Apple Releases tvOS 13.4.8 for Fourth and Fifth-Generation Apple TV Models

[MacRumors]

Apple today released tvOS 13.4.8, the fifth update to the tvOS operating system that runs on the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 13.4.8 comes over a month after the launch of tvOS 13.4.5.

tvOS 13.4.8, a free update, 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 enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 13.4.8 automatically.

tvOS updates are almost always minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and small feature tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes.

There were no new features found during the beta testing period, so it's not know what's included in the update. Apple will share details on the tvOS 13.4.8 software release in its tvOS support document, but release notes often don't contain much more information than general performance and stability improvements.

Article Link: Apple Releases tvOS 13.4.8 for Fourth and Fifth-Generation Apple TV Models

 

[5097842]

For many years, I watched everything thru an Apple TV. But it just seems less user friendly (and less fun) now. Some channels are in the Apple TV app, the rest are their own app - a disjointed experience. And the latest remote is still unpleasant a few years later. I picked up a 2019 Sony Android TV, and the interface and apps are easy and convenient to use. I wish Apple would do something with tvOS to bring me back. But I will probably ditch it entirely once they release the Apple TV app for Sony TVs (coming this summer).

 

[chris4565]

Just updated and from some brief testing it seems that tvOS wasn't so snappy and smooth since basically the last tvOS 12 version 😍

 

[MrZippyUK]

Have they fixed the long standing screensaver resetting to aerial is the question I have, I really can’t believe that this has existed so long. Assume most people don’t change the default screensaver so never notice.

 

[kagharaht]

I hope this fix the recent unwatched Movie list. It keeps scrolling upward by itself and you can no longer see the movies listed.

 

[matthew23]

I have been having a crazy issue with the ATV4k using a TON of data...not just the result of streaming in 4k...like 100s of gb overnight while we are sleeping...

 

[CasinoOwl]

I tried to use my own Home Sharing photos again last week and found that it works again. I don't know when it got fixed or how.

Have they fixed the long standing screensaver resetting to aerial is the question I have, I really can’t believe that this has existed so long. Assume most people don’t change the default screensaver so never notice.

 

[BWhaler]

AppleTV remains a buggy mess. library still does not load larger libraries and too many ads for shows and networks you don’t own.

 

[Joniz]

I hope this fix the recent unwatched Movie list. It keeps scrolling upward by itself and you can no longer see the movies listed.

They have fixed this in the tvOS 14 beta.

Though they broke the ability to change audio using long press of Play button.

And sometimes the sleep slide-out from long pressing the Display button doesn’t show up and you have to restart the Apple TV.

But the Unwatched list is fixed!

 

[deecasey]

I hope this fix the recent unwatched Movie list. It keeps scrolling upward by itself and you can no longer see the movies listed.

I’m afraid to report it’s still not working properly. It’s been the bane of my existence for far too long!

 

[jgerry]

I have been having a crazy issue with the ATV4k using a TON of data...not just the result of streaming in 4k...like 100s of gb overnight while we are sleeping...

Do you happen to have the beta installed? I had this happen to me a few years ago, it cost me $150 in data cap overages. Wiping the device and reinstalling solved it.

 

[ceraz]

This update raised an network intrusion detection alarm on my network (Apple TV4/4k). I noticed that the last value of the mac address of the AppleTV changes during the update.

Morelikely a second mac address that has a lifespan linked to the updating procedure. I don't know if this was the case for previous tvOS updates. Interesting approach ....

 

[kagharaht]

I’m afraid to report it’s still not working properly. It’s been the bane of my existence for far too long!

Correct. They have not fixed it with this release. It still doesn't display properly.
[automerge]1594996926[/automerge]

They have fixed this in the tvOS 14 beta.

Though they broke the ability to change audio using long press of Play button.

And sometimes the sleep slide-out from long pressing the Display button doesn’t show up and you have to restart the Apple TV.

But the Unwatched list is fixed!

Not for me. I restored the TV to Factory settings and new iOS. It still does it on my ATV4.

 

[Traverse]

I just wish TV Show playlists created in the TV app on Catalina showed up on the  TV. Seems like an odd omission.

 

[orbital~debris]

I have been having a crazy issue with the ATV4k using a TON of data...not just the result of streaming in 4k...like 100s of gb overnight while we are sleeping...

How do you notice this issue? Are you using some software for this kind of monitoring, or is it from looking at your Internet provider bill or something?

 

[matthew23]

How do you notice this issue? Are you using some software for this kind of monitoring, or is it from looking at your Internet provider bill or something?

I was getting overusage emails from my ISP and ended up buying a google wifi router which allows you to monitor usage for each device on your network. I know there are other apps that can do this but I wanted a simple way to monitor. Turns out, it was my ATV4K.

 

[orbital~debris]

I was getting overusage emails from my ISP and ended up buying a google wifi router which allows you to monitor usage for each device on your network. I know there are other apps that can do this but I wanted a simple way to monitor. Turns out, it was my ATV4K.

Thanks for the details.

I'd like to be able to do this (I was hoping it would have been a feature Apple added to their AirPort line, had they not discontinued it). Off-topic I know, but did you find any alternatives to the google device before you went with it? Or what are the apps that do this – the best I've got so far is the Speed Test app on Apple TV, but that's just to check it's performing on the network rather than a network overview.

 

[matthew23]

Thanks for the details.

I'd like to be able to do this (I was hoping it would have been a feature Apple added to their AirPort line, had they not discontinued it). Off-topic I know, but did you find any alternatives to the google device before you went with it? Or what are the apps that do this – the best I've got so far is the Speed Test app on Apple TV, but that's just to check it's performing on the network rather than a network overview.

I did not research too extensively on an alternative to the Google WiFi option. From what I read, there are alternatives but require applications that are not too user friendly and I did not feel like trying to figure it out. Plus, with the Google WiFi, I could monitor everything from my iPhone while I was out of town.

In the end, it helped me narrow down and figure out that the ATV4k was the culprit and I restarted it and shut every running app down. That seemed to stop the bleeding but its still a pretty data hungry device. I ended up caving into Comcast and paying for unlimited data for an additional $30/month and now I don't worry about it at all. I am working from home during the pandemic and need to make sure I don't get throttled. Plus, I have two young boys who are constantly streaming or playing online games and face time.