Apple Seeds First Beta of tvOS 17 to Developers - MacRumors
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Apple Seeds First Beta of tvOS 17 to Developers

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 17 beta to developers for testing purposes.

apple tv 4k yellow bg feature
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 17 update by opting in to the beta through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A registered developer account is required.

tvOS updates don't receive as much attention as updates to iOS and macOS, and are never as feature rich, but tvOS 17 adds brings FaceTime to the TV for the first time. The ‌Apple TV‌ 4K can connect to an iPhone or iPad that serves as the camera, with the ‌FaceTime‌ interface showing up on the TV's screen.

All of the ‌FaceTime‌ features are available, including Center Stage to keep you front and center, plus there are new gesture-based reactions that let you use your hands to generate on-screen effects. For example, if you make a heart with your hands, the screen will display hearts.

Split View for ‌Apple TV‌ lets users watch television with friends and family using SharePlay, and there are controls for transferring calls between the TV and an iPhone or ‌iPad‌ as needed. Third-party apps like Zoom will also be able to take advantage of this functionality, so those apps will also work on the TV screen.

Control Center on ‌Apple TV‌ has been revamped and it is easier for users to access key settings and information, plus there is a new feature that allows the iPhone to locate a Siri Remote that's been misplaced.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

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Top Rated Comments

trusso Avatar
trusso
43 months ago
I don’t ask much from tvOS. Just refrain from pushing any ads on me. And yes, that includes tv+ content anywhere outside the tv+ app.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
_Spinn_
43 months ago
Really looking forward to this update. Still wish we could update through the Home app like we can with HomePods. And that tvOS would get the Home app.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
dantracht
43 months ago

I got the same problem. My older 4k (1Gen) Apple TV manage to do the update but my main 4K fails in the same way as you describe. It goes through step 1 and 2 but end up at 16.6.
I've tried Apple Seed and tvOS17 beta with the same result.
I ended up giving up. The watch os 10 beta almost killed my AW as well, that’s the chance you take on first betas I guess. Ended up having to restore my watch. Will hold off for a few betas I guess. I’m glad the 2015 HD is still supported!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ApostolisApo Avatar
ApostolisApo
43 months ago

I got the same problem. My older 4k (1Gen) Apple TV manage to do the update but my main 4K fails in the same way as you describe. It goes through step 1 and 2 but end up at 16.6.
I've tried Apple Seed and tvOS17 beta with the same result.
Same here
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigpoppa Avatar
bigpoppa
43 months ago

Still not as reliable as a Roku…so hope this fixes some of the issues I keep having.
My AppleTV has been WAYYYYYY more reliable than my Roku and I have the latest model of each.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bodonnell202 Avatar
bodonnell202
43 months ago

Did they drop support for any Apple TVs yet? I upgraded from an Apple TV 4/HD to a first gen Apple TV 4K earlier this year. I know not much of an update, but it was a cheap and I got an Apple TV that supported 4K resolutions.
Not yet, all ATVs from 4/HD forward continue to be supported with tvOS 17. I thought there was a slight chance that they could drop the 4/HD and possibly even the 1st gen 4K, but it seems they are safe for another year.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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