Apple today announced a major update to its tvOS operating system for Apple TV 4. New features include expanded Siri capabilities, single sign-on for Apple TV, dark mode, HomeKit suport, redesigned Apple Music, app badging and many more.

New Siri features and functionality

• Topic search for movies: the ability to ask Siri for a movie by topic or theme (e.g. “Show movies about baseball”)
• YouTube search: users can ask Siri to search YouTube (coming later this month)
• Live tune-in: ask Siri to go directly to a live channel inside a supported app, such as “Watch CBS News” or “Watch ESPN.”
• Manage HomeKit accessories: Apple TV gives users control of HomeKit-enabled accessories. It also allows users to control HomeKit accessories when they are away from home or use it for home automation with the Home app on their iOS device.

Single sign-on for pay-TV apps

Customers in the US will have a simplified way of enjoying pay-TV video channels by using single sign-on. Starting this fall, users only have to sign in once on Apple TV to get immediate access to their favorite video channels that are included as part of their pay-TV subscription.

Once a user is signed into one network app, any other app on Apple TV from participating pay-TV providers will automatically log the user into all other supported apps requiring authentication.

Single sign-on will be available on both Apple TV and iOS.

New tvOS APIs and tools available for developers include:

• ReplayKit to enable developers to record and live broadcast from their apps;
• PhotoKit to allow third-party app access to photos and videos in iCloud Photo Library and iCloud Shared Stream;
• HomeKit to create apps to control HomeKit devices from Apple TV;
• App badging on the Home screen, to make it easier for users to know something new for them is available inside an app; and,
• Game Center enhancements and support for up to four game controllers at a time.

Additional features and updates

• iOS users can download the new Apple TV Remote app with touch navigation, Siri and game play support.
• Apple Music has an all-new design. The Library, For You, Browse and Radio tabs have been completely redesigned, and a Search tab has been added “to make finding music even easier.”
• Photos for Apple TV now supports the new Memories feature.
• Users can now select a dark background for Apple TV.
• Universal apps will now automatically download on Apple TV and show up on the Home screen when an app has been added to a user’s iOS device.
• When a keyboard appears on Apple TV, one will also appear on nearby iOS devices that are logged into the same iCloud account, making entering text more convenient.

The new tvOS will be available this fall as a free software update for Apple TV.

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Just ahead of WWDC 2016, Apple updated the official conference app for iOS and released a tvOS version. The WWDC app on your Apple TV 4 will let you watch live streamed sessions as well as the kickoff keynote presentation that will be held on Monday, June 13 at 10 a.m. PDT.

You will be also able to download videos from WWDC 2016 and previous conferences.

The main features include:

• Watch live streamed sessions on iOS and tvOS.
• Stream or download WWDC videos from this year and previous years.
• Start watching on one iOS device, and pick up where you left off on another iOS device or on the new Apple TV.
• Browse times, locations, and descriptions for sessions, labs, and special events.
• Mark schedule items as favorites.
• Keep up with the latest news, get important notifications, and see new photos throughout each day.
• View accessible maps to find your way around Moscone West.
• Provide feedback on content and speakers for each session.
• Add your pass to Wallet for faster check-in at WWDC.

Worldwide Developers Conference sessions will be streamed live throughout the week (13-17) via the WWDC website, Apple Events channel on Apple TV 2 and 3, and through the WWDC app on Apple TV and iOS devices.

Search for “WWDC” on your Apple TV’s App Store to download the app.

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Last week’s WWDC keynote turned out to be disappointing for us since Apple TV 4 failed to make the stage. It was initially expected that the new Apple TV 4 with slimmer profile, its own SDK, new Xcode based firmware, support for Siri and more, would be announced at the WWDC. But just few days before the event NYT, BuzzFeed and Re/Code reported that the Apple TV had been cut off from the keynote and that turned out to be true.

