Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of Upcoming tvOS 13 Update to Developers

Apple today seeded fifth beta of an upcoming tvOS 13 update to developers, almost two weeks after seeding the fourth beta and more than a month after unveiling the tvOS 13 software at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the new tvOS 13 developer beta can be downloaded onto the ‌Apple TV‌ via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

tvOS 13 introduces an updated Home screen aimed at making it easier to discover new content. Apps are now able to play full-screen video previews right on the Home screen, similar to Netflix.

Multi-user support is available for the first time, letting more than one profile exist on the ‌Apple TV‌ so each family member can have their own customized ‌Apple TV‌ interface with separate recommendations, music playlists, and Watch Now lists.

Switching between profiles can be done with the new Control Center, which offers up profiles, the time and date, search, a Now Playing widget, AirPlay controls, and a sleep option.

tvOS 13 gets the ‌Apple TV‌ ready for Apple Arcade, Apple's new gaming service that's coming to the ‌Apple TV‌, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS later this year. ‌Apple Arcade‌ will offer unlimited access to more than 100 new and exclusive games, for one subscription fee.

As part of the ‌Apple Arcade‌ preparations, Apple has implemented support for the Xbox Wireless Bluetooth Controller and the PlayStation DualShock 4 Controller, both of which can be connected to an ‌Apple TV‌ over Bluetooth.

There are new under the sea themed screensavers created in partnership with the BBC Natural History Unit, which also created "Blue Planet." There's also a new Picture-in-Picture feature. Picture-in-Picture lets you continue to watch TV shows or movies while using a different app, adjusting settings, or otherwise navigating through the tvOS 13 operating system.

tvOS 13 is available to registered developers and public beta testers at this time and will see an official public launch this fall alongside iOS 13, iPadOS, macOS Catalina, and watchOS 6.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 14

Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Top Rated Comments

iGeneo

21 months ago

Would love to install this one, but feedback thus far is that it has been a disaster. Interested to hear if beta 5 brings it anywhere near usable.

Disaster? I've been running it for several weeks on two AppleTV's without issue. I did read where the trailers app will crash, but I rarely us that anyhow..

It is VERY usable

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

PastaPrimav

21 months ago

Disaster? I've been running it for several weeks on two AppleTV's without issue. I did read where the trailers app will crash, but I rarely us that anyhow..

It is VERY usable

Thanks. Unfortunately too many other people feel otherwise.

Far too often people who use 1 app or 1 flow pattern report "everything working fine".

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

christian.terra

21 months ago

Thanks. Unfortunately too many other people feel otherwise.

Far too often people who use 1 app or 1 flow pattern report "everything working fine".

Not sure what apps you use, but I use Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Prime Video, YouTube and DirectTV Now, as well as photos at times. The only app that gives me problems is DTNow, which isn't surprising as even on release versions of TVOS it was buggy. Haven't had a single issue that wasn't fixed with a restart. I airplay to my homepods too and works the same as it did on 12.4.

I don't use the TV app or any other Apple app so can't comment on those. I'd say it's decent for every day use.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

DaveOP

21 months ago

Thanks. Unfortunately too many other people feel otherwise.

Far too often people who use 1 app or 1 flow pattern report "everything working fine".

This works both ways. As nearly everyone in this thread has said, this beta has been working fine for me as well. Netflix, Youtube, Youtube TV, Hulu, Apple apps, CNN, Twitchy, I could go on and on, all seem to work fine. I have had no issues since the first Beta. You don't need to jump in, but you don't need to be condescending to other posters either or call their experiences bogus.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

iGeneo

21 months ago

Thanks. Unfortunately too many other people feel otherwise.

Far too often people who use 1 app or 1 flow pattern report "everything working fine".

That's hardly the case... I use 7-8 apps on a very regular basis.

Music, TV, Philo, TwiT, Photos, Netflix, Prime, Podcasts, Hulu

Zero crashes... Music was slow to get Lyrics on first launch, no issues otherwise.

Can you cite threads here? I'd like to see what I've been missing.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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