Apple Seeds Eighth Beta of Upcoming tvOS 13 Update to Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded eighth beta of an upcoming tvOS 13 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the seventh beta and more than two months after unveiling the tvOS 13 software at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the new tvOS 13 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

tvOS 13 introduces an updated Home screen aimed at making it easier to discover new content. Apps are now able to play full-screen video previews on the Home screen, similar to Netflix.

Multi-user support is available for the first time, letting more than one profile exist on the Apple TV so each family member can have their own customized Apple TV interface with separate recommendations, music playlists, and Watch Now lists.

Switching between profiles can be done with the new Control Center, which offers up profiles, the time and date, search, a Now Playing widget, AirPlay controls, and a sleep option.

tvOS 13 gets the Apple TV ready for Apple Arcade, Apple's new gaming service that's coming to the Apple TV, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS later this year. Apple Arcade will offer unlimited access to more than 100 new and exclusive games, for one subscription fee.

As part of the Apple Arcade preparations, Apple has implemented support for the Xbox Wireless Bluetooth Controller and the PlayStation DualShock 4 Controller, both of which can be connected to an Apple TV over Bluetooth.

There are new under the sea themed screensavers created in partnership with the BBC Natural History Unit, which also created "Blue Planet." There's also a new Picture-in-Picture feature. Picture-in-Picture lets you continue to watch TV shows or movies while using a different app, adjusting settings, or otherwise navigating through the tvOS 13 operating system.

tvOS 13 is available to registered developers and public beta testers at this time and will see an official public launch this fall alongside iOS 13, iPadOS, macOS Catalina, and watchOS 6.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Eighth Beta of Upcoming tvOS 13 Update to Developers

 

[dugbug]

I wish we could tell the tv app to only show content we pay for.

 

[unfunfionn]

I wish we could tell the tv app to only show content we pay for.

Right. Otherwise it's basically ads directly on the home screen in place of the extremely useful Up Next feature.

Frankly I hate what they've done with top shelf on the TV and Music apps. I really hope they add the option to disable the full screen advertisements. Otherwise both apps will go into the dreaded Apple folder at the bottom.

 

[JMAndiSmith]

The user profiles is pretty useless. I buy all the movies and TV shows on my profile so my kids need to do a silly workaround to get access to my movies via iTunes Store.

my kids hate it and rather just use my profile and I get it. I hate it too.

Easy solution. Make all movies and tv shows available in the TV App library.

 

[Eorlas]

looking forward to more bug fixes and performance improvements. there's a jailbreak for tvOS 12.4 now; have half a mind to take my atv 4k in for a downgrade.

 

[2010mini]

I wish we could tell the tv app to only show content we pay for.

Which store you know does that?

 

[ButteryScrollin]

Frankly I hate what they've done with top shelf on the TV and Music apps. I really hope they add the option to disable the full screen advertisements. Otherwise both apps will go into the dreaded Apple folder at the bottom.

yeah I want the Up next queue back. tuned on the Apple TV yesterday to put something on for my 2 year old, and it started a full screen trailer for Jon Wick 3 of people getting stab :/

 

[BWhaler]

I wish we could tell the tv app to only show content we pay for.

Agreed. AppleTV has become one big advertisement.

Such a shame. There used to be a time when Apple had better taste than to follow PC makers down the rat hole of loading crapware on their devices. Now, Apple the services company, is compromising user experience for revenue.

Reminds me of the US automakers. And once the ethos is gone and the marketing suits and “engagement/conversion/community managers” take over, the magic is gone.

 

[iDento]

Which store you know does that?

The Apple TV is a hardware, not a store. And, it's not a cheap one.

 

[JMAndiSmith]

The Apple TV is a hardware, not a store. And, it's not a cheap one.

it is actually pretty cheap if you also consider it a gaming platform. I have several games that use MFI controllers and my kids have a blast. If I bought a gaming unit like PS4, XBOX or Nintendo, I would be out twice the price of my Apple TV 4K and the controllers.

Apple Arcade is goi g to take my Apple TV and make it even greater.

 

[HMFIC03]

Was the picture in picture on the previous public beta? If so I never figured out how to enable it

 

[JMAndiSmith]

Was the picture in picture on the previous public beta? If so I never figured out how to enable it

Yes it was but it had bugs.

 

[PastaPrimav]

The user profiles is pretty useless. I buy all the movies and TV shows on my profile so my kids need to do a silly workaround to get access to my movies via iTunes Store.

my kids hate it and rather just use my profile and I get it. I hate it too.

Easy solution. Make all movies and tv shows available in the TV App library.

Yeah it is really ridiculous. They've intentionally made it difficult to tempt people into buying the same movie twice, while pretending to offer Family Sharing.

And I'm sure any attempt they make to improve the user experience gets put under a microscope by the license holders of the content (aka the scum of the earth).

 

[TacoChowder]

If I bought a gaming unit like PS4, XBOX or Nintendo, I would be out twice the price of my Apple TV 4K and the controllers.

A PS4 is $250
An XBox is $20 off craigslist
Nintendo is $43 billion

They all would, theoretically, come with controllers

 

[PastaPrimav]

I wish we could tell the tv app to only show content we pay for.

You're not kidding. FILTERS are what the TV app needs, more than anything else. But that would get in the way of advertising content you haven't paid for yet.

