Apple Seeds Third Beta of tvOS 17 to Developers

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Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming tvOS 17 beta to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming two weeks after Apple introduced the second beta.

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 typically garner as much attention as updates to iOS and macOS, and are never as feature rich, but tvOS 17 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.

tvOS also features a range of new aerial screen savers, adds support for third-party VPN apps, introduces Dolby Vision 8.1 on compatible devices, and more. Details can be found in our Apple TV roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

Top Rated Comments

zobby Avatar
zobby
11 weeks ago
New TVos beta has dropped today. BBC is working again.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gator5000e Avatar
Gator5000e
12 weeks ago

I wish Apple would give the AppleTV a "Subtitles" button instead of having to fish around the interface in each app for exactly where and how you turn on subtitles. I know it would require working with each streaming service and getting each app to work consistently, but it would really help, especially nowadays with so much foreign content (as well as mumblecore content!)... And please make typing in the search not such a pain. Why is the alphabet spread horizontally across the entire screen?
Why not use Siri to turn subtitles on and off? As well as search. It works well for me.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
danlat1415 Avatar
danlat1415
11 weeks ago
I've just run the update too, and Spotify works great again now.
Well done Apple for the quick update

Beta build - 21J5303H
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
_Spinn_
12 weeks ago
I wish we would get the Home App and Safari on tvOS. Would also be nice to be able to update my Apple TV from the Home App like you can with a HomePod.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrDVil Avatar
DrDVil
12 weeks ago

How do you use test flight? And how do you redeem the code?
You need to install TestFlight in the ATV and in other device (I used my Mac) to join the beta. Use TestFlight in the secondary device (Mac) to redeem the code, then the app should appear in your ATV TestFlight, where you can proceed with the installation.

Just do a google search for "FlowVPN TestFlight" and you'll find links to join the beta. You of course need a FlowVPN account to able to use the vpn.

It's a bit convoluted but I hope it helps.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrDVil Avatar
DrDVil
12 weeks ago

I have to ask....when will VPNs be available for Apple TV or that won't happen until the final release? Right now I have all Roku Max 4K streaming sticks but (recently) bought a used Apple 4K (2017) and everything works SO much better on Apple TV. Excited to put Apple TV in our other rooms.
FlowVPN has a beta available in TestFlight, it's works fine for me. So, it seems that there are not restriction from apple, but I have only tested a few apps. They have a 3 days free trial that I'm using for testing.

I think it's the only available VPN client for apple TV at the moment, still awaiting for the one from NordVPN :confused:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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