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tvOS 9.2 beta 3 w/ Dictation in text fields, iCloud Photo Library & much more hits Apple TV

Apple TV tvOS 9.2

Apple has released the third tvOS 9.2 beta software update to registered developers for testing. Previous versions of the pre-release Apple TV software update have added major changes to the new device including app folders similar to iOS and OS X, Bluetooth keyboard support, a redesigned app switcher, and even full iCloud Photo Library support. We’ll check out the latest beta version of the upcoming release and highlight any changes below.

The initial tvOS 9.2 beta back in January also gave us the first look at the redesigned Podcasts app for Apple TV, although Apple TV users received the new app in a publicly released software update shortly after. While the original beta Podcasts app only supported audio playback, the released version and new beta versions support video as well.

tvOS 9.2 also lets you organize apps or channels into groups by creating folders similar to those on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Folders consist of three columns and a continuously scrolling view of rows unlike on iOS and OS X. The Apple TV update also changes how the app switcher appears similar to the change between iOS 8 and iOS 9. Rather than seeing full screens of app previews, the new method stacks several screens over each other and scrolls in the opposite direction.

Check out our hands-on video with the initial tvOS 9.2 beta below:

The fourth-gen Apple TV also gains Bluetooth keyboard support, which older Apple TVs had but the new one lacked before tvOS 9.2.

And iCloud Photo Library support is something brand new to the Apple TV experience with tvOS 9.2. First added in the second beta, this lets you view your full collection of photos and videos synced with iCloud Photo Library using the Apple TV. Previously, Apple TV has only supported viewing iCloud Photo Sharing and My Photo Stream but not full libraries using iCloud. The update to the Photos app also lets you view Live Photos shot on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, complete with video and sound for the first time.

Screen Shot 2016-01-25 at 5.14.37 PM

Let us know in the comments, via email at tips at 9to5mac dot com, or on Twitter @9to5Mac if you spot any changes in the new beta, and we’ll update with changes we find as well.

Here’s what’s new:

  • You can now use Dictation to search in text boxes using the Siri Remote (hooray!)

Screen Shot 2016-02-08 at 12.16.17 PM

  • Here’s how it looks.

Screen Shot 2016-02-08 at 12.19.59 PM

  • Siri can now search the App Store. For instance, “Search the App Store for Crossy Road” will open the app’s landing page.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLtMut1eLcE

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Comments

  1. chrisl84 - 8 years ago

    Why does recently delete show the thumbnail of a photo…..isnt iOS using a default trashcan image to cover all recently deleted thumbnails now?

    • fofer - 8 years ago

      Yes, it is. And that’s a good point, the “Recently Deleted” album is one where most users would certainly want the contents hidden, not broadcast. Even if its just one thumbnail.

      I guess that’s one reason this is still a beta. Hopefully a beta tester will report that at a significant issue.

  2. Max - 8 years ago

    Voice dictation! Finally! I feel like this was one of the biggest omission from the launch feature-set of the new Apple TV.

  3. acslater017 - 8 years ago

    I’m starting to dislike this pattern of software releases from Apple, where they push things out 90% done and follow up later with arguably important features. Obviously, things always get software features added down the road. But it makes it hard to properly judge and learn a product when it launches, then 3 months later we get dictation, Bluetooth keyboards, and folders. It’s arguably still the launch period for this product.

    It feels similar to when iOS 7 was launched, but Apple’s own apps weren’t all redesigned. Or when 3D Touch is sorta kinda implemented, then slowly gets 1, 2, or 3 more apps made compatible over X.1 updates. Messaging about a product gets muddled, reviews get dinged, and users are forced to re-learn features (and most people aren’t enthusiasts like us commenters). It really seems like their software teams are being stretched thin.

    • just-a-random-dude - 8 years ago

      This isn’t isolated to Apple, almost everyone on the market is doing this. They release hardware that’s ready to go but the software would take a year or two to become ready.

      This has been happening for a very long time now.

    • twelve01 - 8 years ago

      This seems to be how almost every other tech/services company operates. I prefer this over the alternative – i.e. waiting several additional months for release. Given the success of the public beta program, I suspect I’m not alone.

      • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

        If they valued quality, Tim Cook wouldn’t have released the Apple TV until at least March 2016. That’s a simple fact.

    • PMZanetti - 8 years ago

      Oh shut up. People like you would still find every little thing wrong with it, and then claim they shouldn’t have released until those things were addressed. I’m so sick of detractors like you, I’m so sick of reading nothing but the negative that you can come up with.

      Its unfortunate that most people who LIKE the product don’t spend their time online talking about. I wish for once we could just discuss the things we like, the parts that are great, without having to listen to the same boring nonsense from the people that put 2 seconds worth of effort into bashing it.

  4. motilon79 - 8 years ago

    Nice for final including dictation!. Saying passwords out loud is silly but faster than scrolling with the trackpad.
    If only the remote had a small compact keyboard included which slides in and out easily or can be accessed on the backside. Hopefully some third party maker can build some kind of extension.

    • PMZanetti - 8 years ago

      I’m glad they realize though, this is an installation product. so saying passwords out loud on the couch of your home is hardly a security concern.

  5. PMZanetti - 8 years ago

    This is a huge. Voice Search in any text field throughout the OS greatly reduces the pain of Siri only working in a handful of Apps. Buys them a lot of time with that.

  6. taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

    Dictation should have been included at release. Good thing Apple didn’t preview the 4th gen Apple TV at WWDC, since it is still a beta product.

    I have a feeling features got cut because Apple was spending time addingand customizing the Siri video search features

    Dictation will get me to start using Siti more.

  7. taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

    Needs to show the microphone logo in the search tab or next to the magnifying glass to let users know they can now dictate their searches. The microphone only showing after you press and hold the Siri button does not give users a cue that they can use their voice for text entry.

  8. Two features that, if present, would sell an AppleTV in a heartbeat:
    – Release of an Amazon Prime Video app with universal search
    – Add universal search support to Plex for TV & Movie libraries

    C’mon, Apple. Almost there!

    • Soluble Apps - 8 years ago

      Producing an Amazon Video app is up to Amazon, not Apple. They already have an iOS ap. The reason it hasn’t appeared for Apple TV is because of a recent power struggle between the companies for a foothold in the streaming market.

  9. Hilaliya (@Hilaliya) - 8 years ago

    The Movies section has a ‘Wish List’ and the TV section has a ‘Favorites’ – however we have two main features lacking (that were available in previous Apple TVs):
    1. Ability to ‘Mark as watched’ (series, season etc)
    2. Ability to move and position titles around *inside* ‘Wish List’ and ‘Favorites’

    These are huge issues that still plague Apple tv4 and hurt the whole ‘tv experience.’
    I hope they fix this.

  10. xraylexx - 8 years ago

    Some good updates incoming. I’m also hoping they sort out some of the bugs that are stopping my using my Apple TV 4th Gen such as the Home Sharing Issue where played content is not updating the Play Count in iTunes.

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.