tvOS

New watchOS 2.2.1 and OS X 10.11.5 betas have dropped, too

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 20, 2016

After seeding iOS 9.3.2 beta 2 to its registered developers this morning, Apple has also released new betas for its other forthcoming operating system updates: watchOS 2.2.1 and OS X 10.11.5 El Capitan. You can download watchOS 2.2.1 beta 2 (build 13V420) and OS X 10.11.5 beta 2 (build 15F24b) through Apple's Developer Center, which requires a paid account for full access, or apply them on the devices themselves through the Software Update mechanism on devices running a beta OS.

Apple TV’s Siri can now tune you in to live broadcasts in supported apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 15, 2016

Apple has enhanced the tvOS operating system via a silent backend update that now permits users to ask Siri to tune in to live broadcasts in supported apps such as Disney XD, ESPN and CBS, the latter having gained integration with the Apple TV's universal search feature yesterday.

MacRumors has caught wind of this useful new feature addition on a splash screen that customers see after upgrading their 4th-generation Apple TV to the new tvOS software.

How to reveal and use tvOS’s hidden remote diagnostics mode on your Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 10, 2016

Nearly five years ago, Apple started taking advantage of a new feature that lets customers send diagnostic data to an Apple advisor to help troubleshoot any problems they might be having, without having to take their device to an Apple Store Genius.

This remote diagnostic mode, which has since been implemented across all iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, is also available on the fourth-generation Apple TV. In this quick tutorial, you're going to learn how to access and take advantage of tvOS's hidden Diagnostics screen on your Apple TV.

Apple seeds tvOS 9.2.1 beta 1 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ April 6, 2016

In addition to iOS 9.3.2 and watchOS 2.2.1, Apple on Wednesday released the first beta for tvOS 9.2.1 to developers. To update, you'll have to connect your Apple TV 4 to a computer and install the software via iTunes or Apple Configurator.

Todays release comes two weeks after Apple pushed out tvOS 9.2 to the public. That was a significant update, bringing about several user-facing changes such as support for app folders and Bluetooth keyboards, as well as new Siri features.

Palert brings tvOS-inspired notification alerts to iOS

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated April 7, 2016

The Apple TV 4 has a completely new operating system called tvOS, which sits right alongside OS X, iOS, and watchOS in Apple's operating systems.

One of the nice parts about tvOS is the design of the alerts and notifications. In fact, iOS developer Robin Vekety (@Integeritis) thought it would be a cool idea to port the new alert style over to the iOS experience for those with jailbroken devices.

Pangu Team releases Apple TV jailbreak

Sébastien Page ∙ March 23, 2016

Following up on their promise, the Pangu Team has now released a jailbreak for the fourth-generation Apple TV. The tool can be downloaded from our Downloads page and instructions on how to use it will soon be available on iDB.

It must be noted that this jailbreak tool comes with strings attached. As the Pangu Team had warned, this jailbreak is more geared towards security researchers and developers. End users will see no real value in this jailbreak, at least for the time being.

How to create and manage app folders on Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 7, 2023

Learn how to create an app folder on your Apple TV, add apps to it, rename the folder, and move it around to organize your TV Home Screen the way you like.

tvOS 9.2 is here: Dictation, folders, Live Photos, wireless keyboards, iCloud Photo Library & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 11, 2023

tvOS 9.2, a new update for the operating system which powers the fourth-generation Apple TV, is now available for public consumption. The new firmware, released alongside iOS 9.3, OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 and watchOS 2.2, is a very interesting update for the cool new features it brings to the table.

tvOS 9.2 enables several features missing from the initial tvOS release, including long-awaited support for wireless keyboards, dictation, Siri support for App Store searches, app folders on the Home screen, a revamped app switcher, Siri Remote improvements, support for Live Photos and iCloud Photo Library and more.

tvOS 9.2 software update for the new Apple TV arrives today

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2016

Apple has said at today's 'Let us loop you in' media event that the tvOS 9.2 software update for the fourth-generation Apple TV will launch for public consumption later today.

tvOS 9.2 is the most significant software update for Apple's new set-top box since its release in October 2015, bringing many features missing from the original release to the table.

Apple TV 4 jailbreak delayed for a few days

Sébastien Page ∙ March 19, 2016

Following the Pangu Team's announcement last week that the release of an Apple TV jailbreak was imminent, the group of hackers has now declared on Twitter Saturday morning that they will need a few more days of testing.

Apple Events app launches on tvOS App Store ahead of Monday’s ‘Let us loop you in’ media event

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 17, 2016

Apple has scheduled its 'Let us loop you in' media event on Monday, March 21. Ahead of the invite-only press conference, the company has released a native application, aptly named Apple Events, for the fourth-generation Apple TV in the tvOS App Store.

The app makes it easier for Apple fans to stream the company's media events live and watch replays of previous broadcasts on their box.

Pangu to release the first jailbreak for the new Apple TV next week

Sébastien Page ∙ March 11, 2016

Hot on the heels of their surprising iOS 9.1 jailbreak announcement Friday morning, the Pangu Team has now announced on Twitter that they will be releasing a jailbreak for Apple TV 4 running tvOS 9.0 or 9.0.1 next week.

Although the team notes that this jailbreak will only provide SSH access (no UI) and be geared towards security researchers and jailbreak developers, this is still an incredible piece of news.