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Apple Releases tvOS 11.4 for 4th and 5th Generation Apple TV Models With AirPlay 2 Support

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Apple today released tvOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the tvOS operating system designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 11.4 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 11.3, an update that focused on bug fixes and small feature improvements.

tvOS 11.4 can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System --> Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 11.4 automatically.

tvos114release-800x475.jpg

The tvOS 11.4 update, paired with iOS 11.4, introduces support for AirPlay 2 functionality. AirPlay 2 is designed to bring multi-room audio to the Apple ecosystem, allowing the same music to be played on multiple devices throughout the home.

tvOS 11.4 turns the Apple TV into an AirPlay 2-compatible device that's listed in the Home app for HomeKit devices. AirPlay 2 playback can be controlled through the Apple TV, through an iOS device, or using Apple's personal assistant, Siri, to play content using voice commands.

AirPlay 2 is limited to the Apple TV and the HomePod at the current time, but it will expand to additional audio devices in the future.

tvOS 11.4 also introduces performance improvements, security enhancements, and bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 11.3.

Article Link: Apple Releases tvOS 11.4 for 4th and 5th Generation Apple TV Models With AirPlay 2 Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/05/29/apple-releases-tvos-11-4/
I know it's probably placebo, but I see the improvements in speed (Apple TV 4K).
 
I'm a bit confused by what this means in terms of options while watching Apple TV. Does this mean I can watch a show on my Apple TV through my speakers via an A/V Receiver while also streaming the audio to a HomePod sitting in another room?
 
IGI2 said:
I know it's probably placebo, but I see the improvements in speed (Apple TV 4K).
Click to expand...

If you have a reasonably long list of your own content, could you try to "fast scroll" a list and see if they have fast scroll working again (not starting & stopping, starting & stopping)? That was such a great feature for the little while that it was allowed to work right (on the "4").
 
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MacRumors said:
tvOS 11.4 also introduces performance improvements, security enhancements, and bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 11.3.
Click to expand...
Is there actually a source for this? It'd be nice to know if they actually fixed or improved anything useful, because otherwise I'm not updating. And I'm not about to update just to see. I'm sure they included security patches, but we always get this same, canned note at the end of Apple updates with no information as to what "performance improvements" or "bug fixes" (if any) were actually made.
 
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Done update to 11.4, beside the music anywhere mentioned in what is new.

So far not detect any differences with 11.3
 
Post update: Fast Scroll still starts & stops, starts & stops for me, even when I hook the :apple:TV4K to only a 1080p TV. That feature used to work so well on the "4." I suspect the issue is prioritizing loading thumbnails over fast scrolling through the list... OR the fast scroll buffer that used to be able to easily manage a list of text titles has not been updated to manage a list of thumbnails + text. :(

Maybe another "just one software update away" will finally get around to this basic functionally that USED to "just work."
 
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Agreed need Dolby Atmos support...then this unit can seriously compete with Roku..which I can stream via the Vudu App HDR10 + Atmos on most UHD titles...got the Apple TV for Dolby Vision ...hopefully Dolby Atmos support comes with TVOS 12
 
Are we supposed to see the Apple TV in the home app after updating? If so I don’t see it
 
So I asked a similar question in a different thread but no answer. Does AirPlay 2 support = Airplay AND Airplay 2 support? When I update will I still be able to stream to Airplay devices?
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
Post update: Fast Scroll still starts & stops, starts & stops for me, even when I hook the :apple:TV4K to only a 1080p TV. That feature used to work so well on the "4." I suspect the issue is prioritizing loading thumbnails over fast scrolling through the list... OR the fast scroll buffer that used to be able to easily manage a list of text titles has not been updated to manage a list of thumbnails + text. :(

Maybe another "just one software update away" will finally get around to this basic functionally that USED to "just work."
Click to expand...
I was having so many laggy and other issues with my ATV (4th gen.) that happened suddenly sometime after updating to 11.3, a couple weeks ago (or less), I decided to do a complete "reset & update", it was a hassle, having to re-download and arrange my apps, but, it works fine now, (and I found a couple new apps I like). When you have time to mess with it, this might fix things.

Chupa Chupa said:
So I asked a similar question in a different thread but no answer. Does AirPlay 2 support = Airplay AND Airplay 2 support? When I update will I still be able to stream to Airplay devices?
Click to expand...
^^^I have this question also!!! ...I sometimes AirPlay from my iPad Mini (1) which cannot be updated past iOS 9.3.5, wondering if I will still be able to do this if I update my ATV (4th gen.) to tvOS 11.4.
[doublepost=1527638986][/doublepost]oh, and I still have macOS Sierra on my Mac, wondering if I'll still be able to airplay from to ATV (4) w/tvOS 11.4 also?
 
First impression of AirPlay 2 streaming music to a HomePod and three Apple TVs... so close. And yet...

They're just enough out of sync that it's created an "echo" effect in my home that distracting. It doesn't quite work for me for that reason.

It needs to be quiet enough that you can't hear the other speakers for it to be acceptable, which is a bummer.

For what it's worth, playing from a Mac with iTunes to AirPlay destinations (AirPlay 2 not required) has the same problem.
 
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Wait, can I now control an Apple TV from my HomePod? I’m still rocking an ATV3 (and love the closed ecosystem), but may have to upgrade if this is the case...
 
One more question: When I update my iPhone to 11.4, will I still be able to AirPlay to ATV3?

Apple is so unclear about AirPlay/AirPlay 2 what way it works with what. I understand the extra features of AirPlay 2 will not work with speakers and such not compatible with it, however, what if you're just doing AirPlay from 11.4 to one device or speaker, does it have to be AirPlay 2 compatible?
 
With the 11.4 update the Apple TV seems to play audio via the Homepod OK for most apps but DVBLink no longer works with the Homepod. This is not a disaster for me as the lipsync was hopeless before so I had to use a hifi but I suspect it means that other apps that are not Airplay-aware will not work with the Homepod.
Interestingly, if I turn on my old hifi that is directly connected to the ATV then DVBlink sends audio to it, despite the ATV audio output being set to the Homepod.
BTW - the ATV now appears in the Home app on my iPad.
 
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Since 11.4 on tvOS the Apple TV seems to turn itself on randomly by itself. Anyone else? TV turns on as well.
 
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Mr. Zarniwoop said:
First impression of AirPlay 2 streaming music to a HomePod and three Apple TVs... so close. And yet...

They're just enough out of sync that it's created an "echo" effect in my home that distracting. It doesn't quite work for me for that reason.

It needs to be quiet enough that you can't hear the other speakers for it to be acceptable, which is a bummer.

For what it's worth, playing from a Mac with iTunes to AirPlay destinations (AirPlay 2 not required) has the same problem.
Click to expand...
This is my experience exactly. Disappointing. I hope it can be fixed in an update.
 
So, no one knows if I update my ATV to tvOS 11.4 if I will still be able to AirPlay (1) to it from older devices???

I'm scared to update just because of this. (...Apple has been known to break functions without telling anyone.)
 
Alhagar said:
This is my experience exactly. Disappointing. I hope it can be fixed in an update.
Click to expand...

Running two paired HomePods to Apple TV. No lag at all with sound. Very very happy. Quality sound now when watching content via Apple TV and great sound / volume too. AirPlay 2 and iOS 11.4 making this all work quite well now. Funny how Apple doesn't yet market HomePod as a wireless speaker solution for Apple TV as well as music etc... but any who, it works great...
 
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