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Five New Features Coming in tvOS 18 This Fall

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Alongside iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and the other fall updates, Apple plans to release an updated version of tvOS. Apple TV software updates often don't get much attention because they tend to introduce a limited number of new features, but there are some interesting additions coming this year.


  1. InSight - InSight is like Amazon X-ray, providing information about actors, character, and music from Apple TV+ movies and shows in real-time. If you pause a show that's playing, you can see details on the actors, the song that's playing, and more. If you're using an iPhone as a remote for an Apple TV, you can get InSight information right on your phone. Note that this feature only works with Apple TV+ content right now.
  2. Enhance Dialogue and Subtitles - Enhance Dialogue is setting that already exists, but Apple is making it better with machine learning and computational audio improvements. It'll be better at improving vocal clarity over loud music, action scenes, and background noise. Plus Apple updated it so it works with HDMI-connected speakers, when playing content on iPhone and iPad, when using AirPods, and with other Bluetooth audio devices. As a bonus, Apple is also improving subtitles, so they'll appear intelligently such as when content is muted or when a TV show or movie is rewound.
  3. FaceTime Updates - When you use FaceTime with your Apple TV with an iPhone or iPad as the camera, you can now see real-time Live Captions during the call. This works in English in the United States and Canada. Semi-related, there is a new option to use SharePlay so everyone can contribute songs to a party playlist by scanning a QR code.
  4. New Screen Savers - Apple is adding new screen saver options, including Portraits (shows your Portrait images), TV and Movies, and Snoopy.
  5. Projector Support - If you have a projector, you'll be pleased to hear that tvOS 18 adds support for the 21:9 aspect ratio used by most projectors.
What do you think of the new features coming in tvOS 18? Let us know in the comments below.

Article Link: Five New Features Coming in tvOS 18 This Fall
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/08/16/tvos-18-five-features/
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It's easily one of my most used devices – I would love it to do much more but, like HomeKit, the updates are so so incremental. Most of these are a stretch and 'Projector Support' (which I use for one of my ATVs for years) is a bit disingenuous when, like your description says, it's only for a certain aspect ratio.

People always say "what more could it do?" Come on, people, use your imagination.
 
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Meh..nothing worth getting excited over.

I don't even have my 4k hooked to a TV. It's plugged into a network switch in my basement to be a Homekit hub.
 
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If the InSight UI is better than current XRay in the browser I might switch. XRay used to be enjoyable when watching Prime using a browser because you opened XRay, found out what you wanted, closed it, and you were back to the show. Now you click on a cast member, and you get a sidebar on the right with the video still showing/playing. Need to pause, then click on the small tabs in the sidebar to access the bio, photos, etc. Also Amazon limits what is shown via IMDB (Amazon owned) to stuff that is available via Prime (e.g. a from of advertising). Need to place an actor in a show not in Prime, need to click a "more" button. Luckily I watch most Prime videos on a very old iPad where the Prime UI is still the old one. I think Amazon must have a "******tification" score wherein if a UI employee gets a high score he/she gets on the promotion fast track. E.g. the "Photos" UI in IMDB is now an infinite scroll vs. the old "pages" UI. Scroll halfway down a popular actor's photos, and forget to click "open in new tab", and you will start at the top of the inifite scroll when you close the single photo view. WTF. Netflix is nearly as as bad. Perchance Apple designs its InSight UI with users in mind. I hope so.
 
I'm confused by the projector support - I thought the native aspect ratio of HD and 4K was 16:9 so a wider ratio just has black bars top and bottom. This certainly fills my screen from side to side. Not sure I understand how an 18:9 ratio would display films better.
 
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Duncan-UK said:
I'm confused by the projector support - I thought the native aspect ratio of HD and 4K was 16:9 so a wider ratio just has black bars top and bottom. This certainly fills my screen from side to side. Not sure I understand how an 18:9 ratio would display films better.
Click to expand...
Many with projectors squeeze the image and use anamorphic lenses to retire it to maximize resolution. They also often go constant height with a 2.35:1 ratio screen and mask the sides for narrower aspect ratios. This is for them.
 
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tvOS doesn't really have much love since the very first day it has been released in 2015...
Back then, they were years ahead of the competition, nowadays everyone has caught up.
Oh well, I'm used to it, and I still prefer it over anything else.
 
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nothing...

top wish is probably fix the apps. Even their apps.

Their MLS app is way too busy. And they bury replays at the very bottom of the UI. And even though one checks the don't show the score option, there's tons of highlights on the UI basically saying which team won if you don't unfocus your eyes.

And then why not help the other guys write better apps for your platform? I mean it would help attract more people to the platform at least. I feel like basically every app except maybe Netflix could use some obvious work.

Apple mostly seems to have the skills to make a good app altho you can't tell with the MLS app.
 
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My iPad 7 isn't compatible with the ATV FaceTime. Guess I need a new/used iPad.
iPad and ATV are the only 2 products from Apple I have.
Roku also has a feature to choose the size of the icons. Two choices. Volume leveling as well.
I've never considered a projector. HD and 4K TVs are 16:9.
We watch Turner Classic Movies a lot and there are bars top and bottom when a movie is Ultra Wide Screen.
That is the 21:9 ratio and a projector would be capable.
Movies have been in wide screen of some sort since about 1953.
It is still a situation where things work best with other Apple Products.
I can mirror my iPad to my Roku.
 
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