tvOS 15 Rumors and Wishes

[nutmac]

Some of the cited rumors:

• Home Screen design refresh.
• Major App Store redesign.
• Screen Time with child profile.
• Fitness+ with Multi-user support, more statistics.
• Expanded Siri capabilities.
• New Safari app.
• For developers, tvOS app templates to accelerate tvOS app development.

My wishes:

• Spatial Audio for supported AirPods.
• Home Screen Banner for games, video, and other apps.
• Full HDMI 2.1 support for Apple TV 4K (2nd generation), such as ALLM, QMS, and VRR.
• Simplified TV Setup. I should not have to know that SDR 60 kHz with match dynamic range and frame rate are the best settings for my TV. tvOS should run a test (much like it does with HDMI cable test) and automatically determine and set settings, at least for HomeKit TVs.
• Color Balance 2.0. Advanced mode with profiles for different TV technology (e.g., LCD CCFL, LCD Quantum Dot), contrast and brightness adjustment using iPhone and TV's settings.
• Game Video Mode. For best frame rates, most games should be rendered at 1080p, not 4K, then upscaled to 4K. Xbox Series S does this.
• Screensavers support match dynamic range and frame rate settings.
• Systemwide Dialog Normalization so that audio levels remain sane for late night viewing.
• Improved Home Control Center, with ability to view all accessories in the same room as Apple TV.
• Home(Kit) Hub improvements, such as assigning more work to standby hubs, such as video processing, historical activity logging, and background status update.
• Daily Briefing that summarizes your day, weather, calendar, reminders, and breaking news.

 

[ScrumpyDaniel]

Good shout on the screensavers supporting match range & frame rate! Being in the UK having my ATV set to 50hz, the screensavers juddering really gets to me haha!

 

[dz5b609]

Good shout on the screensavers supporting match range & frame rate! Being in the UK having my ATV set to 50hz, the screensavers juddering really gets to me haha!

Just set it to 60hz, there's almost no reason to put it to 50hz if you have frame matching enabled.

 

[SkiHound2]

The default TV setup is a serious issue, IMO. Out of the box image quality on my comparatively low end TV was not good. I saw a quick video on optimal settings, changed to SDR 60hz and match dynamic range and frame rate. Changed those and it made a world of difference. Was intending to return it if I hadn't found those settings. I also want spatial audio. Otherwise I'm happy with the device.

 

[AL2TEACH]

Apple states it's 2.1 HDMI then it should be what it states.

 

[JeffPerrin]

• For developers, tvOS app templates to accelerate tvOS app development.

It's actually easier to develop for tvOS than iOS. The issue with the lack of apps & app updates has to do with the low user turnout. I've said from day 1 (actually I called it long before day 1 in this blog post from 2015) that Apple TV needed to take on console gaming to break big in the living room. With all the competition from budget streamers (Roku, Firestick, smart TVs. etc) there just aren't enough Apple TV users to make it worthwhile for most devs to invest in a tvOS app.

So my wish for tvOS 15 would be for Apple to finally announce a gaming Apple TV with AAA console games.

• Spatial Audio for supported AirPods.

This, for sure!

 

[JohnnieBBadde]

Really hope to see 4K AirPlay support to use a dedicated TV with an ATV 4K 2021 as a second screen for Macs or the new iPad Pros, not just stupidly mirroring a 4:3 screen. Or is this something already possible?

I only have one ATV 4K 2021 for testing at the moment and it's not in the same network as the Macs and am still waiting for the delivery of an iPad Pro 2021. Mirroring from an iPod Pro 2017 looks like s***.

 

[pdmpolishing]

I would like the ability to connect 5 HomePod Mini to the Apple TV to make a 5.0 setup.

 

[nutmac]

I would like the ability to connect 5 HomePod Mini to the Apple TV to make a 5.0 setup.

Good point. I forgot to list support for HomePod mini as the default audio output. Discrete multi-channel experience with HomePod and HomePods mini would be even better.

 

[nutmac]

So we get Spatial Audio, Shared with You, on-device Siri, unlimited HomeKit Secure Video, and Matter. All hugely appreciated, but no Screen Time and multi user Fitness+ support?

Edit: Coming this fall section lists all the major new features:

• SharePlay: Watch movies or shows with anyone, anywhere with SharePlay. Just start a FaceTime call on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, then add Apple TV to share the viewing experience on the big screen. Everyone’s playback is coordinated — so you and your friends can laugh, cry, scream, or sigh at the same time.
• For All of You: Browse a new row in the Apple TV app to find something that everyone in the house can’t wait to watch.
• Shared with You: Movies and shows shared through Messages appear in a new row in the Apple TV app.
• Spatial audio: Listen with AirPods Pro or AirPods Max for a theater-like experience with sound that surrounds you.
• Smart AirPods routing: Get an automatic onscreen notification to magically connect your AirPods.
• HomeKit camera enhancements: View multiple cameras around the house at the same time on your Apple TV.
• Room-filling stereo sound: Pair two HomePod mini speakers with Apple TV 4K and enjoy rich, balanced sound for everything you watch.

 

[AL2TEACH]

I would like the ability to connect 5 HomePod Mini to the Apple TV to make a 5.0 setup.

wow, you really like the mini.