Three days before WWDC 2015 keynote, in a podcast interview with John Gruber [episode 122, 13-19 mins], Mark Gurman, who earlier vouched for Apple TV 4’s WWDC announcement, said that the Apple TV SDK has already been cooked into iOS 9 and that even with Apple’s maximum efforts, we could pick up some references in the firmware:

I even spoke to someone very reliable after those reports came out, who said that the SDK ‘n all that they are preparing for Monday still has (or as of that day, still had) the TV Kit stuff intertwined in there. So when the developers pull this thing apart, I won’t be surprised to see some references to that on Monday afternoon or whenever people get their hands on it.

Either Apple has released an earlier version of iOS 9 as the first beta or they have done an excellent job of cleaning it up, because no reports of references to the Apple TV SDK has been made till now. However, it seems Apple left one clue in the new developer program which indicates third-party app support on Apple TV.

Apple TV apps are coming pic.twitter.com/wOR98JOY6e

— Ouriel Ohayon (@OurielOhayon) June 9, 2015

At WWDC, Apple announced that they are merging the Developer Programs for watchOS, Mac OS X and iOS, so that a single subscription of $99 allows developers to make apps for all Apple devices. And as a part of the merging process, Apple reallotted the maximum number of devices that can be registered for beta testing of apps. Consequently, Apple TV picked up a massive 100 device limit on par with that of iPhones and iPads, for beta testing of app.

This might be reserved for the mere testing of Apple TV beta softwares, but 100 seems to be a bit overdo for such a purpose. And that is why, analysts think that Apple TV apps are coming soon, meaning Apple TV 4 is coming sooner.

The Verge’s Chris Welch:

What’s notable about these latest changes is that Apple TV is being mentioned more explicitly, and not only that, it’s receiving the same number of test slots that developers get for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch — all products that run thousands of third-party applications.

In the interview, Gurman also says that he now expects the Apple TV 4 to be launched in September, along with the next iPhones.

Read more on the next Apple TV.

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Well, yesterday’s WWDC keynote turned out to be a disappointment for Apple TV fans. After years of rumours and speculations, we thought we would be finally seeing the Apple TV 4 launch, but it din’t happen (like NYT reported). The only Apple TV-related news was the Apple Music.

If you haven’t heard already, Apple announced their own music streaming service yesterday, called the Apple Music. It is tagged “All the ways you love music. All in one place.” and is exactly that.

In the present scenario, music fans have to use multiple services to follow what they love – iTunes to purchase music, Pandora-like internet radio services, Spotify to stream music, Twitter to follow artists, Instagram for their photos and more. And each of them have their own fees and ads. Apple created Apple Music as a new Music app which will bring all these features into a single app.

The My Music tab harbours all your purchased songs and For You makes recommendations based on your tastes. You can also view the top charts and latest trending music right within the app.

Beats 1 will be a 24/7 radio station that broadcasts globally and lives right within your Music app.

Connect will let artists share videos, photos, ‘behind the scenes’, statuses and more within the app while users can comment, like and share them, adding high level of interaction between them.

Apple Music will be ad-free and cost $9.99/month, or you can subscribe to the family package of $14.99/month, which can be shared by 6 users. You can also avail a free trial of 3 months before committing to the subscription.

The service will launch on iOS, WatchOS, OS X and Windows on June 30. However, a quick glance through the subsite (and through the press release) confirms that the Apple Music will launch on Apple TV this fall.

We don’t have any more details at this point, but we believe a new Music channel will pop up on Apple TV and carry the same features. This might coincide with the Apple TV 4 launch.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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The New York Times reports that the next-generation Apple TV will be absent from the WWDC 2015:

The company planned as recently as mid-May to use the event to spotlight new Apple TV hardware, along with an improved remote control and a tool kit for developers to make apps for the entertainment device. But those plans were postponed partly because the product was not ready for prime time, according to two people briefed on the product.

According to the NYT, “a major setback for the Apple TV involves content”:

Apple plans to offer its Apple TV, iPhone and iPad customers a bundle of channels that is smaller and cheaper than the large catalog of offerings in a typical cable subscription, according to people briefed on the service […]

Media executives have been coy about the existence of the coming Apple TV service — the chief executive of CBS said last week that his network would “probably” sign a deal with Apple.

