Apple is separating the new smartphones into its usual low-cost versus high-cost categories, with big differences between the two models coming down to the camera, display, and battery life.
iOS 13 & watchOS 6 Now Available
Apple TV tvOS Simulator Shown Running in 4K Resolution
Developer Steve Troughton-Smith today shared the spoils of his latest hacking efforts by tweeting screenshots of Apple's tvOS Simulator running in 4K – the screen resolution said to be supported in a rumored fifth-generation Apple TV.
tvOS is officially made to run in the standard 1920x1080 HD resolution, but what Troughton-Smith's hack shows is that the Apple TV operating system is perfectly suited to running at double the pixel density (3840x2160), commonly referred to as 4K resolution, thanks to user interface assets like text and icons that are made to scale cleanly given the same aspect ratio.
The simple scale doubling is reminiscent of the 2x iOS asset resolution requirement that Apple introduced back in 2010 with the arrival of Retina displays, and comes at a time when Apple is rumored to be readying a new, fifth-generation Apple TV capable of streaming 4K video.
Just last weekend iOS developer Guilherme Rambo discovered a reference to a 4K HDR display mode in the HomePod's firmware, which has proved a trove of hints related to Apple's upcoming hardware releases. MacRumors subsequently discovered the string J105a in the HomePod firmware, consistent with the fifth-generation Apple TV's internal codename first revealed by Bloomberg in February. Additional strings unearthed in the code also suggest a forthcoming Apple TV could support both the Dolby Vision and HDR10 color formats for high-dynamic range video.
tvOS Simulator scaled to 2x resolution for 3840x2160
Adding further fuel to rumors of an imminent 4K-capable Apple TV, Apple recently listed selected movies as 4K and HDR in iTunes purchase history. While the content is still only playable in standard definition or HD, the change suggests Apple is preparing to offer the higher definition formats for a new TV box.
The launch date is unclear for a possible new Apple TV, which has been rumored since December 2015, but given the recent uptick in references to 4K resolution by Apple, it's not unreasonable to suggest the company could be readying a release for the new TV box before the end of the year.
tvOS is officially made to run in the standard 1920x1080 HD resolution, but what Troughton-Smith's hack shows is that the Apple TV operating system is perfectly suited to running at double the pixel density (3840x2160), commonly referred to as 4K resolution, thanks to user interface assets like text and icons that are made to scale cleanly given the same aspect ratio.
Hello tvOS@2x pic.twitter.com/EnNdo1xCOY
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) August 8, 2017
The simple scale doubling is reminiscent of the 2x iOS asset resolution requirement that Apple introduced back in 2010 with the arrival of Retina displays, and comes at a time when Apple is rumored to be readying a new, fifth-generation Apple TV capable of streaming 4K video.
Just last weekend iOS developer Guilherme Rambo discovered a reference to a 4K HDR display mode in the HomePod's firmware, which has proved a trove of hints related to Apple's upcoming hardware releases. MacRumors subsequently discovered the string J105a in the HomePod firmware, consistent with the fifth-generation Apple TV's internal codename first revealed by Bloomberg in February. Additional strings unearthed in the code also suggest a forthcoming Apple TV could support both the Dolby Vision and HDR10 color formats for high-dynamic range video.
Adding further fuel to rumors of an imminent 4K-capable Apple TV, Apple recently listed selected movies as 4K and HDR in iTunes purchase history. While the content is still only playable in standard definition or HD, the change suggests Apple is preparing to offer the higher definition formats for a new TV box.
The launch date is unclear for a possible new Apple TV, which has been rumored since December 2015, but given the recent uptick in references to 4K resolution by Apple, it's not unreasonable to suggest the company could be readying a release for the new TV box before the end of the year.
Tag: 4K
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
[ 199 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
28 months ago
Experts have found that for you to see a difference between 1080p and 4k, you need a giant 80" TV and sit as close as 6.5 feet.
Short: Nobody needs 4k, you can't see it. It's a marketing gimmick.
HDR on the other hand, makes a real difference.
4K TV owner here. I can see the difference sitting 8ft away from my 55". It's so smooth and gaming jaggies are reduced massively.
Everything you have said was also said when 1080p TVs were new.
28 months ago
It bothers me that this is a big deal. The apple I remember woild have released the ATV 3 in 4k. Multiple years ahead not barely scathing behind.
This is complete nonsense, sorry. So you think they would have released a 4K Apple TV in March 2012?
I was also disappointed that the fourth Apple TV was 1080p only. However, the WWDC keynote showed me that they are clearly aware of 4K, but they needed one big thing to arrive: HEVC. Without it, the bandwidth required to watch 4K would have been too high. Apple states that you need 8 Mbit/s for streaming content in 1080p, while 4K eats up the bandwidth. Roku states that you need up to 25 Mbit/s. That's way too much for Apple standards and the only way to bring it down is by using HEVC. They had to wait for it, and the next Apple TV will be unveiled this fall with 4K content on iTunes, being the first 4K streaming box which has no gigantic requirements for streaming 4K.
