WWDC 2018 takes place June 4 to June 8 in San Jose, California.
Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 9.2 to Developers
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.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: tvOS 9.2
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
[ 51 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
31 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.
31 months ago
A requested feature? A TV App Store that I can access with Safari on my Mac or iPad.
31 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.
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.
31 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!
31 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.
31 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?
31 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.
31 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.
30 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.
[ Read All Comments ]
Apple is closing its Apple Store located in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which will affect 52 employees who currently work at the store and will need to be relocated, reports Bloomberg.
Apple has...
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with WaterField Designs to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win the company's Atlas Executive Athletic Holdall, a bag that's ideal for...
Apple today launched the latest sale on Beats by Dre products, including markdowns on the BeatsX, Powerbeats3, Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, and Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones. Make sure...
Twitter is testing a new "Data saver" toggle on iOS devices, as one user shared on the social media platform this morning. For users in the test, the data saver setting is housed at the very...
A special "Decade Collection" range of Beats Headphones are currently being promoted by online retail merchants ahead of scheduled availability on June 4, suggesting Apple will officially...
Apple's AirDrop feature lets you wirelessly send and receive files between nearby Macs as well as to and from local iOS devices. It's usually accessed from the sidebar of an open Finder...
Since November 2017, AT&T has offered customers the chance to get the 32GB Apple TV 4K at no extra cost when they sign up and pay for either four months or three months of DirecTV Now. Since this...
Mophie today announced the launch of the Charge Stream Travel Kit, which is a wireless charging kit that's designed for use while traveling, as the name suggests.
Designed for the iPhone X,...