But in the background, content providers have also whispered that they are far from reaching deals with Apple to offer an Internet-based TV service, largely because they have not come to an agreement on price, rights and technology issues, according to people briefed on the discussions.

Read more about Apple TV 4.

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Apple TV, as reported earlier, will most probably perform a central role in integrating Apple’s HomeKit “Internet of Things” platform, especially while using remote commands via Siri. Owners of compatible Apple TVs would be happy to learn that they will soon be able to turn their homes smart, thanks to the first wave of smart devices announced yesterday.

It seems that Apple had placed some sort of restriction on companies to withhold their products till June 2, since five companies announced HomeKit devices yesterday simultaneously. This date would be perfect since the new Apple TV 4, its new operating system and new HomeKit features are expected to be announced on Monday, at the WWD 2015.

Here are all the HomeKit accessories that are available now:

1. Caseta Wireless Lighting Starter Kit from Lutron

It includes the Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge, 2 dimmers, 2 remotes and 2 pedestals. The Smart Bridge which could earlier be only controlled via their app, got a refresh to add HomeKit support. Now you can directly use Siri to turn off or dim the Lutron lights, wherever you are.

The kit is available on Amazon for $229.95 or you can get the Smart Bridge only for $119.95

2. Elgato Eve

Eve is a series of devices packed with sensors to monitor the quality of your home environment. Eve Weather checks for the temperature and pressure, while the Eve Door and Windows tells you if they are open or closed. Eve Room is the indoor guy who senses volatile organic compounds to keep track temperature and humidity.

Available on Amazon, starting at $40.

3. ecoBee3 Smart Thermostat

“Ordinary thermostats read the temperature in only one room, but are supposed to deliver comfort in all rooms. ecobee3 remote sensors deliver the right temperature in the rooms that matter most.”

Preorder it now for $229.

4. iHome iSP5 SmartPlug

This is the simplest of all today’s announcements. This is just a smart plug which can toggle on or off based on your needs. So you can connect just about any device to the outlet and remotely control it.

It will be up for preorder from June 15.

5. Insteon Hub

On the more complex side, this one is just a hub for other devices to connect to simplify the process of home automation. You can pair multiple HomeKit devices to it, from various rooms, offices, and houses and control all of them via a single app on your iPhone.

You can order it now for $79.99

Read more on Apple TV’s role in HomeKit and device compatibility.

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It is almost certain now that the Apple TV 4 will be launched on June 8th at the WWDC 2015. Among many other details leaked, it was rumoured that the next Apple TV could ship with Apple’s own video streaming service. But “several people with knowledge of the situation” have told Re/Code otherwise:

The Cupertino technology company has told network executives the planned unveiling will be postponed because Apple has yet to finalize the licensing deals. 

Technology and money issues remain sticking points.

We reported a few days back that Apple is looking to include local US channels to the TV service, which would enable complete cord cutting and lure in cable subscribers. According to today’s report, Apple hasn’t been able to reach a financial agreement with the channels and they also currently lack the technology that could broadcast these local stations to the streaming service.

These reasons are forcing Apple to launch the Apple TV 4 without the TV streaming service. The sources now expect the service to be launched later this year, or early 2016.

The rumoured TV service, charging $30-$40/month, is expected to bring over 25 channels to the Apple TV, including CBS, ESPN and FX .

According to The New York Times, the next Apple TV is scheduled to be launched on Monday, with a slimmer profile, new operating system and interface, support for Siri and its own App Store.

If you are as curious as we are, you can catch the live stream of the WWDC 2015 keaynote right on your Apple TV via the updated Events channel, at 10 am PT on Monday.

We will surely keep you updated as well.

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Apple just updated the Events channel on the Apple TV announcing that they will stream the WWDC 2015 keynote live on June 8th, at 10 am Pacific Time.

This isn’t something new. Whenever Apple decides to broadcast their events, Apple TV users get to enjoy it via the Events channel. However, this time things are a bit different.

