appletv
Latest
Code hints the next Apple TV will support 4K and HDR
There have been murmurs of a 4K Apple TV and even hints of 4K HDR videos on iTunes, but now we have evidence tying it all together. Remember that incredibly revealing HomePod firmware? Developer Guilherme Rambo has sifted through it to discover references to both 4K and HDR support in an upcoming Apple TV model. And the HDR support is particularly broad, too. The media player's code mentions support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and Hybrid Log-Gamma formats, so the odds are that HDR's enhanced picture quality will be available even if your TV only has limited compatibility.
The best gear for building a home theater in your dorm
To the extent that your shoebox of a dorm will be your home for the next nine months, you should do whatever you can to make it feel cozy and inviting. To that end, we've included some home-theater items in our back-to-school guide, and we've ensured everything is reasonably compact (you can hold off on your first 65-inch set until you have your very own pad). From media streamers to speakers to a handful of small- to medium-sized TVs, you have options if you want to upgrade from watching Netflix off your 13-inch laptop.
Plex pushes Live TV broadcasts to Apple TV, Android
It hasn't been that long since Plex launched live TV and DVR support, but now it's officially out of beta testing. While it's still a premium feature tied to the Plex Pass subscription ($5 per month, $40 per year or $120 lifetime), it's available on a few more platforms via the Plex app. Already out for iOS and Android TV devices, now Apple TV Plex users can tune into live TV, while on Android they can do that plus create a DIY DVR to record shows just by connecting a TV tuner. Roku, Fire TV, Smart TVs, and the Plex Web App are now on deck for live TV features, and at this pace we'd expect to see them join the fold rather quickly.
Bounce's Brown Sugar streaming service arrives on Apple TV
The Apple TV's selection of culture-specific streaming services just got a little larger. Bounce has launched its subscription video service on Apple's fourth-generation media hub, bringing a large collection of movies and TV shows that star or or are created by African-Americans. You'll see classic flicks like Foxy Brown, Shaft and Pride, documentaries (such as the LeBron James bio More than a Game) and full seasons of Bounce's own TV shows, including access to Premier Boxing Champions.
Apple’s ‘Planet of the Apps': lousy TV, good for developers
Ashley D'Arcy always dreamed of being on a reality TV show. But her job as a creative director for an app doesn't frequently put her in front of a camera. D'Arcy's dream was realized, however, when she and dozens of other app makers were thrown into the spotlight on Apple's first original TV series, Planet of the Apps (POTA). It's been widely (and accurately) described as a cross between Shark Tank and The Voice, and it's a tepid take on the high-stakes world of... app funding.
Now Apple TV has access to all the cartoons on Boomerang
Parents tired of watching Moana on repeat, listen up: there's a new streaming service on Apple TV that just might catch your kids' attention. Boomerang, which offers a variety of classic Saturday morning cartoons from your youth, has finally arrived on Apple TV. It was originally a Time Warner cable channel until it re-emerged as a streaming service for the web, iOS and Android devices in March. Now that it's also out for Apple TV, you can stream all the Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo, Tom & Jerry, The Jetsons and The Flintstones you want if you fancy going on a nostalgia trip. Boomerang has around 5,000 episodes from Hanna-Barbera's, Looney Tunes' and MGM's libraries on offer, so you won't quickly run out of things to watch either.
Apple TV’s new firmware is available for adventurous watchers
While Apple took time to talk about updates to its macOS, iOS and watchOS products onstage at WWDC this year, it didn't spend much time on the Apple TV. The only mention of Apple's favorite "hobby" was the addition of Amazon Prime Video to the Apple TV lineup. But today, in addition to the iOS 11 public beta, Apple has also released the beta for tvOS.
Those awkward AirPods will automatically link up to your Apple TV
Apple's AirPods might look pretty unusual, but no other pair of wireless earbuds on the market is as easy to use -- as long as you have Apple hardware, that is. Indeed, once you connect the AirPods to your iPhone, they are automatically ready to use with any of your other devices with the same iCloud account, which includes iPads, Macs running Sierra and the Apple Watch. Soon, those AirPods could work on one other Apple device in your home: your Apple TV.
Watch Apple's WWDC 2017 keynote in 15 minutes
What's that? You weren't able to sit through nearly three hours of Apple news earlier today as the company kicked off this year's Worldwide Developers Conference? No worries. We've condensed all the watchOS, macOS, iOS, MacBook, iMac and iPad news into a convenient 15-minute clip. And yes, we made room for that newfangled Siri speaker, the HomePod. Sit back, relax and catch up on what you missed without sacrificing a couple hours to the task. Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!
Facebook is bringing gaming videos to the living room
Facebook is determined to become a destination for gaming videos, and that includes when you're lounging on the couch. It's adding a dedicated gaming tab to its TV app that will highlight videos from the games, developers, eSports teams and personalities you like on Facebook. If you want to catch a tournament highlight or a new game trailer, you won't have to pull out your phone or leave the living room.
