tvOS 15.5 released

[w5jck]

Apple released tvOS 15.5 today, so if you are having issues with earlier versions you probably should update.

I updated to it. It takes about 5-10 minutes is all. When it finishes and the screen returns to the TV, the remote will likely not work for another few minutes. That is typical of tvOS updates and the newest remote. I think they push a separate update to the remote after updating the ATV. So far everything seems to work okay. I doubt this is much of an update, so don’t expect new features. Maybe they fixed a few bugs, or maybe they just want to keep the naming scheme matching all their other 15.5 OSes they released today.

 

[mallbritton]

One new feature I know is in tvOS 15.5 is support for "captive" Wi Fi networks. Like in hotels.

 

[w5jck]

One new feature I know is in tvOS 15.5 is support for "captive" Wi Fi networks. Like in hotels.

No, that was actually added in the last release, 15.4.1.

 

[Juicy Box]

I doubt this is much of an update, so don’t expect new features. Maybe they fixed a few bugs

Probably "under the hood" improvements.....

It is quite amazing with how little tvOS has changed since its launch in 2015, yet there are so many updates.

It would be fine if each update improved on bugs, but many seem to add more bugs and make things a lot more unstable, all while hardly added any new features.

Of course another update might fix the bugs that was added with an earlier update, but I can't help but feel like some updates are pushed just for the sake to push an update.

or maybe they just want to keep the naming scheme matching all their other 15.5 OSes they released today.

You might be on to something.

 

[-Gonzo-]

Only thing I’ve noticed was upon opening the Movies app it said Welcome To Films on iTunes.
I don’t recall them using the term films before, anyone know if it’s always said that previously on this screen or have they changed it?

 

[priitv8]

I have not checked yet, but I hope they have fixed the Shuffle play bug in the Computers app.
It stopped working just couple of releases ago.
Now, if you open an Artist and press Play or Shuffle, it will not shuffle your selected artist but starts to shuffle your full library.
Very annoying bug.

 

[orbital~debris]

Only thing I’ve noticed was upon opening the Movies app it said Welcome To Films on iTunes.
I don’t recall them using the term films before, anyone know if it’s always said that previously on this screen or have they changed it?

I think this is a localisation for places other than the USA. I’ve seen Apple use the term Films instead of Movies elsewhere on UK devices (I think it’s part of the same initiative that got the Trash renamed Bin…)

 

[Gator5000e]

I'm still mad Apple got rid of Photostream on Apple TV. I don't want to use iCloud photos. No idea why, I just don't.

 

[w5jck]

I'm still mad Apple got rid of Photostream on Apple TV. I don't want to use iCloud photos. No idea why, I just don't.

Photos via iCloud is pretty much crap. Apparently it was developed by people who don’t understand photography, photo albums, color depth, etc. On the ATV 4K the Photos app only displays photos in 8-bit color, so you wind up with color banding. It is really stupid on Apples part to put an 8-bit color Photo app on a device made for 4K TVs capable of 10-bit (and higher) color depth.

 

[priitv8]

Installed 15.5 and tested, the Artist play/shuffle bug persists.

 

[jwolf6589]

Apple released tvOS 15.5 today, so if you are having issues with earlier versions you probably should update.

I updated to it. It takes about 5-10 minutes is all. When it finishes and the screen returns to the TV, the remote will likely not work for another few minutes. That is typical of tvOS updates and the newest remote. I think they push a separate update to the remote after updating the ATV. So far everything seems to work okay. I doubt this is much of an update, so don’t expect new features. Maybe they fixed a few bugs, or maybe they just want to keep the naming scheme matching all their other 15.5 OSes they released today.

I noticed a change in that before when watching content I could hit the pause button and then the back button to exit but know that is not required and all I have to do is hit the back button and it exits to the home screen.

 

[jwolf6589]

Photos via iCloud is pretty much crap. Apparently it was developed by people who don’t understand photography, photo albums, color depth, etc. On the ATV 4K the Photos app only displays photos in 8-bit color, so you wind up with color banding. It is really stupid on Apples part to put an 8-bit color Photo app on a device made for 4K TVs capable of 10-bit (and higher) color depth.

I beg to differ. I use the photos app almost daily or whenever I shoot photos and I like it.

 

[jwolf6589]

Probably "under the hood" improvements.....

It is quite amazing with how little tvOS has changed since its launch in 2015, yet there are so many updates.

It would be fine if each update improved on bugs, but many seem to add more bugs and make things a lot more unstable, all while hardly added any new features.

Of course another update might fix the bugs that was added with an earlier update, but I can't help but feel like some updates are pushed just for the sake to push an update.



You might be on to something.

Actually TVOS has changed allot since then. I did have a ATV 3 at one time and boy this 4K model is much faster and TVOS much better than the ATV 3 OS.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Atmos bug appears to be not fixed, according to other comments on reddit.

 

[priitv8]

Atmos bug appears to be not fixed, according to other comments on reddit.

Pardon my ignorance, but what was the Atmos bug about?

 

[oneMadRssn]

Pardon my ignorance, but what was the Atmos bug about?

Some Apple TV Users Complain of Dolby Atmos Audio Issues

A cluster of Apple TV owners over the last several months have been complaining about several issues when using external speakers with the Apple TV...

www.macrumors.com

Basically, some people experience weird audio drop-outs and screen flickering when watching Atmos content. Seems to happen most with Netflix, but happens in other apps with Atmos too. Disabling Atmos in settings alleviates the problems.

