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Apple Releases tvOS 9.1 for Fourth-Generation Apple TV

Tuesday December 8, 2015 8:52 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today released tvOS 9.1, the first major update to the tvOS operating system that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV. tvOS 9.1 has been in testing since November 3, just a few days after the final version of tvOS was released alongside the new Apple TV in October.

tvOS 9.1 can be downloaded over-the-air through the Settings app on the fourth-generation Apple TV by going to System --> Software Update.

apple_tv_4_software_update_720
tvOS 9.1 betas introduced support for Siri search for Apple Music, allowing fourth-generation Apple TV owners to ask Siri to play content from Apple Music. Siri for Apple Music on the Apple TV works similarly to Siri for Apple Music on iOS devices, enabling queries like "What was the top song in 1980?" or "Play Adele's latest single." It is not yet clear if this feature made it into the final version of tvOS 9.1.

The tvOS update includes several bug fixes for issues discovered in the current version of tvOS, and according to beta testing notes, it features improvements to networking and scrolling.

tvOS 9.1 is the first major update to tvOS, but it's the second update overall. Apple previously released tvOS 9.0.1 with under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements.

Update: According to Apple's release notes for tvOS 9.1, the update includes support for the Remote app for iOS and Apple Watch and it introduces Siri support for Apple Music on the device.
This update includes general software and performance improvements and these features:

- Siri for Apple Music: Search, play, and control your music on Apple TV.2
- Remote app for iOS: Use your iOS device to quickly enter text on screen and navigate Apple TV.
- Remote app for Apple Watch: Use your Apple Watch to navigate Apple TV.


Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12
Tag: tvOS 9.1
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
[ 91 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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soco
43 months ago
Yeah, if you guys could go ahead and get the remote app updated now - that'd be great.
Rating: 17 Votes
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the1payday
43 months ago
The remote app works again with the new update.
Rating: 8 Votes
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alectheking
43 months ago

Never gonna happen.

Well, you're wrong lol
Rating: 7 Votes
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zorinlynx
43 months ago

I've completely bypassed homesharing now--it hasn't worked for me since July of this year (after using it daily for years and years). I haven't been able to determine if it was an iTunes update, a Windows 10 update, or switching internet service providers that broke mine, and I've spent tens of manhours trying to fix it.

Either way, with the new AppleTV, I just run everything through Plex instead. It's better than homesharing in every way, and I'll never go back.

Once they give us siri functionality for Plex libraries, and a better method for typing, I'll be elated.


Plex on the Apple TV is amazing, and has allowed me to use it to replace everything I was previously using.

One box for Apple media, Netflix and the stuff on my server. It's a dream.
Rating: 6 Votes
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alectheking
43 months ago

Yeah, if you guys could go ahead and get the remote app updated now - that'd be great.

IT WORKS!!!! No app update needed! Just update to tvOS 9.1 and go to "remotes and devices" and click remote app! Make sure you sign into homesharing. My watch and 6S both work to control and the keyboard pops up on my phone while searching through apple tv. The remote app didn't need an update! PRAISE JESUS!
Rating: 4 Votes
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bkonings
43 months ago

The remote app is working in the new update.

Yes! Confirmed the remote app works again \o/
Rating: 4 Votes
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Icaras
43 months ago

Never gonna happen.


The functionality needs to just be baked into iOS associated with the same iCloud account. The app could go for all I care, but there needs to be some form of keyboard support.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Kronen
43 months ago
tvOS 9.1 seems to have fixed the laggy playback/lack of buffering over Home Sharing problem that many of us were having. I've tested three movies purchased recently from iTunes that before today constantly lagged and hung when streaming from iTunes over Home Sharing. So far, all three are now buffering normally and are playing smoothly without lags.

Huzzah! Thank you, Apple.
Rating: 3 Votes
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knemonic
43 months ago
Oh please fix the home sharing buffering issue...
Rating: 3 Votes
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bergert
43 months ago

I've been running 9.1 beta and it doesn't cover anything you're asking for - as it stands they still have some - IMHO - very basic issues to address before they can even think about doing what you have listed. At this rate, you'll be waiting a very long time.
....

Just cannot express my disappointment in how 'sloppy' this feels - especially coming from Apple.


This is exactly my thought - the AppleTV 1st-G (2007) was a much more polished product, it was a pleasure to discover new features. 8 years later, we get a product which is missing very basic functionality introduced back then... what a joke !
Rating: 3 Votes

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