Apple TV

Stay up-to-date on the latest Apple TV news and learn how to get the most out of your device with our comprehensive tutorials and guides. Discover new features, troubleshoot issues, and explore the best apps and games for your Apple TV.

Elgato Eve Energy review: a HomeKit-enabled wireless sensor & switch

Andrew O'Hara ∙ February 23, 2016

Apple’s HomeKit has had a bit of a rocky start. The home automation platform that was meant to tie all of your smart home devices together was plagued by delays from Apple, as well as manufacturers. Devices started to hit the market in the middle of last year, and this year at CES, we saw many new options that are slowly starting to trickle out. Today, we are going to take a look at one of those devices, Eve Energy from Elgato. It is a simple solutions for those who want to start or grow their smart home, without breaking the bank.

Apple TV universal search gains support for Watch ABC and 3 additional Disney channels

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 23, 2016

A newly updated Apple support document has indicated that owners of the fourth-generation Apple TV have just gained the ability to search videos across four new content sources, Watch ABC and three major Disney properties: Disney Channel, Disney Jr and Disney X.D.

Users who have one of these channel apps installed on their device can now take advantage of Siri and tvOS's universal search to have shows like “Modern Family” surfaced in their search results.

tvOS App Store gains ‘Not on This Apple TV’ listing in Purchased section

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 23, 2016

Apple has quietly issued a backend update to the tvOS App Store, adding a new 'Not on This Apple TV' option to the Purchased section, making it easier to spot apps that users previously purchased on their iPhone and iPad which have since been updated to support the fourth-generation Apple TV.

As mentioned, the new option should appear on users' fourth-generation Apple TV boxes without requiring a software update.

Apple recruits cable TV PR veteran for Apple TV and iTunes content marketing role

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 24, 2016

Bernadette Simpao, previously working at AMC and Viacom in public relations capacity, is joining Apple to handle the company's PR efforts for content and apps related to the new Apple TV, as well as TV shows, movies, apps, books and podcasts that Apple carries on the iTunes Store's virtual shelves.

According to Variety, Simpao spent ten years at Viacom in various communication roles, including Senior Director of Communications for Viacom International Media Networks, before joining AMC.

App preview videos coming to Apple TV

Sébastien Page ∙ February 17, 2016

Apple just announced that developers of tvOS apps are now able to upload a short video demo to be previewed along their apps' description and screenshots in the Apple TV App Store. Similar to what we've seen for some time in the iOS App Store, these short previews are usually more helpful than a screenshot as they can show the game or application in action.

We’re giving away an Apple TV

Sébastien Page ∙ February 17, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnFGx6_hUeU

To celebrate new beginnings on our YouTube channel, Andrew and I have decided to give away a brand new 32GB Apple TV. The idea is pretty straightforward:

1) Follow @iDownloadBlog on Twitter.

2) Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

3) Comment on this video and leave your Twitter handle so we can get in touch with you. Note you must comment on the video on YouTube. You do not need to comment here.

This giveaway will run until Wednesday 24, 2016 at noon EST, at which point we will update the video description and announce the winner who will be contacted with further instructions. The giveaway is opened to anyone from anywhere, so whatever your age or location may be, you are eligible to enter.

Good luck!

Real Racing 3 finally arrives on the new Apple TV in new ‘Daytona 500’ update

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 16, 2016

Electronic Arts' and Firemonkeys' Real Racing 3 has amassed over a hundred million downloads across iOS and Android platforms thus far. Yet, up until today this premium game was not available as a native app for the new Apple TV—despite the fact that rival Gameloft's Asphalt 8 is one of the most downloaded Apple TV games. A new update to the free-to-play racing game, now available in the App Store, changes all that with native support for the Apple TV.

What's more, the Apple TV game gives players the ability to race each other in a split-screen 'Party Play' mode. In addition, this version of Real Racing 3 sports newly added Daytone 500 content across platforms so you can drive the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars and race your opponents on the all-new Daytona International Speedway track.

Apple’s all-new Remote app for Apple TV 4 will do Siri, gestures and work in games

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 15, 2016

Apple is working on a brand new Remote app for the fourth-generation Apple TV that will be a full replacement for the functions provided by the included Siri Remote, said Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services, who was joined on The Talk Show podcast with Daring Fireball's John Gruber by Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering.

The upcoming software will be a new app, not an update to the existing Remote application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad which in December 2015 gained keyboard and basic navigation support for the new Apple TV.

Vevo’s beautiful new Apple TV app brings 150,000 HD music videos

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 11, 2016

Vevo today began shipping a refreshed Apple TV app. Redesigned from top to bottom, it provides access to more than 150,000 music videos in high-definition and exclusive original programming. The revamped software upgrades the experience for users over the old app in many respects.

According to CEO Erik Huggers, Vevo wants to become the MTV for the digital age. “We continue to invest in what we believe is the premium platform for music videos and related original content,” he said in a media release.

New Apple TV app TechTube helps you discover great tech videos

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

Folks in the market for a new Apple TV app that helps surface great content may want to check out TechTube TV. The app, which was released late last week, was designed to highlight videos that it believes folks will find interesting.

The video selections are geared towards techies, and feature everything from TED talks to device reviews. There is also a mix of science and 'how things work' videos—"the goal is entertaining, informative or intellectually stimulating."

tvOS 9.2 beta 3 preview: Search the App Store with Siri, use Dictation to enter text and login credentials

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

It seems like every time there's a new tvOS beta, an interesting new feature is included for us to talk about. With tvOS 9.2 beta 3, that new feature is the ability to use Dictation on text input fields. It also includes the ability to dictate—character by character—usernames and passwords.

Along with the new Dictation feature, comes support for searching the App Store using voice input from the Siri Remote. Have a look at our video preview that showcases each new feature in action.

Apple seeds tvOS 9.2 beta 3 to developers with Dictation support for search and Siri support for App Store search

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

Two weeks after it seeded tvOS 9.2 beta 2 to registered developers, the third tvOS 9.2 beta has been released, bringing with it Dictation support for onscreen text entry, as well as Siri support for App Store search.

The tvOS 9.2 update is notable for adding several improvements to the Apple TV. These improvements include a native Podcasts app, Bluetooth keyboard support, an improved App Switcher, iCloud Photo Library, Conference Room Display Mode, and more.

If you're a developer, you can find details about the tvOS beta on Apple's tvOS developer page. The tvOS 9.2 beta 3 release comes with a build number of 13Y5198c. We'll be downloading and installing it to provide an update on what new features this latest beta update might include.