Usually in such cases, Apple updates their website first, at apple.com/live, announcing the live stream to be available on the web and iOS devices. We then have to wait a couple of days or even till a few hours before the event for the Events channel to be updated on the Apple TV.

This time Apple has refreshed the Apple TV channel a week before the event and, more interestingly, there is no sign of the announcement on their website yet. This might be an indication as to how special the event would be for Apple TV users. Is it yet another proof that the Apple TV 4 will be launched at the event?

Apple has a long history of hiding major event highlights in their invites, illustrations and tag lines. This might very well be one of those. Even in the WWDC 2015 logo, observant users swear that the background square with rounded edges refers to the next Apple TV’s footprint.

In the end, these omens just confirm our previous reports that the Apple TV 4 will be unveiled on Monday. We believe it to be slimmer, pack a redesigned interface and a new OS with support for Siri and third party apps.

Read more on Apple TV 4 specs, hardware, remote, OS and release date.

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Mark Gurman is probably the most respected and trusted blogger when it comes to breaking Apple news. Today, in a new post at 9to5Mac, he sheds some light on the Apple TV 4, as his sources report major facelifts in both hardware and software domains.

The Apple TV 4 Remote

As rumored before, the next Apple TV will come with a redesigned remote control, which is “fancier” than the current one and will likely sport a touchscreen or touchpad.

The the Apple Watch will be able to not only control your Apple TV, but, according to Gurman, “Apple plans to market the current Apple Watch as a primary input device for the next-generation Apple TV.”

The Apple TV 4 Software

Again, confirming previous rumors, the Apple TV 4 will pack a new operating system, codenamed “MonarchTide”. This OS will allow third party apps, which can be built with a new “TV Kit” included in a future version of Xcode, dubbed “MuirTrail”.

The new Xcode-based OS will also bear support for Apple’s voice assistant Siri.

Media Content on Apple TV 4

Gurman’s source says that the current prototypes, called the “J34” is filled with subscription-dependent channels just like the current Apple TV versions. However, Apple’s own rumored “Live TV” subscription service is expected to get added to them soon.

Read more on Apple’s online television service.

Apple TV 4 Hardware

The new Apple TV hardware, codenamed “J34,” is twice as bulky as the Apple TV 3, but that is common with all prototypes. Sources confirm that the shipping product will be slimmer than the current Apple TV box.

It will also come with a redesigned remote, as mentioned earlier.

Apple TV 4 Release date

The Apple TV 4 will be announced in June, at the WWDC 2015, like we reported earlier. The online TV service is expected to launch at a later date.

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The New York Times reports that the new Apple TV is expected to be announced this June during WWDC 2015. Citing an anonymous Apple employee “briefed on the product”, NYT claims the 4th gen. Apple TV will get a new, “slightly thicker” remote with a touchpad and will offer a web-based TV service.

When Apple introduces its new TV box this summer, the remote control will gain a touch pad and also be slightly thicker than the current version, according to an employee briefed on the product, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the device was confidential.

The touch pad can be used for scrolling around and there will also be two physical buttons, the person said. The remote’s thicker size is comparable to the remote control for Amazon’s wireless speaker, the Echo, the person added.

The new Apple TV is expected to be introduced this June during Apple’s annual conference for software developers, according to the employee briefed on the remote.

Apple has held talks with a number of leading television groups to offer an Internet-based TV service this year for its Apple TV, iPhone and iPad, according to people briefed on the company’s plans.

The service will offer a bundle of channels that is smaller and cheaper than the broad catalog of offerings in a typical cable subscription, according to these people.

Back in March, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is planning to launch a $30-$40/month online TV service in September.

According to BuzzFeed’s John Paczkowski the new Apple TV will also get Siri and its own App Store.

More on Apple TV 4:

• HomeKit devices are coming soon and so is the Apple TV refresh
• Apple finishing up work on a new, slimmer Apple TV with App Store
• Forbes: Apple TV will be the center of Apple’s smart home

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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