 

[Juicy Box]

It is quite amazing with how little tvOS has changed since its launch in 2015, yet there are so many updates.

Actually TVOS has changed allot since then.

Like what? Night mode? New Aerials? Prime Video?

Most of the changes should have been there at launch, such as night mode, increased app static storage limit, removing the Siri Remote requirement for apps, etc.

I did have a ATV 3 at one time and boy this 4K model is much faster and TVOS much better than the ATV 3 OS.

Maybe you are confusing the OS on ATV3 with tvOS.

ATV3 didn't have tvOS, it what Apple called Apple TV Software and it is based on iOS.

tvOS launched with the ATV4 in 2015.

You can't say that tvOS has changed a lot, and use the differences between it and the OS on ATV3 as the example of how much it has changed.

You could say that tvOS has changed a lot from the 12 year old OS on the ATV3, but haven't changed much since its launch in 2015. I would agree with this statement.

 

[-Gonzo-]

Like what? Night mode? New Aerials? Prime Video?

I guess it all depends on what your definition of a lot is but Match Frame Rate & Match Dynamic Range weren’t there at launch on the ATV4K, neither was Dolby Atmos.
Separate profiles, Control Centre and the ATV app were also later additions.
I’m sure looking back you’d find there’s been other changes with tvOS since the ATV4 launch.

 

[Juicy Box]

I guess it all depends on what your definition of a lot is but Match Frame Rate & Match Dynamic Range weren’t there at launch on the ATV4K, neither was Dolby Atmos.
Separate profiles, Control Centre and the ATV app were also later additions.
I’m sure looking back you’d find there’s been other changes with tvOS since the ATV4 launch.

You are right, there are things that have changed, and it totally depends on what one considers "a lot".

But, I was comparing the amount of changes to the amount of updates the tvOS gets. tvOS gets quite a bit of updates, seems like just as much as iOS and MacOS.

Would you say the level at which tvOS has changed since its launch in 2015 is even anywhere close to the level of changes that iOS (iOS 9 in 2015) or MacOS (El Capitan in 2015) has had in the same amount of time?

Also, it sounded like @jwolf6589 was saying that since the OS is very different on the ATV4 and ATV4k from the ATV3, that means that tvOS has change a lot since 2015.

 

[Powerbooky]

Hmmm... Safari feels snappier...

I noticed a change in that before when watching content I could hit the pause button and then the back button to exit but know that is not required and all I have to do is hit the back button and it exits to the home screen.

Uhm... on our ATV 4K that always was the case.

 

[priitv8]

Basically, some people experience weird audio drop-outs and screen flickering when watching Atmos content. Seems to happen most with Netflix, but happens in other apps with Atmos too. Disabling Atmos in settings alleviates the problems.

Ok, I see. Strangely enough, I have never experienced it and I've been using Atmos since day 1 on tvOS.
Only Atmos-related issue, that I can report, is the lack of gapless playback.

 

[B/D]

Some Apple TV Users Complain of Dolby Atmos Audio Issues

A cluster of Apple TV owners over the last several months have been complaining about several issues when using external speakers with the Apple TV...

www.macrumors.com

Basically, some people experience weird audio drop-outs and screen flickering when watching Atmos content. Seems to happen most with Netflix, but happens in other apps with Atmos too. Disabling Atmos in settings alleviates the problems.

Its fixed for me on my equipment. On 15.4, I had popping even with my internal tv speakers (I normally use my stereo paired original homepods for apple tv watching, which also suffered this issue) on Atmos content, and even with non Atmos content in certains apps (like HBO Max). I even had volume fluctuations mid content sometimes.


Now its gone with 15.5.


It appears that its not fixed with certain soundbars or traditional home theaters equipment.

 

[w5jck]

You are right, there are things that have changed, and it totally depends on what one considers "a lot".

But, I was comparing the amount of changes to the amount of updates the tvOS gets. tvOS gets quite a bit of updates, seems like just as much as iOS and MacOS.

Would you say the level at which tvOS has changed since its launch in 2015 is even anywhere close to the level of changes that iOS (iOS 9 in 2015) or MacOS (El Capitan in 2015) has had in the same amount of time?

Also, it sounded like @jwolf6589 was saying that since the OS is very different on the ATV4 and ATV4k from the ATV3, that means that tvOS has change a lot since 2015.

I wouldn't confuse feature updates with bug updates. Mostly tvOS gets bug updates. There is no excuse for having the various Apple OSes already at 15.5 less than a year from their introductions. To have 5 major level 1 updates indicates poor planning and massive bug infestations. There will always be security updates, but those should be level 2 or lower.

 

[w5jck]

I beg to differ. I use the photos app almost daily or whenever I shoot photos and I like it.

We will have to agree to disagree on this point. I think you have the bar set really low on Photos, whereas I set it really high. Apple claims to be a leader in the creative fields, yet their Photos app is pathetic compared to most others in the industry. Sure, it is okay for viewing selfies and other amateur types of photos, but for people who want professional looking quality it fails miserably. A device that is designed to display video and photos in 10-bit color depth (1 billion colors) should be able to display photos in the Photos app at more than 8-bit color depth (16.7 million colors). With 8-bit photos you get a lot of color banding and the colors are not vibrant. Photos app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac all easily display 10-bit photos in 10-bits (assuming the monitor supports it), but the ATV 4K only displays them in 8-bit which makes them look like poor quality images.