Apple Releases tvOS 16.3

[Realityck]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1617813199340072960

Even if its announced a day sooner, it shows it has the 3rd gen remote pairing issue addressed.

tvOS 16.3 (20K650), same build as RC

Parts of this twitter points might be in the next tvOS 16.4 beta, there is a thread about that

Apple Preparing to Re-Release Revamped HomeKit Architecture That Was Removed From iOS 16.2

Apple with the iOS 16.2 update introduced an updated underlying architecture for HomeKit and the Home app, but it was pulled a week after launch...

www.macrumors.com

Apple with the iOS 16.2 update introduced an updated underlying architecture for HomeKit and the Home app, but it was pulled a week after launch because of bugs and installation issues. At the time, Apple said the removal was temporary and that the upgrade option would "return soon."

Other than stating that the architecture would be made available "soon," Apple has provided no timing. We are expecting an iOS 16.4 beta to follow the iOS 16.3 launch, and it is likely that the architecture update will appear in that beta. As of now, we don't know when the beta is coming, but it could be as soon as this week.

 

[kMacAustin]

What happened to Up Next on Apple TV ????

 

[andrewsyd]

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

There'll probably another remote by then 😅

 

[Surf Monkey]

The TV app still suffers from blatant bugs and still forces its heinous advertising focused interface on everyone. Shameful.

 

[Surf Monkey]

What happened to Up Next on Apple TV ????

You get ads now in the Apple TV app. On the Home screen you can choose between Up Next and ads. It’s in Settings > Apps > TV > Home Screen

 

[DinkThifferent]

The interface seems a bit smoother and quicker than before on my Apple tv 4K 2021

 

[everlast3434]

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

LOL so true. Whenever there’s an update, I have to come here to see what it is. Nothing noticeable in the AppleTV UI itself lol.

 

[Arran]

16.3 on ATV and HomePods fixes my ATV4K not being able to default audio to a pair of OG HomePods. Apple broke it in 16.2 with the new architecture and no amount of factory resets by me since December could get it back. Wasted a LOT of time on this over the holidays.

16.3 upgrade on everything got it working again.

 

[srbNYC]

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.

You don't think of more promotional rows as useful?

 

[Nicky G]

When was the last time a tvOS update actually added anything remotely useful?

Well, considering the remote hasn't been working reliably since the last update, I'm really hoping this one does add something remotely useful.

/rimshot

 

[_Spinn_]

Would be nice if AppleTV updates could be centralised in the Home app, like the HomePods. Then I wouldn’t have to tour the house updating them all individually!

That would be really nice! I also wish Apple would bring the Home app to the AppleTV.

 

[AgentOSX]

tvOS 16.3 is already annoying me to no end.

Unless I put the AppleTV manually to sleep, it now wakes up and turns on my televisions evey time it changes the screen saver.

HBO Max - already the WORST AppleTV app - is even worse now, with stutters and frozen picture as audio continues.

And I still have my Siri remote breaking the BT connection and the only way to restore it is to restart the AppleTV. This happens 2-3 times a week now. The remote works fine, then after 2 minutes of watching…the remote is no longer functional.

 

[Surf Monkey]

tvOS 16.3 is already annoying me to no end.

Unless I put the AppleTV manually to sleep, it now wakes up and turns on my televisions evey time it changes the screen saver.

HBO Max - already the WORST AppleTV app - is even worse now, with stutters and frozen picture as audio continues.

And I still have my Siri remote breaking the BT connection and the only way to restore it is to restart the AppleTV. This happens 2-3 times a week now. The remote works fine, then after 2 minutes of watching…the remote is no longer functional.

I just don’t get the strategy. Streaming platforms are still heavily competitive. Apple should be able to offer a well thought out and easily useful interface for the TV app. But no. They degrade it, make it less useful and introduce bugs. Lots of bugs. The egregious advertising for ATV shows is extremely un-Apple-like too. The whole TV strategy (and HomeKit) at Apple seems completely broken right now.

 

[DJMacmini]

The volume is louder.

 

[Lekendy]

tvOS 16.3 is already annoying me to no end.

Unless I put the AppleTV manually to sleep, it now wakes up and turns on my televisions evey time it changes the screen saver.

HBO Max - already the WORST AppleTV app - is even worse now, with stutters and frozen picture as audio continues.

And I still have my Siri remote breaking the BT connection and the only way to restore it is to restart the AppleTV. This happens 2-3 times a week now. The remote works fine, then after 2 minutes of watching…the remote is no longer functional.

My remote is not working after the update

 

[Surf Monkey]

My remote is not working after the update

Mine is intermittent.

 

[fredrik9]

it's for watching TV. What else do you want?

Yeah it is probably only updated so it can sync properly with all other devices.

 

[B/D]

Fantastic update for me. Smooth as butter and virtually bug free (no more remote issues). And if you use big Homepods as the default audio output of the Apple TV, you´re in for a treat.

The improved Homepod sound tuning (clearer midrange, AKA voices/dialogue, and crisper highs) on audioOS 16.3 -source, the actual release notes of 16.3- combined with the completely revamped Dolby Atmos stack/render engine of tvOS 16.3 -source, flatpanelshd.com-, has yield a BIG IMPROVEMENT. So much louder, crisper and fuller now.

I still prefer to have "reduce bass" on because I feel the sound signature is closer to reference with it enabled, but even with the extra bass thump, it sounds SO MUCH better than before.

Clearly this has been done in anticipation of the new big homepod release, but is very nice that Apple has been able to port the improvements (to an extent, I´m sure the new model will sound even better than the original homepod).

 

[AgentOSX]

I just don’t get the strategy. Streaming platforms are still heavily competitive. Apple should be able to offer a well thought out and easily useful interface for the TV app. But no. They degrade it, make it less useful and introduce bugs. Lots of bugs. The egregious advertising for ATV shows is extremely un-Apple-like too. The whole TV strategy (and HomeKit) at Apple seems completely broken right now.

Amazon has done a decent job with their add-on channels, keeping the Amazon interface and at least making it easy to navigate different services. I do not think Apple can legislate that for independent apps any more than Amazon can in fear of anti-trust actions.

My ire is mainly reserved for POS developers of POS streaming apps... and I am looking at you AMC+ and HBO Max. Even AppleTV app isn't that great, but at least it is navigable.

 

[benji888]

Siri Remote:

so I have an Apple TV HD that wasn’t set up for many months, and when I set it up again a few months ago, the Siri Remote isn’t working correctly. So I had hoped 16.3 would fix this, but, no, …so the remote will wake the atv if it’s asleep, but, when I start doing anything with it it will work for 0- a few clicks/swipes after this and then it just acts like it’s dead.

I may have spilled something on it way back when I put it away for a while (after I picked up a 1st gen ATV 4K), it doesn’t seem like any buttons are sticking or anything, but, I’ve had it a few years, I’m wondering if there’s a way to open it up and clean it? Anyone ifixit or other done this?

yes I’ve already tried all the resetting and re pairing options and charged it unplug ATV etc. All of it more than a couple times.