Apple Announces tvOS 17, Including FaceTime and New Control Center

[DeepIn2U]

For FaceTime in a large room, an iPhone microphone located at the screen won't be powerful enough. Hopefully there is support for additional microphones using other Apple devices.

Edit: For those who disagree, I use a Mac mini right now with that setup, so I know it required me to buy more microphones before people can be heard.

Microphones in your Mac mini are COMPLETELY different hardware spec and design than what's in your iPhone. Nice attempt though.

But still

Apple damnit!!!

Why cannot Apple TV+ app on existing Smart TV's and competing Smart devices like the Roku allow for AirPlay of sound and video from a Mac, iPhone, iPod, and iPad?!

There is no technical reason NOT allow this! And to continue forcing these massive Apple TV products.

 

[name99]

For FaceTime in a large room, an iPhone microphone located at the screen won't be powerful enough. Hopefully there is support for additional microphones using other Apple devices.

Edit: For those who disagree, I use a Mac mini right now with that setup, so I know it required me to buy more microphones before people can be heard.

Since the mac mini does not come with a mic...
(At least current ones, M1 and M2, do not. Maybe earlier ones did, but apparently it was not something Apple ever cared about. Unlike the three very high quality mics on an iPhone).

 

[name99]

Microphones in your Mac mini are COMPLETELY different hardware spec and design than what's in your iPhone. Nice attempt though.

But still

Apple damnit!!!

Why cannot Apple TV+ app on existing Smart TV's and competing Smart devices like the Roku allow for AirPlay of sound and video from a Mac, iPhone, iPod, and iPad?!

There is no technical reason NOT allow this! And to continue forcing these massive Apple TV products.

So I take it you want to play audio from your iPhone to a Roku? You can hack this up if you care enough, and the various parts you may find interesting.

(a) If you have a modern mac, you can airplay audio to it.
(b) Now you need an app called Airfoil which can take audio from a variety of sources on a mac (including the incoming Airplay stream) and send that audio to a wide variety of speaker types (AirPlay, Chromecast, Bluetooth, and a few others). So using Airfoil you can pipe the audio from your mac to the Roku.

I actually use Airfoil in a different way, to send the same audio stream from my mac to multiple different speakers around the house. Sync is "good enough", and I can walk from one room to another and have the audio the same volume level pretty much everywhere.
It's also a good solution if you want to play YOUR audio, eg from an audiobook player, to a HomePod, rather than having to deal with Apple's garbage HomePod handling of anything that's not Apple Music.

 

[APlotdevice]

For FaceTime in a large room, an iPhone microphone located at the screen won't be powerful enough. Hopefully there is support for additional microphones using other Apple devices.

Edit: For those who disagree, I use a Mac mini right now with that setup, so I know it required me to buy more microphones before people can be heard.

I imagine it will use the microphone on your AirPods if you connect them.

 

[jln9899]

I imagine it will use the microphone on your AirPods if you connect them.

Or HomePods! If Apple TV uses HomePods as stereo speakers, I don’t see why they wouldn’t use the microphone feature from the HomePod.

 

[svish]

FaceTime on Apple TV is the biggest change.

 

[brunerd]

First thing my kid noticed was that there's now 6 icons per row in tvOS 17 (vs the previous 5 per row) - what a sharp kid...

 

[DeepIn2U]

So I take it you want to play audio from your iPhone to a Roku? You can hack this up if you care enough, and the various parts you may find interesting.

(a) If you have a modern mac, you can airplay audio to it.
(b) Now you need an app called Airfoil which can take audio from a variety of sources on a mac (including the incoming Airplay stream) and send that audio to a wide variety of speaker types (AirPlay, Chromecast, Bluetooth, and a few others). So using Airfoil you can pipe the audio from your mac to the Roku.

I actually use Airfoil in a different way, to send the same audio stream from my mac to multiple different speakers around the house. Sync is "good enough", and I can walk from one room to another and have the audio the same volume level pretty much everywhere.
It's also a good solution if you want to play YOUR audio, eg from an audiobook player, to a HomePod, rather than having to deal with Apple's garbage HomePod handling of anything that's not Apple Music.

Just a few years back I tried Airfoil and it failed miserable. I think it was on 2018 MBP in 2020 (I think)?

It's not just audio I want.
The FireStick from Amazon I have allows me a LOT more streaming content apps - many of which are FREE - Love me some CSI, CSI: Miami, and looking forward to catching up on Fringe - all shows I've completely missed other than maybe 4-5 episodes. Something I cannot get on AppleTV 4/4K in Canada cause these apps restrict availability in my region for AppleTV - SPECIFICALLY! WHY?

Now Amazon FireStick 4K has AppleTV+ so I can watch my other shows (like WWDC, For All of Mankind, Foundation, etc). So ... why can I not AirPlay a WWDC developer course or a course to learn Swift from the web over Safari to my TV (using the FireStick) sourced from my MBP while actually using Xcode on my MBP sitting on my couch?!!!! This works perfectly for me since my external monitor is broken!

