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Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 9.2 to Developers

Monday January 25, 2016 12:35 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple today provided developers with the second beta of an upcoming 9.2 update to tvOS, the operating system that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV and powers its built-in App Store. Today's tvOS 9.2 beta 2 comes two weeks after Apple released the first beta of tvOS 9.2 and just hours after the release of tvOS 9.1.1, a minor update that follows tvOS 9.1.

tvOS betas are more difficult to install than beta updates for iOS and OS X. Installing the tvOS beta requires the Apple TV to be connected to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, with the software downloaded and installed via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Those who have already installed the first tvOS 9.2 beta will be able to download the update over the air.

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tvOS 9.2 is a major update for the tvOS operating system. It introduces support for Bluetooth keyboards, allowing a keyboard to be paired to the Apple TV for text entry. Bluetooth keyboard support is a major feature that was missing from previous versions of tvOS and its addition should make it much easier to do tasks like entering passwords on the fourth-generation Apple TV.

Along with Bluetooth keyboard support, the tvOS 9.2 update introduces support for grouping apps into folders on the Home screen like on iOS devices, plus it includes a new look for the App Switcher interface.

tvos_folder
tvOS 9.2 also includes support for the Podcasts app included in tvOS 9.1.1, introduces MapKit so developers can incorporate maps into their tvOS apps, and it adds Siri support for US Spanish (in the US only) and French Canadian (in Canada only). UK English, Australian English, and US English are also now available as Siri options in the UK, Australian, and US Storefronts when English is set as the tvOS language.

tvos_switcher
What's New in tvOS 9.2 beta 2:

iCloud Photo Library - Full iCloud Photo Library access is available on the Apple TV with the second tvOS 9.2 beta installed. It can be enabled through the iCloud section of the Settings menu. In the current public version of tvOS, users can only view Photo Stream content on the Apple TV.

Live Photos - With iCloud Photo Library access comes support for Live Photos. Live Photos saved to an iCloud Photo Library can be played by pressing on the trackpad on the Siri Remote.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12, tvOS 13
Tags: tvOS 9.2, Apple TV Guide
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
[ 51 comments ]


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Kaibelf
47 months ago

I'd really like to know what Apple's new addiction to muted, low-contrast colours is? Text that's difficult to read. Poor font choice. I really don't understand this design direction. Should be bold, crisp and good contrast. The tvOS interface definitely does not have that, or am I wrong?


Yes. Not everyone wants their interface to look like a Teletubbies episode.
Rating: 6 Votes
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SBlue1
47 months ago
A requested feature? A TV App Store that I can access with Safari on my Mac or iPad.
Rating: 4 Votes
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tywebb13
47 months ago
You can get all your icloud photos with this build.

To turn on this new feature go to Settings, then the iCloud menu and choose to enable iCloud Photo Library.

EDIT: Oh. I see that macrumors have added this to their story now. It wasn't there before.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Michaelgtrusa
47 months ago
Very impressive progress.
Rating: 2 Votes
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iFanaddic
47 months ago
Btw you can type much faster on the Apple TV via the remote app. I didnt know that until yesterday, hopefully this will help someone else!



Rating: 2 Votes
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peterdevries
47 months ago
It would be great if they would enable English Siri in non English speaking countries. I would love to use it here in The Netherlands, but somehow we are stuck with search.
Rating: 2 Votes
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TitoC
47 months ago

Why can't the search find stuff in my Home Sharing computer? Seriously? I've got to scroll through to find things and it doesn't even put the recent stuff up on the home page so I can see what was recently added. The computer running iTunes have become completely secondary where with the first ATV your TV Shows and Movies were all there on the front page, then with ATV2 and ATV3 you had to select the computer to see them, and now you don't see anything until you go directly into the computer and all you can do is scroll. No search at all.


Could not agree more! Seriously, most of what I use AppleTV for IS for viewing my home-shared computer movies. At least with v3 I could see the latest additions to my home library on the home screen. Now with v4 they are no longer there.

Since a lot of my movies are ripped versions of Blu Rays I bought on Ebay and I use apps such as iDentify and Subler when saving these movies, all the info and meta tags are exactly the same as movies I bought via iTunes, so why CAN'T Siri search those as well? If Siri can search my messages, notes, emails, etc. on my iPhone why can't it search my home folder on my AppleTV?
Rating: 1 Votes
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hick9
47 months ago

I agree that it looks nice, but they urgently need a dark mode. When watching in the dark (e.g. on a projector), it feels like the white(ish) background burns your eyes out after the film ends ...


Totally agree .. I have been sending them feedback on that since the beginning. Even when just surfing around at night..it is just way too bright.
Rating: 1 Votes
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73b
47 months ago
What the TV really needs is dictation for text fields. It's the only feature I seriously need and it bothers me every time I use the TV.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Dave84
47 months ago

No DD pass through? Or back to where it worked properly on ATV3 and no reduced dynamics?


I really hope this is sorted.

I'm back on the ATV 3 waiting for this fix.
Rating: 1 Votes

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