Apple Announces New tvOS 16 Features Coming Later This Year
In addition to unveiling a new Apple TV 4K with an A15 Bionic chip and more, Apple today previewed several new Siri-related features coming to the Apple TV in a tvOS 16 update later this year. It appears that at least a few of the features are enabled in the tvOS 16.1 Release Candidate made available earlier today, while some might arrive with tvOS 16.2.
The new features announced:
- Siri has been redesigned with a more compact interface that allows users to quickly view results at a glance in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Siri voice recognition for up to six family members will allow the Apple TV 4K to understand who is talking and reply with custom recommendations tailored just for them based on their user profile.
- Users wearing AirPods will be able to say "Hey Siri" instead of using the Siri Remote.
- Siri on tvOS will be supported in Denmark, Luxembourg, and Singapore later this year. Support was recently added for Chile, Finland, and South Africa.
The new compact Siri interface and "Hey Siri" support for AirPods have already been implemented in the tvOS 16.1 Release Candidate, and the features should be available to all users when tvOS 16.1 is released next week.
Popular Stories
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do.
The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up.
Upgraded Architecture
The next-generation...
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld.
The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld.
Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
New MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips could arrive as soon as Monday, March 2, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the release of new MacBook Pro models is tied to the release of macOS Tahoe 26.3. The launch is said to be slated for as early as the week of March 2. He added that the M4 Pro and M4 Max models on sale today...
