tvOS

tvOS 10 preview: all-new Remote app with Siri voice control, tilt gaming & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 11, 2018

A software replacement for the physical remote that came in the box with your fourth-generation Apple TV, Apple's entirely overhauled Remote application provides you with the full range of Siri Remote features complete with touch navigation, tilt-based control in games and voice input via Siri.

And in making tedious text entry on tvOS even easier than before, the new app lets you summon the keyboard right from the Lock screen of your iPhone by pressing a notification that automatically gets pushed every time you select a text field on the Apple TV.

Offline viewing on Netflix to launch by year-end?

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 24, 2016

Video-streaming company Netflix seems to be secretly developing a feature that would permit subscribers to download specific television shows and movies for viewing without an Internet connection, industry insider and Penthera COO Dan Taitz told LightReading. Offline viewing on Netflix should launch before the end of this year. A Netflix spokesperson denied comment on the report.

tvOS 10 tidbit: download prompt for companion apps for your Bluetooth accessories

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 22, 2016

In addition to helping you manage your HomeKit accessories remotely through the fourth-generation Apple TV, tvOS 10 beta also packs in expanded support for a wider variety of Bluetooth accessories. It's interesting that after connecting an accessory to the Apple TV, tvOS 10 puts up a prompt offering a user to download a companion App Store app.

The same hardware accessories download prompt first appeared on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch following the iOS 3 software update back in September 2009, but this is the first time we've seen it implemented on tvOS.

Apple TV games are no longer required to support Siri Remote

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 14, 2016

Apple has dropped the requirement for tvOS games to use the Siri Remote, according to a refreshed version of the official Game Controller Programming Guide. With this change in place, games for the fourth-generation Apple TV are now permitted to require a 'Made for iOS' (MFi) controller without needing to also support the Siri Remote.

tvOS 10 releasing this fall

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 13, 2016

Today is a big day for Apple fans from around the world as the Cupertino firm telegraphed some interesting changes coming to its software platforms, among them tvOS, the operating system that powers the fourth-generation Apple TV. tvOS 10 is available now as a developer-only preview and everyone else will be permitted to install it on their set-top box this coming fall, said Apple.

tvOS 10 announced with dark mode, Single Sign-On, universal search improvements and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 3, 2017

In addition to iOS 10 and watch OS 3, Apple also unveiled tvOS 10 with an all-new Remote app during the WWDC 2016 keynote at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Here are some of the things you're going to like in tvOS 10.

Mark Gurman shares more details about upcoming WWDC announcements, new iPhones, and more

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

While in between two jobs, reporter Mark Gurman appeared on the latest episode of The Jay & Farhad Show podcast, where he shared more details about what we might see at WWDC this year, including new iOS features and design tweaks. Gurman also revealed more information about this year and next year's iPhone models.

While most of Gurman details were already known or rumored for a while, he did also offer information about features we hadn't heard of until now.

tvOS App Store charts now automatically hide any installed apps on your Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 31, 2016

Apple seems to be making some changes to the tvOS App Store on the new Apple TV, with reports coming in that the store's various charts now automatically hide any apps a user has installed on their device. This behavior is now consistent in the Top Paid, Top Free and Top Grossing charts.

As a result, no longer will everyone see the same entires as the “Top” apps have now effectively become the “Top apps that you haven’t installed yet,” as first discovered by Apple developer Equinux.

Apple seeds first betas for OS X 10.11.6 and tvOS 9.2.2 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ May 23, 2016

In addition to iOS 9.3.3, Apple on Monday also issued first betas for OS X 10.11.6 and tvOS 9.2.2 to developers. The new 10.11.6 beta, build 15G7a, can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or via the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store, and tvOS 9.2.2 can be installed via iTunes or Apple Configurator.

Apple seeds new betas of iOS, tvOS and OS X

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 3, 2016

Apple on Tuesday seeded brand new betas of the iOS, tvOS and OS X operating systems to members of the Apple Developer Program. iOS 9.3.2 beta 4 (build 13F68), tvOS 9.2.1 beta 4 (build 13Y772) and OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 beta 4 are all available for download on devices running earlier betas. Standalone installers can be downloaded through Apple's Dev Center for developers and are also available for public testing for members of the Apple Beta Software Program.

New betas: iOS 9.3.2 (public only), tvOS 9.2.1 (dev only) and El Capitan 10.11.5 (dev+public)

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 27, 2016

Just 24 hours after iOS 9.3.2 beta 3 released to Apple's registered developers, the Cupertino company on Wednesday made the software available to public beta testers who are signed up for the Apple Beta Software Program. In addition, Apple posted new betas of tvOS 9.2.1 and OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 for members of its Apple Developer Program.

The new tvOS 9.2.1 beta 3 (build 13Y768) and OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 beta 3 (build 15F28b) can be obtained via Apple's portal for developers.

Apple seeds tvOS 9.2.1 beta 2 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ April 21, 2016

Apple on Thursday released the second beta for tvOS 9.2.1 to developers. To update, you’ll have to connect your Apple TV 4 to a computer via a USB-C cable, and install the software through iTunes or Apple Configurator.

Todays release comes a month after Apple pushed out tvOS 9.2 to the public. That was a significant update, bringing about new user-facing features such as support for Home screen app folders and Bluetooth keyboards.