On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the top features and improvements we'd like to see come to tvOS 17, the HomePod, and HomeKit at WWDC later this year.
Apple is expected to unveil tvOS 17 and "audioOS" 17 at WWDC in June, offering a range of enhancements and new features. 2022's tvOS 16 was only a minor update to the Apple TV, so we discuss where we would like the OS to go next with features like widgets, Up Next improvements, and apps like Weather and Home.
We discuss how the HomePod could make better use of its top display, true surround sound, and synced alarms. Last year, Apple's Home app got a significant upgrade with a full redesign and a new HomeKit architecture. We consider how the Home app could take another leap forward with more powerful automations and camera feed improvements.
We also look at some of the latest Apple news, including iOS 17's rumored journalling app, mood tracking functionality, new Lock Screen, Apple Music, and App Library features, iPadOS 17's Health app and Lock Screen customization, Apple's AI-powered health coaching service, 32- and 42-inch OLED displays planned for 2027, and more.
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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about all of the latest rumors about the software updates and new hardware expected to be previewed at this year's WWDC with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
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Top Rated Comments
Videos in the Safari or the native video player need a rotation button
“Music” App needs FLAC support
Siri needs to get her GED
I wish they would just do something to keep TVOS fresh. They really haven't changed it since the first Apple TV, and it's a little boring. I really hope they make it easier to update apps if you don't have auto updates on. I know with Roku, they have an option to update the app in their channel menu for each app. Why not have something like that for Apple TV, where you put it in jiggle mode and when you see what the options are and you have Folders or delete, you have another option for "Check for Updates". Either that or going into the app store app and you have a section for updates to be installed. It shouldn't be that hard to implement but Apple seems to not care about TVOS over the years.
A speaker, especially one of this quality, will undoubtedly outlive the capabilities of the "smarts". The original homepods are now ~5 years old and by Apple standards about to go vintage and obsolete in another couple of years and in theory that means software support and connectivity could become challenged at any time. Why not make the speaker a "base" with a replaceable puck at the top that contains the "smarts". If this were replaceable we could get updated functionality to match the life span of the physical speaker. This would also protect ones investment in the speaker in case something happened to the "smarts", adding repairability. This opinion is not limited to Homepods but to any expensive "assistant" speaker.