling his partner, "You and I lie for a living"  I would share it with you, but I cant find a share link. Can you imagine that?  I am happy to spread the word, and they are not making it easy. Wow.

Score so far: 4 searched: 1 not found at all, 3 trying to get me to buy what I have already bought. So Apple TV is 0 for 4.

12 monkeys?  A TV show. And a movie I can buy for $14.99 or rent for $3.99.  Sigh.  Maybe the TV show then?  No that is $2.99 too. 

Score so far: 5 searched: 1 not found at all, 4 trying to get me to buy what I have already bought. So Apple TV is 0 for 5.

TV series Taxi? I miss Latka Gravis. Oh wow, distraction, a movie with Robert Deniro. $14.99 buy / $3.99 rent.  And the TV show, they had it listed. No price! Oh wait, need to have CBS All Access. That trial again. Sigh.

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