Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of tvOS 16.4 to Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a week after the launch of the third tvOS 16.4 beta.

Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 16.4 update by downloading a profile on the Apple TV using Xcode.

tvOS updates are usually minor, 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 16.4 update, but we'll update this article if we find anything new.

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

Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.


Article Link: Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of tvOS 16.4 to Developers

 

[Realityck]

I case you haven't noticed they incorporated content HUD into tvOS developer menu the last couple of betas. That allows you to see the stats related to bitrate, ECT, against streaming content.

 

[hirshnoc]

I'm guessing watchOS, macOS, iOS, HomePod OS, and iPadOS articles are in this forum's immediate future?

 

[Realityck]

No notes yet, but its tvOS 16.4 beta 4 (20L5490a)

 

[madmin]

Yay ! I can't wait for all these new betas !


(I don't install any of them, just enjoy reading about all the bugs)

 

[MLVC]

Hope that fixes the connection issues because the last beta of tvOS was crap. Connection constantly dropping, needing to restart the device.

 

[norbinhouston]

Hope they fix the bug for handbrake's new Apple presets.

 

[nrose101]

There is an issue with seeing downloaded movies from a Mac on the Apple TV. The format change in the Apple TV app on Mac has caused the movies to no longer appear under the computer icon. Hopefully this gets fixed soon!

 

[wwinter86]

Since the build number ends in A should it be the RC version now?

 

[orbital~debris]

Still looking forward to a day when MacRumors boilerplate statement:

tvOS updates are usually minor, focusing on internal bug fixes and improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes.

is obsolete following a change of approach & pace from Apple with regards tvOS.

 

[Chazak]

Probably will brick remotes like 16.3.2 did.

 

[entropys]

To be fair, 16.3.3 seemed to fix the remote lost connection issue. Yes there is a risk 16.3.4 backtracks, But I personally am very grateful that Apple eventually deigned to fix a problem it created.

 

[LlamaLarry]

Definitely hoping for a fix in this beta. Since 16.4 my Sonos arc has been having a really hard time staying connected. On b3 it is connected, but the ATV thinks it is outputting sound to "TV Speakers" and thus the remote controls my TV and not my Sonos... which sucks. lol. Of course, prior to this I would just randomly drop audio completely unless I had Change Format on to disable Atmos, so sound but no volume control is a step forward at least.

 

[Kal Madda]

WHERE’S IOS 16.4 BETA 4? If there’s a new beta for TVOS, why is there not new beta’s for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS? This seems rather odd…

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

They keep plugging away with this don't they. I find it fascinating, they would keep it on life support like they do

 

[dfwiddoc]

Silly me for thinking that the purpose of this comment section was for folks to share with others new features or bugs they notice with these beta updates.

The cynical, desultory replies about the articles on this forum (and Apple products in general) honestly make me wonder why anyone on here installs these beta cycles to begin with? And if you think Apple is so incompetent, then why are you still coming here in the first place? Android devices are plentiful after all (there’s just no convenient target to bitch about how comparatively clumsy and inept they are).

It’s well-established that these hot-off-the-presses announcements of new beta releases are information-free clickbait articles to begin with, and the comments heckling both them and Apple products in general are as tiresome and cliched as what they’re criticizing, IMHO (at least the incessant requests for how to install OTA AirPods firmware are sincere)!

If anyone finds anything new in this latest update, kindly share. I’ll happily sort through all the usual dreck to look for them, thanks!

 

[dfwiddoc]

WHERE’S IOS 16.4 BETA 4? If there’s a new beta for TVOS, why is there not new beta’s for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS? This seems rather odd…

It’s not uncommon for there to be interim updates for certain device segments out of sync with others. TVOS and HomePod firmwares are unified—same as iOS and iPadOS updates. MacOS updates and WatchOS updates often run on a separate release cycle altogether, for the most part—although WatchOS tends to be more tightly linked to iOS releases.

Either way based on the release letters I think we should be seeing an official release quite soon!

 

[dfwiddoc]

Definitely hoping for a fix in this beta. Since 16.4 my Sonos arc has been having a really hard time staying connected. On b3 it is connected, but the ATV thinks it is outputting sound to "TV Speakers" and thus the remote controls my TV and not my Sonos... which sucks. lol. Of course, prior to this I would just randomly drop audio completely unless I had Change Format on to disable Atmos, so sound but no volume control is a step forward at least.

I’ve noticed some similar issues with my Arc. Sonos just released a really buggy firmware cycle of their own so I’m not sure whose issue it is to be honest!

 

[Sam Squanch]

AppleTV updates are the worst these days. Every time it gets updated it messes with my remote or other oddities. Lately, I get a pop-up telling me to accept the new terms and conditions to iCloud. It just randomly pops up whenever and wherever, it is very, very annoying. You'd think with Apple pushing hard into subscription services- especially AppleTV+ - they'd take more care in their own products updates and how it is affecting the end user.

I used to love my AppleTV, but this year, it has been a crappy experience more than a normal one, which isn't good. I cannot recommend AppleTV to anyone because of this.

 

[StephN999]

Hello,

I got this update yesterday, I don't test beta and I don't have a developer account (AppleTV14,1).

any idea?

Thank you.

 

[Realityck]

Hello,

I got this update yesterday, I don't test beta and I don't have a developer account (AppleTV14,1).

any idea?

Thank you.

If you have update to betas enabled you will receive Public beta tester seeds. That was released a few hours later then to devs the previous day. Haven't had any real issues with tVOS 16.4 betas.

 

[StephN999]

Thank you for your answer.
I had already registered my Apple Tv but this is not the case, hence my question.

 

[LlamaLarry]

I’ve noticed some similar issues with my Arc. Sonos just released a really buggy firmware cycle of their own so I’m not sure whose issue it is to be honest!

I opened a ticket with Sonos as well but they were mostly like "change your HDMI cables and get back to us". No improvement with my TV Speakers+no Sonos volume control with b4, but at least the sound is still not dropping out.