What's New in tvOS 16 for Apple TV: Features and Enhancements

[Rigby]

I posted this on another thread:

Home automation

Being a Homekit hub, it does support automations.

Bundled Apple Controller

That should remain optional IMO. The ATV is expensive as it is, and many people don't want a game controller.

FaceTime integration with an iPhone or other Apple device, or add-on camera

Yep, that seems like a missed opportunity. Assuming it's technically feasible, they should bring the Continuity Camera feature from Ventura to the ATV.

Announce larger storage options

Again, expensive enough already and many people have no need for this.

Easy connection to Hotels' Wifi feature (a web browser would work as well if there was one)

That was added in tvOS 15.4 using an iPhone or iPad:

Change network settings on Apple TV

Apple TV lets you switch between a wired or a wireless network or join a captive Wi-Fi network.

support.apple.com

 

[nutmac]

• Multiuser improvements: tvOS 16 offers improved system integration for user profiles in Apple TV apps. Apple says with credentials stored in a shared keychain, users won't need to sign in and choose their profile every time they launch an Apple TV app that has been updated with this functionality.

tvOS 16 sure is disappointing but this one is promising. It would obviously need to be complemented by the third party apps remembering the profile previously selected. And tvOS should (1) indicate selected profile on the main screen, not requiring the user to check the Control Center and (2) voice print confirmation when a kid chooses an adult profile.

 

[Chiromac81]

Honestly, what more could you want??

 

[Juicy Box]

Home automation

Being a Homekit hub, it does support automations.

Home automation in terms of getting more serious about it, working with their-parties more, or coming out with their own home automation devices that the ATV is truly a hub for. HomeKit compatible devices are very few, and not a lot of choices.

For example, I wanted to get a few flood light cameras to work with HomeKit Secure Video, but the outdoor camera line is very limited.

I wanted to get a HomeKit compatible wall mounted garage door opener, but again, there are not any. I got a Liftmaster Home Bridge as an HomeKit add-on, but I could never get it to work.

Bundled Apple Controller

That should remain optional IMO. The ATV is expensive as it is, and many people don't want a game controller.

I completely agree, only bundled with higher end ATVs, while leaving a cheaper (sub $100) ATV for the more basic streamer box.

Announce larger storage options

Again, expensive enough already and many people have no need for this.

I agree with this as well, keep the 32GB option, or possibly even lower for people that just stream.

But for people that want to play games, it only takes about 6 large Apple Arcade games to fill up the 32GB ATV4K.

A larger storage size is needed for people that play the games. Maybe even drop the 64GB for 128GB or higher.

Easy connection to Hotels' Wifi feature (a web browser would work as well if there was one)

That was added in tvOS 15.4 using an iPhone or iPad:

I explained why this was listed already, but it may have been on a different thread. You still need a separate device, such as a iPhone or iPad for the Captive Portal feature, while some other streaming devices and consoles are able to connect to hotels' Wifi within their device, instead of using a work around.

 

[Juicy Box]

Honestly, what more could you want??

See this post:

I posted this on another thread:

Home automation
Adding a Safari Browser
Announcing bigger commitment to gaming
Bundled Apple Controller
Landscape FaceTime
FaceTime integration with an iPhone or other Apple device, or add-on camera
Announce larger storage options
Easy connection to Hotels' Wifi feature (a web browser would work as well if there was one)
Choose what Aerials are shown
Allow for instant downloads of chosen Aerials
Better storage management and being able to see what the static storage space is taken
VPN support

Other people responded with some of their own, such as audio passthrough, a section showing apps that need to be updated, like iOS has for people that do not update automatically, and some others that I cannot remember at the moment.

 

[mashdots]

makes me wonder if we'll get a new one this fall. I hope so. i would like a new one but I'm going to wait until september.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Are you sure about this? Because I've been led to believe those are competing standards, not cooperative ones... much as Windows is not a fallback to macOS or vice versa.

It would be real news to me if that is true. Admittedly, I haven't been following the topic over the last year or so. When I was really digging into it, they were competing options... even described by many sources as a modern "format war."

