Apple Seeds First Beta of tvOS 11.3 to Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 11.3 update to developers for testing purposes, just a day after releasing the tvOS 11.2.5 update.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the tvOS 11.3 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

According to Apple's release notes, tvOS 11.3 includes bug fixes, new features, and security improvements, with a list available below:

- Enhancements to Match Content support.
- Automatic frame rate switching on Apple TV 4th Generation.
- Automatic mode switching for AirPlay video sessions.

tvOS 11.2.5, the previous tvOS update, featured no major outward-facing changes that were noticed by Apple TV users, appearing to instead include minor under-the-hood updates.

Article Link: Apple Seeds First Beta of tvOS 11.3 to Developers

 

[mariusignorello]

 

[mercybelcher]

Please tell what’s new in TVOS

 

[PhillyOM1]

Airplay 2!

 

[benji888]

"- Automatic frame rate switching on Apple TV 4th Generation." -YES, finally!


"- Automatic mode switching for AirPlay video sessions." ...what is this????

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Auto Frame Rate Switching - That's HUGE news for anyone who still has the ATV4!!! There's going to be a lot of happy owners

 

[errol]

Darn. Was hoping for enhanced bitstream audio.

 

[benji888]

Airplay 2!

apparently, not yet...still off in the future..."coming soon".


Whatever issue(s) they're having implementing AirPlay 2, it delayed the HomePod, I assume they had to redo the firmware for AirPlay (1) support, since it seemed like the HomePod was designed hand in hand with AirPlay 2.

 

[baine]

Where is the promised Dolby Atmos support?

 

[CrzyP]

Auto Frame Rate Switching - That's HUGE news for anyone who still has the ATV4!!! There's going to be a lot of happy owners

So this means 24p video on the non-4K ATV4?

 

[iReality85]

Where is the promised Dolby Atmos support?

HDMI 2.1 validation is to occur through Q2'18. By that point, tvOS 12 is right around the corner in Q3. We'll likely see firmware support added at that time for eARC (and Dolby Atmos), QMS, and VRR (maybe).

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1516615699

So this means 24p video on the non-4K ATV4?

That is correct (Gen5 is the ATV4K, Gen4 is the 1080p version- aka the first version- of the "new" ATV)

 

[Zimmy68]

Where is the promised Dolby Atmos support?

The silence is deafening. I think the longer we go without hearing anything, the less likely it will happen.

A great bullet point for the AppleTV4k 2 would be "now with Dolby Atmos Support!" isn't it?

 

[munpip214]

HDMI 2.1 validation is to occur through Q2'18. By that point, tvOS 12 is right around the corner in Q3. We'll likely see firmware support added at that time for eARC (and Dolby Atmos), QMS, and VRR (maybe).

Unfortunately I don't think a firmware update will enable the apple tv to support hdmi 2.1. This is a significant change and will most likely require a new apple tv rev. Supporting significantly higher bandwidth as well as dynamically changing refresh rates would usually be hardware change to the processor media unit.

That said, there isn't any reason why Dolby Atmos can't be supported today.

 

[iReality85]

Unfortunately I don't think a firmware update will enable the apple tv to support hdmi 2.1. This is a significant change and will most likely require a new apple tv rev. Supporting significantly higher bandwidth as well as dynamically changing refresh rates would usually be hardware change to the processor media unit.

That said, there isn't any reason why Dolby Atmos can't be supported today.

Some key features of HDMI 2.1 can be applied through firmware updates (follow the link I provided in my previous post for a read-through of the features and what they are).

That said, it's at the manufacturer's discretion whether or not to deploy HDMI 2.1 features like eARC, QMS, and VRR to their HDMI 2.0/a/b devices. Apple will likely do so with the ATV4K 2017.

As for Dolby Atmos, it's doable even over HDMI 1.4, but many consider DA and eARC as going hand-in-hand as eARC makes DA set up much easier. My guess is that's Apple's approach, and that's why we haven't seen added support yet.

 

[gotluck]

Auto Frame Rate Switching - That's HUGE news for anyone who still has the ATV4!!! There's going to be a lot of happy owners

seriously did not expect this! nice surprise!

 

[superduperultra]

Anyone know if the Panasonic Viera Plasma's will support Auto Frame Rate Switching to 24p?

 

[andrewstirling]

Where is the promised Dolby Atmos support?

Was never promised.

 

[4jasontv]

How about flipping the function of the remote buttons if held upside down?

 

[andrewstirling]

Anyone know if the Panasonic Viera Plasma's will support Auto Frame Rate Switching to 24p?

I can’t see why it wouldn’t? It works for other sources

 

[4jasontv]

Was never promised.

Define promise. They told the Verge "the lack of Atmos isn’t a hardware limitation, and that support is on the roadmap." People may have read Apple's words and included that in a buying decision.

 

[ErikGrim]

Was never promised.

https://www.cultofmac.com/504227/apple-promises-dolby-atmos-coming-apple-tv-4k/

 

[Mac 128]

"- Automatic mode switching for AirPlay video sessions." ...what is this????

I hope this goes hand in hand with "Enhancements to Match Content Support". Hopefully auto switching between 720p, 1080p and 4K, as well as frame rate and SDR/HDR/DV.

Unlike Apple TV content which streams the proper resolution for the selected resolution, a Phone or Mac might be playing back a different resolution than the ATV is set to display. Having the ATV auto match the proper resolution would solve all kinds of issues for me.

 

[andrewstirling]

https://www.cultofmac.com/504227/apple-promises-dolby-atmos-coming-apple-tv-4k/

This is based on a verge story quoting an unnamed source. It’s no more than hearsay

 

[andrewstirling]

Define promise. They told the Verge "the lack of Atmos isn’t a hardware limitation, and that support is on the roadmap." People may have read Apple's words and included that in a buying decision.

Who told the verge? Give me a name?

Essentially the verge asked ‘someone’ at Apple. I could pop into an Apple Genius Bar and get a whole range of information some of which is accurate,some of which isn’t.

 

[zooby]

"- Automatic frame rate switching on Apple TV 4th Generation." -YES, finally!


"- Automatic mode switching for AirPlay video sessions." ...what is this????

Auto Frame Rate Switching - That's HUGE news for anyone who still has the ATV4!!! There's going to be a lot of happy owners

ATV 4th generation owner here. What will this improve exactly and how would this help when viewing content? Will it be smoother overall or save energy? Don't seem to understand this feature.