Apple has released updates for its Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices preview apps for Windows 11 users. The updates bring notable improvements and bug fixes to the preview apps, enhancing the user experience of Apple Music, Apple TV+, and device management.
Apple removes references to mixed reality headset in latest Windows 11 preview app update
Last year, Microsoft announced that Apple Music and Apple TV apps would be coming to the Microsoft Store in 2023, offering a better experience of these apps than going via the web or using Apple’s outdated iTunes for Windows app. In January, preview versions of the two apps and an Apple Devices app for managing devices appeared in the Microsoft Store.
Apple has provided no release notes for the latest updates, so we don’t have a comprehensive list of changes and fixes. However, users on Reddit have discovered that the Apple Music Preview app now appears to include support for Windows 11 media controls and keyboard shortcuts, support for lyrics, and provides smoother continuous playback of consecutive lossless tracks.
The Apple Devices Preview has reportedly removed references to the software that will run on its rumored mixed reality headset. References to “xrOS” and “RealityOS” are now gone. Apple internally called the headset software “Reality OS” or “rOS” when it was in development, then decided to update the public name to the less generic “xrOS” name, which stands for “extended reality.” Apple is expected to unveil its headset at WWDC in June.
There is no information yet on what’s new in the Apple TV Preview app, but we can expect improvements and bug fixes to make the user experience smoother.
It’s important to note that installing any of these preview apps will prevent iTunes for Windows from opening, and other content types such as audiobooks and podcasts will be inaccessible until Apple releases a compatible version of iTunes or the user uninstalls the preview apps.
In summary, the updates for the Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices preview apps for Windows 11 users bring notable improvements and bug fixes, enhancing the user experience of these apps. With the mixed reality headset rumors in the air, the removal of references to the software that will run on the headset is a significant development. We can expect Apple to continue improving its apps and services on Windows devices, offering a better experience to users.