Yes. 100% sure. Dolby Vision is entirely backward compatible with HDR10 and will revert to sending HDR10 whenever a device doesn’t support DV. It carries the full data payload for it and the DV metadata sits on top of it. It also can carry the SDR data, making encoding very simple to hit as many targets as possible in one pass. An easy way to see this in action is to fire up Disney+ or Netflix on any tv without Dolby Vision - you’ll see “HDR” or “HDR10” where you’d typically see Dolby Vision on the format line.

These aren’t really competitors in your traditional sense. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are just 2 deployments of HDR. You can not buy a Dolby Vision tv that does not support HDR10.

For HDR10, the 10 is for 10 bit color and it is royalty free and created by the CTA. For Dolby Vision, we’re stepping up to 12 bit color encoding, 8k video, and a maximum brightness of 10,000 nits - so it’s an evolution of the base standard (I’m liberally applying the term evolution here, Dolby Vision came first in the HDR world). HDR10+ seeks to replicate DV and not pay royalties to Dolby, which is reported to be less than $3 per unit, but across millions of devices that’s a big chunk of change. It is also an added layer on top of the base HDR10, but is not developed by the CTA and is merely trying to capitalize on the name like HD DVD did.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Yes. 100% sure. Dolby Vision is entirely backward compatible with HDR10 and will revert to sending HDR10 whenever a device doesn’t support DV. It carries the full data payload for it and the DV metadata sits on top of it. It also can carry the SDR data, making encoding very simple to hit as many targets as possible in one pass. An easy way to see this in action is to fire up Disney+ or Netflix on any tv without Dolby Vision - you’ll see “HDR” or “HDR10” where you’d typically see Dolby Vision on the format line.

These aren’t really competitors in your traditional sense. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are just 2 deployments of HDR. You can not buy a Dolby Vision tv that does not support HDR10.

For HDR10, the 10 is for 10 bit color and it is royalty free and created by the CTA. For Dolby Vision, we’re stepping up to 12 bit color encoding, 8k video, and a maximum brightness of 10,000 nits - so it’s an evolution of the base standard (I’m liberally applying the term evolution here, Dolby Vision came first in the HDR world). HDR10+ seeks to replicate DV and not pay royalties to Dolby, which is reported to be less than $3 per unit, but across millions of devices that’s a big chunk of change. It is also an added layer on top of the base HDR10, but is not developed by the CTA and is merely trying to capitalize on the name like HD DVD did.

Thanks for the info. It's so nice when people share knowledge with strangers like this, so we can all learn a new thing or two. Much appreciated!

 

[gumbyhw]

HDR10+ is a biggie. Some televisions (all Samsung TVs for example) do not embrace Dolby Vision and HDR10 IS the alternative.

Anyone know if the new Continuity Camera is available in tvOS 16? It seems like a natural since so many seem to want an easy way to FaceTime on the main TV. It's wireless and works with a simple, universal clip (by Belkin) with any monitor... so why not buy 2 clips and put one of them on the big TV? It seems like a big (niche) opportunity that perfectly fits all AppleTV setups (whether tucked behind the TV or off to the side or in a cabinet, etc where a built-in camera would not work well at all).

When Apple announced it, I actually thought of using it THIS way FIRST... even above the demoed use of making any computer monitor work with FaceTime. If any monitor, why not a TV "monitor?" Seems like a natural for AppleTV to me.

Great thinking on the AppleTV. Facetime and Zoom clients for the AppleTV would be a game changer, either for a call with a large group or for viewing a screen share. Also for the shared viewing application (forget what they are calling it).

 

[JoeShades]

You make it sound like the Apple TV app on most smart TVs was involuntary and against Apple's wishes. Apple has deliberately decentralized AirPlay, the TV app and HomeKit away from the Apple TV box. It's also clear that they've shifted the name to an experience, rather than a box.

Apple doesn't make any significant revenue by selling Apple TV boxes. The value is in enabling all of their other devices iPhones, iPads, Macs and Watches – that do generate all of Apple's revenue – to have seamless access to big screens around the home, office and out in the world.

The Apple TV (the box) has its days numbered.

