Apple Releases tvOS 14.7 for Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K
Apple today released tvOS 14.7, the seventh update to the tvOS 14 operating system that initially debuted in September 2020. tvOS 14.7 comes two months after the launch of the tvOS 14.6 update.
tvOS 14.7, which is a free update, can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System > Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 14.7 automatically.
Apple's tvOS updates are usually minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes, performance updates, and small tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes. No new features were discovered during the tvOS 14.7 beta testing process.
Apple does not provide detailed release notes for its tvOS updates, but it does offer some tvOS details through its tvOS support document.
tvOS 14.7 may be one of the final updates to the tvOS 14 operating system as Apple shifts its attention to tvOS 15, which is set to come out this fall.
Popular Stories
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...
iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, according to sources familiar with development of the software update. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, our sources said that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18....
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
Top Rated Comments
Match Dynamic Range
This feature suggests Apple TV will switch between Dolby Vision, HDR10, and SDR mode.
In reality, this setting relies on the Format setting from Settings | Video and Audio. When you first setup, tvOS guides you to setting the Format with the best mode your TV and HDMI cable support, which would be Dolby Vision, then HDR10, then SDR.
This means that by default, tvOS UI, games, and streaming apps will render everything in this setting, even if those apps only support SDR (which is the majority of the apps). Apps that respect Match Dynamic Range setting indeed switch to SDR as needed, but they are very few in number (e.g., Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix).
Most videophiles and enthusiasts therefore recommend setting the Format to SDR, but this would mean any apps capable of outputting HDR but does not support Match Dynamic Range setting (e.g., Apple's AirPlay 2, Photos, and Screen Savers, YouTube) will render everything in SDR.
Match Frame Rate
This feature is far less complicated. When you enable it, Apple TV will instruct your TV to switch frame to match the contents, eliminating motion artifacts (e.g., tearing) associated with motion interpolation.
But it is annoying is that while 2021 Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) has HDMI 2.1 port, Apple crippled it without support for HDMI 2.1 features, such as ALLM, QMS, and VRR.
QMS (Quick Media Switching) reduces few seconds of blank screen or no signal screen as the TV switches frame rate. (QMS does not eliminate shorter but observable delay when TV switches the dynamic range.)
I've filed Feedback Assistant ticket and emailed various developers, including MLB, NBC Sports, Peacock and YouTube.
My usage overwhelmingly favors using the SDR mode with Match Dynamic Range setting turned on. I rarely encounter HDR10 contents on YouTube and on occasions we use Apple Photos app on Apple TV, I grudgingly enable Dolby Vision. Most streaming apps installed on my Apple TV respect Match Dynamic Range setting.
However, what you are recommending is turn off Match Dynamic Range. This will render all SDR and HDR10 video contents rendered in Dolby Vision mode, which to me, visible alters color saturation, most notably the skin tone.
My current workaround is not having HDR on at all. Set to 4K SDR and match dynamic range is off. Which sucks, but at least my picture is accurate.