Apple Expands Beta Program, Will Allow Public Beta Testers to Test tvOS 11

[MacRumors]

Apple today updated its Apple Beta Software Program website to announce that iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, and tvOS 11 public betas will be available for public beta testers in the near future.

Apple has offered macOS and iOS public betas for several years now, giving non-developers a chance to try out new software features ahead of a public launch while also providing Apple with extra feedback, but tvOS is a new addition.

For the first time, with tvOS 11, Apple plans to allow non-developers to install the beta software. To download the tvOS 11 beta, public beta testers will need to connect an Apple TV to a computer running iTunes using a USB-C cable. The tvOS software is then installed on the Apple TV using iTunes, with subsequent updates available over-the-air.

The tricky installation requirements are likely the reason why previous tvOS betas haven't been made available publicly.

It's not entirely clear when the tvOS beta will be made available to public beta testers, but during the keynote, Apple said iOS and macOS High Sierra would be available for public testers in late June, so that's presumably when the new public tvOS 11 beta will also be available.

As for features, Apple has not yet detailed what's new in tvOS 11 and it received little coverage during the keynote event aside from the mention of a new Amazon Prime Video app that's coming to the Apple TV later this year.

Article Link: Apple Expands Beta Program, Will Allow Public Beta Testers to Test tvOS 11

 

[SoN1NjA]

Why? tvOS supports profiles, that’s how my Apple TV is in the beta right now...

Makes no sense

 

[Pbrutto]

I can't tell if I'm excited by this or not....gentlemen?

 

[2010mini]

Finally!!!! Always wondered why they made tvOS dev only.

 

[ErikGrim]

Hold your excitement. No new features unless you count automatic light/dark switching one.

 

[blasto2236]

Hold your excitement. No new features unless you count automatic light/dark switching one.

Yeah, not a lot of benefit to this that I can see. It's not like it'll let you beta test the Amazon Prime Video app.

 

[M2M]

This lack of updates for TVOS is disturbing!

 

[ErikGrim]

This lack of updates for TVOS is disturbing!

My guess is that they ran out of enthusiasm (again) for the product once it was clear that there wasn’t going to be bundled content deals.

I’m really sad, because the Apple TV is probably the most used Apple product at home for us.

 

[2010mini]

This lack of updates for TVOS is disturbing!

My guess is that they ran out of enthusiasm (again) for the product once it was clear that there wasn’t going to be bundled content deals.

I’m really sad, because the Apple TV is probably the most used Apple product at home for us.

He did say more news about tvOS was coming later.

Anyone else notice that when they were talking about 4k and h.265. One of the examples they showed on screen was one of the tvOS screen savers?

 

[Keane16]

He did say more news about tvOS was coming later.

I'm glad you noticed too. I was thinking the next update may have been in 2018 with HDMI 2.1. But maybe it will be this year instead.

 

[Krevnik]

He did say more news about tvOS was coming later.

Anyone else notice that when they were talking about 4k and h.265. One of the examples they showed on screen was one of the tvOS screen savers?

Yeah, the across-the-board HEVC support screams that they are about to make a 4K push in the next year or so. And it makes sense to have the entire ecosystem in line and ready for the push, not just the Apple TV. But it is interesting that they are making software decoders available for tvOS 11, which wouldn't apply to a new ATV5 which would probably have a hardware decoder.

My speculation:
- 4K AppleTV within a year, roughly.
- iTunes making 4K HEVC content available announced at the same time.
- Apple also announcing that HEVC is the new standard format for users on iOS 11, tvOS 11 and High Sierra, to save space and bandwidth, even for 1080p content. (Metered connections will benefit here, *cough*Comcast*cough*)

 

[Robert.Walter]

My guess is that they ran out of enthusiasm (again) for the product once it was clear that there wasn’t going to be bundled content deals.

I’m really sad, because the Apple TV is probably the most used Apple product at home for us.

Wait for the September event... hope should spring eternal.

 

[twinlight]

The Apple TV could be so much more with an updated tvOS version. I'm surprised how little they talked about tvOS.

 

[ErikGrim]

The Apple TV could be so much more with an updated tvOS version. I'm surprised how little they talked about tvOS.

They updated tvOS a full version, yet had less new features than a dot point upgrade. Don't hold your breath.