TvOS 16 may be a step forward in making the Apple TV a more attractive purchase.
4K Apple TV If you’re looking forward to the next major release of Apple TV’s operating system, tvOS 16, you’ve probably marked WWDC 2022 on your calendar. We see the newest generations of the software that powers Apple gadgets — and that includes Apple TV — every year at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
Many of the new capabilities in tvOS 15 were already available in other Apple products. SharePlay, for FaceTime calls, is undoubtedly the most popular.. Using this tool, you may watch shows and movies simultaneously with individuals who are in different parts of the world. After the September release of tvOS 15, SharePlay didn’t make its appearance until the following month with tvOS 15.1.
Also in tvOS, spatial audio was added to allow owners of the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max to hear content more clearly. TVs running tvOS 15 now have improved AirPods connectivity, numerous HomePod small speakers, and HomeKit camera updates, among other enhancements.
However, if you ask us, tvOS 16 might be aiming for a higher purpose. Apple has a new opportunity to make the Apple TV 4K worth its $179 price tag with the release of tvOS 7.0. the difference between the Roku Ultra and most other 4K streaming devices is $80, making this a far more expensive option. Moreover, we’ve outlined several recommendations below that may improve the Apple TV.
Now that tvOS 16 is here, what can you anticipate from it? And, maybe most intriguingly, what are our hopes and expectations for tvOS 16? Let’s dissect this further.
Release date rumours for tvOS 16
tvOS 16 is anticipated to be launched in two stages, based on previous releases. Apple’s WWDC 2022 keynote is scheduled for June 6, which is most likely the first day of the tvOS 16 release cycle. In the year 2021, this was how Apple released its initial developer betas, and it will continue to do so in the future.
It is anticipated that the initial beta will be a developer beta, which will be difficult to install for non-developers. The first public beta is expected to be released by the end of June at the earliest (as was the case in 2021).
The final public release of tvOS 16 is expected in the fall of 2022, most likely around September.
What to expect in tvOS 16
We’d want to see Apple mimic the functionality of the Fire TV devices and Chromecast with Google TV, for example, but the world of smart televisions provides us a sense of what Apple TV could achieve.
Kate Kozuch pointed out to me that LG and Samsung are embracing hyper-customizable home screens that strive to do everything. That prompted me to ponder more.
Apple has a habit of integrating its features across several platforms, as we’ve learned over the years. So, it is impossible to conceive that widgets haven’t made their way from the iPhone to the iPad and the Mac to the TV.
The upper half of the tvOS home screen is used by several programmes to display content, and thus is an ideal location for widgets (which could also sit besides apps). When it comes to promoting forthcoming series, apps like Disney Plus and HBO Max could do just that (or pull a JustWatch and inform you how many episodes you have left for the shows that are currently on your watch list). There was a UFC bout countdown on the ESPN Plus app widget.
It would also make sense for Apple to include camera capabilities in SharePlay. You must have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac on you at all times in order to use SharePlay and share your face at the same time. Face detection and framing technology from CenterStage might be brought over if Apple could add camera compatibility. The SharePlay experience would be wonderful, but it would not necessitate juggling several devices.
What we hope to see with tvOS 16
On the basis of the approach outlined above, I believe it’s time for Apple to bring Split View to the Apple TV 4K with tvOS 16. Ask anybody who watched all of the 2022 March Madness games, or anyone who wants to watch an NFL game and RedZone at the same time, for example. According to a patent for a display that would show “different material at different angles,” Apple has experimented with technologies like this in the past.
In the case of the recent WrestleMania weekend, I had a desire to watch three things at once and managing Peacock, Fite and Sling on three separate devices was no fun. If you try to focus on more than one item at a time, you’ll find it nearly impossible. Multi View is a feature on Samsung TVs that provides a similar experience.
In this case, another of Apple’s software features from other devices might be of use. MacOS 10.11 El Capitan introduced split-screen mode for full-screen programmes in 2015, when the operating system was known as OS X. Then, in 2019, iPadOS 13 introduced the split-screen mode for iPad applications.
When it comes to streaming applications, imagine if you could have two open at the same time, so that you could keep tabs on two distinct channels at the same time. Having many instances of the same app running simultaneously would make this feature much more beneficial if app developers adopted it.
In order to separate out from Roku and Fire TV, Apple TV needs to provide something others don’t.
What’s the deal with that? FuboTV’s Multiview illustrates how it’s done well, so I’m not sure what you mean by “adding an app,” but that’s exactly what it does. You control which app is heard by moving your cursor to pick a screen since enabling each programme to play audio at the same time would be inefficient.
When you can get it from only one live TV streaming provider and one TV manufacturer, why does Apple TV 4K require it? Compared to competing streaming devices, the Apple TV HD ($149) and 4K ($399, respectively) are astronomically priced, as previously stated. It’s time for Apple TV to provide something that Roku and Fire TV don’t, so it can genuinely stand out in a crowded market. Despite my admiration for their speed and minimalism.”