tvOS

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tvOS
The tvOS logo (2015)
300px
Screenshot of tvOS
Developer Apple Inc.
Written in C, C++, Swift (programming language), and Objective-C
OS family Unix, BSD
Working state Current
Source model Closed Source (with Open Source components)
Released to
manufacturing		 October 30, 2015; 8 years ago (2015-10-30)
Latest release 9.2.1 (13Y772) / May 16, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-05-16)
Latest preview 9.2.2 Beta 1 (13Y807) / May 23, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-05-23)
Marketing target Television, casual gaming
Available in Multilingual[which?]
Update method Over-the-air, iTunes
Platforms Apple TV (4th generation only)
Kernel type Hybrid (XNU)
License {{#property:p275}}
Preceded by Apple TV Software 7 (Based on iOS 8) - 3rd generation Apple TV Only
Official website apple.com/tv/experience/

tvOS is an operating system developed by Apple Inc. for their fourth generation Apple TV digital media player (which is currently the only device that runs tvOS). tvOS was announced on September 9, 2015 at the Apple September 2015 event, alongside the 4th generation Apple TV.[1] On October 26, 2015, 4th generation Apple TV pre-orders began, and shipments began the following week.[2] tvOS is available in a beta form. There is only a developer beta though, unlike Apple Inc.'s other operating systems with a developer beta and a public beta. At the Apple September 2015 Event, Hipster Whale's Andy Sum demoed Crossy Road[3] for the Apple TV, available via the tvOS App Store. Apple, Inc. also announced that other apps (such as Netflix and HBO Now) would be coming to the Apple TV running tvOS.

tvOS is based on iOS heavily rather than just the stripped-down versions of iOS that the operating systems for the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV are. The 4th generation Apple TV, with support for third-party software via an App Store, was rumored prior to the Apple September 2015 Event held on September 9, 2015.[4][5]

History

On October 30, 2015, the 4th generation Apple TV became available, and shipped with tvOS 9.0. On November 9, 2015, tvOS 9.0.1 was released, primarily an update to address minor issues.

tvOS 9.1 was released on December 8, 2015 along with OS X 10.11.2, iOS 9.2, and watchOS 2.1.[6] Along with these updates, Apple also updated the Remote apps on iOS and watchOS, allowing for basic remote functionality for the 4th generation Apple TV (previously, said app only worked with past versions of Apple TV).[7]

On November 25, 2015, Facebook debuted their SDK for tvOS, allowing applications to log in to Facebook, share to Facebook, and use Facebook Analytics in the same way that iOS applications can.[8]

On December 2, 2015, Twitter debuted their login authentication service for tvOS - "Digits" - allowing users to log in to apps and services with a simple, unique code available online.[9]

On March 11, 2016, The Pangu Team announced on Twitter that they will be creating a new jailbreak tool for the Apple TV 4 running tvOS 9.0-9.0.1 and that it will be released the following week.[10]

Features

tvOS 9 shipped with many new features on the fourth generation Apple TV. One of the major features was the ability to move through the interface with the new touchpad remote using multi-touch gestures. Also, it introduced an all new App Store in which users can download and install new applications (such as apps and games) made available from developers that develop applications for the Apple TV and tvOS. tvOS 9 adds support for Siri which lets users do a multitude of things such as a cross-application search for a movie/TV show, rewind, fast forward, name and actor/director of the current movie, and even skip back 15 seconds. tvOS also added support for an application switcher on the Apple TV, more application customization options, cinematic screensavers, and control the TV using the included Siri Remote with the built-in support for HDMI-CEC in tvOS. In addition, tvOS allows the user to control the Apple TV in many different ways. These include using the included Siri Remote, pairing a third-party universal remote, pairing an MFi Gamepad to control games, using the Remote app on iOS, and pairing a Bluetooth keyboard to aid in the typing experience of the user.

