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Apple Releases tvOS 16.3

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Apple today released tvOS 16.3, the third major point update to the tvOS 16 operating system that originally came out in September. Available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, tvOS 16.3 comes six weeks after tvOS 16.2, an update that added Apple Music Sing.

apple-tv-4k-red-image.jpg

The tvOS 16.3 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 turned on will be upgraded to ‌tvOS 16.3 automatically.

tvOS updates are usually minor in scale, focusing on internal bug fixes and improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes. There is no word as of yet what's included in the tvOS 16.3 update, and no features were found during the beta testing process.

Apple shares information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch.

Article Link: Apple Releases tvOS 16.3
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/24/apple-releases-tvos-16-3/
The Homepod update was also released today. I really need to learn everything a Homepod can do. I still don't understand why a speaker would need updates. It says temperature and humidity sensing (only on the second generation) but why would a speaker need to sense temperature. They're worried it might get too hot?

I know it will never happen (especially on the old Homepod) but I would just love to see the Apple TV and Homepod communicate with each other like they are one unit. There should be a home app on the Apple TV, but maybe there should be like a HomePod app as well for things like Timers or siri, or something else.
 
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sjsharksfan12 said:
The Homepod update was also released today. I really need to learn everything a Homepod can do. I still don't understand why a speaker would need updates. It says temperature and humidity sensing (only on the second generation) but why would a speaker need to sense temperature. They're worried it might get too hot?

I know it will never happen (especially on the old Homepod) but I would just love to see the Apple TV and Homepod communicate with each other like they are one unit. There should be a home app on the Apple TV, but maybe there should be like a HomePod app as well for things like Timers or siri, or something else.
Click to expand...
All devices essentially have firmware software updates these days. The temperature and humidity sensors can be coupled with other automated temperature systems such as ecobee to my knowledge.
 
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sjsharksfan12 said:
The Homepod update was also released today. I really need to learn everything a Homepod can do. I still don't understand why a speaker would need updates. It says temperature and humidity sensing (only on the second generation) but why would a speaker need to sense temperature. They're worried it might get too hot?

I know it will never happen (especially on the old Homepod) but I would just love to see the Apple TV and Homepod communicate with each other like they are one unit. There should be a home app on the Apple TV, but maybe there should be like a HomePod app as well for things like Timers or siri, or something else.
Click to expand...
Apple is probably also competing with Amazon here. Quite a few Echo devices at least have temperature censors for routines and also just to be able to ask Alexa the temperature in a given room, etc.
 
Ghost31 said:
I wonder if i checked in 5 years from now if there will be any new features added to the Apple TV or if its just bug fixes still
Click to expand...

You would probably just notice that you can’t find your own purchased / preferred content anymore because of all the ads.

I hope not but they are not on a good trajectory. The only feature I want in a tvOS update is to bring back the version 15 interface.

There simply is no reason to shrink the list of things you were watching and put a giant ad banner above and below them. It’s user hostile and Apple should be ashamed.
 
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sjsharksfan12 said:
The Homepod update was also released today. I really need to learn everything a Homepod can do. I still don't understand why a speaker would need updates. It says temperature and humidity sensing (only on the second generation) but why would a speaker need to sense temperature. They're worried it might get too hot?
Click to expand...
The problem is you’re thinking of it as a speaker. Don’t do that. Think of it as an audio-focused computer. It‘s a computer that communicates by speaker and microphone, rather than having a screen and a keyboard. It’s also focused on home automation. I have a couple of HomePod minis, in different rooms. If they ever end up playing music, it’s because they misunderstood a command. I never ask them to play music (I ask my Sonos system to do that). I ask them to control the lights in my home. I ask them what the temperature is outside, or for the forecast (here, or where I’m going). I ask them to set timers or alarms. I ask them to add reminders or events.

The thermometer/humidity sensor was put there for future use (it only added a few cents to the cost) - and that future has arrived. You can now ask the HomePod what the current temperature is in the room you’re in. But it gets more interesting if, say, you have HomePods scattered around your house - you can ask the nearby HomePod what the temperature is in the bedroom, for instance. And with HomeKit automation, you can set up automations like, “turn on the fan in the bedroom if anyone is home and the temperature in there reaches 80°F”. (I’m actually really looking forward to having HomeKit access to the thermometers.)

sjsharksfan12 said:
I know it will never happen (especially on the old Homepod) but I would just love to see the Apple TV and Homepod communicate with each other like they are one unit. There should be a home app on the Apple TV, but maybe there should be like a HomePod app as well for things like Timers or siri, or something else.
Click to expand...
More integration would be great, but there already is some support - hold down the TV button on the Apple TV remote to bring up the sidebar, and move down to and select the Home icon. You’ll find displays from any HomeKit-enabled cameras you have, as well as buttons for activating HomeKit scenes. And, as mentioned above, the HomePod can already do timers and such, and both take Siri commands. I don’t really see a benefit to putting, say, timer support on the Apple TV itself.
 
CarlJ said:
The thermometer/humidity sensor was put there for future use (it only added a few cents to the cost) - and that future has arrived. You can now ask the HomePod what the current temperature is in the room you’re in. But it gets more interesting if, say, you have HomePods scattered around your house - you can ask the nearby HomePod what the temperature is in the bedroom, for instance. And with HomeKit automation, you can set up automations like, “turn on the fan in the bedroom if anyone is home and the temperature in there reaches 80°F”. (I’m actually really looking forward to having HomeKit access to the thermometers.)
Click to expand...

I have the first generation Homepod so I won't be able to enjoy it. It actually does sound like a pretty neat feature.
 
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On tvOS 16.3, HBOMax on the original Apple TV 4K gives a consistent "Can't connect to HBOMax" error, with just "Retry" as an option. Works fine on the 3rd Generation 4K.
 
Oh my goodness, Apple what are you doing??
16.3 released, and yet the text on the Up Next list is still corrupted!
How has nobody noticed this at Apple and why has this not been fixed immediately? Surely 16.3 would’ve included this.

This one is a bit embarrassing Apple come on.
 
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When was the last time a tvOS update actually added anything remotely useful? The user switching maybe?

I'm not talking about features based on hardware, btw.
 
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They still haven't fixed the bug where the remote jumps two positions for every button press when scrolling left/right through music gallery view in the Computers app (Media / Home Sharing music from a Mac).
 
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Demigod Mac said:
They still haven't fixed the bug where the remote jumps two positions for every button press when scrolling left/right through music gallery view in the Computers app (Media / Home Sharing music from a Mac).
Click to expand...
They also had this cursor ringing effect (goes left/right until it ends) sometimes when opening a stream and you see the time point.
 
I have an Apple TV HD that can’t keep the connection for very long. Just started happening with no other changes. Rebooted. Reset. Bounced the modem. Bounced the router. I was hoping 16.3 would finally resolve this but no luck. 😩

All of my 4K units work fine.
 
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No QMS VRR yet in this update for 4K 2022 ATV? Well my TV is not compatible yet anyway. I hope it be released on my Sony A90J…
 
The bluetooth was killing me, could not connect any console controllers, fixed now
 
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