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Apple is close to launching single sign-on for Apple TV
Apple wants to take the pain out of turning your Apple TV into a cable box, and is doing so with Single Sign On. It's a system that promises to let you enter the username you use with your TV provider just once, and it'll collate whatever apps and services you can access automatically. It was announced all the way back in June, but only now is the company ready to begin testing the feature publicly.
Watch Apple's MacBook Pro event in nine minutes
In contrast to Microsoft's everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach to announcements just a day earlier, Apple's "Hello Again" event was a more focused affair. However, there was still a lot to take in. How does the new MacBook Pro's Touch Bar work, exactly? And what's this TV app that Apple introduced? Don't worry about having to spend ages reading (or watching the full replay) if you don't have time, though. We've recapped the entire presentation in a 9-minute video, so you can get the gist of Apple's media shindig in the time it takes to grab a drink. Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple's "Hello Again" event.
'Minecraft' is coming to Apple TV
Today's Apple event might be about new Macs, but the company is taking time to detail updates for its other products too. First up: Apple TV. On stage today, CEO Tim Cook said that the box now offers access to over 8,000 apps, and will soon become home to one of the most popular games on both consoles and mobile: Minecraft. That's right, Microsoft's huge open-world sandbox game will be available on Apple TV "by the end of the year."
The new Apple TV app is: TV
The rumored TV guide app for Apple TV is here, just unveiled at the company's event. It brings TV and movies from the box's various apps into one browsable location. As demonstrated on stage by designer Jen Folse, pressing play within the guide can immediately start a video stream in an app like HBO Now, without any intervening menus. The main "Watch Now" menu knows which apps you've signed into with its unified login feature, and will show options that you have access to. "TV" isn't just for Apple TV either, as the app is also accessible from iPhone and iPad.
Apple TV's 'TV guide' app expected to appear tomorrow
Add one more thing to our list of anticipated announcements during Apple's launch event tomorrow: a new "guide" for Apple TV. First reported by Recode in August, now sources tell it and USA Today that an app built to help people discover TV shows from multiple services at once will be revealed.
RIP, third-gen Apple TV
The Apple TV of old -- the one that doesn't have a tiny, Siri-enabled remote, or any desire to play video games -- is no more. As MacRumors reports, the third-gen hardware is no longer listed on Apple's site, all but sealing its fate. Maybe you'll see one in a brick-and-mortar store -- but consider it a hanger-on. A remnant of the past, before tvOS and its fancy new apps were introduced. 9to5Mac has also obtained an email, sent by Apple to its employees and education partners, confirming the decision. So that's it. From here on out, it's all about the new, fourth-gen Apple TV.
Mysterious Apple device surfaces in FCC filing
What is the A1844? We don't know, but an FCC filing for the Apple-built hardware popped up, revealing a few interesting details that raise more questions than answers. Revealed by the French website Consomac, the device is similar in size to an Apple TV 4th-gen box (the new one with the Siri voice remote), but there are no full pictures or other details to explain exactly what it does. AppleInsider points out that tests reveal Bluetooth and NFC (which is not currently included in the Apple TV) capabilities, but didn't note WiFi, which could be a result of re-used hardware or that it's not present. The diagram included in the filing shows a shape and screws that appear to be similar to the current Apple TV.
Twitter comes to the Xbox One, Apple and Amazon TV boxes
Much like Shia LaBoeuf declaring that he isn't famous anymore, Twitter is now out and proud about not being a social network. No, instead, Twitter is now a broadcasting platform, which means that it needs to put itself in the sort of places you use to watch TV. That's why the company has announced that it's launching apps for Apple TV, Amazon's Fire TV and Microsoft's Xbox One. It'll be on these that you can watch some of the new video content that's coming to the service, including Thursday Night Football.
Apple releases iOS 10 and watchOS 3
You no longer have to be a guinea pig to give Apple's latest software upgrades a try -- as promised, the Cupertino crew has released the finished versions of iOS 10 and watchOS 3. As before, iOS' biggest improvements are in communication -- Messages gets apps, hand-drawn images, secret messages and stickers (among many other additions), while Siri now offers you control over third-party apps. You'll also see major interface revamps in Maps (which now offers proactive suggestions) and Music, a Home app to manage smart household gadgets, lock screen widgets and wider use of 3D Touch on supporting hardware.
