Apple Launches ‘Tech Talks’ Tour for Apple TV Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced the launch of a new series of "Tech Talks" for the Apple TV, designed to help developers learn how to create apps and games for Apple's new set-top box. The Tech Talks are held in a number of cities around the world and are hosted by "Apple experts."

The new Apple TV is here, bringing incredible and immersive apps and games to the big screen. Get in-depth technical information on building and designing for tvOS, learn refined coding techniques, and obtain valuable development instruction from Apple experts.

Developers can register to attend a Tech Talk through Apple's website, with registration open from now until November 13 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Dates and locations are below.

Toronto - December 7, 2015
Los Angeles - December 10, 2015
Austin - December 14, 2015
Seattle - December 16, 2015
Cupertino - December 17 and 18, 2015
Berlin - January 8, 2016
London - January 11, 2016
New York - January 12, 2016
Tokyo - January 21, 2016
Sydney - February 3, 2016

Each of Apple's all-day Tech Talks will include morning sessions focused on the Apple TV's capabilities, designing apps, creating interfaces, integrating the Siri remote and game controllers, and using on-demand resources. Afternoon sessions will focus on topics like technologies for graphics and gaming, media streaming, and more, and a reception will follow giving attendees a chance to interact with each other and Apple's staff.

Update 11/16: Apple is now choosing lottery winners for its Apple TV Tech Talks and notifying winning developers.

Article Link: Apple Launches 'Tech Talks' Tour for Apple TV Developers

 

[LordBeelzebub]

No keyboard support means very limited user input capabilities in my opinion, especially for apps that would require text as the main method of input in order to use the app.

 

[mw360]

No keyboard support means very limited user input capabilities in my opinion, especially for apps that would require text as the main method of input in order to use the app.

I think you've inadvertently nailed why BT keyboards aren't supported. Allowing it would encourage developers to create apps which depend on text 'as the main method of input'. I strongly suspect Apple don't want any such apps on the AppleTV. It's not a computer, it's for kicking back and just doing TV stuff. Not tweeting, web-browsing or making to-do lists. Sure, some people will claim to want those, but IMHO, they'd be a cumbersome use for most people's TV, and this would be reflected as negative points in reviews.

 

[CFreymarc]

I think you've inadvertently nailed why BT keyboards aren't supported. Allowing it would encourage developers to create apps which depend on text 'as the main method of input'. I strongly suspect Apple don't want any such apps on the AppleTV. It's not a computer, it's for kicking back and just doing TV stuff. Not tweeting, web-browsing or making to-do lists. Sure, some people will claim to want those, but IMHO, they'd be a cumbersome use for most people's TV, and this would be reflected as negative points in reviews.

Agree. I had some family and other guests over a while ago and let them have at it with my Apple TV to see their reactions.

The most surprising expectation seen was using Siri as a "keyboard replacement" in some apps. For example, in the App Store, when they got to the search field, they expected Siri would voice-to-text instead of using a keyboard.

Others were asking to download and buy apps just by talking to Siri. The younger the user, the more apt they were to use Siri. Another reaction was the remote was "too small" where some felt it was prone to get lost in a living room full of kids.

 

[SBlue1]

Hey, any WOT developers reading this? I want to kill tanks on my big screen. Thanx!

 

[LordBeelzebub]

Ok, then this AppleTV is limited to the same ol TV network apps that require cable subscription authentication and quirky games? Hardly a significant improvement over the previous generation in my opinion.

I don't expect it to be a PC just because it may support keyboards, but if I get done playing a game, or finish watching a movie and want to check a social media app like Facebook real quick, why not have the ability to reply with a keyboard? Not everyone wants to use Siri, if I'm up late and my wife is asleep, maybe I'd rather use a quiet way to interact with this devise than always having to use Siri as the quicker way or rather than fumbling with the remote swiping from letter to letter?

Apple said the revolution of this new AppleTV is all about the apps and making apps for it is welcome by everyone. Well apparently not if my app requires a more traditional way of user input than Siri or the remote. My app won't be very user friendly for anyone and thus probably not be used at all on the AppleTV.

I'm not saying the lack of keyboard support is a deal breaker, but it makes the device limiting for both developers and end users where apps are supposed to be the key feature of this AppleTV and limits what apps can be made for it and limits features of the apps that are.

I have the PBS app installed on mine, if that app never officially supports Siri, then doing a search for content is always going to be a tedious pain in the ass using the remote having to swip letter to letter typing what I'm searching for. Same will be true for every other app developer.

 

[mw360]

Ok, then this AppleTV is limited to the same ol TV network apps that require cable subscription authentication and quirky games? Hardly a significant improvement over the previous generation in my opinion.

Here's something I said months ago

What would be the value of an app store? I've never understood this. Games, maybe, but not without a real controller. I can only see there being a flood of crappy iPhone ports that nobody would want to use on their TV over just using their phone or iPad. The good stuff would be TV channels, and Netflix etc, but none of those organisations need an app store to progress.

Yes, I still think this. TV is good for entertainment - TV, movies and games. Even Apple can only come up with 'shopping' to add to that list, and I don't think that is setting the world on fire. Despite all this, we now have an App Store, and I think Apple are right to limit developers to TV-appropriate applications. Why not allow us to quickly check Facebook or Twitter? Well, 'why not' has never been a compelling case to do anything. I even saw somebody asking (demanding) iBooks. Reading books on a TV?!

 

[locust76]

Is it a bad sign that Apple has to hold classes to teach developers about the new Apple TV? Does this mean that the tvOS App Store is gonna be a barren wasteland?

 

[bbeagle]

Is it a bad sign that Apple has to hold classes to teach developers about the new Apple TV? Does this mean that the tvOS App Store is gonna be a barren wasteland?

Apple did the SAME thing with iOS. I attended an iOS Tech Talk in Toronto about 5 years ago. It's only about 6 hours with a free lunch, and meant to just introduce developers to all the material available to make applications. They also go through creating applications to show how simple it is, and there is a lot of motivational talk. It encourages developers to join the platform that might be sitting on the fence.

Google and Microsoft do these types of things as well. This is a GOOD thing - not a bad thing.