tvOS 10

tvOS 10.1 with new TV app and Single Sign-On launches on fourth-generation Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 12, 2016

Alongside releasing the feature-packed iOS 10.2 software update for iPhone and iPad and watchOS 3.1.1 for Apple Watch owners, Apple also this morning launched tvOS 10.1, the first major update to the operating system powering the fourth-generation Apple TV following tvOS 10.0's debut in September.

tvOS 10.1 (build number 14U593) is not as feature-packed as iOS 10.2. It contains bug fixes, performance improvements, Apple's new channel-guide app and support for the new Single Sign-On feature, among other items.

Apple pushes tvOS 10.1 beta 4 for developer testing

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 30, 2016

Two weeks after tvOS 10.1 beta 3, more than three weeks following beta 2 and more than a month since beta 1, Apple on Wednesday seeded a fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 10.1 update to developers enrolled in the Apple Developer Program.

tvOS 10.1 beta 4 (build 14U588) is available as an over-the-air download on Apple TVs with a prior beta and an appropriate configuration profile installed.

DirecTV gains Single Sign-On support in iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 betas

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 22, 2016

Single Sign-On, a feature that remembers and uses your cable/satellite logins across compatible video apps for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, was originally promised months ago and should finally go live alongside public releases of iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 next month.

As noted by MacRumors, AT&T's DirecTV service is now being listed as a Single Sign-On compatible app alongside the previously listed compatible providers: Dish, Sling TV, Hotwire and GVTC Communications.

Apple seeds tvOS 10.0.1 beta 4 for Apple TV to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 20, 2016

Following fifth betas of iOS 10.1 and macOS Sierra 10.12.1 that were seeded yesterday to the registered developers and public beta testers, Apple today released a fourth beta of the upcoming tvOS 10.0.1 software update. tvOS 10.0.1 beta 4 (build “14U71”), a developer-only release, is available as an over-the-air update via the Software Update mechanism on fourth-generation Apple TVs with an appropriate configuration profile.

Spotify for Apple TV should not be expected anytime soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

Have you been keeping your fingers crossed for Spotify for Apple TV? If so, you'll be disappointed to learn that a Spotify tvOS app has been “down prioritized,” with a company executive stating that a release supporting tvOS should not be expected anytime soon. It's unclear why the Swedish startup does not want to support the Apple TV, more so given its rivalry with Apple in the music-streaming space.

tvOS 10 update for Apple TV now available

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Hot on the heels of iOS 10 and watchOS 3, Apple on Tuesday released tvOS 10. The software update is available free and compatible with all fourth-gen Apple TVs—the latest generation of Apple's popular set-top box.

tvOS 10 should install automatically on your Apple TV, but depending on your settings you may have to push it manually. You can do this by navigating to System > Software Updates > Update Software on your device.

Apple also seeds tvOS 10 beta 7 to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 26, 2016

In addition to seeding iOS 10 beta 8 to developers and iOS 10 beta 7 to public beta testers, Apple today made available a seventh beta of tvOS to its registered developers. tvOS 10 beta 7 (build number “14T5329a”) is available as an over-the-air update via the Software Update mechanism on the fourth-generation Apple TV.

Apple seeds sixth beta of iOS 10, watchOS 3, macOS Sierra and tvOS 10

Sébastien Page ∙ August 15, 2016

Apple has seeded the sixth beta of iOS 10, watchOS 3, macOS Sierra, and tvOS 10 to developers today. These new beta software versions come a week after the previous versions. Touting the usual bug fixes and improvements, these betas aren't likely coming with new features, but rather with small adjustments to both the UI and existing features.

Apple issues fifth betas of tvOS 10 and watchOS 3

Cody Lee ∙ August 9, 2016

Following iOS 10 and macOS Sierra releases, Apple on Tuesday issued beta 5 of both tvOS 10 and watchOS 3. Registered developers with updated profiles can install the over-the-air updates via the Watch app in iOS 10, or the Update mechanism in tvOS 10.

The updates come just a week after Apple sent out fourth betas to developers, suggesting we are now in the finishing touches stage ahead of their expected fall releases. Both tvOS 10 and watchOS 3 have been in beta since they were introduced in June.

Apple seeds fourth beta of iOS 10, watchOS 3, tvOS 10 and macOS Sierra to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2016

Two weeks following the release of the third beta of iOS 10, watchOS 3, tvOS 10 and macOS Sierra, Apple on Monday issued iOS 10 beta 4, macOS Sierra beta 4, watchOS 3 beta 4 and tvOS 10 beta 4 to members of the Apple Developer Program. The public beta of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra matching the latest developer-only releases should be released tomorrow to public beta testers enrolled with the Apple Beta Software Program.

tvOS 10 Preview: Dark Mode comes to Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 3, 2017

On tvOS 10, you can switch between Dark and Light appearance. Dark Mode, one of the new features of tvOS 10, adjusts the look of your Home screen and backgrounds so that posters and icons are easier to read at night. As such, it makes watching TV at home feel more like going to the movies.

Conversely, selecting Light background makes posters and icons pop. Our video guy Andrew O'Hara has tested Dark Mode on tvOS 10, here's his quick hands-on video.

Video walkthrough: Siri + Music changes & other fixes in tvOS 10 beta 3

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 3, 2017

Earlier this week, Apple seeded a third beta of iOS 10 (build number “14T5296d”) to its developers who are registered with the Apple Developer Program.

Although the software is light on new outward-facing user features, it still contains some noteworthy fixes along with improvements for Siri, 'Made for iOS' game controllers, the Music app and other aspects of the operating system.

We went ahead and asked our video editor Andrew O'Hara to spend some hands-on time with tvOS 10 beta 3 and capture his impressions on video.

Here's what Andrew had to say about beta 3.