Plus the TV is a LOT larger and more clearer than the 43" LCD I had and easier on the eyes over long periods of time.

I feel AirPlay and sharing macOS has been around for years that a 'modern' Mac, iPhone, or iPad shouldn't be needed as the ATV 4 has been around almost 8yrs now right? should've been directly supported - all use WiFi and the bandwidth to support it is there. This restriction is just super picky.

I'll look into your suggestion to see what's capable.
Thanks.

 

[_Spinn_]

Was hoping to see the Home app added and also the ability to update from the Home app.

 

[Diatribe]

I just want the option to force profile selection when awakened.

It is baffling they still haven’t added that option.

 

[cupcakes2000]

VPN finally - great for an expat like myself.

 

[Shollywood]

Updated to 17 but don't see any of the new features??

 

[2010mini]

I like that tvOS is getting some attention from Apple, but the tvOS App Store is in bad shape, and needs an update.

It is worse under tvOS 16, than any previous tvOS version.

I thought I was the only one!?! It is a mess! There are so many missing apps in the categories that you can find with stage search feature. tvOS is like a back burner for Apple. Shame because it should be combined with HomePod to be the center of apple smart home.

 

[2010mini]

VPN support is great! Now when I go on vacation I can still watch US-only content.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Microphones in your Mac mini are COMPLETELY different hardware spec and design than what's in your iPhone. Nice attempt though.

But still

Apple damnit!!!

Why cannot Apple TV+ app on existing Smart TV's and competing Smart devices like the Roku allow for AirPlay of sound and video from a Mac, iPhone, iPod, and iPad?!

There is no technical reason NOT allow this! And to continue forcing these massive Apple TV products.

I’m using a Poly microphone which is superior to the Mac mini or the iPhone. But in a large room you still need satellites. I’d LOVE to be wrong about that.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Or HomePods! If Apple TV uses HomePods as stereo speakers, I don’t see why they wouldn’t use the microphone feature from the HomePod.

That would be ideal. I ended up switching from a Plantronics Calisto 7200 at the screen to a pair of Poly Sync 40’s in the room for my Mac mini Facetime TV setup. People can finally hear now but I also have HomePods in the same space.

 

[2Xtreme21]

I’m amazed that my Apple TV HD from almost 8 years ago is still getting updates! Installing tvOS 17 now. Excited to see how FaceTime works on the big screen.

Edit: Ah, damn— looks like FaceTime is exclusive to 4K models. Well I’m due for an upgrade anyway.

 

[Juicy Box]

I thought I was the only one!?! It is a mess! There are so many missing apps in the categories that you can find with stage search feature. tvOS is like a back burner for Apple. Shame because it should be combined with HomePod to be the center of apple smart home.

The tvOS App Store used to be better, not great, but better for app discovery.

There used to be genres and that was removed a few tvOS versions ago, but there was still the top 200 paid and top 200 free apps, and that was removed with tvOS 16, making app discovery on tvOS non-existent.

I think the removal of the 200 top apps might be a bug, and might only be affecting the US tvOS App Store, but cannot say for sure.

There is some decent games in the tvOS App Store, as well as some non-game apps, but unless you do a search by the exact name of the app, finding them is almost impossible.

Hopefully tvOS 17 brings a much needed redesign of the tvOS App Store.

 

[2010mini]

The tvOS App Store used to be better, not great, but better for app discovery.

There used to be genres and that was removed a few tvOS versions ago, but there was still the top 200 paid and top 200 free apps, and that was removed with tvOS 16, making app discovery on tvOS non-existent.

I think the removal of the 200 top apps might be a bug, and might only be affecting the US tvOS App Store, but cannot say for sure.

There is some decent games in the tvOS App Store, as well as some non-game apps, but unless you do a search by the exact name of the app, finding them is almost impossible.

Hopefully tvOS 17 brings a much needed redesign of the tvOS App Store.

The main missing thing is forcing accounts on wake. Can’t tell you how many times my daughter messes up my watch list when she uses the tv.

 

[BMox81]

Did anyone manage to find out what the stand was they used for the FaceTime demo?

 

[iCharles]

🙌 SLEEP TIMER 🙌

 

[leonard1089]

Does anybody know what stand this is

 

[leonard1089]

Did anyone manage to find out what the stand was they used for the FaceTime demo?

I’ve been trying to find out as well

 

[DeepIn2U]

That would be ideal. I ended up switching from a Plantronics Calisto 7200 at the screen to a pair of Poly Sync 40’s in the room for my Mac mini Facetime TV setup. People can finally hear now but I also have HomePods in the same space.

Of course these mic’s are better you’re using equipment form a long time known performer in terms of meeting room video conference. Polycom was the previous business name before acquisition. I had supported many of the previous units like the HDX7000, 8000 and 9000 series. Good times.

Maybe we will see the HomePods berm forming mic’s used in stereo pair become a thing?

 

[1madman1]

Will it have less advertising plastered all over it? That's the feature I want.