Amazon Prime Video launches on Apple TV 'this year'
Well, that took longer than it probably should have: Amazon Prime Video will finally be available on Apple TV sometime "later this year." Yep, that means if you'd rather watch Man in the High Castle via an Apple device instead of the myriad other options that were available prior to this announcement you'll totally be able to do that. Now we're wondering if there will be no-Gary-Busey-required voice search via SIri.
YouTube TV now works on Apple TV over AirPlay
If you're the rare YouTube TV subscriber who finds yourself stuck in an Apple household, there's good news for you. The streaming TV service's iOS app just got upgraded with AirPlay support, giving you a quick way to shoot whatever you're watching over to an Apple TV. Sure, an actual Apple TV app (or really, any streaming box app) would be nice, but it'll likely be awhile before Google gets those out. That's a shame, since competing TV services from Sling, DirecTV and Hulu all have apps of their own. At least Youtube TV subscribers aren't just stuck using Chromecasts to get their big screen fix.
Vevo's Apple TV app takes cues from Spotify
Music lovers with Apple TVs, it's time to get moderately excited -- because the tvOS Vevo app is getting a hefty overhaul. From tomorrow, Vevo will let owners of fourth generation Apple TVs experience an endless wave of curated music videos like it's 1999 all over again.
Apple TV will reportedly get Amazon's Video app this summer
The squabbling between Amazon and Apple might soon be over -- at least, on the TV front. Amazon's Video app might finally be heading to the Apple TV this summer, giving consumers an easy way to watch Amazon's streaming content on the set-top box, Recode reports. Up until now, you were forced to use AirPlay to send Amazon's streaming video titles to the Apple TV. That's been one of the Apple TV's biggest downsides since it debuted in 2015, together with a lack of 4K support.
Sling TV's Cloud DVR records your guilty pleasures on Apple TV
Two weeks after Sling TV rolled out its Cloud DVR feature to Android and Roku users, the streaming service is now doing the same for people who own an Apple TV. "First Look," which was introduced last November, lets Sling TV subscribers get 50 hours of DVR storage by paying an extra $5 per month. Any recorded TV shows or movies can be watched across different devices, regardless of platform, and they never expire from an active account. It's great for those of you who decided to cut the cord completely, since features like this have traditionally required a pay-TV subscription or some sort of third-party hardware.
Stream from your Android device to an Apple TV with an $8 app
Non-Apple-device Airplay streaming to Apple TV effectively died when Apple pushed tvOS 10.2 into the world. But the folks who enabled it in the first place, doubleTwist, have returned to fix that. "We went ahead and added support for Apple's new pairing process in the latest doubleTwist Pro release because we believe the era of walled gardens is long gone," a post on the developer's blog says. Meaning, if you didn't already have the premium app, all it'll cost to get FLAC files from your Android device to your Apple TV is a spare $8/£8. Handy!
ESPN's new Apple TV app behaves like your cable box
As great as the streaming TV era may be, it frequently lacks the immediacy of conventional broadcasts. You can't always flip to your favorite network and start watching right away like you can with cable or satellite. ESPN, however, wants to recreate some of that experience. It just released a revamped Apple TV app whose centerpiece is automatic live streaming. If you've authenticated with a TV provider, the app will start playing a channel as soon as you hop in. This won't help much if it's playing the wrong channel, of course, but it could make the difference between catching a big play live and having to visit the on-demand video. Thankfully, that last part should also be easier.
Apple hopes to sell premium TV channels in a bundle
Apple's attempts to offer its own TV service haven't panned out. However, it appears to have a Plan B: offer a bundle that includes just a handful of channels you can already watch on its devices. Recode sources understand that Apple is pitching a deal that would offer HBO, Showtime and Starz for one price. It's not certain whether or not you'd get a discount over the $35 per month it costs to subscribe to each network individually, but the focus would be on convenience. There's even talk of Apple potentially selling the bundle as a stand-alone product -- presumably, as more than just a collection of existing apps.
'Minecraft' Realms multiplayer finally heads to Apple TV
If you've been looking to play Minecraft with your other Apple TV-owning gamer buddies, it's time to get excited. The latest update to the Apple TV version of this hit game enables "Realms," Minecraft's subscription-based multiplayer system. This upgraded version also includes Xbox Live authentication support, which will let players access their linked avatars and character skins.
The Apple TV Remote app is finally optimized for iPads
No, we still don't have an iPad version of the Instagram app, but another longtime holdout has gotten some big(ger) screen love. Apple has finally given its Apple TV Remote app a refresh tailored for the slate's display. The iTunes listing says that in addition to the expected visual improvements, there's also lyrics and "playlists for music and chapters." That's in addition to captions section for movies and TV shows.