The best experience with any of those things is on the Appe Tv Box and Apple is not stupid they would get rid of a box that millions use and many of those people would not buy a fire Tv or Roku just to watch APPLE TV +, They are not going to send people to the fire tv so they can sign up with Amazon and forget about Apple TV +

 

[BuffaloTF]

Thanks for the info. It's so nice when people share knowledge with strangers like this, so we can all learn a new thing or two. Much appreciated!

Yes, the waters are muddy in an already confusing alphabet soup of TV capabilities and acronyms. There’s others too like HLG which you’d likely run into on YouTube or broadcast tv (especially broadcast tv in any ATSC 3.0 market). It’s basically just HDR10 for other video encoding formats. But… keep it simple where you can - Any format war here is really only between DV and 10+.

 

[mquinn]

I would love messages app I can use with Siri. Or at least notifications if I want them on the screen when I get a message or call.

 

[Menel]

It doesn’t output sample rates higher than 48khz, streams from Apple Music will be capped at that rate (hi-res is defined as higher than that rate).

Sounds like you are good. AppleTV supports 24bit/48khz.

What is high-resolution audio? And is hi-res music worth it?

Everything you need to know about high-resolution audio, including what it is and how to experience it

www.whathifi.com

The Recording Academy, together with record labels, formally defined high-resolution audio as “lossless audio that is capable of reproducing the full range of sound from recordings that have been mastered from better than CD quality music sources".
In its simplest terms, hi-res audio tends to refer to music files that have a higher sampling frequency and/or bit depth than CD, which is specified at 16-bit/44.1kHz.

I guess you could hope for some even higher res, but that seems arbitrary.

 

[eyeseeyou]

• Expanded game controller support: Apple says many additional Bluetooth and USB game controllers are supported on tvOS 16. Notably, this includes support for Nintendo's Joy-Cons and Pro Controller.

USB??

Are we going to see an Apple TV Pro with front USB ports?

I like this update because we got some extra switch pro controllers for Christmas and I was disappointed when I tried to used them with the tv / iPad.

 

[Paul Shields]

I wonder if there'll be another Services event later in the year with more ATV features. We're expecting a Classical Music app and 4K TV Shows are feasible. If there's a low end ATV launched as rumoured as well there could be an event based around this plus trailers for ATV+ shows etc. Also Fitness additions, iCloud feature bump etc

I predict some suggestions from people datamining the TVOS beta...

 

[ipedro]

The best experience with any of those things is on the Appe Tv Box and Apple is not stupid they would get rid of a box that millions use and many of those people would not buy a fire Tv or Roku just to watch APPLE TV +, They are not going to send people to the fire tv so they can sign up with Amazon and forget about Apple TV +

I'm not saying that Apple is abandoning the TV space. They are clearly rethinking how to best play in this space. Steve Jobs knew this way back then, when he said that it's hard to compete against cable companies that give you a box for "free".

First part of the solution is getting AirPlay and the TV app integrated into all TVs – the display part of the equation – and the second part is offering a device for the home that can send content to the display, the same way an iPhone, iPad or Mac can, but with a more laid back, couch friendly format.

A new HomePod with a built in tvOS type of experience that doesn't have a screen itself, but can send UI and content to any nearby display via AirPlay is a solution to the problem Steve Jobs foresaw. It keeps Apple playing in the space, but not competing with boxes that are pricing their way to the bottom, a strategy Apple doesn't want to compete in.

 

[w5jck]

I posted this on another thread:

Home automation
Adding a Safari Browser
Announcing bigger commitment to gaming
Bundled Apple Controller
Landscape FaceTime
FaceTime integration with an iPhone or other Apple device, or add-on camera
Announce larger storage options
Easy connection to Hotels' Wifi feature (a web browser would work as well if there was one)
Choose what Aerials are shown
Allow for instant downloads of chosen Aerials
Better storage management and being able to see what the static storage space is taken
VPN support

Other people responded with some of their own, such as audio passthrough, a section showing apps that need to be updated, like iOS has for people that do not update automatically, and some others that I cannot remember at the moment.

