Apple today announced tvOS 17 alongside iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma. Designed to elevate the entertainment experience and offer enhanced functionality for users, tvOS 17 features an all-new Control Center, FaceTime support, and more.
tvOS 17 features
“tvOS 17 transforms the biggest screen in the home with FaceTime and new video conferencing capabilities, giving Apple TV 4K users the ability to easily connect with anyone right from their living room,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “New features and enhancements make Apple TV simpler to use and even more enjoyable, reinforcing it as the absolute best option in the living room for Apple customers.”
Here is a quick look at all the new tvOS 17 from WWDC 2023.
FaceTime comes to Apple TV 4K
Apple has just announced a host of software updates for this fall that will make the Apple TV 4K experience even more enjoyable, interactive, and fun for the entire household. With the introduction of tvOS 17, Apple TV 4K users will, for the first time ever, be able to enjoy FaceTime on their television, opening up a whole new realm of engaging conversations with family and friends.
All-new Control Center
tvOS 17 brings an all-new Control Center to Apple TV 4K, revolutionizing the way users interact with their devices. The Control Center provides easy access to key settings and information, displaying system status details such as the time and active profile. It expands to offer additional helpful details based on the user’s activity, ensuring a seamless and personalized experience.
New FaceTime features and video conferencing capabilities
The new FaceTime app on Apple TV 4K, available this fall, revolutionizes video calling experiences. Users can initiate calls directly from their TV or seamlessly hand them off from their iPhone or iPad to Apple TV. The introduction of Center Stage ensures everyone in the room stays perfectly framed on the screen, even while moving around. Additionally, new gesture-based reactions allow callers to generate onscreen effects, adding even more fun to the conversation. Split View lets users enjoy shows or movies with loved ones during a SharePlay session while simultaneously seeing everyone on the FaceTime call.
Immersive experience
Developers can leverage the Continuity Camera APIs on Apple TV 4K to integrate the iPhone or iPad camera and microphone into their tvOS apps. This integration allows for the creation of shared and immersive entertainment experiences in the living room.
Apple Music Sing, a feature that enables users to sing along to their favorite tracks, will also incorporate Continuity Camera, providing users with onscreen visibility and entertaining filters.
Screen saver enhancements and Find My support for Siri Remote
Apple TV 4K, with the help of tvOS 17, strengthens the seamless integration with iPhone, making it even more convenient for users. The Siri Remote can now be located easily using the Apple TV remote feature within Control Center on iPhone. As users get closer to their Siri Remote (2nd generation or later), an onscreen circle grows in size, guiding their movement and eliminating the hassle of searching for the remote.
Furthermore, the remote on iPhone automatically switches users to their profile, granting access to recently watched shows and personalized recommendations. Each user profile now saves additional settings and preferences, including system language and paired AirPods, further enhancing the personalized experience.
Screen saver enhancements take the Apple TV experience to the next level. Users can enjoy curated Memories from their personal and shared libraries, bringing cherished moments to the big screen. Additionally, the popular aerial screen savers showcase breathtaking new locations, including Arizona’s Monument Valley and California’s coastal redwoods.
Additional features
- Enhance Dialogue: Apple TV 4K paired with HomePod (2nd generation) offers users the ability to hear dialogue more clearly in movies and TV shows. It separates dialogue from background noise, bringing it forward to the center channel, and enhancing the overall audio experience.
- Dolby Vision 8.1 support: Apple TV 4K now supports Dolby Vision 8.1, providing users with a more cinematic visual experience. This technology utilizes dynamic metadata to enhance picture quality across a wider range of movies and TV shows.
- Apple Fitness+ enhancements: Apple Fitness+ introduces several enhancements, including Custom Plans. Users can receive personalized workout or meditation schedules based on specific criteria such as the day, duration, and workout type. Stacks allows users to seamlessly transition between multiple workouts or meditations, while Audio Focus provides the ability to prioritize the volume of music or trainers’ voices.
- Third-Party VPN support: Developers can now create VPN apps for Apple TV, enabling third-party VPN support. This is beneficial for enterprise and education users who need to access content on private networks. Apple TV can now serve as an office and conference room solution in more locations.
Availability
tvOS 17 will be made available in the fall alongside the announcement of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. The first developer beta of tvOS 17 has been released for developers and a public beta will become available in July.
