Apple has announced software updates for the fall that will improve the experience with Apple TV 4K. With tvOS 17, users can now use FaceTime on Apple TV 4K for more engaging conversations with family and friends. tvOS 17 also introduces an all-new Control Center and other enhancements that provide a more personalized experience that works better with iPhone. Apple TV 4K brings together the most popular streaming apps, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Arcade in cinematic picture and audio quality. With the powerful performance of the A15 Bionic chip, intuitive controls, and seamless interaction with Apple devices and smart home accessories, Apple TV 4K is the best device for the living room. tvOS 17 is available as a developer beta today and will be available as a free software update this fall.
Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said:
“tvOS 17 transforms the biggest screen in the home with FaceTime and new video conferencing capabilities, giving Apple TV 4K users the ability to easily connect with anyone right from their living room. New features and enhancements make Apple TV simpler to use and even more enjoyable, reinforcing it as the absolute best option in the living room for Apple customers.”
Starting this autumn, Apple TV 4K users may make use of the new FaceTime application on Apple TV and begin calls directly from Apple TV, or initiate calls on iPhone or iPad and transfer them to Apple TV. FaceTime on Apple TV takes advantage of Continuity Camera support to wirelessly connect to the user’s iPhone or iPad, and utilizes the device’s camera and microphone to bring participants together on the TV.
Center Stage keeps everyone in the room perfectly framed on the screen, even as they move around. New gesture-based reactions allow callers to produce onscreen effects, such as hearts or fireworks, using their hands, and add even more fun to the conversation. The introduction of Split View for Apple TV enables users to watch shows or movies with their loved ones during a SharePlay session while also seeing everyone on the FaceTime call.
Controls on iPhone or iPad make it simple to move a FaceTime call back to those devices as necessary. If another FaceTime or phone call comes in during a session, a notification appears on the TV to let the user know someone is calling, while keeping the caller’s identity private to protect the user’s privacy on a shared device.
Later this year, video conferencing apps like Webex by Cisco and Zoom will launch on tvOS, providing their communications capabilities on Apple TV 4K. Developers can use Continuity Camera APIs on Apple TV 4K to integrate the iPhone or iPad camera and microphone into their tvOS app, and create new shared and immersive entertainment experiences for the living room.
A More Personalized Experience That Works Even Better with iPhone
The new Control Center on Apple TV makes it easier for users to access key settings and information throughout the entire Apple TV experience. Control Center now displays system status, including the time and active profile, and expands with other helpful details based on a user’s activity.
tvOS 17 strengthens the seamless integration of Apple TV and iPhone by allowing users to locate the Siri Remote. Users can launch the Apple TV remote inside Control Center on iPhone to find their Siri Remote (2nd generation or later). As users get closer to the remote, an onscreen circle grows in size to guide their movement.
When using the remote on iPhone to wake up and control Apple TV, users will automatically switch to their profile, ensuring they have access to their recently watched shows and personalized recommendations. Additional settings and preferences are now saved for each user profile, including their system language and paired AirPods, delivering an even more personalized experience.
Screen saver enhancements provide a more beautiful and customized experience on Apple TV. Users can now enjoy curated Memories from their personal library, shared library, or both on the big screen. The widely popular aerial screen savers will feature a collection of stunning new locations, including Arizona’s Monument Valley and California’s coastal redwoods.
Additional features coming with tvOS 17 include:
- Enhance Dialogue, which lets users more clearly hear what is being said over the effects, action, and music in a movie or TV show on Apple TV 4K paired with HomePod (2nd generation) by separating the dialogue from the background noise and bringing it forward to the center channel.
- Dolby Vision 8.1 support, which offers Apple TV 4K users a more cinematic visual experience with dynamic metadata over a broader range of movies and TV shows.
- Apple Fitness+ enhancements, including Custom Plans, a new way for Fitness+ users to receive a custom workout or meditation schedule based on day, duration, workout type, and more; Stacks, which allows users to select multiple workouts and meditations to seamlessly do back to back; and Audio Focus, which gives users the ability to prioritize the volume of the music or the trainers’ voices.
- Third-party VPN support, which enables developers to create VPN apps for Apple TV. This can benefit enterprise and education users wanting to access content on their private networks, allowing Apple TV to be a great office and conference room solution in even more places.
The tvOS developer beta is available for Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta program will be available to Apple TV users next month at beta.apple.com. tvOS 17 will be available this fall as a free software update for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. For more information, visit apple.com/tv-home. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions or all languages, or on all devices. For more information, visit apple.com/tv-home.
