Facebook Announces tvOS SDK With Login Support

Wednesday November 25, 2015 6:39 PM PST by Husain Sumra
Earlier today Facebook announced (via 9to5Mac) Facebook SDK for tvOS, which the company says will help developers "build immersive social experiences on that platform." The three features the SDK allows thus far are Facebook Login, Share to Facebook and Facebook Analytics for Apps.

facebooklogin
Similar to Facebook Login on iOS, tvOS' Facebook Login would allow users to easily log in to their apps without having to worry about creating multiple accounts. Additionally, users wouldn't have to use Apple TV's cumbersome text entry method. Like some other TV authentication methods, Facebook Login would require a user to enter a confirmation code.
Facebook Login: A fast and easy way for people to log into your app and for you to provide rich, personalized experiences. To log into an app with their Facebook account, people can simply enter a confirmation code displayed on the TV into their smartphone or computer, rather than entering their username and password with the remote.
While Facebook Login would make it simpler for users to log into third-party apps and games, it's unlikely the same ease will be available for video apps like HBO Go, which require a user to authenticate the app via a cable or satellite provider account.

The new SDK would also include the ability for developers to allow users to share links, photos and video from tvOS to Facebook and help developers understand their audience with Facebook-based analytics. Developers can download the SDK from Facebook's developer site.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12
Tag: Facebook
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Caution)
37 comments


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logicstudiouser
38 months ago
Facebook free since 2012.
Like quitting smoking, it seems unbearable at the start...but once you get past the first couple months, FREEDOM!
Reclaim your time and life again.
Rating: 15 Votes
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Brandhouse
38 months ago
Guess what? I don't want to log into F/book for anything. The less the better, so I'd rather use my email as a login, longer but it keeps F/book off my back.
Rating: 14 Votes
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garirry
38 months ago
I wish Facebook no longer existed.
Rating: 11 Votes
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farewelwilliams
38 months ago
"Johnson is watching "100 hours of twerking compilation" on Youtube"
Rating: 9 Votes
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gleepskip
38 months ago

Facebook free since 2012.
Like quitting smoking, it seems unbearable at the start...but once you get past the first couple months, FREEDOM!
Reclaim your time and life again.


How can you possibly exist happily without sharing every single moment of your private life each day with Uncle Zuck?
Rating: 8 Votes
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Nevaborn
38 months ago
I will avoid this like the plauge but just imagine notifications going to your to. Your watching something and the constant pop ups of someone has "just eaten a sandwich lol".
Rating: 4 Votes
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freediverx
38 months ago
How Online Tracking Companies Know Most of What You Do Online
(and What Social Networks Are Doing to Help Them)
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/09/online-trackers-and-social-networks

Facebook Wants to Redline Your Friends List
http://www.psmag.com/nature-and-technology/mo-friends-mo-problems-might-have-to-defriend-joey-with-the-jet-ski-bankruptcy


Rating: 3 Votes
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jclardy
38 months ago
The fact that Facebook already has a faster/better login method than Apple on their own device is sad. No remote app, no Bluetooth keyboards and a crappy single line text keyboard. At least the rest of the experience is good.
Rating: 2 Votes
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naeS1Sean
38 months ago
I don't know. I love Facebook. Some people
I could do without. But Facebook itself is great to me.
Rating: 2 Votes
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coolfactor
38 months ago

Cumbersome text entry? It's no longer possible to enter text via the Remote app on iPad/iPhone?


From what I've seen, they've laid out the alphabet horizontally, in one long row instead of the former grid. With the grid, you could jump up-down, left-right to quickly get to the letter or number you needed. Now, you must screen through the whole row to find it. I assume that's what is now more cumbersome. Definitely seems like form over function, something Apple is increasingly becoming guilty of.

And I want to add... that Facebook screen looks absolutely terrible. Low contrast, poor font. Reminds me of the Ariel font used for older versions of Windows. Ugh... please don't ruin Apple products with your terrible design, Facebook.
Rating: 1 Votes
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