Accessibility

tvOS was designed based on iOS, as such tvOS inherited many of the accessibility features of iOS and OS X.

tvOS includes the Apple technologies of VoiceOver, Zoom, and Siri to help the blind and those with low vision. VoiceOver, Apple’s screen reader is available for more than 30 languages and enables visually impaired users to know what is on the visual display and input responses to on-screen prompts. VoiceOver gestures uses gestures that Apple users are already familiar with in other Apple Products (flicks, taps, and the rotor) making the Apple TV familiar to the disabled much the way their products are to the average user using a Mac or an iOS device.

Like other Apple products such as the iPhone with a three click sequence to the home button to activate accessibility features, with Apple TV's tvOS, the disabled user can activate VoiceOver without any installation process. One needs only to triple-click the Menu button on the Siri Remote and the Apple TV will guide the user through the complete initial setup, a task that is non-trivial to the visually impaired in most comparable products on the market.

Another accessibility feature is to Increase contrast on the screen which acts by reducing the transparency of background elements on Movie and TV Show pages, menu tabs, and other parts of the operating system. The visually impaired can also turn on a high-contrast cursor to better delineate the focused content. The user can also opt to turn on Reduce Motion which in some screen actions, such as moving between app icons on the Home screen and launching apps are visually simpler which is of benefit to reduce strain on the eyes.

tvOS enables users to watch movies with audio descriptions of what is being shown on the screen. Movies with audio descriptions are displayed with the AD (Audio Description) icon in the iTunes Store for tvOS and in iTunes on a Macintosh or Windows PC.

Pairing a Bluetooth keyboard with the tvOS on the Apple TV enables another accessibility feature that also is an incorporation of VoiceOver. When typing, VoiceOver mirrors with an audio voice, each character pressed on the keyboard and repeated again when it is entered. The Apple TV is designed to work with the Apple Wireless Keyboard or the Apple Magic Keyboard. It will work however with almost any brand of bluetooth keyboard.

Apple TV with and without tvOS supports closed captioning, so the deaf or hard of hearing can experience TV episodes and feature-length movies. Compatible episodes and movies are denoted with a CC (closed captioning) or SDH (Descriptive Audio) icon in the iTunes Store either on the Apple TV or in iTunes itself. The viewer can customize the captions in episodes or movies with styles and fonts that are more conducive to their hearing and/or visual impairment.

The Touch surface on the Siri Remote is customizable. Tracking when set to Fast adjusts the thumb movements made to amplify the distance in relation to how far the thumb has moved on the glass touchpad. Conversely when tracking is set to slow, larger movements of the thumb on the touchpad will tune down the distance that is traversed on the screen. This can be of great help to those struggling with Parkinson's or other movement disorders to be able to use the Apple TV in a way that fits their disability.

Apple's Remote app on iOS devices allows control of the Apple TV from an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. The iOS remote app increases the accessibility of the Apple TV by enabling Switch Control. Switch Control is a unique Apple technology that enables navigation sequentially through onscreen items and perform specific actions such as selecting, tapping, dragging, typing using third party Bluetooth-enabled switch hardware made for those with handicaps.

Development

tvOS ships with all new development tools for developers. tvOS adds support for an all new SDK for developers to build apps for the TV including all of the APIs included in iOS 9 such as Metal. It also adds an App Store which allows users to browse, download, and install a wide variety of applications. In addition, developers can now use their own interface inside of their application rather than only being able to use Apple's interface. Since tvOS is based on iOS, it is easy to port existing iOS apps to the Apple TV with Xcode while making only a few refinements to the app to better suit the larger screen. Apple provides Xcode free of charge to all registered Apple developers. To develop for the new Apple TV, it is necessary to make a parallax image for the application icon. In order to do this, Apple provides a Parallax exporter and previewer in the development tools for the Apple TV.