None of the content providers want anyone to know how much content is actually available, they want to pretend it is limitless. So other common sense things like an A - Z list of every Movie and TV show you have already paid for and are entitled to watch from all connected services is out of the question. Imagine how useful that would be? And how easy? But nope, that won't happen, because it has nothing to do with you and your experience, it is all about how to milk as much money from you.

 

[JMAndiSmith]

A PS4 is $250
An XBox is $20 off craigslist
Nintendo is $43 billion

They all would, theoretically, come with controllers

not in Canada

 

[Kev0172]

it is actually pretty cheap if you also consider it a gaming platform. I have several games that use MFI controllers and my kids have a blast. If I bought a gaming unit like PS4, XBOX or Nintendo, I would be out twice the price of my Apple TV 4K and the controllers.

Apple Arcade is goi g to take my Apple TV and make it even greater.

Keen to get me 4 year old in to gaming and was thinking of testing the water with Apple TV. What games have you found that work?

 

[unfunfionn]

it is actually pretty cheap if you also consider it a gaming platform. I have several games that use MFI controllers and my kids have a blast. If I bought a gaming unit like PS4, XBOX or Nintendo, I would be out twice the price of my Apple TV 4K and the controllers.

Apple Arcade is goi g to take my Apple TV and make it even greater.

I mean that's nice if you're interested in gaming. Then it's a good deal. But many of us have 0% interest in gaming and we'd like the core TV functionality to be designed thoughtfully and be functional. A €200 device with advertising on the top of the home screen is so below Apple, or at least it used to be.

 

[2010mini]

The Apple TV is a hardware, not a store. And, it's not a cheap one.

You comment was about the TV App... I responded to that.

The Tv App is a store. Like all stores its purpose is to show you content you did not know you want.

 

[unfunfionn]

You comment was about the TV App... I responded to that.

The Tv App is a store. Like all stores its purpose is to show you content you did not know you want.

Perhaps I misunderstood, but it wasn’t always marketed as a store. It was an app for amalgamating multiple sources into one place. They are actively changing that this year, yes, but there’s justified cognitive dissonance for some people. After all there are two dedicated video store apps already on the device...

 

[Ar40]

A PS4 is $250
An XBox is $20 off craigslist
Nintendo is $43 billion

They all would, theoretically, come with controllers

Most underrated comment ever.

 

[dallastigers]

You comment was about the TV App... I responded to that.

The Tv App is a store. Like all stores its purpose is to show you content you did not know you want.

That’s not how it was described but that’s what’s it’s become. Also that’s just one job of a store. If I can’t find what I want i will not even show up to be told what i didn’t know i wanted. It’s also doing a poor job of showing me stuff I want to watch anyway or giving me an option to tell them i don’t like a show or category, but I guess a good job showing me stuff Apple TV app team want me to watch or that they like.

I have moved it down and directly use apps again as they are easier to find things to watch (including Apple Movie app). The one feature it should have had going for it with profiles - to quickly start an up next que from main screen based on user profile - has been replaced to advertise shows I don’t have or don’t want to have or much less have the app downloaded and linked to the TV app.

I expected some add on shows and channels to be pushed in a set area like Prime does, but this is a hot mess and unlike prime’s label to show what’s in prime and mostly pushing included programming on main page TV app can have lines with stuff being recommended or pushed that I own or subscribe mixed in with stuff I don’t and you don’t know until you waste your time going to the details to find out how to watch it. I have to scroll down half the page to get a section of apps linked and even then I cannot remove shows I have zero interest in. It then goes back to pushing stuff that mostly add on or completely of no use to us and no way to communicate this (submitted feedback twice). It’s just easier to go straight to the apps.

Again it’s nothing like described.
“All your TV. All in one app.”
“Take control of your channels.”
“Personalization. Like you’ve never seen it.”
https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app/

 

[2010mini]

K

Perhaps I misunderstood, but it wasn’t always marketed as a store. It was an app for amalgamating multiple sources into one place. They are actively changing that this year, yes, but there’s justified cognitive dissonance for some people. After all there are two dedicated video store apps already on the device...

Store doesn’t always denote sales.

This was said to give you recommendations based on what you watch. The TV App is one place to track all your content and IF (looking at you Netflix) 3rd party services supported the TV App, recommendations to content they provide that match your criteria would be highlighted to you.

Personally I discovered content from the TV app available on Epix and STARZ I did not see while using the Individual apps.

 

[dugbug]

You comment was about the TV App... I responded to that.

The Tv App is a store. Like all stores its purpose is to show you content you did not know you want.

Prior to iOS 12 “channels” it was about integration of your content

 

[unfunfionn]

K
Store doesn’t always denote sales.

This was said to give you recommendations based on what you watch. The TV App is one place to track all your content and IF (looking at you Netflix) 3rd party services supported the TV App, recommendations to content they provide that match your criteria would be highlighted to you.

Personally I discovered content from the TV app available on Epix and STARZ I did not see while using the Individual apps.

I think equating a recommendation engine with a store is a real stretch. But honestly, making changes is fine but it needs to be done properly. Switching from a recommendation or collection app into one that shows full screen advertisements on the home screen, for movies that you have to pay for, is a poor effort. It's business case at the expense of use case.