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You can now pre-order apps for Apple devices
Apple has launched a simple new feature that makes it even easier to get the apps you've been waiting for. The company announced a new pre-order function that lets developers make their future releases available on the App Store up to 90 days in the future and have them automatically download to devices when they launch.
Apple TV update brings smarter HDR and sports alerts
The Apple TV just received a major update that could make it far more appealing if you have an HDR-capable set or crave constant sports action. The newly released tvOS 11.2 update adds an optional setting that matches the dynamic color range of a video on the Apple TV 4K, rather than always running with HDR on as it has in the past. If you don't want to risk messing with a classic movie's colors, you can watch it as intended without having to compromise quality elsewhere. There's also an option to match the frame rate of a video (say, the typical 24FPS of a movie), although Apple notes that many TVs can do this by themselves.
ESPN's Apple TV app streams four live feeds at once
Just in time for football season, ESPN updated its Apple TV app to include a handy new feature for sports fans. Thanks to tvOS MultiCast, you can now watch up to four live streams at once across all of the network's programming options. This means you can put shows and events from ESPN's broadcast channels beside the online-only streams at the same time. It sounds fairly straightforward, but it's sure to come in handy when you're trying to follow multiple things that overlap in your viewing schedule.
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.
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!
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.
Watch Apple's WWDC keynote live at 1PM ET
The day has come. It's time for Apple's annual developer conference to kick off and you can watch it live from wherever you'll be at 1PM ET/10AM PT. The company is keeping with its tradition of broadcasting the WWDC opening keynote for all the world to watch via the internet and Apple TV. When the time comes, tune in here (or on your set-top box) to catch all of the news as it's announced from San Jose. Yes, if you're watching on the web, you'll have to do so with either Safari or Microsoft's Edge browser. You'll also want to keep our liveblog open in a separate window to catch commentary from the crew on the ground. And while you wait for the festivities to begin, check out what we expect to be announced later today with our WWDC 2017 preview. Get all the latest news from WWDC 2017 here!
What to expect from Apple at WWDC 2017
As a rule, Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference is predictable: New versions of iOS, macOS and watchOS are the stars of the show, and anything else is gravy. WWDC 2017, however, is shaping up to be different. Although there hasn't been much talk about what the new software will entail, the rumor mill has kicked into high gear with word of new Macs, new iPads and even a smart speaker. All told, operating systems may actually be the least exciting part of Apple's keynote. But which products are likely to steal the spotlight, and which ones are just wishful thinking? That's what we're here to sort out.
iTunes movie rentals finally work across multiple devices
Somehow, Apple went until 2017 before adding one of the most basic features to iTunes. You see, for the past nine years, when you'd rent a movie via the app, you'd have to watch it on the device the rental originated from. So, if you rented Manchester by the Sea on your commute, watched a few minutes and then wanted to finish bumming yourself out on your big screen at home, you were out of luck. With the latest version of iTunes (12.6) and "rent once, watch anywhere," that's changed.
Apple TV app changes pave the way for better gaming
Apple has drastically increased the size of apps that developers can submit to its Apple TV App Store, paving the way for more media-heavy apps, especially games. Up until now the limit was 200 MB, but apps can now be as large 4GB, the same as for iOS devices. The change should provide a "complete, rich user experience upon installation," Apple says, noting that as before, apps can host up to 20GB of additional content from the App Store.
Apple TV universal search now supports Apple Music, TBS and more
As Apple continues to improve the one-stop streaming experience of Apple TV and its standalone TV app, the much-hyped universal search has finally added enough partners to make it a robust and useful feature. With a few updates this week, universal search on the fourth generation Apple TV now supports over 50 different streaming apps and services in the US -- meaning you can search for shows and content across Netflix, Apple Music, Animal Planet, TNT, TBS and dozens more right from Siri or the Search app.
Apple releases iOS 10.2 and its companion TV app
Apple is making good on its promise of giving you a unified video streaming experience. The company has released iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1, both of which include the company's centerpiece TV app. So long as a given service supports the feature, you no longer have to jump into and out of apps to catch up on your viewing -- you can resume your favorite show or check out recommendations from a single place. Netflix isn't included in TV at the moment, alas, but this and the recently launched single sign-on should save you a lot of hassle.
Apple's TV single sign-on feature goes live in the US
Apple just made your TV watching much easier... if you subscribe to the right services, that is. After dropping some hints in November, Apple has activated its promised single sign-on feature for Apple TV and iOS users in the US, but only for a handful of offerings. DirecTV, Dish and cord-cutter service Sling TV are the highlights among providers. Only some channel-specific apps can use SSO as well: A&E, Bravo, NBC, Syfy and USA are among the choices, and the option isn't always available on both Apple TV and iOS gear.
iBooks StoryTime app narrates children's stories on your Apple TV
To encourage parents and kids to read together, Apple has debuted a new app for tvOS. The iBooks StoryTime app features "Read-Aloud" tool that narrates books and flips pages automatically. For the times when you'd rather read to your child yourself, you can turn the feature off and turn to the next page by swiping with the Apple TV remote.
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.
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.
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.
Watch Apple's WWDC 2016 keynote in 15 minutes
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){} try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}In typical Apple fashion, yesterday's WWDC keynote kicked off the annual developer's conference with a two-hour slate of software-focused announcements. While you may want to go back and relive all of the news, you probably don't have that amount of free time to dedicate to the task. Fret not, friends: we've condensed the chatter about all four of Apple's OSes down to a 15-minute affair, easily digested over your coffee break. There's talk of watchOS improvements, what's new for Apple TV, a massive overhaul of iOS and the move from OS X to macOS. For more detailed info on what went down, consult all of our WWDC 2016 coverage right here.
What happened at WWDC 2016?
Need a quick recap on all the news from WWDC 2016? Our own Dana Wollman and Chris Velazco were on the scene and are ready to run through all the news about macOS, iOS, watchOS, tvOS and any other platforms Apple may have introduced. Most of these changes won't hit your devices until the fall, but this way it will only take a few minutes to get familiar with all the new features immediately.
Apple's new file system revolves around encryption
One of Apple's quietest announcements at WWDC might also be its most important. The company has introduced a brand new file system, simply called Apple File System (APFS) that makes security its centerpiece. It offers a unified encryption method for virtually every device Apple makes, ranging from the Apple Watch to the Mac. That includes multikey encryption, which makes it tough to crack even if you have physical access to the storage. In short, the FBI won't be happy: Encryption is now a core part of the operating system, not just something bolted on after the fact.
