Apple Releases First Beta of tvOS 9.1

[DNichter]

I might get yelled at for this, but does my Apple TV need to be registered or anything to install this beta? Then again, maybe getting on the beta train with the Apple TV isn't the greatest idea.

 

[koa]

This update will bring 4K, right?

Yes. And it adds optical out also!

 

[xmlninja]

Great, now let's update the Remote App please?!..

What you need that for? The new Atv supports icloud Direct play over airplay. Means if you airplay Apple music from iPhone to Atv. Atv will play direct from Apple music not iPhone.

 

[runeapple]

Not sure why they didn't just begin at version 1.0, like WatchOS.

watchOS is a new thing.

When iPhone OS became iOS it still kept its version number.

The same goes for the TV as it's moved from iOS to tvOS it's kept its version number.

 

[eliotw]

What you need that for? The new Atv supports icloud Direct play over airplay. Means if you airplay Apple music from iPhone to Atv. Atv will play direct from Apple music not iPhone.

We need an updated Remote App so that we can enter email/passwords using an iOS device keyboard!

 

[dugbug]

(question regarding remote app)

What you need that for? The new Atv supports icloud Direct play over airplay. Means if you airplay Apple music from iPhone to Atv. Atv will play direct from Apple music not iPhone.

*cracks knuckles*

ok
1. Entering passwords (itunes purchases, changing game center accounts, etc). Passwords can be up to 40 chars long and very complex (if you are a good secure internet citizen). Even the silly "don't require a password every time" option times out after about a day and requires re-entry.

2. Privately enter parental controls PIN for purchasing stuff for kids or allowing play of a higher-than-approved movie or app. Right now they see what you do to unlock so everyone has to 'look the other way'.

 

[xmlninja]

So that we can enter email/passwords using the an iOS device keyboard!

Should just get a touch id request on iPhone. Would be smoother than some remote app

 

[2457282]

Already on the public beta for the iOS, WatchOS and OSX. Bring on the ATV Beta

I used to think I was an alpha male, but it looks more likely that I am a Beta.

 

[dexterbell]

How about an update where the sound works? Zero sound on my new ATV4, pure garbage. Returning.

 

[xmlninja]

I hope the fix the dolby bugs

 

[JoEw]

Also the lack of Siri support for Music is a major letdown.

Second this. Was really looking forward to this functionality. If Siri on my iPhone can do it, I wonder what makes TVOS so different.

Every PC manufacturer is

Where have we heard that one before?

dedicated to Type-C, even Thunderbolt will run over Type-C

 

[Razorhog]

Loving the Apple TV so far, but there are a few soft spots in its game that need to be addressed:

- Text entry sucks (allow entry via iPhone Remote app like before, allow Siri dictation in text fields, change the configuration of the alphabet/characters from linear to a multi-level grid, maybe use iPhone touch ID, etc..)
- Channel/app activation is a pain (would be nice if I could enter my cable company's credentials once and have them apply to all the different video apps, e.g. ABC, NBC, History Channel, etc.. instead of verifying each separately )
- Would love to see universal "recently watched", "favorites" and "watch list" sections on the main interface
- Folders or sections (so i can organize by "Video", "News", "Games", etc.. instead of having a huge pile of everything)

Maybe some of this is in the works, maybe it's all a pipe dream. I do hope they operate a little differently with TV OS, and are open to making changes more quickly than in the past. It's already a cluttered market and they need to separate themselves as a superior platform quickly if they want get any real traction. Its a good start, but needs some functional upgrades before it becomes essential and unique.

This - you said everything I've been thinking, excellent post. Really like the idea of having a universal recently watched and organization.

Another thing I'd like to see (but probably won't happen) is the ability to exclude the iTunes store from Siri search results. I subscribe to Netflix and Hulu (and Amazon but that's another topic). So if I say "show me some rated R action movies" - I get a big list but can't tell which ones I would have to pay for, at least not without clicking on them. I've only had the ATV for a day and maybe there is a better way to do it, but it's disappointing to see a bunch of awesome results that want me to pay $15 to watch.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Where have we heard that one before?

I don't know, maybe with parallel cables and printers?

 

[JoEw]

What you need that for? The new Atv supports icloud Direct play over airplay. Means if you airplay Apple music from iPhone to Atv. Atv will play direct from Apple music not iPhone.

Text entry, use the mic built into iPhone, lost remote. Everyone in the house can control ATV with an iPhone/IPad.
Heck, even multiplayer games would be possible without buying more than 1 remote.
TouchID for account authentification would be handy.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Yes. And it adds optical out also!

It sucks that it can only do 24 fps but the hardware CAN do 4K

 

[philipk]

Did they bring back the missing "Mark as watch / unwatched" feature ?

I am having a MAJOR problem with this. When I go to my iMac iTunes it shows the episode as partially watched. I then manually change it to watched which is then reflective in the ATV4.

I depend on that feature as I like to re-watch series and episode or two a week.

 

[gaximus]

I'm not sure if this is an OS update, or just app development, but I'd absolutely love to have the Remote app (when it finally works) also have a controller function, as in, my iPhone becomes MFi game controller with screen-based buttons. These BT controllers seem way to expensive at the moment.

I hope they are making it so that the remote app will work just like the actual remote, and can use it to play multiplayer games.

 

[mcdj]

Apple is so bizarre sometimes. 9.1? Really? Why not just call it TVOSX? Or NeXTV? NewtonVision 1.0? As long as we're ditching normal naming conventions and platform hopping...

What's next? iOSiPad v1.0 and iOSiPhone v1.0?

 

[LewisB79]

Yes. And it adds optical out also!

I heard it was going to reduce the form factor height by 5mm as they weren't happy with the physical size of it but wanted to get it out there quickly.

 

[danranda]

With an update so soon, it sounds like they'll be releasing updates on a schedule similar to iOS (and starting with 9.0 would further this speculation). That's a great sign! And I'm sure one of the the updates – perhaps tvOS 10 – will include direct updates instead of requiring it to be done through a computer.

It seems that ONLY the betas require the USB-C cable and computer for the updates. A standard update wouldn't require a cable and should be able to be done just you'd expect... click a button, let it download and update, viola!

 

[JDHiro]

I hope the fix the dolby bugs

Curious, what ARE the Dolby bugs? I noticed that when I plug the ATV into my TV, my receiver gets the Dolby bitstream via ARC. However, when I plug the ATV into the receiver (Marantz), I get multi-channel PCM instead. I can't figure out why.

 

[prtcool1193]

Anyone who has the beta, notice any new features? (Siri and Apple Music, broader search... Etc)

 

[zakarhino]

Because you asked please so many times...

The answer is unfortunately no. There is still no option to change the Siri input language in the Settings menu, even on the tvOS 9.1.

Shoot! Thanks for checking, I appreciate it.

 

[xmlninja]

Curious, what ARE the Dolby bugs? I noticed that when I plug the ATV into my TV, my receiver gets the Dolby bitstream via ARC. However, when I plug the ATV into the receiver (Marantz), I get multi-channel PCM instead. I can't figure out why.

Yes there are some strange stuff going on. Many seems to get 7.1 pcm with auto and dd source.

 

[goobot]

Already on version 9?

It's just a skinned iOS.