Version history: Apple TV (4th generation) onwards

Legend:   Obsolete   Discontinued   Current   Beta

Table of versions: tvOS 9.0 – Apple TV (4th generation) only
tvOS version iOS version based on Build Release date Features

9.0

 9.0 13T396 October 29, 2015; 8 years ago (2015-10-29)
  • Initial release on Apple TV (4th generation).
  • User Interface
    • Introduces an entirely new user interface that uses lighter colors, transparency, and parallax effects as well as adding support for control via an all new remote. This remote can be used to navigate the user interface by using touch gestures on the trackpad of the remote rather than physical buttons.
  • App Store/SDK[11]
    • Adds support for an all-new SDK for developers to build apps for the TV including all of the APIs included in iOS 9 such as Metal.
    • Adds an App Store which allows users to browse, download, and install a wide variety of applications from things such as video services, games, and other third party products.
    • Developers can now use their own interface inside of their application rather than only being able to use Apple's interface.
  • Siri
    • Adds support for Siri which can be activated by pressing the Siri button on the remote.
    • Siri, in addition to being able to do many of the things it can do on iOS, is able to take voice commands tailored for the TV. Siri can do many things such as a cross-application search for a movie/TV show, rewind, fast forward, name and actor/director of the current movie, and skip back 15 seconds.[12]
  • Experience
    • It is now possible to switch between two applications just by double-clicking the home button on the remote and scrolling to the desired application.
    • It is now also possible to customize the home screen by moving applications to the top row, including third-party applications.
    • New "Aerial" cinematic screen saver displays time-lapse images of scenic cities when the Apple TV is asleep.[13]
    • It is now possible to control the volume of the TV as well as turn it on/off using just the new Siri Remote and the built in support for HDMI CEC in tvOS.
  • Third-Party Controllers
    • Adds support for pairing third-party Bluetooth game controllers in order to play games.
  • Apple Music
    • Adds Apple Music support for Apple TV.

9.0.1

 9.1 13T402 November 9, 2015; 8 years ago (2015-11-09)
  • General performance and stability improvements.

9.1

 9.2 13U85 December 8, 2015; 8 years ago (2015-12-08)
  • Adds support for controlling Apple Music with Siri.
  • Adds support for controlling the Apple TV with the Remote app for iOS and Apple Watch.
  • Improvements to networking and scrolling.

9.1.1

 9.2.1 13U717 January 25, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-01-25)
  • General performance and stability improvements.
  • Adds support for the "Podcasts" app on the Apple TV.[14]

9.2

 9.3 13Y234 March 21, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-03-21)
  • Adds support for folders on the Apple TV.
    • A folder can be made by selecting an app, clicking and holding on the touchpad, clicking the Play/Pause button, and then choosing "New Folder" from the popup menu.
  • Adds the ability to pair Bluetooth keyboards with the 4th Generation Apple TV
  • Adds a redesigned application switcher similar to the one found in iOS 9 rather than the one found in iOS 8 as tvOS 9.1 contained.
  • Adds support for iCloud Photo Library and Live Photos
  • Enables developers to add maps to their applications with the use of the MapKit API.
  • Siri/Voice Dictation
    • Adds support for Voice Dictation to enable users to enter text in text fields using their voice. Voice Dictation can be invoked by selecting the text field and pressing the Siri button on the Siri Remote.
    • Adds Support for searching the App Store on the Apple TV using Siri.
    • Adds support for new Siri languages which include Spanish(United States), French(Canada), and English(United Kingdom and Australia).
  • Remote operability improvements
    • In order to rewind/fast forward the video in tvOS 9.2, it is now necessary to click the touchpad before swiping left or right.[15]
    • Updates the remote firmware which includes improved motion sensor performance and support for additional sound bar and receiver hardware.[16]
  • Enhancements to speed and performance.

9.2.1

 9.3.2 13Y772 May 16, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-05-16)
  • General performance and stability improvements.

9.2.2 Beta 1

 9.3.3 Beta 1 13Y807 May 23, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-05-23)
  • General performance and stability improvements.

References

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  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ tvOS 9.2 solves major user experience issue with Siri Remote for Apple TV
  16. ↑ Apple Seeds tvOS 9.2 beta 4

External links

  • Apple TV – official site for Apple TV
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