FCC boss shares a fresh compromise on set-top box rules
The FCC and cable companies have been butting heads for nearly a year over how to regulate set-top boxes, and today FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler outlined his latest plan in an LA Times op-ed. The new plan to "Unlock the Box" is a compromise that embraces some earlier suggestions from the cable industry. Notably, Wheeler's proposal calls for pay-TV providers to create free apps that consumers can download on the device of their choice, such as Roku, Apple TV, Xbox One, PS4, smart TVs, or Windows, iOS and Android devices. Or, consumers can keep their set-top boxes.
What happened at the iPhone event
If you're still reeling from the loss of the headphone jack and need to catch up with all of today's Apple news, Engadget's own Michael Gorman breaks down the new iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 introduced at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium this morning.
Fox Sports Go is streaming on Chromecast and Roku too
Just in case you need another way to watch college football, Fox Sports Go has launched apps on a few more platforms. There's now an app available for Roku, as well as the ability to stream on Chromecast (at least on Android and from the web, I didn't see an option to do it from iOS yet). Neither platform mentioned support for the 60fps or Multiview Display support that's in its just-released app for the new Apple TV, but if all you want to do is stream a game quickly, they should get the job done.
The new Papa John's app for Apple TV makes ordering a breeze
Papa John's knows a delicious pizza goes well with marathoning your favorite shows by way of the Apple TV. That's why the pizza giant has launched a new app to let you order, customize and pay a pizza order directly from the Apple TV itself.
Watch Fox Sports Go on Apple TV, if you have cable
The start of both NFL and college football seasons are imminent and Fox Sports is giving viewers another option for streaming the action. The network announced today that its Fox Sports Go app is now available on the 4th-gen Apple TV. Yes, you'll need a cable subscription in order to stream events spanning NFL, MLB, UFC, NASCAR, Big 12 and Pac-12 Football, Big East Basketball, FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League soccer. Though they aren't specifically listed in the announcement, a MLS and Bundesliga soccer match are part of the weekly lineup during their respective seasons as well.
Twitter in talks to livestream NFL games on Apple TV
Twitter paid $10 million for the rights to stream NFL games and is reportedly talking to Apple about building an Apple TV app, according to the New York Times. That would let fans to watch ten Thursday Night Football games on a big screen using Apple hardware, even without a cable subscription. "Having that live programming every night when sports are playing -- with no paywall, no logging in and directly from the source -- that's key to us," Twitter CFO Anthony Noto told the NYT.
Latest Apple TV rumor points to a TV guide for video apps
At the WWDC 2016 event, Apple revealed a number of improvements on the way for the Apple TV, including a new feature called single sign-on. That would let cable TV subscribers log in once, and immediately have all their supported apps authorized without needing to log in (often repeatedly) within each individual app. Now Recode cites industry sources saying that Apple is working on "digital TV guide" for the Apple TV and its other devices that would display content from sources like Netflix and HBO all in one place.
Apple TV's new iPhone remote control app talks to Siri
As promised, you no longer need to use the new Apple TV's standard remote control to take advantage of all the media hub's features. Apple has released a brand new Apple TV Remote app that drags its iOS interface into the modern era. You can not only use the same touch-based control as on the hardware remote, but talk to Siri -- handy if you lost the physical controller between the couch cushions. It also supports motion controls for games, and there's even a Game Mode that strips things down.
Apple's negotiation tactics might be hurting its TV plans
We're nearly a year into the era of the newest Apple TV, which packs plenty of power, access to apps and a reworked remote with Siri voice control. Despite the new hardware, rumors of a big Apple push into TV still haven't turned into anything real. A report from the Wall Street Journal may help explain why by claiming negotiations with companies like Comcast and Time Warner Cable fell apart over things like how much the cable companies would pay Apple and how they would share customer information.
Adobe's Lightroom app for Apple TV helps show off your photos
There are already ways to show of your photography skills on your television via the Apple TV, but Adobe is making those in-home exhibitions a bit easier. The company released a Lightroom app for the set-top box that allows users to pull in those snapshots quickly. Any photos that you've synced with Lightroom on the desktop, mobile or web are all available to display on your television. Adobe says the goal is for users to be able to share their work with anyone and anywhere, all while keeping top-notch image quality. Let's be honest, offering a way to show images on the largest display in your house definitely fits the bill.
CBS News is coming to Apple TV as a free app
If you're a cord cutter who owns an Apple TV and is on the hunt for live news coverage, then you're in luck. CBS News has launched an updated app for the streaming device that will provide 24-hour news programming. It also curates video playlists and news stories for users based on previously watched videos.