28 months ago
Experts have found that for you to see a difference between 1080p and 4k, you need a giant 80" TV and sit as close as 6.5 feet.
Short: Nobody needs 4k, you can't see it. It's a marketing gimmick.
HDR on the other hand, makes a real difference.
Wow, just WOW. Who are these experts??????
Just because YOU can't see the difference doesn't mean NOBODY can. Your post is everything that is wrong with the internet. Arrogant people commenting on stuff they clearly know NOTHING about.
The larger the display size the better the viewing experience, but that's also true of 1080P. So yes, clearly an 80 inch TV will really show it off, but in REALITY 4K is amazing on TVs generally 50 inch and above. If you watch ANYTHING from 6.5 feet it will look "good."
I personally have a very nice 55 Inch 4K HDR TV and I can say I CAN see the difference. Depending on what I'm watching it is NIGHT AND DAY different and BETTER. So please don't tell me what MY experience is and what I need and do a little research before spreading your "forceful," "self-assured" ignorance.
28 months ago
Experts have found that for you to see a difference between 1080p and 4k, you need a giant 80" TV and sit as close as 6.5 feet.
Short: Nobody needs 4k, you can't see it. It's a marketing gimmick.
HDR on the other hand, makes a real difference.
You're joking.. Right?
28 months ago
It bothers me that this is a big deal. The apple I remember woild have released the ATV 3 in 4k. Multiple years ahead not barely scathing behind.
28 months ago
Let's drop the angry bickering over pointless things and be happy we're finally getting a 4K HDR Apple TV.
28 months ago
How can you tell ?
I mean, do you have a 55 inch 4K next to a 55 inch 1080P?
Actually, I did have my 65" 4K TV right next to my 65" 1080P TV when I first purchased the 4K set. It was night and day difference with video that was made for 4K. Even my wife, who will happily watch a old SD show and could care less about HD was amazed.
I do agree that HDR adds even more on top of 4K, but 4K alone is stunning.
28 months ago
Experts have found that for you to see a difference between 1080p and 4k, you need a giant 80" TV and sit as close as 6.5 feet.
Short: Nobody needs 4k, you can't see it. It's a marketing gimmick.
HDR on the other hand, makes a real difference.
Short: Nobody needs 4k, you can't see it. It's a marketing gimmick.
HDR on the other hand, makes a real difference.
28 months ago
It bothers me that this is a big deal. The apple I remember woild have released the ATV 3 in 4k. Multiple years ahead not barely scathing behind.
What do you do with a cow?
You milk it!
28 months ago
Love how the only person talking sense is getting bashed by everyone – even people who think that resolution could benefit a smooth image. LOL. There should be absolutely no debate about 4K and 1080p. Your eye can’t see the difference unless the screen is really close and/or huge. If you think you can see a difference, bravo, that’s how marketing works. Any difference you really see is just years of display technology having developed ahead, and these displays also feature 4K, but it isn’t the thing making everything better.
Do your reading and stop ******** all over people talking sense. https://carltonbale.com/does-4k-resolution-matter/
Do your reading and stop ******** all over people talking sense. https://carltonbale.com/does-4k-resolution-matter/
[ Read All Comments ]
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with AnyTrans to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Apple's new iPhone 11 Pro Max devices and a lifetime AnyTrans license.
For...
Due to Apple seeding the iOS 13.1 beta prior to the public release of iOS 13, upgrading to a new iPhone may be a bit trickier this year.
In a support document, Apple has provided instructions...
Apple today the golden master version of an upcoming tvOS 13 update to developers, one week after seeding the eleventh beta and more than three months after unveiling the tvOS 13 software at the...
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings recently discussed what he thinks about the upcoming launch of new rivals Apple TV+ and Disney+, as well as Netflix's plans to retain subscriber interest after their...
One of the new features set to officially launch in iOS 13.1 next week is "Audio Sharing," which lets you share the audio that you hear from your iPhone with another user.
While this...
Apple added an ECG app to the Apple Watch Series 4 last year, providing users in select territories the ability to measure the electrical activity of their heart. This ECG feature is now live for...
One of the more useful actions that 3D Touch makes possible is pressing an iPhone's onscreen keyboard to turn it into a virtual trackpad. If you 3D Touch, the keyboard turns blank and morphs into...
Twitter today rolled out its new "Hide Replies" feature in the U.S. and Japan, providing Twitter users with more control over the replies that are visible following a tweet.
The idea...