That is a good starting list...I think we can easily add a bunch more to it. As far the fan club members who think everything Apple does are doesn't do is fine, maybe they need to pull their heads out of the Apple core hole long enough to see how little the ATV actually offers, and how riddled it is with bugs. Apple needs to do a lot of work on tvOS. As I've said many times in the past, the Apple TV is the stepchild Apple never wanted, and they continue to treeat it as such.

 

[Atlantarama]

The HDR10+ addition is a great surprise! Since my TV is a Samsung, that was the only thing I felt was missing.

 

[Scoob Redux]

I can't imagine noticing or using any of these new "features".

 

[moabal]

For the new HDR10+ feature in the Apple TV app, does this mean that Apple TV+ (streaming service) will have HDR10+ as well? I think now shows revert to HDR10 if you have a TV that does not have Dolby Vision.

 

[Beelzbub]

I wish they would allow for more than one Apple remote to be paired at once.

 

[jwdsail]

I posted this on another thread:

Home automation
Adding a Safari Browser
Announcing bigger commitment to gaming
Bundled Apple Controller
Landscape FaceTime
FaceTime integration with an iPhone or other Apple device, or add-on camera
Announce larger storage options
Easy connection to Hotels' Wifi feature (a web browser would work as well if there was one)
Choose what Aerials are shown
Allow for instant downloads of chosen Aerials
Better storage management and being able to see what the static storage space is taken
VPN support

Other people responded with some of their own, such as audio passthrough, a section showing apps that need to be updated, like iOS has for people that do not update automatically, and some others that I cannot remember at the moment.

I really wish the AppleTV had Safari right now. The Vimeo OTT apps for MST3K are.. not my favorite, and would really prefer to use the Gizmoplex Theater experience available on the web? Sadly, my iPhone resolution is not "supported" so can't just Airplay to the TV... Safari on AppleTV would be a welcome improvement right now. Just for the Gizmoplex. (even though the Gizmoplex is designed with Chrome in mind and has bugs when viewed in Safari)

I really hope that the Continuity Camera feature makes it to AppleTV to allow a better FaceTime via TV experience than the kludges most of us use right now...

Honestly, depending on the hotel chain you use, I've found calling the "Wifi support" number and giving the MAC address of the AppleTV is faster and easier than most hotel captive portals? And, unlike most hotel captive portal setups, if I set the AppleTV up this way, I don't have to sign in every day. It just keeps working for the duration of the stay... I have to re-sign-in my other devices on the captive portals daily at most hotels?

And, Gods yes.. way past time for VPN support..

 

[mogga71]

Sounds like you are good. AppleTV supports 24bit/48khz.

What is high-resolution audio? And is hi-res music worth it?

Everything you need to know about high-resolution audio, including what it is and how to experience it

www.whathifi.com

I guess you could hope for some even higher res, but that seems arbitrary.

If you use your AppleTV as your main video playing device (using Plex or the even better Infuse app probably) then what we want most of all is for the AppleTV to play Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA :

Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are lossless audio formats that provide greater depth and dynamic range when compared to normal Dolby (AC3) and DTS audio.

Apple only supports the AC3 compressed variants. There is a big difference in sound quality between the 2 ... trust me. Its basically the difference between playing an Atmos Bluray and its Apple streaming variant (Eg. Lord Of The Rings). The 4k picture quality is very close indeed ... its the Atmos soundtracks that make the difference. However, the size of these can be really large and is probably the reason they are not supported on AppleTV or most of the streaming boxes.

Firecore ... the makers of Infuse have been trying to get Apple to include the uncompressed versions for.a while now.

 

[bommai]

So no 24 bit 96kHz music ?

 

[jwdsail]

A few of these are hardware changes/additions - controller, camera, storage options. All seem like good ideas though. I feel like they added some support for connecting to hotel Wi-Fi recently, no?

Based on my limited testing (they may have improved since I have) the hotel captive portal improvements require you to have an iPhone on the same hotel wifi (no VPN). The sign-in is actually executed on the phone. For my test I used an older iPhone I only use as an iPod, because I never connect my actual phone to hotel wifi w/o a VPN...

As I said in a previous post, I find calling into the support number and giving the MAC address faster and more reliable than most hotel captive portal setups anyway?