Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 16 to Developers - MacRumors
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Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 16 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 16 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming two weeks after Apple introduced tvOS 16 at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

apple tv 4k design triad
Developers can download the new tvOS 16 beta by downloading a profile onto the Apple TV using Xcode.

tvOS 16 enables cross-device connectivity, a feature that allows developers to integrate ‌Apple TV‌ apps with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch apps to unlock new experiences on the TV. Apple has also improved how multiple user profiles work in tvOS 16 by adding a shared keychain, so users won't need to sign in and choose their profile when launching an ‌Apple TV‌ app.

Game controller support has been expanded to the Nintendo Joy-Cons and Pro Controller, and HDR10+ support is available in the tvOS 16 ‌Apple TV‌ app. With tvOS 16, the ‌Apple TV‌ will support Matter, an upcoming standard that will improve interoperability between smart home accessories from different companies.

tvOS 16 is limited to developers right now, but Apple will provide a public beta of the software to public beta testers in July.

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Top Rated Comments

actripxl Avatar
54 months ago
I love my 4K Apple TV, much smoother than my TV running apps. I didn’t want to spend the money at first but there is no Directv Steam app on the google tv platform.

Bought the Apple TV on sale and it runs everything so smoothly, with no lag when switching between apps.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago

tvOS 16 enables cross-device connectivity, a feature that allows developers to integrate Apple TV apps with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch apps to unlock new experiences on the TV.
Hopefully devs make use of this feature. Seems like it could be very neat.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
54 months ago

If only Macrumors would post the build number with each beta. It would make life so much easier.

9to5mac have do so.

Build - 20J5319h
I posted them in the iOS/iPadOS beta 2 ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-seeds-second-betas-of-ios-16-and-ipados-16-to-developers.2348938/post-31205642') and Mac OS beta 2 ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-seeds-second-beta-of-macos-13-ventura-to-developers.2348939/post-31205614') threads.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BWhaler Avatar
54 months ago
Please, for the love of all good things in Cupertino, did they finally fix the ‘won’t load’ library bug in the AppleTV app that apparently only exists on Apple’s own hardware.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago
With all these huge discounts on the current Apple TV, maybe there's a refresh coming soon. I would buy new remotes just for Find My support.

Though come to think of it, neither AirPods Pro nor the base model of Apple Watch have sold for anywhere near full retail price since shortly after release. Maybe they just know those products are a little overpriced.

Apple could be finally making a serious push into TV and lower prices are a good start.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago

tvOS feels so hobby at this point.
Hopefully they release a new home cinema and/or smart home device this fall
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)