Airbnb's New Apple TV App May Be the Ultimate Interactive Catalog for the Armchair Traveler

Travel retailers have tried for ages to provide television viewers a connection between what's happening on their screens and a real-world experience they can easily purchase, but have largely come up short.

Airbnb's new app for the recently refreshed Apple TV may change all that.

Consumers already had a hint into how the home-sharing service could connect inspiration and booking with Airbnb's app for the iPad, which launched in the late spring. Unlike Airbnb's mobile app or its website, the iPad app was built for inspiration, which it did well. Features about houseboats for rent across Europe came across as a Sears catalog for those with wanderlust, and turned a few page flips into bookings.

Airbnb's Apple TV app is big on inspirational photos and short on clutter. Viewers can keep browsing images such as "Aura's Entire Home in Portland," focusing on a bedroom with a look to the backyard and a hammock. The only other descriptive information is the star rating (5 stars), a small image of the owner to personalize it, and the words, "$125 + 1 Room + 1 Bed."

The TV app itself is just for perusing but it gets interactive, too. "You can use the new touch remote to smoothly swipe between homes. When you’ve found a gem, press Play to save it to your family list, synced with your iPhone and iPad," where you can book, Airbnb states.

In and outside the travel industry, Airbnb's website has been a model of smart design. Its new Apple TV app likely will set a standard, as well.